Author: Akin Naphtal

Nscale, the fast-rising private AI data centre company, has closed a US$900 million revolving credit facility to accelerate its ambitious global infrastructure build-out across the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. The facility, syndicated among a group of leading global financial institutions including J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and others, provides the company with flexible liquidity to support capital deployment and rapid scaling of its AI infrastructure. Nscale CEO and founder Josh Payne described the deal as a strong vote of confidence in the company’s strategy. “The closing of this revolving credit facility with key global investment…

VEON has entered into a strategic partnership with Mastercard to accelerate the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital financial services across emerging markets, reinforcing the growing role of telecommunications companies in driving financial inclusion. The collaboration will combine VEON’s extensive customer base, local digital platforms, and data capabilities with Mastercard’s global payments network and financial technology expertise to deliver a range of innovative financial solutions in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. The initiative aims to expand access to financial services in markets where millions of consumers and small businesses remain underserved due to limited access to traditional banking. The partners…

Moniepoint Inc. Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, has said the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is prompting a fundamental rethinking of human consciousness, arguing that the technology is forcing society to confront questions that were once confined to philosophy. In a post shared on his official LinkedIn page, Eniolorunda revealed that his recent reflections on AI have led him to examine the nature of consciousness, particularly as experts continue to debate whether artificial intelligence could one day become conscious. According to him, what stood out was not the question itself but the uncertainty expressed by many…

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita has been named as one of the founding commissioners on the AI for Good Global Commission, a new initiative by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The commission aims to expand digital access, strengthen trust, and accelerate economic impact through the responsible use of artificial intelligence. “It’s an honour to be one of the founding commissioners of the AI for Good Global Commission,” said Mupita. “At MTN Group we believe that the developments in AI have the potential to advance health, education, food security and industrial productivity. AI must be safe, ethical…

MTN Group has announced the appointment of Jerry Soko as the new Chief Executive Officer of MTN Eswatini. The appointment forms part of a series of leadership changes by the Group in the first half of the year as it advances its Ambition 2030 strategy. “Under Jerry’s leadership, MTN Eswatini has regained strong momentum, improving performance, strengthening operational discipline, and deepening customer engagement,” said Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO. “His track record, combined with his understanding of our operations, positions him well to lead MTN Eswatini into its next phase of growth.” Soko, a seasoned telecommunications executive and…

Airtel Kenya has announced the appointment of Djibril Tobe as the new Managing Director of Airtel Networks Kenya Limited, effective 1st July 2026. He succeeds Ashish Malhotra, who has taken up a new role as Chief Executive Officer of Indus Towers Limited Africa. Tobe brings over two decades of high-impact leadership experience across Africa’s telecommunications and FMCG sectors, making him a strategic fit to drive Airtel Kenya’s next phase of growth and innovation in a highly competitive market. Most recently, Tobe served as Managing Director of Airtel Congo B, where he led overall business operations. Prior to that, he held…

Grey, the Y Combinator-backed global payments platform, has expanded its services in Ghana and Kenya by introducing local currency deposits, allowing users to fund their accounts directly in Ghanaian Cedis (GHS) and Kenyan Shillings (KES) via bank transfers and mobile money. The new feature aims to simplify the often fragmented process of moving money between local payment systems and global financial services. Users in both countries can now seamlessly top up their Grey accounts without relying on multiple platforms or intermediaries. Ghana and Kenya rank among Grey’s fastest-growing markets, driven by rising participation in the global economy and the need…

French telecoms giant Orange has named Usman Javaid as its new Chief AI Officer (CAIO), effective 1 September 2026. Javaid will succeed Steve Jarrett, who is leaving the company to join leading AI firm Anthropic. The appointment highlights the fierce competition for top AI talent in the technology sector, where companies such as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta are reportedly offering substantial compensation packages to attract and retain experienced leaders. Usman Javaid brings more than 20 years of international technology and telecommunications experience to the role. Since April 2023, he has served as Global Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Orange…

BT Group and Verizon have announced a major strategic partnership, agreeing to combine their international enterprise operations into a new 50:50 joint venture. The new company will have approximately $4 billion in combined annual revenue and serve a customer base spanning more than 180 countries. It will focus exclusively on providing advanced connectivity and network services to multinational organisations worldwide. The joint venture will merge BT International, known for its secure and resilient global communication and network services, with Verizon’s international enterprise wireline business. As part of the deal, Verizon will make a $625 million equalisation payment to BT. The…

Bayobab has announced the appointment of Ronsley Kubie as its new General Manager: Satellite Business and Partnerships, effective 1 July 2026. In an official announcement, Bayobab expressed pleasure at welcoming Kubie, highlighting his extensive experience across the telecommunications value chain. This includes satellite communications, wireless technologies, enterprise connectivity, and large-scale network infrastructure projects across Africa and international markets. Most recently, Kubie served as Africa Head of Sales at AXESS Networks / Hispasat, where he led regional commercial strategy and played a key role in driving the adoption of multi-orbit satellite solutions. His work spanned key sectors including Internet Service Providers…