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East Africa Frontline News

NextFrontier Africa is a media platform spotlighting Africa’s emerging opportunities in technology, tourism, aviation, agriculture, health, logistics, real estate, trade, education, and e-commerce.

April 06.2025

2 Minutes Read

Togolese Developer Martino Yovo's Mission to Eliminate Language Barriers in Tech

Stylized portrait highlighting language barriers in tech education.

The Journey of Martino Yovo: From a Curious Teen to Tech Advocate

At 8:31 a.m. in Lomé, Togo, Martino Yovo is awake and ready. In contrast, it’s just past midnight in the U.S. where he now resides. A self-proclaimed night owl, Yovo shares his story of breaking through language barriers in tech which began as a teenager fascinated by programming but overwhelmed by the lack of French-language resources. With a smile, he recalls the encouragement of his elder brother, who nudged him towards creating a website, not realizing how impactful that suggestion would be.

Confronting Language Barriers in Tech

Through his early self-education efforts, Yovo faced notable challenges; although he learned English in school, fluency was limited, with only three in a class of sixty mastering the language well. This inadequacy was not just a hurdle but a source of frustration as he struggled to comprehend the technical documentation that was predominantly in English. The difficulties he encountered aren’t unique; many budding developers in Francophone Africa experience the same struggle, underscoring the urgent need for localized resources.

Building a Community: Vision for the Future

Despite these challenges, Yovo persevered. He eventually scraped together funds to purchase a rudimentary computer, which he humorously describes as “one of the worst computers ever.” However, this initial investment propelled him into a world of web development. Sharing his creations on social media, he found his voice in a community that was largely invisible at the time in Lomé. He stresses the importance of fostering a supportive environment for tech communities where language no longer hinders participation.

Yovo's Mission Today

Now a product engineer at Esri, Yovo's journey has come full circle. He is dedicated to democratizing tech education for Francophone Africa, emphasizing that language should not be a barrier to accessing valuable technological skills. His work is a testament to the potential that lies within young, tech-curious minds when provided with the right tools and a supportive community.

The tech landscape is evolving, and as developers like Yovo push against language barriers, the possibilities for innovation across Africa grow exponentially.

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Togolese Developer Martino Yovo's Mission to Eliminate Language Barriers in Tech

The Journey of Martino Yovo: From a Curious Teen to Tech Advocate

Confronting Language Barriers in Tech

Building a Community: Vision for the Future

Yovo's Mission Today

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