Current Base
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Focus Areas
My Story
Eight years ago, I left Nigeria for China with a mechanical engineering degree. I landed in Shenzhen, a city where Apple, Huawei, and every major tech company on earth comes to build. Within weeks, one thing became obvious: Africa was nowhere in the room.
I spent those eight years building inside China's tech ecosystem. Not visiting. Not observing. Engineering. Today I coordinate software engineering and DevOps activities powering manufacturing operations across five countries, shipping production systems for digital transformation, AI, and Industry 4.0. I learned Mandarin to professional fluency because you cannot build real things in China from behind a language barrier. When I arrived, there was no community connecting African tech professionals to this ecosystem, so I started one. I now chair the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Afro-Tech Forum.
This work is just getting started.
Why I Do This
Africa has arrived late to every major technological revolution. The industrial age. The internet era. Mobile infrastructure. Each time, by the time the technology reaches the continent, the standards are already set, the value already captured, and Africa is positioned as a consumer rather than a creator.
AI is the next wave, and the same pattern is forming. China is leading the world in AI deployment, smart manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. Africa risks being locked out again unless someone builds the bridge from the inside.
That is what I am here to do.
What this work requires is specific. Strategic knowledge transfer that adapts what works to African realities with African agency, not copied playbooks from Silicon Valley or Shenzhen. Practitioner credibility from people who actually build, not people who only advise. Long-term presence inside the ecosystem, because you cannot understand China's tech landscape from a two-week visit. And thought leadership grounded in evidence, dispatches from someone who operates at this intersection every single day.
Journey Milestones
Moved to China
Left Nigeria for Hangzhou with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Zhejiang University of Science and Technology. Started building inside China's tech ecosystem as a frontend engineer.
Senior Engineer
Promoted to Senior Software Engineer at Chenling IP in Hangzhou. Managing delivery, coordinating engineering teams, and reaching HSK6 Mandarin fluency.
IDEMIA
Joined IDEMIA in Shenzhen as Senior Software Engineer. Began coordinating digital transformation, AI validation, and software development for manufacturing and Industry 4.0 at global scale.
Tech Lead & Community Leader
Promoted to Tech Lead at IDEMIA. Now coordinating engineering across 5 countries. Founded the Shenzhen and HK Afro-Tech Forum. Invited by Shenzhen government to speak on AI. Featured across 4 Nigerian technology publications.
Core Expertise
- China-Africa Technology Intelligence
Translating what is happening inside China's AI, manufacturing, and hardware ecosystems for African markets. I do this work daily, from inside the system.
- AI & Engineering Leadership
Coordinating software engineering and DevOps activities powering manufacturing operations at IDEMIA across China, India, France, Brazil, and the US. Digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and operational excellence at global scale.
- Community & Ecosystem Building
I chair the Shenzhen and HK Afro-Tech Forum, connecting African and diaspora tech talent with China's innovation infrastructure.
- Speaking & Advisory
Government-level AI speaking engagements in Shenzhen. Keynotes, panels, and strategic advisory on Africa-China tech, AI implementation, and cross-cultural engineering leadership.
What I Offer
- Speaking & Keynotes
AI from inside China. The Africa-China tech corridor. Engineering leadership across cultures. From government summits to startup conferences.
- Strategic Advisory
Navigating the Africa-China technology landscape. AI implementation, supply chain strategy, partnership development. Practitioner insight, not theoretical frameworks.
- Community Partnership
Through the AfroTech Forum, I connect African tech talent with Shenzhen's ecosystem. If you are building at this intersection, let us talk.
- Research & Media
Available for interviews, joint research, university partnerships, and commentary on Africa-China tech, AI in manufacturing, and the African engineering diaspora.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about Francis Okafor and his work
Who is Francis Okafor?
Francis Okafor is a Nigerian Tech Lead based in Shenzhen, China, with 8 years of experience inside China's tech ecosystem. He coordinates software engineering and DevOps activities powering manufacturing operations at IDEMIA, a global technology multinational, across sites in China, India, France, Brazil, and the United States. He speaks Mandarin at HSK6 fluency and chairs the Shenzhen and HK Afro-Tech Forum, the only community connecting African tech professionals within China's innovation ecosystem.
What is China-Africa tech transfer?
China-Africa tech transfer is the movement of technology, knowledge, and innovation practices between Chinese and African ecosystems. Bilateral trade exceeds $296 billion a year, and China is increasingly investing in AI, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing across Africa. There is a growing need for practitioners who understand both sides of this corridor. Francis operates at this intersection as an engineer and community leader, someone who builds inside Chinese tech daily and translates those insights for African markets.
What expertise does Francis Okafor have in AI?
Francis coordinates software engineering and DevOps activities powering manufacturing operations at IDEMIA, driving systems for Industry 4.0 and operational excellence across global sites. He validates and implements AI proof-of-concepts in production, coordinates software engineering for new platforms, and drives digital transformation across all company locations. His hands-on stack includes Python, Go, TypeScript, and machine learning frameworks. He still writes approximately 70 percent of his workload in code.
What is the Shenzhen & HK Afro-Tech Forum?
The Shenzhen and HK Afro-Tech Forum is a community founded and chaired by Francis Okafor that connects African and diaspora tech professionals with China's innovation ecosystem, specifically in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, two of the world's most important technology hubs. It is the only community of its kind operating at this intersection, providing networking, knowledge exchange, and access to China's tech infrastructure for African engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
Where is Francis Okafor based?
Francis is based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, one of the world's most important technology and manufacturing hubs. He has lived and worked in China since 2018, first in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. He is originally from Anambra State, Nigeria.
Let's Work Together
Whether it is a speaking engagement, strategic advisory on Africa-China tech, or a partnership through the AfroTech Forum, I would like to hear what you are building.