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When Taiwan hosted its largest semiconductor event, Semicon, in early September, a delegation from the French-African Foundation brought a fresh perspective to the tech-heavy gathering — one centered on connection.
Among the delegates was Nigerian journalist and French-African Foundation fellow Toluwalope Ogunlesi, who said the trip aimed to link Africa’s growing talent with Taiwan’s world-leading tech ecosystem.
“The foundation has always been about connections,” Ogunlesi said. “It was just the most obvious, the most natural thing to take Semicon as the point of connection. Taiwan is a global superpower in hardware, in semiconductors.”
Ogunlesi, who has spent years explaining Nigeria to the world through his journalism, said the visit to Taiwan was “immensely insightful and fascinating.” The group met with leading technology companies including Foxconn, Quanta, and Yageo, while also exploring Taiwan’s temples and historic neighborhoods.
“One of the things that stood out to me is how Taiwan manages to blend the old and the new,” he said. “How do you hold on to the past without letting it hold you back? There’s a big lesson there.”
For Ogunlesi, Taiwan’s success story offers inspiration for developing nations. “Taiwan has gone within a generation or two from not having any technological capabilities to becoming a global leader in semiconductors,” he said. “If Taiwan can do it, then it should be possible in other countries as well.”
He also pointed out the shared ambitions and cultural similarities between Taiwan and Africa. “Fifty or sixty years ago, Taiwan was a poor country that has, by hard work, vision, and ambition, emerged onto the global stage,” he said. “That’s where many of us in Africa find ourselves. When you go beyond the surface, you start to see the things that connect our common humanity.”
Ogunlesi plans to use his platforms — from social media to his Substack and Medium pages — to share the lessons learned from Taiwan. “Every time I put my computer on or use my mobile phone, there’s a lot of Taiwan in those things,” he said. “Taiwan is a hidden gem. There’s now an opportunity to know more about it and to pick lessons about technological advancement and the power of young people.”
The French-African Foundation, he said, wants to serve as “a connector or bridge” between France, Africa, and Taiwan. “Every part of that triangle has its own strengths,” he said. “Taiwan has technological capabilities. Nigeria has a lot of talent. France has a solid history of involvement in Africa. The foundation is well positioned to connect them in a way that benefits all sides.”
While technology enables cross-continental collaboration, Ogunlesi stressed the irreplaceable value of face-to-face diplomacy. “There’s no technological substitute for meeting in person,” he said. “And of course, there’s no substitute for eating the food and visiting the temples.”
Looking ahead, Ogunlesi said Africa and Taiwan have much to gain from deepening their ties. “Africa is the workforce of the 21st century,” he said. “There are markets for Taiwan in Africa, and there are opportunities for Africa here in Taiwan.”
After five days in Taipei, Ogunlesi left with plans to return — and hopes for a stronger bridge between two regions shaping the next chapter of the global tech story.
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