Author: Akin Naphtal

Kenyan’s M-KOPA, specialising in pay-as-you-go models for solar panels and smartphones, has extended its services to address South Africa’s (SA) electricity crisis after securing $250 million in debt and equity to fuel its expansion initiatives across Africa. South Africa’s Electricity Challenges South Afica has been experiencing electricity challenges for over a decade now, marked by incidents of load shedding. In July, reports highlighted a 12-hour-long power outage in January, which temporarily eased up in May. However, Eskom, South Africa’s power utility, warned in September that load shedding might worsen in 2024, projecting a failure in electricity generation capabilities to meet…

The Kenyan government has announced the adoption of Microsoft’s cloud-first strategy in a shift that will prioritise Microsoft’s cloud services over traditional on-premises solutions, aiming to elevate public service delivery. Microsoft will collaborate with the government, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through the ICT Authority to establish a joint working framework. The framework, slated for finalisation by February 2024, sets the stage for a comprehensive integration of Microsoft cloud services across Kenya’s various government entities. The agreement between the Kenyan government and Microsoft is geared towards expediting the nation’s digital transformation initiatives. Aligned with the objectives outlined in the Kenyan…

Nigeria’s Minister for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced the government’s official launch of its Startup Engagement Portal, marking a crucial step in implementing the Startup Act that was signed into law thirteen months ago. The Startup Engagement Portal serves as the gateway to the benefits and opportunities outlined in the Nigerian Startup Act. Positioned as a one-stop shop for startups, the portal streamlines paperwork and registration processes with key agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Central Bank of Nigeria. One of the portal’s notable features is its…

The Chinese technology company Huawei launched the “Seeds for the Future” program recently in Botswana, aiming to cultivate local information and communications technology (ICT) talent and young leaders for the future and promote the development of digital communities. About 25 undergraduate students from four universities in Botswana will participate virtually in the program from Nov. 21 to 27. During the event, the students will gain rich experiences, including technical lectures, leadership workshops, Chinese cultural experiences and communication with peers from around the world, said David Zhang, managing director of Huawei Technologies Botswana, who officially inaugurated the ceremony in Botswana’s capital…

Vodafone, Ericsson, and Qualcomm Technologies have successfully tested a new radio and chipset technology that will enable customers to connect many more low-cost, energy-efficient devices to fast 5G networks. The technology, called RAN Reduced Capability (RedCap), is a new software enhancement that optimizes the network for low-powered devices like smart watches, credit card readers and portable routers, without draining their battery life. The companies demonstrated the technology in a European first test in September in the Spanish city of Ciudad Real, using Vodafone’s live, multi-vendor testing 5G network named ‘CREATE’ (Ciudad Real España Advanced Testing Environment). The test used Qualcomm’s…

General Motors’ (GM) self-driving unit, Cruise, is preparing to relaunch its robotaxi services, aiming to rebuild trust and demonstrate performance, after California authorities prohibited Cruise’s self-driving vehicles from public roads following a collision in October. Last week, Cruise temporarily halted all supervised and manual car trips in the US, coupled with an expanded safety review of its robotaxis. There was also a shake-up within the company, leading to CEO, Kyle Vogt, and Chief Product Officer, Daniel Kan, resigning. Though facing setbacks in a sector reliant on public trust and regulatory cooperation, Cruise had earlier outlined plans to expand its fully…

In this interview, Mudiaga Umukoro (MU), Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Qore (Africa’s leading Banking-as-a-Service platform provider), discusses Fintech Growth, Digital Banking in Africa, and the groundbreaking initiatives driving Cloud-Native Solutions. Q: How will you describe the growth of Fintech companies and their impact on Nigeria especially as digital transformation continues to drive growth for the ecosystem? Fintech companies have made substantial contributions to Nigeria’s economy. Not only have they enhanced and streamlined operations in the extremely sensitive FSI sector, but they have also introduced numerous innovations that optimize the process of capital and funding for the production and…

Seacom, Africa’s converged ICT services provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lucas Malamule Ndala as new Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO). Ndala’s appointment as GCFO marks a pivotal moment in Seacom’s ongoing journey of growth and innovation. Lucas Malamule Ndala is replacing Richard Schumacher, who previously held the role. With a career spanning over two decades, Ndala brings a wealth of financial expertise and industry insight to the organisation. He has a remarkable track record, having served in various executive roles within the Telkom Group, including CFO, COO, Group Executive for the GCEO Support Office, and board member…

In a world grappling with a perceived global shortage of tech skills and a burgeoning demand for flexible tech contractors, a ground-breaking solution has been launched. Introducing One Degree, the disruptive digital hiring platform that is set to reshape the way businesses connect with skilled tech contractors. Engineered with the modern gig economy, remote work, and radical flexibility trends in mind, One Degree seeks to revolutionise the recruitment process, facilitating seamless connections between businesses and high-quality independent tech contractors. “Today’s fast-paced global IT job market has added tremendous pressure on organisations to quickly and cost-effectively source the right talent. Traditional…

NTU Singapore and Mastercard have launched a new FlexiMasters programme, the NTU-Mastercard FlexiMasters in Cybersecurity & Digital Trust, to strengthen expertise in combating the growing threat of cybercrime. This marks the first milestone of the Mastercard-NTU Joint Lab, an industry-university partnership announced in December last year, aimed at strengthening and growing the cybersecurity ecosystem in the Asia Pacific region. The FlexiMasters programme is tailored specifically for mid-career professionals, allowing them to pursue their educational goals on a part-time basis and tailor their studies around existing work or family commitments. It is the first part-time FlexiMasters programme in cybersecurity within NTU’s…