Author: Akin Naphtal

Kenyan HR startup Crew HR &Payroll has rebranded as FaidiHR after it received an undisclosed amount of funding from SprintX, a US-based VC focused on early-stage startups. Founded in 2018, the startup now known as FaidiHR is an all-in-one cloud platform that allows small and medium enterprises in Africa to automate their HR processes. The platform helps to automate payroll, off-days, employee data, tasks, inventory, training, appraisals, and expenses. The undisclosed round of funding comes from SprintX, a venture studio owned by 3pm in Austin, United States (US). SprintX funds early-stage startups building platforms and marketplaces. FaidiHR will use the…

Kenya-based B2B and B2B2C insurance-as-a-service platform and API Lami has raised a US$3.7 million seed extension round to help it expand across Africa. Founded by Jihan Abass in 2018, Lami is a digital insurance platform that enables partner businesses – including banks, tech companies, and other entities – to easily and seamlessly offer digital insurance products to their users via its API. The startup, which last year was chosen by Catalyst Fund as part of the eighth cohort of its inclusive fintech accelerator and also secured US$1.8 million in seed funding, can also be used by partner businesses to manage…

Airtel has signed multi-year 5G equipment supply deals worth about $2.5 billion with Sweden’s Ericsson, Finland’s Nokia and South Korea’s Samsung to start deployment of the next generation networks from August in India. While the partnership with Ericsson and Nokia has been long-standing, Samsung is the new addition, with India’s second largest telecom company officially shutting out Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE from its 5G deployments. “Our network agreements are finalised and Airtel will work with the best technology partners from across the world to deliver the full benefits of 5G connectivity to our consumers,” Bharti Airtel managing director Gopal…

To hasten the adoption of broadband in the nation, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC on Wednesday in Lagos launched its Home Broadband service. According to Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, General Manager of Fixed Broadband at MTN Nigeria, the service was created to help the Federal Government realise its goal of having more than 70% of Americans using broadband by 2025. She stated that thanks to the service, clients now have access to improved, round-the-clock online ordering options. Ikenna-Emeka estimates that Nigeria, which has a population of over 200 million, now has a 44.3% internet penetration rate, compared to internet penetration rates of 68,…

Safaricom has appointed a new Chairperson of the board after current Chair Michael Joseph stepped down to lead the company’s Ethiopia campaign. Confirming the development, the company announced the appointment of John Ngumi to replace Joseph. Joseph remains the current Chairman of Kenya Airways, a position he has held since October 2016. He was appointed to chair the Safaricom PLC board in August 2020, having previously worked for the company as founder CEO from July 2000 to November 2010, and then again as acting CEO from July 2019 to March 2020. Joseph released a statement which reads: “I want to…

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has disclosed that it will disconnect six million mobile handsets it alleges are fake and being used on different networks in the country. The Commission said there is an influx of fake mobile handsets into the country and the more consumers reject fake handsets, the less traders will be tempted to import them. According to the regulator fake handsets lower the quality of service on communication networks, negatively impact customer experience and emit electromagnetic waves that are detrimental to health. UCC Corporate Affairs Director Fred Otunnu said the regulator made use of the country’s central…

MTN has announced that its CEO leading its Rwanda operation, Mitwa Ng’ambi, will move to the position of CEO of MTN Cameroon effective 1 September 2022. Ng’ambi will be replaced by MTN South Africa’s Chief Consumer Officer Mapula Bodibe. Based on MTN Rwanda’s half-year results for the period ended 30 June 2022, Ng’ambi is poised to leave her position on a high note. In a statement of MTN Rwanda’s half year results for the period ended 30 June 2022, the company said Ng’ambi has been with MTN Rwanda since 2019 and has led the organisation through a number of significant…

Africa-focused tech magazine, TechBerg has unveiled Zandile Keebine, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GirlCode as its Woman in Tech Wednesday (WTW). WTW, one of the most high-profile tech personality ratings is a weekly review and rating of female tech personalities in Africa. It’s a special publication based on critical analysis and facts in the tech space. Zandile Keebine is a software developer and a Business Analyst. Her tech journey began in 2013, at Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering, where she was an intern. The program ignited her passion for technology and discovered her passion for creating life-changing solutions…

As entertainment and technology continue to submerge, brands and consumer connectivity gets more progressive, deepening brand adoption and patronage. To influence customers in choosing a company’s brand, or convert a competitive customer to buy one’s brand for a loyalty switch, companies ride on the popularity of celebrities who hold a critical space in the branding of their products. Celebrities are instrumental in brand endorsements to drive the brand’s message to their fans and followers. Celebrities are seen as a popular figure who influences and control a large number of followership. Their ability to influence and connect to businesses and potential…

No doubt, technological innovation enables sophisticated product development, better market infrastructure, and the implementation of reliable techniques for control of risks which helps businesses to reach geographically distant and diversified markets. Digital innovation has significantly influenced financial institutions’ operations. The role play by tech innovations offers businesses and individuals to easily make transactions, check their account balance or even make transfers and engage in other banking operations on their phones. According to Jim Marous, a financial expert and analyst, “financial institutions must be able to deliver an easy to navigate, seamless digital platform that goes far beyond a miniaturized…