Author: Smart Megwai

Edo State, Nigeria, is on the verge of becoming the country’s first fully e-governed state. The eagerly anticipated transition to a paperless civil service started today, September 1, 2023. Under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, the state government has been relentless in its pursuit of digital transformation, setting an…

Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said, on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria, that the country has secured $500 million in funding to launch a local funding program that will drive innovation and entrepreneurship within the digital sector. The Minister made this known at…

X (Twitter) said it is collecting users’ biometrics, job, and education information. The social networking site updated its policies to include biometric data as well as the user’s employment and educational background. The company did not specify what it considers to be biometric data, but it is possible that it…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has mandated electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to swiftly replace faulty and outdated prepaid meters for their customers. The directive, issued during a NERC Workshop held in Kano state, underscores the importance of efficient metering systems and consumer protection within the electricity sector. The commission’s…

Gabon, a central African nation, recently witnessed a tumultuous turn of events as military officers orchestrated a coup following controversial election results. The aftermath of this political disorder led to a nationwide internet shutdown and subsequent restoration, affecting 2.3 million residents. Amid the backdrop of upcoming elections, President Ali Bongo…

Drive Electric is on a mission to bring eco-friendly transportation to the forefront worldwide, and they’re really making things happen. Their latest move? Teaming up with seven new partners through the LEAP Fund to push forward electric mobility and climate-friendly actions on a global scale. With a strong determination to…

X (formerly Twitter) has announced its decision to lift the ban on paid political advertisements, marking a shift in policy. The move is aimed at supporting accurate and safe political discourse on the platform and comes ahead of the highly anticipated US 2024 elections. This change in stance marks a…

Visa and Mastercard, two of the world’s leading credit card companies, are reportedly gearing up to implement a significant increase in credit card fees. This move, set to begin in October, has the potential to reshape the financial landscape for both these companies and the merchants who rely on their…

Black Ostrich Ventures, a US-based firm, has recently secured a $20 million fund aimed at supporting African startups in the cleantech, supply chain, agritech, and edtech sectors. The fund will focus on pre-seed and seed stage investments, specifically targeting startups in African countries with lower revenue opportunities, such as Tanzania,…

There are indications that Instagram may soon enable users to share longer Reels, with a potential duration of up to 10 minutes. This insight comes from Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer, who recently unveiled screenshots of an internal prototype on X. Currently, Instagram’s Reels have a maximum length of three…

Mark Zuckerberg yesterday announced new features for its “WhatsApp app for Mac” and the standout option is the ability for users to make group calls directly from their Mac devices. Users can now engage in group video calls, which can take up to eight participants, as well as group audio…

Nigerian fintech startup, Bloc, has unveiled its latest offering, Bloc 2.0B, a business bank designed to transform how companies manage their finances, catering to businesses of all sizes. Bloc’s founder and CEO, Edmund Olotu, emphasised, in a press release, how important this launch is for tackling different business challenges and…

X has gained recognition as a standout hiring engine, highlighted by the recent debut of XHiring which underscores the company’s strengths. The rollout of the XHiring Beta, available exclusively to Verified Organisations, marks a significant advancement in this direction. With the launch of X’s new feature, it’s rivaling LinkedIn, allowing…

As the launch date of a new iPhone draws near, there’s speculation that people tend to notice a decline in their current iPhone’s battery performance. In simpler terms, as a new iPhone model is about to be released, many folks start thinking that their current iPhone’s battery life is getting…

Elon Musk is greatly improving the experience on Twitter, making it a very attractive platform. Although I don’t have a verified account on X (formerly Twitter), the exciting benefits that X Premium users are receiving are making me reconsider the value of having that blue verification mark. Speaking about juicy…

Glovo is extending its Glovo Ads services in Kenya to support businesses in enhancing growth, boosting engagement, and elevating sales among users. The latest offering was recently unveiled during the company’s annual Partners and Brands event held on July 7th, 2023, in Ikoyi, Lagos. This event celebrated the impactful role…

Representatives from Malawi and Zambia were observed participating in an event held in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, where they formally signed a Diplomatic Data Corridor Agreement and a Government-to-Government Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The primary objective of this collaborative effort between the two governments is to enhance internet affordability,…

Kwik, a rapidly expanding digital logistics platform, has introduced its first on-demand e-commerce fulfillment center in Lagos named KwikShelf. The launch of KwikShelf comes in response to the growing demand for flexible warehousing and fulfillment solutions in Nigeria. Situated within a 1,250 sqm facility at Iddo House, Oyingbo, Lagos, KwikShelf…

MTN South Africa has introduced its eSIM solution for prepaid customers, expanding the convenience of embedded SIM support to this group of users. This development comes ahead of the potential iPhone 15 launch, where Apple is reportedly planning the phasing out of physical SIM card support in its smartphones. Similar…

Microsoft has introduced the public preview of Python integration into Excel, aiming to enhance data analysis and visualisation capabilities. This feature enables proficient spreadsheet users to seamlessly combine Python scripts with their familiar Excel formulas within the same workbook. The announcement was made through a recent press release by the…