In what initially seemed to be another confusing fight against ‘misinformation’ Google has taken down Arise TV’s live feed on YouTube. Though reasons are given, a number of talking p…
Internet service disruptions trail shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki, Nigeria
Amidst eyewitness reports of the shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters by the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria’s largest telco, MTN Nigeria, blamed power outage for network disruptions witnessed …
The good and bad sides of policies chasing after innovation
Over the years, the rapid pace of innovation has bemused policymakers. While this has been known to cause some friction between regulators and entrepreneurs, an expert points out that it’s more …
#ENDSARS: Nigerian government’s strongarm tactics, crypto adoption, and the power of the Internet
Amidst the #EndSARS protests, online activism, and alleged sabotage of crowdfunding sources, Nigerians have turned to crypto and government strong-arming could unwittingly provoke its massive adoption…
Harvard, MIT, top postgraduate choices for founders of Millionaire West African Startups
Founders of West Africa’s Millionaire Startups seem to have a penchant for getting postgraduate degrees from the world’s top universities. According to data, Harvard and MIT are the top de…
Kenya’s plans for digital taxes and its data protection bill hit a potential snag
Kenya’s plan to tax enforce digital taxes, and some provisions of its data protection bill could face a major stumbling block as it begins free trade negotiations with the US. …
How cryptocurrency should be regulated in Nigeria
Nigerians are massively adopting crypto and regulations are essential to protect consumers, but how and where do we start charting a course for crypto regulations? This article dives into this and oth…
The fintech sector made up 35% of Millionaire West African Startups in the last decade
Data from Techpoint Africa’s West African Startup Decade Report reveals that 35% of West African startups that have raised up to a million dollars are in the financial services sector. But what …
Financial inclusion in Nigeria: Fintechs are merely scratching the surface
In the past few years, Nigeria’s fintech sector has grown in leaps and bounds, and has become the main attraction for VC investments. Despite the range of services, gaps in financial inclusion persist…
A close look at the possible impact of Google’s various initiatives in Africa
Alongside other Big tech companies, Google has been involved in a plethora of initiatives, across various sectors to supposedly aid Africa’s economic recovery. But what impact, if any, will this have?…
Nigerian mobility startup, MAX, floats ₦10 billion bond to expand services in Africa
In a relatively rare fundraising move, Nigerian mobility startup, MAX, has raised ₦400 million from a ₦10 billion bond float. The startup wants to deepen vehicle financing and expand its mobility of…
Startup Bill 2020 to benefit startups with majority Kenyan ownership
One of Africa’s major markets looks set to enter the ranks of African nations working on a bespoke policy to support startups and innovation. When Kenya’s other policies are considered, it…
Nigeria opens portal for $193 million MSME, startup payroll support fund
The Nigerian government has kicked off another phase of its economic sustainability plan as it opens registration portal to support MSMEs, startups with salary payments …
Nigeria’s economic recovery plan and a million-dollar bet on renewable energy
Nigeria’s apex bank has earmarked loan facilities of up to $1.3 million to provide energy in rural areas. However, in the broader context of Nigeria’s economic recovery plan, it raises a few questions…
Why Nigeria wants financial account holders to submit self-certification forms
The Nigerian government has ordered entities and individuals to submit self-certification forms to their respective financial institutions. A closer look shows a deep play for billions in offshore tax…
Blockchain: The tool that can help Africans build the next Facebook, Google
As Africa witnesses what could be termed a revolution in the cryptocurrency sector, Eric Annan, CEO of KuBitX makes a case for more Blockchain-based innovations that could birth the next Facebook or G…
Nigerian regulator amends crowdfunding regulations, resolves only few pain points
Nigeria’s Securities regulator has released a number of changes to its crowdfunding regulations. Though a few changes have been made, issues raised by industry players remain unsolved. But there…
Nigeria issues regulations on cryptocurrency, crypto startups, ICOs, others
The Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, has issued regulations for digital currencies, initial coin offerings, and local and foreign companies and startups playing in the sector.…
Kenyan regulator wants Safaricom, Airtel, others to pay customers for service outages
The Kenyan Communications Authority has released a new policy to guide customer care activities in the telecom sector. In an interesting provision, telecom companies will be required to pay customers …
PC, smartphone shipments in Kenya hit $74 million during the lockdown
PC and smartphone shipments are experiencing declines globally as a result of the pandemic. But during the lockdown in Kenya, the importation of these devices surged 56% from last year in response to …