Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

OpenAI is collaborating with Oracle and Softbank to establish data centers designed to support artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, with an immediate investment commitment of $100 billion. During a press conference at the White House, US President Donald Trump, accompanied by the leaders of the three companies, described the initiative as…

Transgrid Enerco Limited, a newly formed alliance comprising North South Power Company Limited (NSP), Axxela Limited, and the Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Growth Fund (SIIF), has signed a share purchase agreement (SPA) to acquire a 60% equity stake in Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCO), Nigeria’s second-largest electricity distribution company. The…

MoneyHash, an Egyptian fintech startup that offers APIs to help businesses in Africa and the Middle East manage their online payments on a single platform, has successfully raised $5.2 million in a pre-Series A funding round. The company plans to use the newly acquired funds to strengthen its presence in…

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that delays the enforcement of actions against TikTok for 75 days, aiming to restore the app’s service in the United States. The executive order directs relevant government agencies to work towards a resolution that ensures national security while allowing TikTok to continue…

Safaricom’s M-Pesa is poised to join the Pesalink network, a move that could significantly reshape Kenya’s digital payments landscape. In a proposal submitted jointly with the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Safaricom aims to integrate M-Pesa, Kenya’s largest mobile money platform, into the national…

PowerGen Renewable Energy (PowerGen) has unveiled a pioneering partnership with leading international investors to create a scalable platform for distributed renewable energy solutions across Africa. This ambitious initiative aims to deploy 120 MW of renewable power, including battery energy storage, to help bridge the continent’s significant energy gap. The platform…

Wini University, the first AI-focused university in Nigeria, is set to open its doors in Epe, Lagos. The university aims to position Africa as a significant player in the global AI market while equipping Nigerian youths with advanced skills in artificial intelligence. Inspired by Qatar’s AI university, which attracted top…

South African insurtech company Naked has successfully completed a $38 million (approximately R700 million) Series B2 funding round. This round was led by global impact investor BlueOrchard and saw increased participation from existing investors, including Hollard, Yellowwoods, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Germany’s development finance institution, DEG. The newly…

On the eve of her husband’s inauguration as the President of the United States, incoming First Lady Melania Trump has announced the launch of her own cryptocurrency. This follows the recent introduction of the $Trump cryptocurrency by President-elect Donald Trump. Both digital coins have experienced significant interest and volatile trading…

Between May and December 2024, Nigeria experienced a significant surge in cyberattacks, moving from the 35th to the 13th position on the Global Threat Index. During this period, the country’s normalized risk index also saw a sharp increase, rising from 46.5% to 62.3%. The Global Threat Index is a monthly…

SeamlessHR, a Nigerian company specializing in HR management solutions, has successfully raised a $9 million Series-A extension round. The new funding round saw contributions from the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures. This follows SeamlessHR’s previous $10 million Series A round raised in 2022. SeamlessHR plans to utilize the new…

Great news, Android enthusiasts: the wait is almost over! In just a few days, Samsung will unveil its latest and presumably greatest new phones for 2025. The company’s first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22. As in previous years, you can watch the event…

Waza, a YCombinator-backed B2B payments company, has introduced Lync, a new banking product designed to help businesses manage multi-currency accounts and facilitate international payments. This launch follows a significant market shift in July 2024, when Mercury, a San Francisco-based fintech company, restricted accounts for startups in 13 African countries due…

Donald Trump is set to take the presidential oath of office once again on Monday, in a ceremony held in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The event is scheduled to begin at noon ET and is expected to draw significant attention from both supporters and opponents alike.…

Ilara Health has recently secured a $1 million loan from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to enhance private outpatient clinics in Kenya. This financial boost will enable Ilara Health to significantly improve healthcare services in underserved communities by investing in advanced diagnostic devices, health technology, and pharmaceuticals.…

TikTok has gone dark in the United States due to a new federal law that bans the popular short-form video app for millions of Americans, at least temporarily. Around 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, TikTok users began receiving notifications about the ban. By Saturday evening, the app was no longer available…

Eskom, South Africa’s largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, has taken a significant step towards expanding its renewable energy portfolio by creating a new role, Group Executive for Renewables, and appointing Rivoningo Mnisi to the position. This strategic move underscores the state-owned electricity utility’s commitment to integrating renewable energy…

US e-commerce giant Amazon has inaugurated a walk-in centre in South Africa, aimed at helping its independent sellers attract more customers and expand their businesses. This move is also part of Amazon’s strategy to gain market share in the region. Amazon, which is striving to catch up with market leader…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new naira payment solution designed to significantly enhance the payment turnaround time for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by 70%. This innovative solution was unveiled alongside a digital document management system named DocFlow, both aimed at streamlining financial transactions and improving…

On Saturday, TikTok buzzed with nervous anticipation across the United States as a looming federal ban threatened to cut off access to the Chinese-owned app. This app has captivated nearly half of all Americans, powered small businesses, and significantly shaped online culture. Late on Friday, the company announced that it…