Author: Akin Naphtal

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for a fundamental shift in how African governments regulate technology and digital infrastructure. He warned that regulatory delays, fragmented policies and overlapping requirements could hinder investment and slow the development of the continent’s digital economy, speaking at the ITW Data Cloud Africa 2026 event in Nairobi, Kenya. Inuwa made the call while speaking at the “Regulatory Roundtable: Regulation That Builds – Aligning Policy and Digital Infrastructure Investment Priorities” during the ITW Data Cloud Africa 2026 event in Nairobi, Kenya. He stressed the need to reduce…

Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating digital transformation through stronger public-private partnerships, infrastructure investment, connectivity and supportive policy frameworks. The discussions took place during a Ministerial Breakfast Briefing at the ITW Africa meeting in Nairobi, bringing together government officials and industry stakeholders to explore opportunities for expanding Africa’s digital economy. Representing Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, H.E. Hon. William Kabogo, EGH, Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, CBS, highlighted Kenya’s continued efforts to create a more attractive environment for technology investment. He noted that the country has hosted ITW Africa…

Mastercard has announced a strategic partnership with Flowcart to integrate secure card payments directly into social and conversational commerce platforms, allowing consumers to discover products, place orders and complete transactions without leaving their chats. The partnership will launch in Kenya first, then expand across East Africa and other high-growth markets, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, with plans for wider adoption across Africa. The new solution is designed to simplify online shopping by enabling customers to complete the entire purchasing journey within a single conversation. Rather than being redirected to external websites or applications, users can interact with merchants,…

The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s advertising industry to strengthen their approach to data protection and privacy as the sector becomes increasingly driven by data and artificial intelligence. Dr Olatunji made the call while delivering the keynote address at an Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) webinar focused on “Understanding Data Protection and Its Regulatory Framework: Applicability to the Nigerian Advertising Industry.” ARCON Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, delivered the welcome address at the session. Speaking on the evolution of advertising, Dr Olatunji noted that the industry has…

Visa a world leader in digital payments has introduced an enhanced version of A2A Protect, designed to help financial institutions identify and prevent account-to-account (A2A) fraud before funds leave customers’ accounts. The upgraded solution provides real-time risk insights and introduces a unified fraud score, incorporating Featurespace technology for the first time to help banks detect suspicious transactions more efficiently. The enhancement comes as A2A payments continue to expand globally, with transactions projected to exceed 5.8 trillion by 2028, representing a 160% increase from 2024. A2A Protect uses advanced AI and transfer-learning capabilities to provide banks with global risk intelligence without…

Egypt is taking major steps to strengthen its digital infrastructure through two new partnerships involving Vodafone Business, Elsewedy Electric and Cassava Technologies, with the projects set to increase the country’s capacity to host and process data locally. Announced in Cairo on 8 September 2026, the partnerships include plans for Africa Data Centres Egypt, a large-scale facility that will begin with 20MW of capacity during its first three years and is expected to scale up to 200MW. The first phase is projected to attract about $200 million in foreign investment, while total investment could reach $1 billion when the full capacity…

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has praised the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) for its contribution to the country’s digital transformation, particularly in expanding connectivity, promoting digital inclusion and developing technology skills. The commendation followed the official launch of the National Girls in ICT Programme, organised by the Ministry in partnership with GIFEC at the Kofi Annan Training Centre in Accra. The event brought together the Minister and GIFEC CEO, Mr. Sofo Tanko Rashid-Computer, alongside participants of the programme. During the ceremony, the Minister congratulated 100 outstanding girls who participated in…

Samsung has introduced Scan to Pay, a new QR-based payment feature developed by EFT Corp and integrated into Samsung Wallet, giving Galaxy users in South Africa an additional way to make everyday payments without relying on physical cards. The new feature enables users to make payments at participating merchants by simply opening Samsung Wallet, scanning a QR code and confirming the transaction. The solution is designed to provide a convenient alternative for consumers making purchases both in stores and through supported online platforms. By introducing QR payments directly into Samsung Wallet, the service aims to make the checkout process faster…

Digital Realty, a leading global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centre infrastructure, has opened its new 6.4-megawatt Nairobi Two Data Center (NBO2), expanding its existing Nairobi campus and strengthening Kenya’s position as a key digital infrastructure hub in East Africa. The new facility was developed alongside Nairobi One (NBO1) to support the growing demand for cloud services, interconnection and data-driven technologies across the region. The expanded campus provides customers with access to more than 100 networks, two internet exchange points and a satellite teleport, creating a highly connected environment for digital services and cross-border connectivity. The launch also coincides…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has advocated for a data dlassification approach to digital sovereignty, stressing that sovereignty should not be defined solely by where data is stored or who has physical control over it. The agency believes that the sensitivity, importance and potential risks associated with different categories of data should determine the level of sovereignty required. The position was presented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships at NITDA, who represented the Director-General at a panel session titled “Governing the Digital Continent” during the 3rd Edition of the Hyperscaler Convergence Africa 2026 in…