Author: Akin Naphtal

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…

In a crucial move, Huawei has introduced GigaGear, the world’s first 5G/5.5G experience accelerator. This innovative solution combines advanced software and hardware to deliver real-time services like New Calling, live streaming, robotaxis, and human-like AI agents—pioneering technologies poised to redefine the mobile industry. Speaking at the launch event held at the Shanghai JinQiao Innovative Center, Fang Xiang, Vice President of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line, emphasized the urgency for robust and elastic networks. “The rapid progress in Mobile AI, live streaming, and AI robot services necessitates the adoption of more economical, reliable, and elastic mobile networks,” he stated. What Sets…

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…