Author: Smart Megwai

Kenyan President William Ruto has announced a new digital ID system called Maisha Namba, which will launch in December 2023. This system is designed to change the way the citizens prove their identity. Instead of using physical IDs like cards or papers, it will use things like our eye patterns…

Kenya, today, marked a significant milestone as President William Ruto unveiled the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited (EADAK), a joint venture between local mobile network operators Safaricom, Jamii Telecommunications, and Chinese company Shenzhen TeleOne Technology. We reported in June that the venture is in alignment with the Kenyan President’s…

In partnership with Devnaija Academy Limited, Women Connect has successfully trained more than 100 young girls in Lagos, with the aim of encouraging their exploration and excellence in a technology-driven world. The training sessions, conducted both in physical and virtual formats, attracted girls ranging from 7 to 16 years old…

WhereIsMyTransport, an eight-year-old transportation data company based in South Africa, has announced that it is shutting down its operations due to unsuccessful attempts to secure new funding. Devin De Fries, the founder of this South African mobility startup, confirmed this decision in a LinkedIn post, attributing the closure solely to…

Amidst the growing ‘japa’ trend fueled by increased emigration from Nigeria, the necessity for cross-border payments within the country has become more prominent. This includes parents sending funds for their children’s education abroad and migrants abroad remitting money back home. The demand for efficient cross-border payment solutions in Nigeria is…

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is exploring a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Interior to utilise its facilities for the delivery of international passports and other essential documents. Miss Tola Odeyemi, the Postmaster General of the Federation and CEO of NIPOST, made this proposal during a courtesy visit to…

Vella Finance said it is shifting its focus from crypto-based services to SME banking. According to reports, the announcement was made in an email sent this week. The company informed its users and subscribers that it will be shutting down all its crypto-related services starting Monday, October 30. This includes…

Branch Nigeria, a prominent digital lending firm, has been honored with the title of Digital Lending Company of the Year at the 13th Africa Bank 4.0 Summit in 2023. Adding to this remarkable recognition, the Managing Director, Dayo Odulate-Ademola, was also conferred with the distinction of Best CEO of the…

In recent times, reports have emerged of Windows users encountering popup ads within Microsoft Edge, sparking discussions and debates about the legality and ethics of such actions. Specifically, it was noted that Microsoft Edge attempted to inject a poll when users tried to download a competitor’s browser, Google Chrome. Some…

The highly anticipated Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW) kicked off yesterday with much excitement. It brought together the financial technology community to explore the theme of “Fintech: Resilience, Innovation & Diversification.” This event, which blended in-person and virtual experiences, showcased the dynamic nature of Nigeria’s fintech sector. It tackled critical issues…

The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) recently established the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), known as CAIST, in response to the country’s growing need for technological advancements. According to a report, several prominent American institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, Texas…

Kenya has recently implemented a series of new health laws, most notably the Digital Health Act, 2023, aimed at bolstering the legal framework for healthcare financing, healthcare service delivery, and the pursuit of universal healthcare coverage. These newly enacted laws also encompass the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, the…

During the opening ceremony of the 2023 Digital Nigeria International Conference in Abuja, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, proudly declared that Nigeria has emerged as a leading hub for technology startups in Africa. In his address at this 3-day event, Tijani commended the remarkable…

Capital Film Productions, a film investment firm, has launched the Act-3 Film Fund, a ₦500 million fund, with a primary focus on supporting the vibrant creative forces driving the African film industry, starting with Nollywood. Established by Adim Isiakpona, a former Google employee, and Hamza Kassim, a business opportunity manager…

WellaHealth, a Nigerian health-tech startup, has unveiled Healthsend Africa’s expansion into Kenya, following the subsidiary’s successful launch in Nigeria four months ago. Healthsend’s decision to venture into the Kenyan market was driven by the country’s substantial diasporan community, which faces healthcare challenges akin to those experienced in the Nigerian market.…

Meta is intensifying its growth-hacking efforts for Threads, a Twitter competitor, in a bid to enhance user engagement. The social network is promoting its latest app by automatically cross-posting Threads posts to users’ Facebook feeds, as confirmed by the company on Monday. This strategy is consistent with Meta’s approach of…

Bitnob, a fintech company in Africa, has unveiled the Universal Money Address (UMA), a new way to transfer funds anywhere, anytime with minimal fees. This innovative introduction allows for effortless global money transfers using UMA, akin to sending an email. Bitnob is breaking new ground as the first company in…

Mozambique and Tanzania have emerged as potential sources for South Korea as it explores options in African nations to secure a supply of graphite. This move comes in response to China tightening its export controls on this critical material, which is extensively used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The South…

Drivers who use inDrive’s ride-hailing platform in Botswana are reportedly facing accusations of misconduct, with passengers reporting issues ranging from aggressive behavior to sexual harassment. inDrive is actively investigating some of these incidents and has already blocked certain drivers based on complaints. Passengers shared their firsthand experiences with TechCabal, which…

Instagram is now allowing select users to include polls in the comments on their posts, providing creators with an additional means of enhancing content engagement. Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, announced this on his broadcast channel, mentioning that polls can now be integrated into comments for both regular feed posts and…