Heirs Technologies brings locally-focused solutions to African businesses

Onome Amuge

Heirs Technologies,  a digital transformation solutions company set to disrupt the African business landscape has reiterated its commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation through innovative and locally tailored solutions. 

The company, which is part of the Heirs Holdings group, has unveiled an ambitious plan to drive innovation and growth across the continent, with a focus on digitising traditional businesses and building new, tech-enabled solutions.

With a bold vision to become Africa’s leading outsourcing destination, Heirs Technologies recently gathered key executives to unveil its plan at a media parley in Lagos, the headquarters of the parent company, Heirs Holdings. The firm also laid out its strategy for achieving its ambitious goals, which include building a world-class technology ecosystem, driving economic development in Africa, and creating opportunities for young people across the continent.  

Leading the way for Heirs Technologies was a panel of key executives, including Antoinette Edodo, chief strategy officer; Fumbi Chima, chairperson of the board of directors; Anant Rao, executive director; and Obong Idiong, managing director and chief executive officer. The executives discussed the company’s goals and strategies, outlining how Heirs Technologies intends to leverage its position within the Heirs Holdings group to achieve its mission.

Founded in 2004, Heirs Technologies has long been a pioneer in the tech industry, and its official commencement of operations in January 2024 has only further solidified its status as a leading provider of forward-thinking IT consulting, managed services, and BPO solutions. But what truly sets Heirs Technologies apart is its people-centric approach, which was championed by the company’s MD/CEO, Obong Idiong. 

Idiong stressed the importance of a people-centric approach in the company’s mission, noting that Heirs Technologies prioritises understanding the unique needs and challenges of its clients, and provides tailored solutions that address those needs. 

“We want to attract investments from in and outside Africa. We want to deliver world-class expertise with local accessibility,” he said.

Speaking on the company’s digital transformation strategy, Anant Rao, executive director of Heirs Technologies, underscored the firm’s competitive edge in the industry. He noted that the company’s experience, expertise and infrastructure put it in a strong position to compete with major players in the digital transformation sector. 

 “We see ourselves as part of the big boys and have all the necessary experiences to thrive. We implement state-of-the-art standards and global best practices,” Rao said. “It is important to note that Africa is the next frontier for outsourcing; Nigeria is well-positioned for it, with a large population, tech-savvy, and capable workforce,” Rao stated.

In a similar vein, Fumbi Chima, chairperson of Heirs Technologies, echoed the company’s commitment to driving growth not only in Nigeria but across the continent. She expressed excitement about the numerous opportunities the company will provide for innovation and job creation. 

“The future is about employment, the future is our youth,” Chima said. “We have amazing opportunities within Nigeria and the African continent to help us create disruption. I am really looking forward to these opportunities as an organisation and as a continent to be one of the disruptive, ambitious growth companies that we will be looking at over the next three to five years,” Chima said.

In  another development, Heirs Technologies announced the launch of its i-Academy initiative, an ambitious programme designed to empower young tech enthusiasts in Nigeria. The i-Academy will provide students with the tools and training they need to become successful tech professionals, with a focus on equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. 

The six-month i-Academy initiative is a comprehensive program that will provide young tech enthusiasts in Nigeria with the skills and knowledge they need to launch successful careers in the tech sector. 

This year, Heirs Technologies is aiming to make an even greater impact by expanding the i-Academy program to include 100 interns. This is a significant increase from previous years, when only 30 young people were able to participate. The company believes that by providing more people with access to the program, it will be able to create a more significant impact on the tech ecosystem in Nigeria.

According to Idiong,the i-Academy programme will utilise a hybrid learning approach, which combines online learning with in-person training. This will provide participants with a comprehensive and well-rounded education, covering both the technical and soft skills needed to succeed in the tech industry. 

One of the most notable aspects of the i-Academy programme is its emphasis on hands-on learning and real-world projects. Rather than simply studying theory, participants will have the opportunity to work on actual software projects and solve real-world problems. This approach is expected to give them a better understanding of the software development process and the skills they need to be successful in the field. 

Beyond talent development, Heirs Technologies has also highlighted its commitment on using its expertise to address the needs of local communities. The company said it has a number of initiatives in place to support community development, including basic training programmes for employees and local residents.

Heirs Technologies is a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings, the leading pan-African investment company with strategic investments in key sectors of the African economy, including energy, power, financial services, real estate, hospitality and healthcare, with portfolio operations across twenty-four countries worldwide. 

Heirs Holdings’ investment approach is driven by founder Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism that champions the African private sector’s commitment to the economic transformation of Africa, through investments that generate both economic prosperity and social wealth.