Author: Akin Naphtal

The Republic of Togo and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) have entered into an agreement to jointly establish the “African Centre for Coordination and Research in Cybersecurity”. A statement released to the media confirms the regional hub for cybersecurity information and intelligence is to be based in Lomé (Togo) and will act independently and objectively in expertise and activities related to promoting cybersecurity and the investigation of cybercrime. The main functions of the centre include: • Building capacities and supporting established cybersecurity agencies in African countries • Collaborating with African governments, policymakers, law enforcement and security experts…

Nigerian cryptocurrency startup Yellow Card has launched a new service called Yellow Pay, which makes money transfers easier but also aims to open up the continent to more investment, access to credit, and business grants. Formed in 2018 and launched in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card makes it easy for anyone, anywhere in Africa, to buy cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT Stablecoin using cash, mobile money, card, or bank transfer. The company claims to be “building a new financial infrastructure for the African continent”. Yellow Card has now launched payment feature Yellow Pay, which makes it easier for customers…

Tech Innovation Awards (TIA), a renowned annual award, is set to honour and celebrate outstanding tech companies and tech leaders who are deploying distinctive innovative services at its 6th awards scheduled to hold on 17th September, at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Lagos. TIA is an award ceremony by InstinctWave, an ISO-certified company and Africa’s premium B2B event management and media solutions specialist. Formally Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecom Awards (NTITA), the rebranded Tech Innovations Awards (TIA) will host innovative tech leaders and experts in Nigeria to celebrate excellence, hardwork and professionalism. Now in its 6th Year, TIA which has…

Chinese multinational technology company Lenovo has introduced a new subsidiary, Lenovo PCCW Solutions Limited, as they seek to take advantage of an over $300 billion dollar Asia IT services market. PCCW Limited, a Hong Kong based IT and telecommunications firm has agreed to partner with Lenovo to help clients in the Asian market to improve their businesses with technology. President of Lenovo Solutions and Services Group and Executive Vice President of Lenovo, Ken Wong states the partnership is yet another important feat of the company as they continue to push for the progressive development of businesses through IT. “The synergy of…

Global tech magazine, TechBerg has unveiled Benji Coetzee, the Founder of tech startup, EmptyTrips 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. Benji Coetzee has over 15 years of global specialized experience in high-performance environments such as strategy consulting, investment banking, private equity, telco, digital & tech scaling at leading companies including; HSBC Africa, Vodafone & Ziggo across South Africa, Switzerland, UAE & the Netherlands. She…

Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch has launched an integrated Application Programmable Interfaces (API) to empower African developers on digital products and solutions. The event was held recently in Lagos, where developers were intimated of the benefits of integrating Interswitch APIs on their products. The API Platform comprises Internal APIs, Partner APIs, and Infrastructure APIs; designed to empower Africa’s digital ecosystem. It also serves as a one-stop shop for innovators in the tech ecosystem who seek to build viable, market-fit products that address local needs. Over time, Interswitch has continued to champion the development of the continent’s…

Towards developing its services and expanding its user base, Egyptian startup Bonbell, a mobile app designed to offer seamless food ordering and digital solutions for table and meal reservations, has closed an initial funding round worth US$350,000. Launched early this year, Bonbell offers a wide range of food ordering services, from food delivery to restaurant reservations and dine-in ordering through a QR code. The app offers various payment solutions through cash or credit cards and already has 12,000 customers. The US$350,000 funding round came from a Canadian angel investor, and Bonbell now hopes to have 750 partner restaurants by the…

Kwik delivery, a Nigerian-based logistics platform has launched a new simple digital platform “KwikStore“ to offer a convenient way of selling via smartphones for African merchants. Sellers have the opportunity of linking KwikStores to their social media accounts and also customize their brand in order to generate sales. Payments are made by customers through the payment medium after a vendor approves an order, and goods are immediately sent for delivery. KwikStore also allows business owners or vendors to establish an online store using their smartphones within a short period of time without necessarily having vast technical experience. Using this feature…

Towards building a strong knowledge-based of Information Communication Technology among female gender, Ghana’s Girls in ICT Program, a digital skill for young women and girls has kicked off in some Senior High schools in the Oti region of Ghana. The program is aimed at ensuring that all girls stay safe on the internet. The target is to ensure all girls in the Oti region benefit from the Cyber Security and Data Privacy training. A Huawei Instructor who is also a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Julius Yaw Ludu took the children through an interactive session. During…

Uber has appointed Kagiso Khaole as the new General Manager for Uber in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), taking over Frans Hiemstra’s role who has been appointed as the Regional General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Uber. Kagiso joined Uber in 2021 where he led mobility operations across SSA, and has previously worked in several industries, including eCommerce, Software and Services, Consumer Electronics, Management Consulting, Insurance and Banking. This makes Kagiso well positioned to further grow the business in the region, which is operational in over 50 cities across South Africa, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and…