Kamisaki,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- Nigerians abroad to register for NIN via a mobile app
- Twiga and Incentro to settle debt dispute out of court
- Anambra State partners 26 big tech companies
Nigerians abroad to register for NIN via a mobile app
Starting in February 2024, Nigerians living abroad will easily apply for a National Identity Number (NIN) via the National Identity Management Commission's (NIMC) app.
This development will accelerate identity services, address the slow growth of the NIN database, and ensure a more effective and inclusive system for Nigerians both inside and outside the country.
As part of the process, the NIMC Office will establish a dedicated Diaspora Focal Point Desk to guarantee prompt resolution of issues within a day.
This customer-focused approach aims to satisfy the agency's dedication to providing quality service delivery by assisting Nigerian expatriates.
The Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, emphasised that the app is consistent with the agency’s goal of improving service delivery and establishing an easy-to-use system for Nigerians living abroad.
This move may contribute to populating the NIN database, which stood at 104.16 million as of December 31, 2023, but is considered low compared to the country's population of over 200 million.
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Thus, NIMC aims to enrol 148 million Nigerians by June 2024 as part of the World Bank-supervised Digital Identity for Development (DID4D) project.
Besides, by June 1, 2024, the nation intends to provide NIN to 50 million children under the age of 16 and at least 65 million female Nigerians.
Twiga and Incentro to settle debt dispute out of court
Twiga Foods and Google Cloud reseller Incentro Africa have agreed not to pursue legal action, a month after a Kenyan court granted them five months to resolve their lingering Google Cloud Services debt dispute.
Some backstory: The financial dispute between the two companies began in September 2023, when the cloud service provider sued the B2B eCommerce company, threatening to liquidate it unless it paid $261,878.75 in debt payments.
Twiga Foods filed a countersuit in response to the liquidation threat, preventing Incentro from starting the process.
Twiga Foods confirmed a month later that it was in talks with Incentro about the bill. The company also assured stakeholders and customers of its health despite layoffs and an adjustment to its business model.
In December 2023, a Kenyan court granted Twiga Foods and Incentro three months to resolve their dispute over the amount Twiga owed Incentro.
While Incentro claimed it was owed $450,000 in unpaid bills and a delayed bonus from Google, a bump from the initial $261,878, Twiga argud that it only owed $94,000.
And now? According to Zuber Momoniat, CFO of Twiga, Incentro has consented to drop the lawsuit and renegotiate the contract's original terms with Google "in light of the current global economic climate."
Sidebar: Peter Njonjo and Grant Brooke (former CEO and Co-Founder) launched Twiga in 2014. In 2019, however, Brooke stepped down and handed over to Njonjo. In a similar development, Njonjo resigned as CEO shortly after announcing a six-month sabbatical.
Anambra State partners 26 big tech companies
A month after Anambra State adopted the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), the government is forming a technology collaboration and cooperation alliance with up to 26 US-based companies.
These companies include Google, Meta, Amazon Web Services, Dell, VISA, Microsoft, and Coca-Cola.
The Anambra government, led by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, seeks to establish a thriving technology ecosystem in the state. Thus, the partnership will hasten the state's technological development.
The alliance could boost technological exchange and economic growth, benefiting Anambra State's tech sector and companies in Nigeria and the United States.
The agreement states that Amazon Web Services will help Anambra State transform its digital health and education systems. The tech giants—Dell and HP—will also provide discounts and technical support for future purchases of their devices made in the state.
While Google will help SMEs improve their digital presence, Meta, Facebook's parent company, will expand its collaboration in the state through some tech institutions.
Nonetheless, a statement clarifies that the partnership is preliminary, and parties reserve the right to modify the commitments to ensure their translation into meaningful projects.
On January 15, 2024, Anambra State disclosed that it would implement the Nigeria Startup Act, following Rivers State's announcement in December 2023.
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Opportunities
- Moniepoint is actively recruiting for multiple roles. Check them out here.
- The following positions at PiggyVest are open for applications: Treasury Executive, Quality Assurance Engineer, Information Security Officer-PocketApp, AML Analyst, Internal Auditor, and Senior Product Manager-PocketApp. Apply here.
- Anderson Optimization is hiring a Node Software Developer. Apply here.
- Statespace is looking for a Product Manager. Apply here.
- Tangent is hiring a Mid Weight Product Designer. Apply here.
- Self Financial is currently recruiting for multiple positions. Check them out here.
- Hive.co is hiring a Senior Software Developer. Apply here.
- Cere Network is looking for a Technical Product Manager. Apply here.
- Phantom is actively recruiting for multiple roles. Check them out here.
- A.Team is hiring a Senior Independent Software Developer. Apply here.
- Dapper is hiring a Product Designer. Apply here.
- Kenyan startups focused on embedded finance, future fintech, SME productivity tools, and content like local gaming and mobile advertising can apply for Safaricom’s Spark Accelerator programme. For more information, check this out.
- The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is looking for an editor to support the Arthur F. Burns Fellowship. Apply here.
- Application for the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Class of 2025 is now open. Check out the one-year, fully sponsored, graduate-level programme in tech entrepreneurship here before March 18, 2023.
- Do you live in Nigeria and work with a local or foreign company? Whether it's remotely, on-site, hybrid, full-time, part-time or as a freelancer, @TheIntelpoint is trying to understand the Nigerian workspace: how you work, and toxicity in the workspace among others. Please, fill out the questionnaire here.
- Explore this website to find multiple job opportunities in Data that align with your preferences.
- If you are a software engineer, creative designer, product manager, design researcher, or a techie looking for an internship role, please, check out this website.
Have a happy Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
