Absa, a leading financial institution in Johannesburg, South Africa, has launched ChatWallet, an innovative wallet accessible directly through WhatsApp, marking in a new era of digital banking convenience. Demonstrating its dedication to inclusive banking, Absa introduces ChatWallet as a secure and affordable solution, seamlessly integrating everyday banking services with the…
Author: Smart Megwai
Smart Megwai
Smart is a Tech Writer. His passion for educating people is what drives him to provide practical tech solutions which helps solve everyday tech-related issues.
In a recent report released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, electronic payment transactions in Nigeria surged to unprecedented heights in 2023, reaching a staggering N600 trillion. This remarkable increase represents a substantial 55% rise from the N387 trillion recorded in the previous year, showcasing the nation’s escalating reliance on…
IHS Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria have officially announced a strategic agreement, revealing that Airtel Nigeria will acquire a total of 3,950 tenancies over the next five years. The majority of these acquisitions are projected for 2024/2025, with the existing tenancies, encompassing around 6,000 sites, extended until December 2031. This comprehensive…
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has recently unveiled plans to implement comprehensive labeling for all AI-generated content across its platforms. This decision follows the discovery by Reverse Engineer Alessandro Paluzzi in August of the previous year, revealing Instagram’s intentions to introduce labels identifying posts created or…
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised an alarm regarding a surge in violations of its Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines by digital lenders, commonly referred to as loan apps. In an official statement signed by Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the Acting Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer…
Vodacom Group, in collaboration with Safaricom, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 200 million subscribers, marking a doubling of its customer base since 2018. This achievement was disclosed in the telecommunications group’s fiscal third-quarter update, covering the period ending December 31, 2023. Of the 200 million customers, 37.5%, equivalent…
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has levied a hefty €10 million fine against ride-hailing giant Uber for breaching data protection laws concerning the privacy of its drivers in Europe. The DPA’s enforcement action stems from Uber’s failure to disclose comprehensive details regarding the retention periods for European drivers’ data…
Oracle, a global technology leader, has unveiled plans to establish a public cloud region in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a significant stride in its continent-wide cloud infrastructure expansion. This announcement follows the inauguration of Oracle’s initial cloud region in Africa, situated in Johannesburg, South Africa, launched in January 2022. The decision…
Kippa could be embarking on a significant transformation by shifting its focus from financial technology (FinTech) to educational technology (EdTech). The company is reportedly in the process of piloting a novel EdTech service, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), aimed at empowering individuals to efficiently create and deliver online courses. This strategic…
The GSMA (GSM Association) has entered into a strategic collaboration with IBM, aiming to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and enhance AI-related skills within the telecommunications sector. The partnership is a response to the growing trend among telecom operators who are either exploring or expediting the deployment of…
Africarare, hailed as Africa’s inaugural metaverse, is on the verge of introducing its virtual currency, the $Ubuntu Token, poised to become the primary medium of exchange within the metaverse’s virtual marketplace. Crafted by Mann Made, a Johannesburg-based innovation company, Africarare stands out as a 3D virtual reality immersive hub, driven…
Melon Mobile, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) operating on MTN South Africa’s network infrastructure, is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) for strategic growth. The MVNO has entered into a partnership with SourseAI, an AI-driven data analytics and decision-making platform, to augment its business intelligence capabilities and enhance customer-centric offerings in…
OpenAI, the innovative AI research lab, has introduced a new feature to ChatGPT, allowing users to seamlessly invoke and integrate third-party applications powered by its AI models directly into conversations. Paid users of ChatGPT can now leverage this functionality by typing “@” and selecting a GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) from…
Toronto-based storytelling platform Wattpad, owned by Naver’s Webtoon Entertainment, has recently concluded a second round of layoffs, affecting around 30 jobs, or approximately 15% of its workforce, according to sources familiar with the matter. The restructuring initiative aligns with the company’s strategy to streamline operations and reduce costs, a move…
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya are now encouraged to embrace the convenience of self-registration to obtain Disability Certificates through the eCitizen platform. This initiative aligns with the broader digitisation efforts in government services, offering PWDs an efficient and user-friendly experience. The self-registration functionality, initiated last year, is now fully…
Renowned data-driven utility platform, Bboxx, has officially relocated its global headquarters from London to Kigali, Rwanda. This unprecedented move was announced during the UK-Rwanda Business Forum, setting Bboxx apart as a unique startup that has chosen to move its headquarters from Europe to Africa. Commitment to Growth: Training 1000 Rwandans…
TikTok is reportedly moving from its signature vertical video format to embrace horizontal video content. The ByteDance-owned platform, which gained immense popularity during the pandemic with its short-form, full-screen vertical videos, is now introducing features reminiscent of YouTube, as seen in Matt Navarra’s screenshot on Threads. Creators on TikTok are…
The Telecel Group, an Africa-focused telecommunications company, is set to complete the comprehensive rebranding of Vodafone Ghana to “Telecel” by the conclusion of February 2024. This strategic initiative follows the acquisition of a 70% majority stake in Vodafone Ghana (Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited – GTCL) in February 2023. In a…
Genzaar, a pioneering platform that leverages games and animated content to impart financial education, has recently gained recognition by being selected for the prestigious UK Libra accelerator program. In an exclusive interview with Innovation Village, Seyi Agbedana, Co-Founder of Genzaar, shared insights into the genesis of the platform, its unique…
Samsung has chosen to integrate Baidu’s Ernie AI technology into its Galaxy S24 series for the Chinese market, replacing Google’s Gemini models. At the official launch event in China, Samsung Electronics China announced that Baidu’s Ernie AI would power Galaxy AI features, including translation and summaries, for the Chinese variant…