Author: Akin Naphtal

The Tech Innovation Awards (TIA) celebrated its 8th annual event, unveiling winners from across Africa’s ICT and digital economy sectors. Held on November 2, 2024, at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, this year’s TIA recognized pioneering achievements driving digital transformation in the country and continent. This year’s awards highlighted key industry players, including MTN Foundation, Digital Realty Nigeria, and IHS Nigeria among others, applauding their significant contributions to technological advancement and digital inclusion across Africa. The winners exemplify the excellence and innovation needed to fuel Africa’s progress in the global digital economy, reinforcing TIA’s mission to celebrate those…

Vodacom Group, in collaboration with global partners including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Skillsoft, has unveiled a Digital Skills Hub aimed at equipping young Africans with critical digital skills. The initiative, targeting eight countries, aspires to train one million young people by 2027, addressing the continent’s digital literacy gap. The Digital Skills Hub offers self-paced training for individuals aged 18 to 35 in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt (Talimy), the Democratic Republic of Congo (VodaEduc), and Kenya (Industry Digital Talent Program). It complements Vodacom’s existing free e-learning platforms across these regions, which provide diverse online resources tailored to…

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged developed nations at the 19th G20 Summit in Brazil to extend greater support to developing countries in tackling challenges related to artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change. Delivering a speech titled “Working Together for a Fair and Equitable Global Governance System,” Jinping emphasized the need for inclusive global governance and collaborative efforts to address pressing global issues. Speaking during a session on reforming global governance institutions, President Jinping called for enhanced global digital governance and promoting a world economy driven by innovation. He encouraged G20 member states to lead in the digital transformation and…

To bolster Africa’s defenses against cyber threats, Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, has signed a five-year collaboration agreement with AFRIPOL, the African Union’s specialized police cooperation body. The partnership aims to enhance information sharing and strengthen the continent’s resilience against escalating cybercrime. Under the agreement, the two organizations will exchange threat intelligence data on emerging cybercrime activities. This data will enable AFRIPOL to conduct advanced criminal intelligence analysis and improve its operational capacity. Kaspersky will also provide technical expertise and information security training, leveraging its global experience in combating cyber threats. A joint statement from the partners emphasized Africa’s evolving…

Success Joycelyn Dadzie, a 10-year-old Basic 6 pupil of Hwidiem Municipal Assembly (MA) Basic School in the Asante Akyem North District, has emerged winner of the 2024 Girls-In-ICT programme for the Ashanti Region. Success achieved a perfect score of 100, showcasing exceptional mastery of ICT concepts, including basic computer skills in Scratch, cybersecurity, game development, animation and coding. For her remarkable performance, she received a cash prize of GHC 3,000, a plaque, a certificate, a laptop, and an ICT lab for her school. The second position went to Amponsah Yaa Darkoaa, a 13-year-old JHS 2 pupil from Ejisu Municipal, who…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Monacosat, a leading satellite operator in Monaco, to expand satellite connectivity across the nation. The agreement, signed in Monaco by DRC’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, signifies the start of negotiations to deploy satellite infrastructure aimed at bridging the country’s digital divide. According to the Ministry of ICT, the partnership focuses on extending connectivity to rural and remote areas using Monacosat’s satellite capabilities. “We have decided to work closely together and consult on issues of common interest,” the ministry stated, emphasizing…

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful ( MP) has highlighted the transformative power of technology, urging girls to leverage it to create positive change in their communities. “Whether it’s developing apps, creating digital art, or solving real-world problems, the possibilities are endless,” she said. The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP), made these remarks during a recent visit to five selected Girls-in-ICT training centers in the Ashanti Region. The tour was aimed at inspiring enthusiasm and fostering appreciation among beneficiaries of the Girls-in-ICT initiative. This program, aligned with the International Telecommunication Union’s Resolution 70,…

MTN Nigeria has announced the appointment of Yahaya Ibrahim as its new Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Ibrahim, a telecommunications expert with over two decades of experience, has played a pivotal role in deploying Nigeria’s first 4G and 5G networks, solidifying MTN’s reputation as a leader in advanced technology on the continent. With a career at MTN spanning more than two decades, Ibrahim brings a wealth of expertise and dynamic leadership to his new role. Known for his innovative approach to network capacity enhancement and connectivity optimization, he has been instrumental in the rollout of complex ICT infrastructures and cutting-edge technologies…

Through its subsidiaries, Africa Data Centres (ADC), Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), and Liquid C2, Cassava Technologies is making significant strides in capturing a larger share of Africa’s burgeoning tech market. The company unveiled its ambitious plans during the Africa IT Festival 2024, held in Cape Town last week, highlighting its role in addressing the continent’s digital infrastructure challenges.Deon Geyser, CEO of Liquid SA, emphasized the importance of investment-friendly regulatory frameworks to drive digital infrastructure development., he belaboured the need for long-term policy stability to attract investors. “My view is that the first step is having the right investment-friendly policy framework.…

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has announced an expansion of its interconnection services in Kenya, adding LINX Mombasa to its global network footprint. This development comes a year after the launch of LINX Nairobi, marking a significant extension of LINX’s presence in Kenya and strengthening its partnership with iColo, a local data center operator and part of Digital Realty. Situated on Kenya’s coast, Mombasa serves as a vital hub for several major submarine internet cables, including 2Africa, SEACOM, TEAMS (The East African Marine System), and EASSy (Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System). These cables provide essential connectivity between Africa and other…