Author: Akin Naphtal

Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is set to enter Botswana’s commercial 5G market, with plans to introduce 5G services in selected parts of Gaborone in October. The operator plans to invest more than P240 million (approximately US$17.8 million) during the 2026/27 financial year to speed up its 5G rollout, strengthen 4G coverage and expand network capacity. This follows an investment of more than P225.5 million (about US$16.7 million) in network infrastructure upgrades during the previous financial year. After the initial deployment in Gaborone, BTC intends to extend its 5G network to other major cities and villages as it works toward achieving…

Banco BCS and Mastercard have announced a strategic partnership to expand Mastercard-enabled debit and credit card services and strengthen digital payment options for customers in Angola. The partnership is aimed at meeting the increasing demand for faster, simpler, and more secure payment methods while enhancing Banco BCS’s card offerings and overall customer experience. Under the initiative, Banco BCS will introduce payment solutions designed to meet different customer lifestyles and financial needs. Existing Mastercard Gold and Mastercard World cardholders will also gain access to enhanced services and benefits. Eligible customers will have access to The Mastercard Collection, which offers a range…

Zoho, a global technology company, has partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to expand access to affordable cloud technology for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria. Under the partnership, Zoho will provide wallet credits worth up to ₦20 billion to as many as 25,000 eligible MSMEs within SMEDAN’s network. The initiative combines SMEDAN’s support for the MSME sector with Zoho’s range of scalable cloud-based business applications. The programme supports SMEDAN’s GROW Nigerian strategy, which focuses on business formalisation, access to finance and markets, productivity and digital adoption. It also complements the agency’s…

SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited is celebrating its 10th anniversary with renewed confidence following the successful completion of its recapitalisation programme. The milestone strengthens the Bank’s financial position and provides greater capacity to improve customer service, increase technology investments and support sustainable growth. Since beginning commercial banking operations in 2016, SunTrust Bank has grown alongside Nigeria’s evolving financial services sector, offering banking solutions to individuals, SMEs and corporate customers while responding to changing market conditions and customer needs. Over the past decade, the Bank has established a reputation for responsive service and strong customer relationships, while expanding its retail and business…

Amir Hayek has stepped into the role of Senior Vice President, Regional Core Payments Commercialization for Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) at Mastercard, marking a significant new chapter in his more than 12-year career with the global payments company. Hayek announced the appointment, expressing enthusiasm for the expanded mandate. “I’m excited to begin a new chapter as SVP, Core Payments Commercialization, EEMEA at Mastercard,” he said. “Since joining Mastercard in 2014, I’ve had the privilege of taking on five roles across levels, functions, and continents. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and trust that have shaped…

Microsoft has appointed Angela Nganga as its Country Lead for East Africa, tasking her with driving the company’s digital and artificial intelligence expansion across the region. The appointment fills a leadership gap that has existed since January 2026, when Phyllis Migwi stepped down as Microsoft’s Kenya Country Manager after three and a half years. During her tenure, Migwi oversaw the hosting of Africa’s largest Global AI Tour conference in Nairobi and the announcement of a $1 billion digital investment package with G42. Microsoft had been recruiting for the role as it prepared to launch East Africa’s first Azure cloud region…

MoMo PSB has appointed Bode Abifarin as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2026. The appointment was announced on the company’s LinkedIn page. Abifarin brings more than 23 years of experience spanning financial services, consulting, digital payments, fintech, strategy and business transformation. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Flutterwave, where she played a key role in scaling the payments company across multiple markets. Before that, she spent 15 years at KPMG Nigeria, rising from Associate to Associate Director and advising organisations across Africa on strategy, transformation, customer experience and growth. In her new role,…

MTN Group has announced two internal executive appointments, both taking effect in September 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen its leadership capacity while advancing the execution of its Ambition 2030 strategy. Ashutosh Tiwary, Operations Executive: Francophone Markets Tiwary steps into his new role on 1 September 2026, bringing over 27 years of telecommunications leadership experience across Africa and India, marked by a strong record of driving growth, transformation, operational excellence and business turnarounds in highly competitive markets. Within MTN, he has held several senior leadership positions, beginning as GM: Prepaid Consumer Business in South Africa, where he played a…

According to International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s “Emerging Markets Insight”, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) investment into emerging markets is creating new opportunities for economic transformation, but it is also placing growing pressure on electricity, water, and other critical infrastructure, The IFC noted that data centers and digital infrastructure are becoming critical foundations for countries seeking to participate in the AI-driven economy, alongside skilled human capital, access to finance and supportive regulatory frameworks. However, the organisation cautioned that the pace of AI infrastructure expansion could create significant challenges for emerging markets if supporting infrastructure fails to keep pace. Rising…

To understand how Africa’s hyper-connected future is being wired, one must look away from the glitzy consumer tech headlines and examine the deep digital bedrock beneath the soil. High above the bustling streets of Nairobi, within the strategic command corridors of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Kenya, sits Neeraj Pradhan, a man who views the vast, complex digital expanse of East Africa not as a chaotic marketplace, but as an intricate circuit board waiting for optimization.   Over nearly a decade, Pradhan has systematically transformed a commercial growth mandate into a broader infrastructure legacy. While the tech industry often favors flash over substance,…