Bonġu,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- $1.1B to defend MTN’s turf in Ghana
- Fixing Nigeria’s broken poultry chain
- Terra’s big bet on local defence production
$1.1 billion to defend MTN’s turf in Ghana
MTN isn’t waiting around for competition to catch up in Ghana. The telecom giant has announced plans to pour $1.1 billion into its Ghanaian operations over the next three years, its biggest infrastructure commitment in the country yet.
The investment, which MTN calls an “accelerated” push, will fund major network upgrades, including at least 500 new sites by the end of 2026. That’s a sharp jump from the 25–30 sites built in 2024 and 50 in 2025. According to Group CEO Ralph Mupita, the jump from $1 billion over five years to $1.1 billion in just three signals how strategically important Ghana remains to the company.
On paper, MTN hardly looks threatened. As of H1 2025, MTN Ghana controls 73.9% of the market with 30.2 million subscribers. Telecel Ghana holds 18.3% (7.29 million users), while AT Ghana has 7.9% (3.15 million). But the planned merger between Telecel and AT, backed by a promised $600 million government investment over four years, could create a stronger number-two player with a combined 26.1% market share.
So this $1.1 billion isn’t just about faster Internet. It’s a strategic response. By rapidly expanding infrastructure, rolling out 5G spectrum, and improving rural broadband coverage, MTN is reinforcing its dominance before a merged competitor can find its footing. MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett says moving to 500 sites in a year is about delivering better service but it also widens the moat.
Beyond towers and fibre, MTN is also working with the Bank of Ghana to tackle mobile money scams and investing in digital skills for young Ghanaians. In a market where scale already favours it, MTN’s latest move signals one thing clearly: if competition is coming, it plans to be even harder to catch.
Fixing Nigeria’s broken poultry chain
Poultry is serious business in Nigeria. We consume about 1.5 million tonnes of poultry meat every year, roughly one billion birds. But here’s the catch: local farmers only meet about 30% of that demand. According to industry players like Gbolade Adewole of natnudO Foods’ Broiler Outgrower Scheme, that gap translates to nearly ₦600 billion in lost sales for Nigerian farmers.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
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Why can’t we meet our own demand? The reasons are layered. High input costs. Volatile pricing. A supply chain that doesn’t quite work for the people actually raising the birds. Mbanefo Chinonleyum — Chino — knows this first-hand. Before launching a startup, he ran his own poultry farm and experienced just how brutal the market can be. For him, the biggest issue isn’t just feed prices or production costs; it’s structure.
That structure, he argues, is broken because of middlemen. Restaurants and hotels need large volumes of chicken, so they rely on aggregators to source from multiple farmers. But those same middlemen, Chino says, dictate prices, delay payments, and squeeze farmers’ margins. When payments are late, farmers can’t start the next production cycle. And if you only produce five or six batches a year, losing even one cycle can be devastating.
His solution is Cubeseed Africa, a marketplace connecting poultry farmers directly to bulk buyers. On the app, buyers get location-based recommendations and can source produce in seconds instead of spending days negotiating. There’s also a pre-order feature that allows restaurants and hotels to book birds before they’re even produced, helping them hedge against future price hikes. Payments go into escrow, protecting both parties and reducing the risk that usually defines the trade.
It sounds simple — cut out the middleman, protect payments, and streamline sourcing — but in a market this fragmented, structure might be the real innovation. Find out more about how Cubeseed Africa plans to reshape Nigeria’s poultry supply chain in Bolu’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
Terra’s big bet on local defence production
Nigeria wants to build more of its own weapons, and it’s betting on a startup to help make that happen. The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has signed a joint-venture agreement with Terra Industries in what both sides are calling a major step toward local defence production.
Under the deal, DICON and Terra will collaborate on manufacturing, technology transfer, and supply-chain integration. The goal is straightforward: move from assembling imported components to building advanced systems designed and deployed in Nigeria. Terra isn’t just supplying parts; it’s expected to transfer technical know-how and plug Nigeria more deeply into defence manufacturing supply chains.
DICON’s Director-General, Major General B.I. Alaya, described the agreement as transformational, one that could position Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced defence innovation. In practical terms, that means less reliance on imports and more sovereign capability at a time when global supply chains are increasingly fragile and geopolitics unpredictable.
The timing is notable. Terra has quickly become one of Africa’s most well-funded seed-stage startups. In January 2026, it raised $11.75 million in a round led by 8VC, the firm founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. Weeks later, it secured another $22 million led by Lux Capital, bringing total funding to $34 million. That Silicon Valley backing has sparked conversations about foreign capital’s role in African defence tech and whether strategic sectors should lean on global investors.
The DICON partnership appears to answer some of those concerns. By anchoring its operations within Nigeria’s state defence apparatus, Terra strengthens its local credibility while still leveraging global capital to scale. In a sector long dominated by imports and established players like Proforce, this signals a potential shift: defence manufacturing driven more from within Africa than outside it, with implications for national security, economic sovereignty, and even regional cooperation.
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Opportunities
- Moniepoint is hiring a Talent Acquisition Manager (Remote, Lagos). Apply here.
- Ouida Books is hiring four women editors for an 18-month paid internship. Learn developmental editing, rights trading, book production, and more at the Lagos publisher. Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring an Executive Communications Lead,Brand & Storytelling. Apply here.
- MTN is looking for a Manager, RMS Music and Podcast.Digital Services NG. Apply here.
- Moniepoint Inc is hiring a Senior UX Researcher. Apply here.
- Bamboo is hiring a content writer. Apply here.
- WorkNomads is hiring an AI engineer. Apply here.
- Miri Africa is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Kernel is hiring a Product Designer (🇬🇧 Visa Sponsorship). Apply here.
- Profound is hiring a Frontend Software Engineer to join their team in the UK (UK Visa Sponsorship available for exceptional candidates). Apply here.
- Bitoshi Africa is hiring for Backend Developer (Node.js) and QA Analyst roles. Apply here.
- As one of Techpoint Africa’s most engaged readers, you have a direct hand in shaping what we publish next. Take our quick, 3-minute survey to tell us the stories and features you value most. Your responses are anonymous, and your feedback will help guide our editorial focus in the months ahead. Fill the survey here.
- Mercuryo is hiring a Senior Product Manager (Remote). Apply here.
- Circo is recruiting for several roles: Product Creative Manager, Digital Marketer (Growth & Performance), Finance & Fundraising Executive, and Revenue & Growth Systems Lead. Apply here.
- A16z is looking for people who have backgrounds in podcasts, events, writing, video, networks, and community-building, marketing, or operations. Apply here.
- Terra, the startup that just announced an additional $22M in funding, is looking for machinists and electrical, mechanical, and mechatronics engineers. To apply, send an email to this email address now.
- Fincra is looking for talented people in several departments, including Compliance, Finance, Account Management, and Engineering. Apply here.
- Mission44 is hiring a Digital Communications Officer and an Executive Assistant to the CEO. Apply here.
- Are you in camp, about to be deployed, or a fresh graduate looking for hands-on experience? The TIC Internship Program (GIP) is hiring fully remote roles. Apply here.
- Gamma Mobility is looking for an Associate Product Manager. Apply here.
- Adjoe is hiring for several roles, including engineering, design, and marketing. Apply here.
- Carrot Credit is looking for a social media/content creator to join their team. Apply here.
- OPay is looking for a data analyst and operation support. Apply here.
- Briter is hiring for several roles in many countries, including Kenya and Nigeria. Apply here.
- Amazon is recruiting a Partner Development Manager, Africa. Apply here.
- Korapay is looking for Head of Growth and Partnerships (The Curve Africa by Kora). Apply here.
- Misan by Bamboo is hiring a Community and Social Media Manager. Apply here,
- Don’t miss the Cavista Technologies Hackathon happening between February 21 and 22. Register your team and go home with cash prizes here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here.
- 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.
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Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
