Author: Akin Naphtal

Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, Safaricom, has received regulatory approval from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) to launch its second money market product, Zidi. The product will be introduced in partnership with Standard Investment Bank, ALA Capital Limited, and Sanlam Investments East Africa Limited. Zidi, which will be accessible through the M-PESA platform, aims to simplify investment for subscribers, enabling them to grow their wealth via the capital markets. The fund aligns with Safaricom’s strategy to deepen its presence in the financial services sector and promote financial inclusion. Wyckliffe Shamiah, CEO of the CMA, hailed the initiative as a testament to…

French telecom giant Orange has announced a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) tailored to African languages, a big move to enhance digital inclusion on the continent. The initiative, unveiled on November 26, aims to address the digital gap caused by the underrepresentation of African languages in global AI systems. The project will leverage OpenAI’s Whisper and Meta’s Llama platforms to create AI systems capable of understanding and communicating in regional African languages. Set to launch in 2025, the initiative will initially focus on Wolof and Pulaar, widely spoken across West Africa,…

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries worldwide, its impact on the data center sector is nothing short of transformative. Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has unveiled its projections for the key trends that will shape the data center landscape in 2025. These insights underscore the need for industry-wide innovation, sustainability, and strategic collaboration to meet the demands of an AI-driven future. The AI Revolution: Driving Data Center Evolution “AI is rapidly increasing rack densities into three- and four-digit kilowatt ranges,” said Vertiv CEO Giordano Albertazzi. “The demand for advanced, scalable solutions to…

Airtel Nigeria has ushered in a new era of leadership by appointing Dinesh Balsingh as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. This appointment was announced in a statement by Femi Adeniran, Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria, and signals a strategic move to strengthen the company’s presence in the dynamic telecommunications market. A Journey in Telecommunications Excellence Dinesh Balsingh brings over two decades of extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, marked by exemplary leadership and strategic innovation. His career with Airtel began in 2013 when he joined Airtel Nigeria as Marketing Director. He spearheaded key consumer…

IHS Nigeria, a leading telecommunications tower company, has partnered with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy (FMACCE) to digitize Nigeria’s cultural heritage. The announcement marks a significant step toward preserving the nation’s historical artifacts and monuments through a state-of-the-art digital museum platform. The initiative is part of Nigeria’s Digital Culture Initiative and aims to address cultural assets’ risks, including environmental degradation, conflict, and illegal looting. By leveraging advanced technology, the digital museum will provide global access to Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage while ensuring long-term preservation. Mohamad Darwish,…

Google’s products and services drove approximately $900 million in economic activity across businesses, non-profits, publishers, creators, and developers in Kenya in 2023. A new report titled ‘The Digital Opportunity of Kenya’, highlights Kenya’s position as a digital leader in Africa, emphasizing the significant potential of continued investment in its digital economy. “Kenya’s digital transformation is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of its people,’’ said Agnes Gathaiya, Country Director at Google Kenya. “The insights from this report reaffirm the power of technology to drive sustainable growth and inspire us to continue working with partners to unlock Kenya’s…

OpenAI, the leading artificial intelligence research organization, is venturing into uncharted ethical waters by funding academic research aimed at teaching AI to predict human moral judgments. In a bold move, OpenAI’s nonprofit arm has awarded a grant to Duke University researchers for a project intriguingly titled “Research AI Morality.” The initiative forms part of a three-year, $1 million funding effort supporting Duke professors exploring ways to create “moral AI.” While details remain sparse, the project’s principal investigator, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, a professor of practical ethics at Duke, declined to elaborate on the specifics of the research, citing ongoing work. A “Moral…

Senegal-based fintech startup New Africa Technology (NAT) has joined forces with MasterCard to launch innovative virtual and physical prepaid cards through its digital wallet service, Flash. This strategic partnership is set to redefine payment solutions in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin, making financial services more accessible to individuals and businesses. Flash, NAT’s flagship digital wallet, offers seamless transaction capabilities alongside prepaid card options. Its user-friendly features include invoice splitting, spending management, and budgeting tools. The app is also interoperable with other regional wallets, enhancing convenience for users. “This collaboration represents a major step forward in making financial services more accessible…

Kenya is emerging as a key player in Africa’s growing smartphone manufacturing sector, having already produced over 2.5 million smartphones locally. This milestone highlights the country’s commitment to advancing the digital economy and fostering technological self-reliance across the continent. At the Smartphone for Africa Summit in Nairobi, Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of Kenya’s ICT Authority, underscored the nation’s achievements in local smartphone assembly and their critical role in accelerating digital transformation. Speaking during a panel discussion titled “State of Smartphone Penetration in Africa and Why Local Manufacturing is Important,” Kamanguya emphasized that smartphones have become indispensable tools for connecting people to…

Côte d’Ivoire has launched two ambitious initiatives: the Digital Readiness Assessment (DRA) and the Digital Flagship for West Africa. The initiatives aim to bolster the country’s digital ecosystem and accelerate progress toward a connected and inclusive society. In the move to harness the power of digital technology and bridge technological divides, these projects are spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Digitalization, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Italian Embassy. Speaking at the launch, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, highlighted the government’s commitment to digital advancement. “Although this…