Author: Akin Naphtal

While South Africa and Nigeria dominate headlines for the sheer number and capacity of data centers on the continent, a different ranking emerges when the focus shifts to independently verified resilience: Morocco leads by a wide margin, according to Uptime Institute records. According to an analysis by the Institute, Africa currently has 50 data centers that have been physically inspected and certified as meeting Tier III or Tier IV standards. Morocco accounts for 17 of them — more than three times the total of any other single country — yet it is rarely the first market named in sector discussions…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Eastcastle Infrastructure have secured an $82.8 million private debt facility from the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) to accelerate the expansion of critical digital infrastructure across the continent. The facility, managed by investment firm Ninety One, will support two parallel initiatives aimed at closing Africa’s connectivity gaps. Eastcastle will receive $32.8 million to expand its tower network in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 1,072 to 1,800 sites, focusing on improving coverage in rural and remote areas. Liquid Intelligent Technologies will receive $50 million as part of a broader $450 million financing package.…

MTN Group has moved a step closer to completing its acquisition of the remaining shares in IHS Holding Limited after IHS shareholders overwhelmingly approved the transaction at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), marking a significant milestone in one of Africa’s largest digital infrastructure deals. The approval, secured through the required two-thirds majority at the EGM held on 4 August 2026, satisfies one of the key conditions precedent to the transaction. The acquisition, first announced by MTN in February 2026, remains subject to the necessary regulatory approvals before it can be finalised. Reacting to the development, MTN Group President and Chief…

Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc, has shared a thoughtful reflection on the deeper questions surrounding artificial intelligence, arguing that the conversation about AI must move beyond intelligence alone and confront the more fundamental issue of consciousness. In a recent commentary, Eniolorunda noted that discussions about AI typically centre on whether machines will outperform humans, automate work or transform industries. While important, he said these debates often overlook a more profound underlying question: what consciousness actually requires. “If consciousness depends on biological matter, then no matter how intelligent AI becomes, it will never be conscious,” Eniolorunda wrote.…

Ericsson has announced the appointment of Christophe Van de Weyer as the new Head of Business Area Global Communications Platform and CEO of Vonage. He will also join Ericsson’s Executive Team, effective immediately. Van de Weyer, who joined Vonage in 2025, has been instrumental in driving the company’s strategy to leverage high-performance, programmable networks and advanced communication capabilities. His efforts have focused on accelerating digital transformation for enterprises globally, with strong emphasis on profitable growth in Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) and Network APIs. Before Vonage, Van de Weyer served as CEO of Telesign, a US-based subsidiary of Proximus…

Rack Centre, a leading data centre and digital infrastructure provider, has announced the appointment of seasoned commercial leader Tawa Bolarin as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In a statement posted on its official LinkedIn page, the Rack Centre team expressed excitement about Bolarin joining the organisation, noting that her extensive experience will be instrumental in scaling the business and strengthening its commercial capabilities. “The Rack Centre team is thrilled to welcome Tawa Bolarin as she joins us as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).” its official LinkedIn page read Tawa Bolarin brings over two decades of high-level commercial leadership across B2B,…

Backed by 24 years of distinguished and vast experience rising through the ranks of Cameroon’s top technology organizations, Barbara Melem has exhibited true leadership, which requires balancing bottom-line performance with real-world impact, especially in a career built on a powerful tripartite -strategic communication, business performance, and sustainable development. Since 2021, Melem has championed this holistic approach as Senior Manager of Communications & Sustainability at IHS Cameroon, driving corporate reputation and high-impact ESG strategies that deliver equal value to the boardroom and society. At IHS Cameroon, a leading tower infrastructure company, Melem has fully leveraged her deep understanding of the telecom sector. She…

Wema Bank has reinforced its position as a key enabler of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem through a strategic engagement with its fintech partners, bringing together founders, technology providers and industry stakeholders to deepen collaboration and support the continued growth of digital financial services across the industry. The Bank brought together fintech founders, technology partners, payment providers and key industry stakeholders for an evening of strategic engagement, celebrating longstanding relationships, appreciating the trust of its partners and reinforcing the collaboration that continues to shape the future of digital banking in Nigeria. The engagement reflects the Bank’s broader commitment to building infrastructure that…

Nigerian human resources software company SeamlessHR has officially rebranded as Seamless Technologies, marking a significant strategic shift from a specialized HR provider to a comprehensive enterprise technology company offering workforce management, embedded financial services, and artificial intelligence solutions. The rebranding, announced on Wednesday, comes more than a year after the company raised a $9 million Series-A extension round backed by the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures to fuel its pan-African expansion. Under the new corporate identity, SeamlessHR will continue as one of several business verticals within the Seamless Technologies group. The move is driven by the company’s ambition to…

Nigerian fintech unicorn Moniepoint Inc has appointed Rose Muturi, a seasoned banking and fintech executive, as its Chief Executive for Kenya, signaling intensified efforts to expand its footprint in East Africa’s largest economy. The appointment comes months after Moniepoint acquired Sumac Microfinance Bank, a move that granted the company a deposit-taking licence and a regulatory foothold in the Kenyan market. Muturi joined the company in June. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Moniepoint confirmed that Muturi will oversee the group’s overall strategic direction in Kenya rather than managing the day-to-day operations of its newly acquired subsidiary. “We can confirm that…