Author: Akin Naphtal

Maisha Meds, a Kenyan health tech company, has successfully raised $5 million in funding to support the expansion of its mobile software platform. The investment comes as a significant boost to the company’s mission of improving access to affordable and quality healthcare in Kenya. Maisha Meds offers a mobile-based platform that focuses on the management and distribution of essential medicines in Kenya. The platform connects healthcare providers, patients, and pharmacies, allowing for the efficient tracking of medical inventory, patient prescription data, and medication adherence. This innovative solution has been instrumental in addressing critical healthcare challenges in Kenya. The $5 million…

In the third quarter of 2023, two of Nigeria’s leading telecom companies, MTN and Airtel made a combined N403.2 billion from providing data services to their customers. Between July and September this year, MTN, Nigeria’s biggest telecom operator by number of subscribers, made N279.5 billion from data services, a 38.9 per cent increase from the N201.1 billion it earned in the same quarter last year. Data subscriptions generated N123.7 billion ($157 million) for Airtel Nigeria in the quarter that ended in September 2023, according to Airtel Africa’s financial result. This was a 29.3 per cent growth in data revenue for…

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc recorded a revenue of N614.2 billion in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, indicating a 21.4% year-on-year increase from the same period in 2022. The telecom giant however faced a significant decline in its profit margins for the third quarter of 2023 despite the increase in revenue generation, its profit before tax witnessed a severe decline of 75.7% year-on-year. This has been associated with the removal of the fuel subsidy, currency devaluation from forex liberalisation, and impacts of the 2023 Finance Act which led to rising inflation rates. The group’s revenue for the first nine months…

In a groundbreaking move towards technological advancement, President William Ruto launched the country’s first-ever smartphone assembly plant in the country East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK) located in Mavoko, Machakos County in a joint venture of local mobile network operators including Safaricom, Jamii Telecommunications and Chinese business Shenzhen TeleOne Technology. The launch of the smartphone assembly plant aligns with the Kenyan government’s broader agenda to drive technology and innovation in the country. It complements ongoing efforts to provide affordable and accessible internet access to all Kenyan citizens, fostering digital inclusion. EADAK has a capacity to produce up to 3 million…

Japanese electronics company, Seiko Epson, has turned its sights to the Middle East and Africa regions due to diminishing demand of its products in Japan, and other developed nations, its Chief Executive, Yasunori Ogawa says. The company, which happens to be among the world’s largest manufacturers of printers, enjoyed a surge in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic due to remote work increasing the demand for personal printers. However, Seiko Epson anticipates prolonged stagnation in mature markets as declining populations and the digitalization trend persist. Ogawa has emphasized the vast untapped potential for their products in the Middle East, especially since…

Bolt Kenya is awaiting an update on the renewal of its operating licence from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), with a decision expected today. The renewal process has been delayed, but Bolt has said it is in “constant engagement and collaboration” with the NTSA. One issue in the renewal process is a 5% booking fee that Bolt has now suspended. The fee was introduced in November 2022, after the Kenyan Ministry of Transport directed e-cab firms to reduce their commission to 18%. Bolt and Uber introduced booking fees to help offset the reduction. Uber charges a maximum booking…

In a recent development, social media platform, X, formerly Twitter, has introduced two subscription plans to enhance the experience of users, offering them more choices and an opportunity to enjoy an ad-free environment.The subscriptions include a Premium+ plan, for approximately $16 per month. This premium subscription grants users access to all the tools and features available on the platform while eliminating ads that often disrupt the user experience. However, this ad-free experience is solely available to users accessing the platform through a web browser.For those who prefer a more affordable option, X offers a more wallet-friendly option. The basic tier…

MTN Group has updated its assessment of unrealized foreign exchange losses in Nigeria and announced its intention to challenge a recent tax demand from the Nigerian authorities. In a statement on Monday, the company’s Nigerian division acknowledged additional unrealized foreign exchange losses on matured trade obligations and higher net finance costs for the first half of the year due to previous measurement errors. As a result, MTN Group’s earnings per share for the first half of the year have been restated and are now 13% lower than previously reported. MTN, the largest wireless carrier in Africa, saw its shares drop…

Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), Mrs . Ursula Owusu Ekuful (MP) has paid a working visit to the Girls-In-ICT training centres in the Eastern Region to interact with the girls and encourage them to build their abilities in digital skills and STEM education as well as choose careers in the ICT Industry. The centres visited include, Aburi Girls Senior High School (SHS),  Mampong Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS), Koforidua Regional Library and  Koforidua Ghana Secondary, the rest are e-Transform Project, Aburi Presbyterian Secondary Technical and Koforidua SDA SHS. Excited over the impact of the training so far, Mrs.…

Connectivity is now essential for societies and economies in the fast-paced world of telecommunications. One company that has exemplified this is IHS Towers, a Nigerian-born firm that has risen to become a global powerhouse in the shared communications infrastructure industry. With operations in 11 countries across three continents and impacting the lives of over 750 million people, IHS Towers has firmly established Nigeria’s position in the global telecommunications market. IHS Towers which began in 2001, has grown rapidly over the past two decades. Today, it stands as one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of telecom infrastructure worldwide.…