African engineers are being equipped with practical skills and industry-relevant experience to access emerging opportunities in the global semiconductor market through ChipMango, a technology company focused on connecting engineering education with real-world chip design and verification projects.
The initiative seeks to address the gap between acquiring engineering qualifications in academic institutions and developing the specialised technical expertise required to work on commercial semiconductor projects.
While engineering education provides graduates with foundational knowledge in areas such as electronics, computer engineering and related disciplines, transitioning into the semiconductor industry requires additional practical experience, specialised training and exposure to industry standards.
The company’s approach is centred on ensuring that engineers do not remain limited to theoretical knowledge but acquire the competencies needed to contribute to the development and testing of semiconductor technologies.
Through its training and engineering development model, ChipMango connects learning with practical semiconductor design and verification assignments, giving participants opportunities to understand the technical processes involved in developing chips for commercial applications.
Semiconductor design involves developing the architecture and specifications of chips that power electronic devices, while verification involves testing and validating designs to ensure they function as intended before they proceed to manufacturing.
These specialised processes are essential to the production of technologies used in smartphones, computers, vehicles, medical equipment and artificial intelligence systems.
ChipMango is seeking to position African engineers within this important segment of the global technology value chain by developing local expertise and creating opportunities for them to contribute to projects serving international clients.
Founded by Ola Fadiran and Jovan Andjelich, the company was established to develop semiconductor design capabilities in Africa and connect the continent’s engineering talent with opportunities in the global chip industry.
The company has established a semiconductor design centre in Lagos, Nigeria, where engineers receive training in chip design and verification while participating in projects for international clients.
It also collaborates with Nigerian universities to strengthen the development of semiconductor talent, bringing academic learning closer to the practical demands of the industry.
The partnerships are designed to help address the shortage of industry-ready semiconductor professionals by exposing students and graduates to specialised technical knowledge, professional design tools and practical engineering workflows.
According to the European Investment Bank (EIB), ChipMango’s model demonstrates how Africa’s existing pool of engineering talent can be developed to participate in one of the world’s most strategically important technology industries.
The bank noted that although Africa has a growing number of capable engineers, there are relatively few established pathways through which they can enter the global semiconductor sector.
The initiative also highlights the importance of financing in building Africa’s capacity to compete in specialised technology sectors, where developing technical expertise requires sustained investment in training, infrastructure, research and development.
Through its Boost Africa programme, the EIB supports African entrepreneurship by investing in venture capital funds that provide financing and business support to innovative companies.
ChipMango is among the Nigerian businesses benefiting from this investment ecosystem, having received funding through Atlantica Ventures, a venture capital fund supported by the Boost Africa initiative.
The arrangement illustrates how development finance institutions can support emerging technology companies indirectly by strengthening the investment funds that provide capital to businesses with growth potential.
Boost Africa is a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, established to support innovative African businesses, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The programme seeks to improve access to finance while strengthening the capacity of businesses to develop sustainable operations, expand their markets and create employment opportunities.
For ChipMango, the support provides an opportunity to strengthen its technical capabilities, expand its engineering workforce and develop the infrastructure required to serve clients in the international semiconductor market.
The company’s work also reflects a broader opportunity for Africa to move beyond being primarily a consumer of imported technology and become an active contributor to the development of the underlying technologies powering the global digital economy.
With demand for semiconductors growing across industries, developing local expertise in chip design and verification could create new opportunities for African professionals, technology businesses and educational institutions.
The challenge, however, extends beyond producing engineering graduates. It requires building an ecosystem where skilled professionals can access specialised tools, gain practical experience, work on commercial projects and develop solutions that meet international standards.
ChipMango’s approach demonstrates how connecting education with industry requirements, supported by investment and technical infrastructure, could help close this gap and strengthen Africa’s participation in the global semiconductor industry.
The company’s experience therefore underscores the need for sustained investment in people, technical expertise and innovation infrastructure as Africa seeks to establish a stronger presence in the rapidly evolving technology market.
Watch the ChipMango video: From engineering education to commercial semiconductor opportunities.
