Author: Akin Naphtal

President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has lauded Ghana’s strides in e-government infrastructure, particularly in the realms of fintech and financial inclusion, placing Ghana among African countries leveraging technology to reshape public service delivery and expand financial access. Addressing attendees at the 3i Africa summit in Accra, which was held from 13th to 15th May, President Akuffo-Addo stated that 17 million Ghanaians now possess a digital ID linking them seamlessly to the critical services they need to thrive in the modern world. This has made it possible for the Ghana.gov portal to facilitate “transactions worth some GH¢1.6 billion since…

Innovative technology organisation, Next Step Foundation, has partnered with Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D) to leverage technology to support individuals with disabilities in the global south. The collaboration will see both companies addressing issues such as data accessibility and quality, capacity building, skills gap, and the ethical and social implications of AI. Speaking at the launch event held Tuesday, 14th May, Philip Thigo, a distinguished member of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on AI, stressed the potential of AI in advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thigo commended the efforts of local startups in combating inequality, particularly…

Kenya’s Safaricom PLC has announced earnings of $1 billion before interest and tax for the period ending 31 March 2024, marking Safaricom as the first company in the region to surpass the billion-dollar mark. The telecommunications giant reported group-level earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $724 million, exhibiting a 3.5 percent year-on-year growth, despite factoring in startup costs and investments in Safaricom Ethiopia. Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa expressed satisfaction with the achievement, stating, “we are extremely pleased with what we have been able to achieve as a group despite the significant startup costs in our Ethiopia business. We expect…

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digitisation, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced the launch of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) dedicated to extending Nigeria’s fibre optic infrastructure by an additional 90,000 kilometres. “We have secured approvals for projects that will significantly benefit Nigerians, particularly our burgeoning digital startup ecosystem,” stated Dr. Tijanin in a LinkedIn post following a Federal Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, 14th May. Dr Tijani emphasized that extensive groundwork has been laid for the establishment of the SPV, which will operate under a governance and operational model inspired by successful Public-Private Partnership setups in Nigeria. He…

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has embarked on a tour of the Headquarters of Huawei in Shenzhen, China, to bolster Nigeria’s customs modernisation efforts, and explore collaboration opportunities for Nigeria Customs Service Trade Modernisation Project. The visit, which took place on Thursday, 9th May 2024, was part of Adeniyi’s official trip to China for the 6th Global AEO Conference held in Shenzhen from Wednesday, 8th May to Friday, 10th May 2024. Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Adeniyi expressed delight in associating with Huawei, and highlighted the importance of the tech giant’s role in…

President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged African governments to embrace technological advancements that are revolutionising the global economy and adapt them to suit the specific needs of the continent. Speaking at the 3i Africa Summit which is being held at the Accra International Conference Centre, President Akufo-Addo highlighted that fintech and digital innovation was playing a major role in maximising the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He emphasized that AfCFTA holds immense potential to reshape Africa’s economic landscape of Africa, driving transformative change across the continent. President Akufo-Addo stressed the impact that AfCFTA…

Jumia, has appointed Jumia Uganda CEO, Vinod Goel, as its new Regional CEO for East Africa, a role which will see him managing the e-commerce company’s Kenya and Uganda branches as direct CEO. Vinod takes over the Kenyan mantle from Charles Ballard, who is now the CEO of Twiga Foods. Jumia is confident that Vinod is equipped with the right skillset to steer Jumia Kenya through its growth phase, and make it generate a sustainable profitable business. Speaking on his appointment, which took place on 9th May, 2024, Vinod said that he was excited to lead Jumia’s operations in Kenya…

The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has shared, in a LinkedIn post, a list of achievements the company has accomplished since he was given the reins in May 2022. Digital Achievements Since assuming the role of Managing Director (MD), Mahama has spearheaded efforts to modernise ECG’s operations, enhance efficiency, and ensure transparency within the organisation. He highlighted the implementation of digital solutions like the ECG app which have helped smoothen payment and billing processes for customers. Moreover, the successful revamp of the ECG PowerApp has seen active users surge from 500,000 to over…

Cisco has announced the appointment of David Meads as the new Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, Romania, and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He succeeds Reem Asaad who drove Cisco’s business in the region for more than four years. In this role, Meads will be responsible for Cisco’s strategy and commercial operations, with a focus on empowering customers and partners to harness the full potential of digital technologies for economic growth and societal benefit. He will continue in his current capacity as Chief Executive of Cisco in the UK and Ireland until the end of Cisco’s fiscal year…

The manufacturer of Nokia phones, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) has announced the comeback of the iconic Nokia 3210. This mobile phone was a defining piece of technology for an entire generation, and now, 25 years later, users will have the opportunity to experience the legendary device once again. ‘Dumbphones’ are making a comeback as people look to return to simpler times. In 2023, HMD saw sales of the iconic Nokia 2660 Flip phone, double; and HMD expects further feature phone market growth in 2024. The devices offer a solution for a digital detox in a world where almost four in…