Africa’s logistics and procurement sectors, often undermined by inefficiencies and mistrust, may soon be transformed by a bold new proposal from Nigerian technology entrepreneur Simbiat Lawal and her company, Cloudnine Digital International.

Earlier this month, Lawal presented her proposed Digital Supply Chain Optimisation System, a forward-looking framework that integrates artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, Internet of Things monitoring, and fraud detection into a single platform.

Though still in the proposal phase, the system has generated significant excitement across the region. Its design directly addresses long-standing problems such as delayed procurement processes, inflated contracts, and counterfeit goods by providing traceable transactions, verifiable delivery milestones, and early fraud risk detection.

Speaking at a regional technology forum in Accra, Lawal remarked, “African businesses cannot thrive in an environment of opacity and waste. Cloudnine Digital International is building the digital infrastructure that will guarantee trust and accountability. Our proposed system is not a borrowed model—it is designed for Africa, but strong enough for the world.”

Analysts in Ghana have welcomed the proposal, noting that if implemented, it could reduce procurement leakages in government contracting and give small and medium-sized enterprises the stability they need to thrive.

Observers also point to Ghana’s growing role as a logistics hub in West Africa, suggesting that Cloudnine’s initiative could be a vital step toward improving trade efficiency and transparency under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

While the proposal is still in development, early discussions indicate strong regional interest, with cross-border distributors signaling their readiness to test applications such as the AI-driven procurement planner and blockchain contract verifier. For many, this marks the beginning of a new chapter in Africa’s journey toward transparent, resilient, and technology-driven supply chains.