Saturday, December 21

Nigeria

Paga partners with Untapped Global to digitise payments for 120,000 Nigerian SMEs
Mobile Transfers, Nigeria

Paga partners with Untapped Global to digitise payments for 120,000 Nigerian SMEs

Paga, a Nigeria-based mobile payment company, has partnered with investment firm, Untapped Global, to provide financing of point-of-sale (POS) devices for small businesses and merchants in the country.  Paga’s POS devices enable merchants to accept cards, mobile payments, and other forms of digital payments, making it easy for them to get paid while enabling them to provide other value-added financial services to customers. The financing, provided via Untapped Global, is structured to lower the overall cost of entry for merchants to acquire handheld POS terminals, with payments recovered from the revenues earned on the devices.  After a successful pilot programme, which saw 2,000 merchants provided with financed POS devices earlier this year, both companies have, accordi...
How Nigerian edtech startup, Tuteria, is connecting learners to tutors in Nigeria
Nigeria, Start-ups

How Nigerian edtech startup, Tuteria, is connecting learners to tutors in Nigeria

Over the years, education has evolved from self-education through self-directed play and exploration, acquiring a vast knowledge of plants and herbs for agricultural purposes to teaching certain expectations and behaviours to children. In recent years, education has changed into a tool for children to learn and apply their talents or skills and for young people and adults to understand the competitive nature of the workforce. Similarly, with the advancement of technology, students are no longer restricted to the four walls of a classroom to learn a new course, acquire a skill, or advance in a specific field of interest. Globally, technology is rapidly transforming education. While edtech in Africa is moving slower due to power shortage and low Internet penetration, some African ed...
Nigerian Businessman Appointed CEO of Airtel Africa
Africans in Tech, Nigeria

Nigerian Businessman Appointed CEO of Airtel Africa

The Airtel Africa Group has announced the new appointment of Olusegun “Segun” Ogunsanya, as its Managing Director (MD) and CEO. Ogunsanya took the helm of the group as of 1 October 2021. This comes as former CEO, Raghu Mandava, who led Airtel Africa since 2016, was announced to be stepping down from the company’s board of directors in October 2021. “We are delighted to appoint Segun Ogunsanya as the Group’s next Chief Executive Officer. He has displayed significant drive and energy in turning around the Nigeria business by focusing on network modernisation, distribution, and operational efficiency,” said Airtel Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, when Ogunsanya was first announced to replace Mandava. A Businessman of Some Repute Previous to his appointment as CEO of Airtel Africa, O...
Lagos Angel Network appoints new board of governors with Kola Aina as chair
Nigeria

Lagos Angel Network appoints new board of governors with Kola Aina as chair

The Lagos Angel Network (LAN) has appointed a new Board of Governors (BoG) to oversee its affairs, effective from today October 1, 2021.  According to a LAN statement, the new board, chaired by Kola Aina, General Partner at Ventures Platform, has the mandate to reposition the organisation with a focus on recruiting and educating local angel investors and championing advocacy for early-stage investing in Nigeria.  Other members of the BoG are Biola Alabi, founder, Biola Alabi Media, who will sit as Deputy Chair of the BoG; Yemi Keri, co-founder, Rising Tide Africa; Olumide Soyombo, co-founder, Voltron Capital; Iyin Aboyeji, founder, Future Africa; and Gerrad Olisa-Ashar, co-founder, Diaspora Angel Network. LAN was created to facilitate the development and emergence o...
eNaira: Five things Nigerians can do on the new website
Cryptocurrency, Nigeria

eNaira: Five things Nigerians can do on the new website

The website of Nigeria’s official digital currency, eNaira, went live on Monday, four days before its planned launch on October 1, as disclosed by Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele. Developed by Barbados-based fintech company Bitt Inc., eNaira is a legal tender just like the naira. According to the apex bank, it must be accepted by all merchants and business outlets as a form of payment in Nigeria. A welcome note on the website describes the eNaira as a “Central Bank of Nigeria-issued digital currency that provides a unique form of money denominated in Naira.” The website is a central repository where users can find comprehensive information about the official digital currency, but it offers much more than just details of the eNaira. TechCabal reviewed the website and here ar...
Nigeria’s President gives conditions to be met before lifting Twitter ban
Apps, Nigeria, Social Networks

Nigeria’s President gives conditions to be met before lifting Twitter ban

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has said the suspension of the operations of Twitter in the country will end only if the company meets certain conditions, such as the setting up of a local unit and payment of taxes. Buhari listed these conditions during a broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary on Friday, October 1.  The Nigerian government suspended Twitter’s operations in June, following the social media platform’s decision to delete a tweet by Buhari, which it said breached the site’s rules. The state’s decision to ban Twitter triggered widespread criticism as online-based businesses recorded huge losses; lawsuits; and national assembly hearings meant to probe the circumstances leading to the ban. According to the president, a committee constituted t...
Nigeria’s Central Bank Launches eNaira Website
Cryptocurrency, Nigeria

Nigeria’s Central Bank Launches eNaira Website

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially launched its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) website for the eNaira. Last month, the CBN announced that it was working with Barbados-based fintech firm Bitt Inc as a technical partner to launch the West African country’s own digital coin. The eNaira is set to launch in October. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN’s Governor, has said that the eNaira would operate as a wallet against which customers can hold existing funds within their bank accounts. According to the CBN, the eNaira is expected to become a legal tender for all of Nigeria and is set to be accessible to both bank account and non-account holders. It will be accepted by all merchants and business outlets in the country. Continue reading Image: Techgist Africa
The Committee of e-Business Heads in Nigeria discuss the Adoption of Digital Currency in Nigeria in Q3 Industry Forum
Mobile Transfers, Nigeria

The Committee of e-Business Heads in Nigeria discuss the Adoption of Digital Currency in Nigeria in Q3 Industry Forum

As the Central Bank of Nigeria sets to launch the E-Naira on October 1st, 2021, the question everyone is asking is; are we ready for this bold move? Nigeria will be the 1st SubSaharan African country to adopt the use of digital currency and there have been concerns about the technology and its adoption.  The Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads (Cebih) in its 3rd Quarter Industry Forum discussed the digital currency’s adoption with the theme “Digital Currency and the Prospects of Central Bank Digital Currency in Nigeria”, held in Abuja on Wednesday 22 September 2021. Varying concerns such as the technology, adoption, financial inclusion, the impact on forex, and the value of the CBDC were discussed. Continue reading Image: Techcabal
Data Science Nigeria launches the Artificial Intelligence Startup Incubation Program with 12 Startups
AI, Nigeria

Data Science Nigeria launches the Artificial Intelligence Startup Incubation Program with 12 Startups

Data Science Nigeria, an organization with a vision to build a world-class Artificial Intelligence, knowledge research, and innovation ecosystem that delivers high-impact transformational research has launched Nigeria’s 1st AI Startup Incubation and Research Hub. The event also included a bespoke AI Startup Summit with the theme, “Building Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence Unicorns: How to build scalable startups leveraging AI and Exponential technologies”.  It had Anitha Vadavatha, CEO and co-Founder, AB Plus Ventures, and Samuel Odeloye, Co-founder Lara.ng by RoadPreppers as speakers. Please visit bit.ly/DSNAISSVideo  to watch the recorded video of the AI Startup Summit.  Speaking at the launch event, the founder and lead mentor, Data Science Nigeria, Dr. Olubayo Adekan...
How edtech startup, Stranerd is connecting Nigerian students to tutors
Education, Nigeria, Start-ups

How edtech startup, Stranerd is connecting Nigerian students to tutors

At all levels, education in Nigeria is in dire need of intervention. On the supply side, there are more students or prospective students than there are schools. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 10.5 million children in Nigeria between the ages of 5-14 are out of school, and one in every five out-of-school children in the world is in Nigeria. According to a study of public and private schools in Lagos State by Elaine Unterhalter, a professor of education and international development at University College London, there are 1,200 primary school-aged children for every public school place available. With governments unable to provide adequate options for education in the country, individuals are picking up the slack. Continue reading Image: techpoint.afric...