The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has successfully curtailed harassment and defamatory messages by digital money lenders, resulting in an 80% reduction, according to Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC. This achievement was highlighted during a strategic media engagement organised by the Commission in Abuja. Irukera…
Author: Smart Megwai
Smart Megwai
Smart is a technology journalist covering innovation, digital culture, and the business of emerging tech. His reporting for Innovation Village explores how technology shapes everyday life in Africa and beyond.
After two years of operation, Nigerian delivery startup DropX has ceased operations, joining the ranks of startups facing closure in 2023 amid challenging economic conditions. Founded in 2021 by Praise Alli-Johnson and Oluwatope Liasu, DropX aimed to revolutionise local deliveries in Abuja by connecting businesses and individuals with efficient services.…
The Federal Government, represented by the Coordinating Health Minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has introduced Nigeria’s inaugural locally manufactured glucose meter facility – Colexa Biosensor Diagnostics manufacturing. Representing a fully Nigerian-owned enterprise, Colexa Biosensor Diagnostics Manufacturing stands as a pioneering health technology company focusing on the domestic production of blood…
The Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalisation has initiated the formation of a Technical Working Group, comprising representatives from key entities such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCPC). This collaborative effort aims to establish a comprehensive…
INTERPOL has successfully concluded a six-month transcontinental operation, HAECHI IV, targeting online financial crimes across 34 countries. This extensive operation resulted in nearly 3,500 arrests and the seizure of assets totaling $300 million. The focus of Operation HAECHI IV encompassed various cyber-enabled scams, including voice phishing, romance scams, online sextortion,…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed major telecommunications operators in Nigeria, such as MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, to implement comprehensive network barring for all phone lines without linked National Identification Numbers (NINs) by February 28, 2024. Additionally, subscribers who have submitted their NINs but remain unverified will also face…
On December 9th, Wetech, a community committed to empowering women in technology, organised its first-ever female founders conference. Established in 2018, Wetech aims to reduce barriers for women in the tech industry, fostering opportunities through networking, mentorship, and community-building initiatives. In Africa, female participation in the tech sector remains below…
In its recent Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, Bytedance’s short video platform, TikTok, disclosed the removal of 1.4 million videos originating from Nigerian users during the third quarter of the current year. The report outlined that Nigeria featured among the top 50 countries contributing to policy-violating content in Q3, with a…
Peter Njonjo, the CEO of agritech firm Twiga Foods, has commenced a six-month leave shortly after the company secured a new funding round. The exact value of the funding remains undisclosed, adding to Twiga’s cumulative capital of $160 million since its establishment in 2014. In an official statement, Twiga Foods…
Tech mogul Elon Musk is set to establish a technology-focused university in Austin, Texas, as revealed in recent tax filings related to his latest charity, The Foundation. Musk, who relocated to Texas during the pandemic, is allocating approximately $100 million for the university’s initial funding. The institution will commence with…
In recent incidents across Nigeria, there have been reports of fraudulent activities involving the opening of OPay and PalmPay accounts using unsuspecting individuals’ identities. The issue came to light when cases emerged of accounts being created under the full legal names of individuals without their knowledge. One instance involved an…
Google has unveiled its ‘2023 Year In Search’ results, showcasing the most sought-after people, deaths, actors, musicians, lyrics, topics, and questions in Nigeria for the year. The annual ‘Year in Search’ analysis highlights top trending lists and sheds light on the subjects capturing global interest. In the Nigerian context, this…
Grok, Elon Musk’s recently launched chatbot, is facing scrutiny as users have noted similarities between its responses and those generated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Observations include instances where Grok explicitly cites OpenAI in its replies. Users, such as Jax Winterbourne and Pezzo, have shared these findings, raising concerns about potential code…
Block Inc. has officially launched Bitkey, a self-custody Bitcoin wallet designed to offer individuals greater control over their Bitcoin holdings. Bitkey comprises a mobile app, a hardware device, and recovery tools, providing users with a comprehensive solution for secure Bitcoin ownership. Available in over 95 countries, Bitkey aims to simplify…
On Thursday, Google witnessed a notable 5% surge in its shares, marking the most favorable day for the tech giant since August 29. The surge came in the wake of Google’s announcement of its latest artificial intelligence model, Project Gemini, positioning the company to compete with AI models from industry…
Nigerian fintech firm, Kippa, supported by investors including Saison Capital and Horizone, has executed a significant operational transfer of its agency banking product, KippaPay, to Bloc, a fellow Nigerian fintech poised to introduce banking services. Although described as a handshake deal by Kippa’s co-founder, this move comes after Kippa ceased…
Nigerian on-demand food delivery giant, Chowdeck, renowned for achieving an impressive monthly gross merchandise value (GMV) of ₦1 billion ($1.2 million) in November, has unveiled a significant strategic move. The company has officially partnered with the retail giant Shoprite to expand its reach and redefine the grocery industry landscape. Kennedy…
Moove, a prominent mobility fintech company, has welcomed Miguel Rodrigues as its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Rodrigues brings a wealth of administrative experience from esteemed companies such as Creditas, The Kraft Heinz Company, and Goldman Sachs, positioning him as a key driver in Moove’s ambitious scale-up journey. As a…
AppsFlyer, a global leader in marketing measurement, attribution, and data analytics, has recently announced its acquisition of oolo, a prominent AI-powered user acquisition and monetisation decision-making platform based in Ra’anana, Israel. The strategic move is aimed at revolutionizing AI-driven decision-making for marketing, growth, and monetization teams. The acquisition strengthens AppsFlyer’s…
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has expressed concern over unlicensed financial service entities assuming the role of deposit-taking institutions, signaling an enhanced regulatory focus in response to increased instances of fraud and customer verification challenges within the payment sector. “Unlicensed financial service entities” refer to companies or entities that…