Tech News – Africa Tech Digest

With its massive subsea Internet cable, Google says it’s playing the long game in Africa

7Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Africa, Telecommunications

With its massive subsea Internet cable, Google says it’s playing the long game in Africa

At the first Google for Africa event held today, October 6, 2021, global Internet giant, Google, has announced significant initiatives for the African continent. They include a $50 million venture fund for black-led African startups, small business loans, grants for non-profits, and most importantly, the launch of Equiano, a subsea Internet cable to increase Africa’s Internet capacity In partnership with Safaricom, Google will also be kick-starting a device financing plan to ensure people actually have smartphones and other Internet-enabled devices to access the Internet. A little over a year ago, Google announced similar initiatives and affirmed plans to deepen Internet access in Africa and contribute to the continent’s digital transformation. While we could open discussions about ...

eNaira: How much control does a private blockchain give the CBN?

6Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Cryptocurrency

eNaira: How much control does a private blockchain give the CBN?

On Thursday, July 22, 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that the pilot scheme of its digital currency — eNaira — will launch on October 1, 2021. However, due to reasons ranging from a clash with Independence Day activities to the ill-preparedness of commercial banks, the much-anticipated launch was postponed While addressing the postponement, CBN’s Director of Communications, Osita Nwasinobi, again recited some benefits of the eNaira — peer-to-peer transactions, reduction of cash use, and financial inclusion. While the eNaira has its benefits, concerns have been pointed out regarding transparency and how it could aid illegal financial practices by those in control. Continue reading Image: Techpoint

Nigerian telemedicine startup, iWello, is making healthcare available to people living on less than $1 per day

5Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Health Tech, Start-ups

Nigerian telemedicine startup, iWello, is making healthcare available to people living on less than $1 per day

In 2008, Ismail Adejonwo’s mother experienced a troubling stomach ache. The family had no money and was hesitant to take her to the hospital. But as the clock kept ticking, the pain became unbearable. At this point, he had no choice but to take his mother to the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed them that they had brought her late. She was diagnosed with appendicitis, which was treated successfully with a simple surgery. Entirely unrelated, Dr Fatima Ajayi, Adejonwo’s pregnant family friend, fainted during a ward round in 2019 after working a 12-hour shift. Sadly, her boss dismissed her for the day without further concern about her well-being. Adejonwo decided not to overlook these events. Continue reading Image: techpoint.africa

South Africans Can Now Get Their Digital Vaccine Passes via This Website

5Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Africa, Health Tech

South Africans Can Now Get Their Digital Vaccine Passes via This Website

A few days after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the Department of Health would begin rolling out digital vaccination certificates and a few weeks after Health Minister Joe Phaahla claimed that the vaccine passes would be made available “soon” the South African government has launched a website were vaccinated individuals can receive their digital vaccine certificates. “The Department of Health should be rolling out a vaccination certificate which will provide a secure and a verifiable proof of vaccination certificate which can be used to facilitate travel to access establishments and gatherings and other forms of activity that require proof of vaccination,” the president said at the time. “This will also go a long way towards getting a number of international...

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

4Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

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, accord...

Airtel Money users in Kenya to receive funds from 129 countries, free of charge

2Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Mobile Transfers

Airtel Money users in Kenya to receive funds from 129 countries, free of charge

Airtel Money has partnered with WorldRemit to allow Airtel customers to receive money from 129 countries, without a charge. World Remit, which in August rebranded as Zepz after raising $292 million at a $5 billion valuation, is a UK-based cross-border mobile payments firm that enables people to move money across multiple locations. Airtel Money is a Mobile Commerce service powered by Airtel, one of Africa’s largest telecommunication companies, that allows customers to use their mobile number as a digital wallet (e-wallet). Airtel Money e-wallets can be funded and used to make and receive payments. Through this partnership, Airtel Money customers in Kenya will be able to receive money directly into their Airtel Money wallets from 129 countries. In addition to rec...

Should you worry if Twitter succumbs to Nigerian government’s demands?

2Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Social Networks

Should you worry if Twitter succumbs to Nigerian government’s demands?

Again, Nigerians have been promised the lifting of the four-month-long Twitter ban. After the last promise in August of ‘a few days’ given by the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Independence Day speech, today mentioned that the ban would be lifted conditionally based on the fulfilment of some obligations by the social media giant. Recall that in early June 2021, the Nigerian government indefinitely suspended Twitter after the platform removed a Tweet by the president for violating its rules. An infringement on citizens’ right to free speech, this move has drawn reactions from human rights advocacy groups across the country. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), for instance, filed an appeal at the ECOWAS court in Abuja askin...

eNaira: Five things Nigerians can do on the new website

1Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

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 a...

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

1Oct

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

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 ...

TECNO’s CAMON 18 Premier Certificated by TÜV Rheinland for Low Blue Light of Eye Protection and Safe Fast-charge System

30Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Gadgets, Mobile

TECNO’s CAMON 18 Premier Certificated by TÜV Rheinland for Low Blue Light of Eye Protection and Safe Fast-charge System

HONG KONG, China, September 30, 2021/APO Group/ -- TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com) today announced that its latest smartphone to release in Oct——TECNO CANOM 18 Premier has received two new internationally recognized TÜV Rheinland certifications respectively for Low Blue Light (Hardware solution) and Safe Fast-charge Systems. This will provide consumers better eye protection and safety of fast charging for long-time phone usage. The negative damage to eyes from blue lights of the computer and mobile screens is a becoming a heated topic in recent years, especially with the increasing long hours of smartphone usage in daily life among heavy phone users and even teenagers and children. According to many industry researches, blue light penetrates all the way to the retina and too much expos...