South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has introduced amendments to legislation pertaining to critical skills and digital nomad visas, in a bid to bolster its workforce with highly skilled individuals. President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of attracting skilled workers in his weekly newsletter, emphasising the need for a competitive economy that can foster growth […]

In a move to enhance digital payment options across Africa, Paystack has extended its “Pay With Apple Pay” feature to include users in Cote D’Ivoire and South Africa. This expansion follows its initial launch in Nigeria two years ago and subsequent introduction in Ghana last year. Integration into Paystack’s Payment Gateway The integration of Apple […]

Showmax, the popular streaming service, has embarked on a transformative journey aimed at reaching 50 million subscribers.  This ambitious goal is underpinned by a comprehensive branding overhaul, signalling a strategic shift in its approach to content delivery and audience engagement. In this article, we’ll explore the key elements of Showmax’s revamped branding strategy and how […]

MultiChoice Group, Africa’s largest cable TV company, said that its Nigerian subsidiary has agreed to pay the Federal Inland Revenue Service about $37.3 million as part of a tax settlement. In Nigeria, DSTV is a famous subscription-based satellite TV service owned by MultiChoice. As agreed, MultiChoice Nigeria and MultiChoice Africa will pay N35.4bn ($37.3m) in […]

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE,in Nigeria has pledged to work closely with Ms. Salima Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovations, in order to put into action the “Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration” pillar included in the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP […]

Africa Fintech Network (AFN) and Cedar-IBSi FinTech Lab have officially sealed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), solidifying their partnership to nurture and fortify the burgeoning FinTech landscape bridging Africa and India. Empowering Collaboration: AFN Members Gain Access to Cedar-IBSi’s Expertise At the core of this strategic collaboration lies a commitment to mutual support, aimed […]

Google, the tech giant, has changed the name of its AI model from Bard to Gemini because it added more advanced features to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google said it will now charge for Gemini Advanced, while Bard (Gemini) has always been free. The company says Gemini Advanced will be offered in over 150 countries […]

The automotive industry has always been a hotbed of innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries of design and functionality. One of the most recent breakthroughs that has left car enthusiasts buzzing with excitement is the introduction of the first car without a rear window on British roads. This groundbreaking development challenges traditional design norms and opens […]

Vodacom and South African tech entrepreneur Nkosana Makate, who came up with the idea for “Please Call Me,” will go to court again, even though Makate recently won in the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa (SCA). Makate wanted to have the $2.5 million (R47 million) pay deal from the company looked over again. […]

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso has revealed that mobile money and digital lending are expected to drive growth in the service sector in 2024. The announcement was made during the launch of The Nigerian Economic Summit Group 2024 Macroeconomic Outlook Report. Cardoso emphasised that these sectors would continue to dominate economic […]

Ghana is a country with a vibrant and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, where many startups and businesses are using technology and innovation to solve social and environmental challenges. However, these ventures often face barriers such as limited access to funding, mentorship, partnerships, and knowledge.  This is why UNICEF, in collaboration with KOICA and MEST Africa, launched […]

In a significant regulatory overhaul, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken a bold step by announcing a comprehensive ban on banks and financial technology companies (fintechs) participating in international money transfer services. The move, unveiled through new guidelines on January 31, 2024, marks a pivotal expansion of restrictions previously applicable solely to deposit […]

The Spring (Socially Assistive Robots in Gerontological Healthcare) Robots designed to assist elderly patients have entered a crucial phase of testing, offering promising prospects for enhancing the quality of care for ageing populations. The initial trial took place at Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris, in France.  With advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence, these devices […]

Facebook celebrates its 20th anniversary on Sunday, February 4, the day that Mark Zuckerberg, then an undergraduate at Harvard University, and three roommates created the social media platform. Over 271 million people in Africa use Facebook as of 2022, out of a total of over 2 billion active users every day. According to Statista, a research platform, the […]

Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly Twitter, is pleading with advertisers to return to the platform, even though it has been in the news recently for the wrong reasons.  The CEO, Linda Yaccarino, stressed X’s dedication to putting child safety online first in a letter sent to both current and past advertisers. Elon Musk, […]

The Edo State government has announced a partnership with the Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), a leading innovation centre in Africa, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation, to support the growth and development of tech startups in the state. The partnership aims to strengthen the digital solutions ecosystem in Edo State and […]

The African tech ecosystem faced a tough year in 2023, with funding dropping by almost half compared to 2022, according to Intelpoint. Many growth-stage startups struggled to raise capital, leading to layoffs, closures and fire sales. However, some investors remained bullish on the continent’s potential and launched new funds or increased their activity. Here are […]

MTN Group has revealed its intention to invest $215 million in the Republic of Benin over the course of the next three years.  MTN’s commitment to upgrading telecom infrastructure and improving connectivity in the West African nation is highlighted by this major financial pledge, which was made during a high-profile leadership visit to Cotonou for […]

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has opened the application process for the second cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator program. The announcement was made at Fintech Day in Morocco, where industry experts gathered to explore opportunities for enhancing digital payments and financial inclusion in the country. The initiative aims to support Seed to […]

Nigeria’s financial system faced fraud in 2014. In response, the Central Bank and all banks launched the Bank Verification Number. To prevent unlawful transactions, this 11-digit identity was connected to fingerprints and facial scans.  After initial security concerns, the BVN succeeded. Increased financial inclusion, decreased fraud, and simplified credit checks. It protects banks and clients […]