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When Mr. Ogaga A. Palmer talks about technology, he doesn’t sound like a typical tech founder. His words are familiar with that of Mr. Toms of Pandascrow, Mr. Oladipupo of Afrilearn, and other startups driving impacts. They are calm, grounded, and real. For him, technology is far beyond hype or fancy terms. Rather, it is about solving everyday problems in a way that makes sense to the people who use it. To him, that is what SoftAI Africa has come to do.
SoftAI Africa: Technology for Africa, Not Imported Ideas
SoftAI Africa was born from a simple idea, that Africans deserve tools built with their realities in mind. Palmer believes technology must fit the environment, not the other way around. Many products created abroad assume constant power, fast internet, and expensive hardware. That model doesn’t work here.
So SoftAI Africa builds light, simple, and low-cost tools that run smoothly even with weak connections or unstable electricity. “We can’t build Africa’s future using systems that ignore Africa’s challenges,” Palmer said during a recent meeting. His team’s goal is to make technology that works where people are, not just where everything works perfectly.
Palmer spoke about what drives SoftAI Africa, which is a belief that technology should lift people and not overwhelm them. It should support teachers, small businesses, and communities beyond just serving big corporations. The company builds tools that respond to African life, from power cuts to limited data plans, and still get the job done.
Teaching People to Build and Use Technology
SoftAI Africa also runs SoftAI Academy, a learning space where young people gain hands-on digital skills. The Academy doesn’t copy foreign lessons. It connects global knowledge with local examples, using real African stories, data, and mentors.
Courses focus on helping learners understand how technology can solve community problems, from automating small business tasks to improving customer support systems. The goal is not just to create coders, but to build problem solvers who understand their society and can use technology to make it better.
SoftAgent: Helping Businesses Work Smarter
The company’s main product, SoftAgent, helps businesses handle routine tasks so they can focus on real growth. It’s built to be flexible, owners can start small and add more features as they grow.
For Palmer, automation is not about replacing people. It’s about saving time, cutting stress, and helping teams focus on what matters most. Whether it’s responding to customers faster or managing information better, SoftAgent’s goal is simple: to make work easier for Africans.
Doing Technology the Right Way with SoftAI Africa
SoftAI Africa also stands out for what it refuses to do. The company avoids projects that misuse personal data or spread false information. Palmer insists that technology must be built with respect for people’s privacy, safety, and dignity.
He believes ethics cannot be borrowed from other countries, they must grow from African values. “We know our realities,” he says. “We must also define what responsible use means in our own space.”
Looking Ahead
SoftAI Africa’s story shows that progress doesn’t have to mean copying others. It can mean slowing down, thinking deeper, and designing from the ground up. Palmer and his team are not waiting for the world to bring solutions, they are building their own, step by step.
The meeting ended as it began, with a reminder that Africa’s digital journey will not be perfect, and that’s fine. Each problem faced is another chance to create something better. For SoftAI Africa, every challenge is part of the story of building technology that truly belongs to the people it serves.
