As Artificial Intelligence revolutionizes industries worldwide, one Nigerian visionary is ensuring Africa doesn’t just keep up — it leads. Richard Tamunotonye, founder of Productsio, is on a mission to make AI accessible, ethical, and transformative for African entrepreneurs. His work is reshaping how businesses across the continent build, scale, and solve real-world problems.
For many, AI remains a complex, abstract concept. But Richard has emerged as a guiding light. Through Productsio, a digital product agency and AI-focused academy, he has trained over 6,000 individuals and mentored more than 2,000 creatives across Africa. His vision is simple yet powerful: empower African businesses not just to adopt AI, but to shape its future.
“Africa’s AI market is projected to exceed $16 billion by 2030,” Richard explains. “But we can’t reach that potential by merely consuming foreign solutions. We need to create tools that reflect our unique challenges and cultures.”
At the core of Productsio’s work lies a commitment to human-centered innovation. Whether it’s helping a startup refine its customer onboarding with smart automation, or enabling small businesses to harness AI without massive budgets, Richard prioritizes practical value over hype.
“AI should never eclipse humanity. It should elevate it,” he says.
This ethos runs through every product, workshop, and mentorship session Productsio offers. The agency’s reputation is built on delivering relevant, user-friendly, and impactful solutions — always designed with people in mind.
But Richard’s influence goes far beyond technology. In Port Harcourt, he’s become a pillar of the local innovation scene, regularly hosting meetups, hands-on labs, and mentorship sessions that foster collaboration and community. These events are safe spaces for experimentation, especially welcoming to non-technical founders and underserved groups.
Looking ahead, 2025 will see Productsio roll out a new wave of initiatives:
- AI literacy campaigns to demystify the technology
- Micro-labs for hands-on experimentation
- Founder-focused workshops designed to help entrepreneurs build scalable, AI-powered solutions — no coding required
Crucially, Richard is a vocal advocate for ethical AI. Fairness, privacy, and cultural awareness are embedded in every solution his team develops.
“Our values shouldn’t be compromised by technology,” he says. “They should shape it.”
This grounded approach is producing tangible results. Startups supported by Productsio report smarter decision-making, lower costs, and faster development cycles. Richard’s guiding mantra:
“Start small, learn fast, and always solve real problems.”
More than a technologist, Richard Tamunotonye is a visionary reimagining innovation in Africa. Through Productsio, he’s building more than just digital tools — he’s nurturing capacity, confidence, and community. His work signals a future where African entrepreneurs define their own place in the global tech conversation.
In a world racing toward automation, Richard reminds us: progress isn’t just about what machines can do — it’s about how they help people thrive
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