Author: Akin Naphtal

Digital rights group Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has urged Nigerians and “everyone passionate about the protection of digital civic space” to “take action” and review the recently released Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries and Conditions for Operating in Nigeria. Yesterday, the West African Country’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) confirmed the release of the Code that serves as a guideline for engagement with Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, and compels social media platforms to adhere to specific requirements to continue operation. According to the NITDA, “all platforms whose users are more than one hundred thousand” have to be…

Telkom is considering all “viable” options for its towers and masts business, Swiftnet, including the sale of a majority stake in the company to an independent tower operator. That’s according to Telkom CEO Serame Taukobong, he said following the publication of the telecommunications group’s 2022 annual results on Tuesday. Telkom put its plan to list Swiftnet on the JSE – initiated by Taukobong’s predecessor, Sipho Maseko – on ice earlier this year given the deterioration in market conditions caused by Russia’s waTaukobong explained that when Telkom was mulling the listing of Swiftnet last year, it was part of a plan…

Microsoft is retiring its Internet Explorer web browser after 27 years. Microsoft will be ending support for most versions of its Internet Explorer 11 browser on June 15 after announcing over a year ago that it would be removed from most versions of Windows 10 this year. Internet Explorer was first released in 1995 as part of the add-on package for the Windows 95 operating system. But with later versions, the browser was available as a free download or in service packs and included in the original equipment manufacturer service releases of Windows 95 and later versions of Windows. Microsoft…

The MTN Group has appointed Riaan Wessels as Chief Risk Officer: Fintech with effect from 1 July 2022, the operator’s second high-profile executive appointment in a month and one of at least seven recent appointments focused on its Fintech business. In early June, the company appointed Andrew Goodrich as Executive for Banktech, part of the Group’s Fintech team, effective 1 June 2022. Goodrich joined MTN in 2019 as a General Manager for Banktech & Beyond Payments division, and, according to MTN, has added value to its digital banking strategy. According to a statement released by the operator, Wessels has 13…

Stakeholders across Africa are urging greater collaborations between private and public sectors to help drive the continent’s digital economy. Africa has the opportunity to harness the digital economy as a driver of growth and innovation, said President of the Africa Digital Economy Forum (ADEF) Olusola Teniola, to open the conversations at the ADEF Digital Economy Webinar for June 2022. Teniola stressed the need for more commitments from stakeholders as the continent struggles to become part of new global economic realities. His words: “Many will agree that even the richest countries in Africa are yet to reach their true potential, of…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (Online Platforms) operating in Nigeria. The code of practice is part of the agency’s mandate to standardize, coordinate and develop regulatory frameworks for all IT practices in Nigeria in accordance with section 6 of the NITDA Act 2007. Also, in accordance with its mandates, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the agency to develop a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (Online Platforms) in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders. NITDA formally unveiled the Code of Practice this week…

Moroccan retail-tech startup WafR, which helps retail brands to deliver promotions to grocers, has closed a seed round worth US$1.075 million as it bids to expand its operations and grow its team. Founded in 2021, WafR is an app that enables retail brands to broadcast and deliver smart promotions to grocers in order to increase their market share in the traditional channel. It was reported April that the startup had secured investment, and it has now increased the size of its seed round to more than US$1 million, valuing it at US$9 million. The funding was raised from Launch Africa…

Egyptian insurtech startup Nice Deer has raised a US$1 million pre-seed round of funding to help it provide health insurance services to SMEs. Founded earlier this year, Nice Deer aims to bridge the gap between health care providers, health insurance companies, and beneficiaries by facilitating insurance and repayment of insurance claims. The startup uses a one-window platform to connect medical service providers with insurance companies and facilitates communication between doctors and patients. It also facilitates the approval and disbursement of medication, radiology and scan requests. Its US$1 million pre-seed round was led by Disruptech Ventures, and will be used to…

Kenya’s ICT and telecommunications industries have responded with alarm over the government’s passing of the ICT Practitioners Bill 2020, which is currently under review by the country’s President. This is the last stage a Bill must get to before either being passed into law or being returned to Parliament. The Bill requires any ICT practitioner to have an ICT-related degree from a recognised university and also pay an annual licence fee. Additionally, would-be IT practitioners must have a minimum of three years’ experience to qualify as a licensed operator. It also makes provision for the creation of an ICT Practitioners…

South Africa will mark Youth Day on 16 June in part by emphasising the importance of digital skills development. One of the latest initiatives announced is a multi-year collaboration between PwC, UNICEF South Africa and Capacitate to launch YoMobi, a youth empowerment platform. The platform, a result of PwC’s ‘New World. New Skills’ global campaign and UNICEF SA’s Generation Unlimited initiative, is expected to serve as a catalyst to bridge the glaring skills gap that exists in South Africa. Muriel Mafico, Deputy Representative of UNICEF South Africa, said: “I believe what brought us together was the shared knowledge that if…