Talofa,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Kenya moves closer to splitting Safaricom
- Meet the all-in-one AI for teachers
- No more 5% duty on calls and data
Kenya moves closer to splitting Safaricom
Kenya’s biggest company by market capitalisation, Safaricom, might be heading for its biggest shake-up yet. The government is weighing a plan to split the telecoms giant into three separate businesses — its core telco arm, a tower operator, and the wildly successful mobile money service, M-Pesa. The Treasury Secretary told Bloomberg an assessment showed “huge benefit” in carving up the company.
If the move goes ahead, Safaricom’s telecoms unit would stick to voice and data, the tower business would manage network infrastructure, and M-Pesa would stand alone as a financial services company under the watchful eye of the Central Bank of Kenya. For years, lawmakers have argued that M-Pesa’s sheer dominance in digital payments, handling more than 90% of the market, is simply too much power bundled into one company.
Splitting Safaricom isn’t a totally new idea. Regulators have long worried about the company’s size, while banks have kept a close eye on M-Pesa as it eats into financial services. In October 2024, Kenyan lawmakers stepped up their push to make Safaricom, the country’s biggest telecom company, break away from M-PESA, its wildly successful mobile money service.
Globally, too, big firms have done similar splits to sharpen focus. Airtel separated its mobile money unit in 2021, while MTN Uganda recently got the approval to ring-fence its fintech arm.
For Safaricom, the timing could be crucial. Its core telco services remain dominant, but competition in mobile money is heating up, especially from Airtel Money. Still, M-Pesa is so deeply entrenched in Kenya’s economy that it accounts for over half the country’s GDP in transactions each year. Regulators say moving it under CBK oversight would bring stronger financial stability.
A standalone M-Pesa would also mean it no longer has to rely on partnerships with KCB Bank and NCBA for loan products like Fuliza and KCB M-Pesa. That independence could change the dynamics of Kenya’s banking and payments landscape, and not everyone will be happy.
Safaricom hasn’t said much yet, but if Kenya’s government pushes this through, it could reshape the country’s telecom and fintech industries all at once. Whether it unlocks shareholder value or just shakes up the market, this is one story that’s far from over.
Meet the all-in-one AI for teachers
Teachers everywhere complain about being overworked, but in Africa, the load is especially heavy. Picture this: in Nigerian primary schools, one teacher is often juggling about 35 pupils at once, on top of lesson planning, grading, giving feedback, and the endless admin work that comes with the job. It’s no surprise many are turning to AI tools for relief.
But instead of hopping between different apps to prepare lessons, set quizzes, and grade tests, one founder thinks teachers deserve a single platform to handle it all. That’s where Notegrade.ai comes in.
The brain behind it is Akinwumi Fakokunde, who’s had a front-row seat to teaching struggles in both Nigeria and the UK. He recalls spending 20 hours preparing for a one-hour class and then facing the nightmare of grading hundreds of papers in under a week. With his software engineering background, he decided to roll all those headaches into one smart tool.
Notegrade.ai plugs straight into any Learning Management System (LMS), letting teachers whip up lesson notes, generate assignments, grade at scale, and even give personalised feedback. It runs on a freemium model, free with limited features, then $6.34/month for Lite, and $11.42/month for Pro. Teachers in Africa and Asia can also apply for discounted rates, so cost doesn’t become a barrier. Every sign-up comes with 25 free credits to get started.
So, what sets Notegrade apart in the growing sea of AI-for-education tools? Sarah tells us more, including how the startup is positioning itself differently from competitors. Check out her full story to get the details.
No more 5% duty on calls and data
President Bola Tinubu has scrapped the proposed 5% levy on telecom calls and data in Nigeria, a decision that could ease the cost burden on over 170 million active mobile users.
The telecom tax, first brought in under the last administration, has been a headache for both operators and consumers. Many warned that bringing it back in 2024 would just make already expensive phone bills even worse. Although the tax was put on hold in 2022, it wasn’t until President Tinubu stepped in during the Finance Act talks that the tax was finally scrapped. But for good? Time will tell.
For subscribers, this move could slow the pace of rising call and data charges, especially after the 50% tariff hike earlier this year. While no one is promising cheaper bundles overnight, the government’s decision is being read as a win for affordability and digital access. But let’s be real, we both know prices don’t just drop and stay low around here. So don’t hold your breath. Honestly, what people really want is a solid mobile network experience. That’s where the focus should be.
Telecom regulators also say the removal is part of a bigger reform push. The NCC is rolling out stricter service standards and plans to centralise billing systems, hoping to cut inefficiencies and improve quality.
Industry players and consumer groups have welcomed the development. ALTON’s Gbenga Adebayo called it a relief for both users and operators but cautioned that vigilance is needed so the government doesn’t slip in new levies under another name. NATCOMs president, Deolu Ogunbanjo, praised the move as a step forward and hinted that lawsuits challenging the tax might now be dropped.
With mobile access driving education, business, and daily life, many see this as more than just a financial tweak, it’s a signal that the Tinubu administration is betting big on digital inclusion. Whether users actually feel the impact, however, will depend on how operators adjust and whether promised service improvements materialise.
In case you missed it
- Digital lenders face stricter rules as Nigeria’s FCCPC moves to protect borrowers
What I’m watching
- The little risks you can take to increase your luck | Tina Seelig
- How to Lie With Statistics (and get away with it)
Opportunities
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Africa’s venture scene takes the spotlight at the Lagos Venture Finance Summit on September 5th, 2025. Hosted by Vencapital, the Summit gathers top LPs, GPs, policymakers and ecosystem leaders for high-level conversations, networking and dealmaking. A must-attend for those shaping Africa’s next wave of venture capital. Register here.
- Paystack is hiring for several roles in Nigeria and South Africa. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Want to attend an evening of connection, conversation, and insight on how data is shaping East Africa’s creative economy? Join Communiqué on Thursday, August 21, at 6pm, at Alliance Française, Nairobi, featuring Brian Kimanzi, Mars Maasai (HEVA Fund), Ezy Onyango (PAIPEC-CCI), Wangui Njoroge and more. Register here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Researcher and Scriptwriter Intern for Businessfront TV. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- Help us make Techpoint better for you! Your feedback shapes what comes next (your responses may potentially save my job. A bit dramatic, but still). It will only take 30 seconds to tell us what works and what doesn’t. Fill it here.
- To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link.
- Have any fresh products you’d like us to start selling? Check out this link here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a superb Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
