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Why Digital Public Infrastructure is Africa’s Game-Changer (AcadPass™ Explained)

By Al Humphrey Onyanabo

AcadPass™ is a bold and vibrant innovation created by Creestgate Limited, a Nigerian company harnessing homegrown talent to design transformative digital solutions for Africa. This pioneering digital ecosystem exemplifies how local expertise can address continent-wide challenges in education, identity, and access, while setting a new standard for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

Africa stands at the brink of a historic transformation. With its young population, rapidly expanding urban centres, and the urgent need for inclusive development, the continent has both the challenge and opportunity to redefine how its people access essential services.

At the heart of this transformation lies Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—a framework that empowers governments, institutions, and communities to deliver secure, scalable, and equitable digital solutions. AcadPass™ leads this charge, bridging gaps in education, access, and identity across Africa, all powered by Nigerian innovation.

What is Digital Public Infrastructure?

Digital Public Infrastructure refers to the shared digital systems, platforms, and standards that enable societies to thrive in the digital age. Just as roads, railways, and electricity were foundational to the industrial era, digital identity, secure data exchanges, and access platforms form the bedrock of today’s interconnected world. DPI ensures that essential digital services are not locked behind exclusivity but instead become accessible, reliable, and inclusive for all citizens.

Across the globe, DPI has proven to be a game-changer. India’s Aadhaar system, for instance, demonstrates how digital identity can revolutionise financial inclusion, welfare distribution, and governance. Africa, with its unique challenges and vast potential, requires homegrown solutions tailored to its educational, economic, and cultural realities.

Why Africa Needs DPI

Africa’s demographic realities present both an urgency and an opportunity. With over 60% of the population under the age of 25, education and access to opportunities are critical for sustained growth. However, fragmented systems, poor record-keeping, and inadequate infrastructure often exclude millions from equitable access to learning, mobility, and empowerment.

Without DPI, the continent risks falling further behind in the global digital economy. With it, Africa can leapfrog traditional barriers, creating inclusive digital ecosystems that empower students, institutions, and entire communities.

AcadPass™: Africa’s DPI for Education and Access

AcadPass™ is a visionary initiative designed to function as a Digital Public Infrastructure for Africa’s education and identity ecosystem. It provides a secure, interoperable, and scalable platform that enables students, educators, and institutions to thrive in a connected world.

At its core, AcadPass™ addresses one of Africa’s most persistent challenges: the lack of a unified, verifiable, and accessible system for academic identity and access management.

Through smart ID systems, access control, and digital verification, AcadPass™ ensures that students can seamlessly access campuses, online resources, and cross-border opportunities. This infrastructure not only enhances security but also unlocks mobility and trust, making education more inclusive and globally competitive.

Alignment with the African Union and World Bank Vision

AcadPass™ is not a standalone innovation; it aligns with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) and the World Bank’s push for inclusive digital economies. By building DPI that is scalable, interoperable, and accessible, AcadPass™ contributes to the AU’s ambition of a digitally empowered Africa and the World Bank’s vision of shared prosperity through digital inclusion.

How AcadPass™ Works

At the heart of AcadPass™ is a comprehensive digital ecosystem designed to simplify, secure, and enrich the student and institutional experience. Key components include:

Digital Passport – The central hub of a student’s academic identity, providing secure verification and seamless access to educational and institutional services.

School Handbook – A digital guide containing institutional policies, academic calendars, and essential resources, ensuring students and staff are always informed.

Smart ID – A secure, multi-functional ID that grants access to physical and digital facilities across campuses.

AcadLife – A platform connecting students with learning resources, events, and community engagement opportunities.

Zena AI – An intelligent assistant that helps students navigate academic schedules, course selection, and personalised learning pathways.

AcadMart – A digital marketplace where students can access books, materials, and other essential services conveniently.

AcadPass Debit Card – A financial tool linked to the AcadPass account for cashless transactions on and off campus.

AcadPass Healthcare Card – Provides streamlined access to healthcare services, ensuring students’ well-being is supported wherever they are.

Together, these tools create a unified, secure, and accessible digital environment, transforming how students interact with their campuses and empowering them to thrive academically and socially.

Why AcadPass™ is Africa’s Game-Changer

AcadPass™ is transformative because it does not just solve today’s problems; it anticipates tomorrow’s needs. By serving as a trusted DPI, it enables governments, universities, and private partners to build on its infrastructure for innovation.

From campus safety to international scholarships, from financial services to career mobility, AcadPass™ opens doors to endless opportunities. It redefines the African student experience, secures campuses, and empowers the next generation with tools to compete in a globalised economy.

Open for Partnerships

Creestgate Limited, the driving force behind AcadPass™, recognises that building a truly inclusive digital public infrastructure requires collaboration. We are open to strategic partnerships with governments, institutions, development organisations, and private sector players who share the vision of a digitalised and empowered Africa.

Conclusion

Digital Public Infrastructure is Africa’s game-changer, and AcadPass™ stands as a bold step toward realising this potential. By bridging gaps in access, connectivity, and education, it is positioning Africa’s youth for success in the digital era.

The journey has begun—and with collaboration, innovation, and resilience, Africa’s future is digital, inclusive, and unstoppable.

Global nuclear technology takes a major leap with installation of Core Catcher at El-Dabaa NPP

Nuclear energy technology has recorded a major milestone as specialists started to install the core catcher body at Unit 2 of El-Dabaa NPP in the Arab Republic of Egypt ahead of schedule. The Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division is the general designer and general contractor.

The official ceremony dedicated to the commencement of the core catcher installation was attended by Dr. Amged El-Wakeel, Board Chairman of Nuclear Power Plants Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt (NPPA), Eng. Mohamed Ramadan, Deputy Board Chairman of NPPA, Mr. Andrey Petrov, Rosatom State Corporation First Deputy General Director for Nuclear Energy – ASE JSC President, Mr. Alexey Zhukov, ASE JSC First Vice President for Construction, Mr. Alexey Kononenko, ASE JSC Vice President – Director for the El-Dabaa NPP Construction Project, as well as project teams of the Rosatom Engineering Division and the Nuclear Power Plants Authority of Egypt.

“Our project continues to develop rapidly. The installation of the core catcher at power unit two is one of the key construction milestones planned for 2024, which was completed ahead of schedule in November 2023. It is worth mentioning that less than two months ago, namely in October, we installed a core catcher at power unit one which demonstrated almost simultaneous construction of the first and second power units.

By the end of this year, we plan the first concreting in the foundation slab of power unit four; therefore, it will spell the end of the preparatory period of and the transition to, the main stage of the four-unit El Dabaa NPP construction. This is the result of the coordinated work of the Owner and the General Contractor’s united team”, said Andrey Petrov.

Dr. El-Wakeel expressed his appreciation to all the workers from the Egyptian and Russian sides, adding that “what the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant site is witnessing today is not the result of coincidence, but rather the consequence of diligent and unrelenting efforts from all Project participants working day and night in order to reach the Project’s milestones. This could not have been achieved without determination, persistence and ceaseless diligent work.”
The core catcher consists of several elements whose total weight amounts to 700 tons.
In October 2023, the similar equipment was installed at power unit No. 1.

El-Dabaa NPP is the first nuclear power plant in Egypt which will be built in the city of El-Dabaa, Matrouh province, on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 300 km North-West of Cairo. The NPP will consist of four power units, 1200 MW each, with generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors (pressurized water reactors). This is the newest generation technology which has references and is already operating successfully. There are four operational power units of this generation: two reactors at Novovoronezh NPP and two at Leningrad NPP. Outside Russia, one power unit of Belarus NPP with VVER-1200 reactor was connected to the grid in November 2020.

The NPP is being constructed in accordance with the package of contracts which entered into force on December 11, 2017. In accordance with the contractual obligations, the Russian party will not only construct the power plant but will also supply nuclear fuel for the whole life cycle of the NPP and will provide assistance to the Egyptian partners in training of the personnel and support of operation and service of the plant during the first 10 years of its operation. Under a separate agreement, the Russian party will build a special storage and will supply containers for storing spent nuclear fuel.