Author: Akin Naphtal

Digital finance is at the forefront of a revolution, fundamentally altering the way we perceive and engage with financial services. This revolution encompasses a myriad of technological innovations, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer behaviors, all of which are reshaping the financial landscape in profound ways. One of the defining trends in digital finance is the rise of mobile banking and payment solutions. With smartphones becoming ubiquitous and internet connectivity reaching even remote areas, mobile devices have become the primary channel for accessing financial services. Mobile banking apps offer users the flexibility to manage their finances anytime, anywhere, while mobile payment…

Digital finance is undergoing a dynamic evolution, propelled by technological innovation, changing consumer behaviors, and regulatory developments. This dynamic ecosystem encompasses a wide range of financial services and technologies, each playing a unique role in reshaping the way we manage money, conduct transactions, and access financial services. One of the prominent trends in digital finance is the rise of fintech startups. These agile and innovative companies leverage technology to deliver financial services in new and disruptive ways, challenging traditional banking institutions. From peer-to-peer lending platforms to robo-advisors, fintech startups are democratizing access to financial services and driving innovation across the…

Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it—we mean to lead it.” That was President Kennedy more than a half-century ago. Even then, he understood better than most that America’s place in the world was bound up with our determination to be at the cutting edge of progress. We were a beacon…

That puts it in second place across all blockchains, just behind Tron’s 2.2 million daily active users, according to Token Terminal. But the Ronin network only generated the 13th highest fee revenue of all blockchains in the past 30 days with just $200,000. So something isn’t quite adding up. The growth in user numbers is a dramatic turnaround from last October when Ronin was practically on life support with less than 20,000 daily active users. That’s around the time when farming simulation game Pixels ditched its birthplace Polygon and migrated to the then-dying chain. Pixels’ arrival kickstarted the revival of the…

Microsoft South Africa has unveiled a $70 million investment in the South African economy, as part of a 10-year agreement with the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) to support small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs), create jobs, and prepare the country for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. A substantial portion of the $34.6 million investment will fund an enterprise development program. The DTIC emphasized that the initiative’s primary goals are to support technology businesses led by black South African entrepreneurs and to promote innovation in disruptive technologies. Additionally, a $18.9 million skills development effort is planned to provide…

Google has announced the launch of Umoja, the first-ever fibre optic cable directly connecting Africa to Australia, as part of Google’s Africa Connect project, aimed at enhancing digital connectivity and infrastructure across the continent. Umoja, meaning “unity” in Swahili, joins Google’s Equiano cable in bolstering Africa Connect. This new route will provide more reliable connectivity for African countries and establish a resilient network essential for a region historically affected by high-impact outages. VP of Global Network Infrastructure at Google Cloud, Brian Quigley, stated during the announcement, “we are excited to announce Umoja, a new fibre optic cable connecting Africa to…

Huawei Kenya has announced the launch of its management trainee program, aimed at facilitating recruitment for jobs and internships targeting Kenyan university students, and offering approximately 30 jobs and internship opportunities in the ICT field. Speaking at the launch event held at the University of Nairobi, Paul Mungai, Director of Education, Ministry of Education – State Department for Higher Education and Research, praised the ongoing collaboration between Huawei and various educational institutions. “As a government, we recognise and appreciate the work being done by Huawei in expanding the ICT space in Kenya. With programs such as Huawei ICT Academy, ICT…

Leading data centre solutions provider, PAIX Data Centres, has announced the expansion of its facility in Accra to 1.2 MW as it seeks to bolster the digital economy and create job opportunities in the region. The expanded data centre is now one of the largest in Ghana, offering enhanced support for internet service providers (ISPs), cloud providers, and enterprises. With this robust digital infrastructure and improved connectivity, businesses can capitalise on opportunities in the digital era, particularly in sectors like e-commerce. Speaking on the expansion, Managing Director of PAIX Data Centres, Ghana, Bright Tawiah, said “this expansion reaffirms our dedication…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a leading pan-African technology group, has announced a distribution partner agreement (DPA) with Eutelsat Group to introduce enterprise-grade Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services across Africa. Eutelsat Group, renowned as the world’s first satellite operator with an integrated GEO-LEO infrastructure, is poised to revolutionise connectivity on the continent through this partnership. “Liquid has always been committed to technological innovation in Africa,” CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Ahmed El Beheiry stated. He added that “our collaboration with Eutelsat signifies a milestone in bringing cutting-edge LEO services to our customers across multiple countries in Africa, empowering them with high-speed…

To support Kenya’s cultural and linguistic needs, AI firm, G42 has begun developing an open-source large-language AI model in Swahili and English through its data infrastructure in the United States. This effort is bolstered by collaborations with local universities and research institutes, including the Microsoft Africa Research Institute, the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, and the Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. Group CEO of G42, Peng Xiao, expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “in partnership with Microsoft, we are excited to work with the Kenyan government to usher in a transformative era for the digital…