Salesforce recently announced that online holiday sales reached a record $1.2 trillion globally during the 2024 season. This data, released on Monday, highlights the significant role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the shopping experience.  Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights at Salesforce, emphasised that AI-driven tools influenced $229 billion, or 19 per cent, of […]

In order to minimise delays for applicants who must retake one or two WASSCE subject papers, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has introduced a new initiative. This new approach, called WASSCE PC1, will eliminate the customary waiting period for the next exam cycle by allowing students to retake certain subjects in January and February […]

Benin wants to improve its digital environment and is looking to hire an expert to lead its digital transformation initiative. This announcement was made by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation on November 18, 2024, during the presentation of the 2025 budget.  The government, led by President Patrice Talon, has prioritised digital technology as […]

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria has introduced stricter regulations to address the role of celebrities and social media influencers in promoting cryptocurrency platforms and assets. These new guidelines aim to curb the rise in fraudulent schemes that have left many citizens counting their losses after trusting high-profile endorsements. In recent years, several […]

Ecobank Group, a leading private pan-African banking company and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), a pan-African multilateral financial organisation established to support and encourage trade both within and outside of Africa have partnered to integrate Ecobank’s Single Market Trade Hub and Afreximbank’s MANSA Digital Repository Platform to streamline trade and compliance for African firms. The announcement […]

SMART Zambia Institute announced on Friday the successful development of an electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) solution, signifying an important turning point in the nation’s digital transformation process. The eKYC solution aims to improve the security and effectiveness of identity verification procedures. It has been set up in both staging and production environments. Additionally, sample […]

Tunzaa, a Tanzanian fintech startup founded by Ng’winula Kingamkono in 2020, has introduced a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) model to enhance e-commerce in Tanzania.  This project, launched on December 24, 2024, empowers consumers by offering flexible monthly payments for goods and services. Read also: Proparco fuels African climate innovation with $5M fund investment Revolutionising […]

On Monday, Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) announced a proposal to overhaul licensing rules for internet cafés, reflecting a growing need for regulation in the digital age. In a notice dated December 23, the Authority explained that the proposed changes align with the government’s initiative to establish free public Wi-Fi hotspots in public institutions. With the […]

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-running N250 billion Unstructured Supplementary Service Data debt dispute. CBN and NCC are regulatory agencies under the Federal Government of Nigeria. CBN regulates the banking sector while NCC regulates the telecom […]

Kenyan startups BuuPass and FlexPay on Friday announced a partnership to simplify travel for Kenyans during the holiday season. This collaboration addresses many financial challenges when booking trips, especially during peak travel times. Innovative payment solutions BuuPass, established in 2016 by Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, has revolutionised travel planning by enabling users to search, […]

Tech giants Apple and Meta are at odds in Europe in a showdown bordering on the implementation of EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) over privacy and interoperability concerns. The (DMA) is a competition law that forbids designated gatekeepers, such as Apple and Meta, from denying competitors access to core platform services. This includes Safari, the […]

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the 3rd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards nominations on December 12, 2024. Among the nominees is “Iwájú,” a groundbreaking animated series co-created by Kugali Studios and Disney+. The series has received three nominations: Best Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series, Best Younger Voice Performer in […]

MTN Group presented the results of its Online Child Safety African Insights study, conducted in collaboration with IPSOS, to legislators, educators, advocacy organizations, and digital safety specialists on Thursday. The event also showcased MTN’s intensified efforts to combat online child abuse and exploitation through its Help Children Be Children (HCBC) project. Additionally, the event showcased […]

The 7th Annual Africa Tech Summit Nairobi has been officially announced to hold February 12 and 13, 2025. This event is a significant gathering for tech leaders, startups, and investors across Africa and beyond. The announcement was made on Thursday, highlighting the summit’s continued growth and pivotal role in fostering innovation and investment in African […]

PalmPay, a leading fintech company in Nigeria, has partnered with Jumia, Africa’s largest e-commerce platform. This collaboration, revealed on Thursday, aims to enhance the digital payment options available to Nigerian consumers, making online shopping more accessible and efficient. Read also: PalmPay partners with NFIU to combat financial fraud, support Nigeria’s digital economy A new era […]

ChatGPT and Sora suffer major outage amid high demand   Olanrewaju Adeniyi   OpenAI suffered a major outage around 3:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, leaving users of ChatGPT, Sora, and its developer-facing API digitally stranded. The AI company confirmed the outage on its status page but issued another update around 9:00 p.m. PT, claiming its […]

GitLab has appointed Bill Staples as its new CEO, effective December 5, 2024. This leadership change comes as the company’s co-founder, Sid Sijbrandij, steps down to focus on his health while battling a rare form of cancer. Sijbrandij will continue to support GitLab as the Executive Chair of the Board. Read also: MultiChoice South Africa […]

Airtel Money on Thursday introduced ‘Paybill Rudishiwa,’ as a means of giving back 50 percent of paybill transaction fees as airtime to customers. This incentive is available to customers making payments to over 2 million merchant paybills in Kenya. Paybill Rudishiwa not only enhances value but also ensures users stay connected throughout the festive period. […]

Three U.S. lawmakers—Gwen Moore, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Sara Jacobs—have rebuked the U.S. State Department under Secretary Antony Blinken for disproportionately rejecting student visa applications from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and other African nations while approving far more visas for applicants from other regions, particularly Asia.   In a letter addressed to Blinken on January 24, […]

The establishment of Paratus Kenya, a joint venture with Nairobi-based IT and ISP company MoveOn Telecoms Ltd., further solidifies the Pan-African telecommunications and network services provider Paratus Group’s planned sub-equatorial growth. The new business was founded with the primary goal of supplying and setting up Starlink services. In Africa, Paratus was named an Authorised Reseller […]