Citing alleged defaults in its recent directive, Nigeria’s Apex bank has banned mobile money operators from receiving remittances. It has also ordered payment switches to stop processing remitta…
Kenyan government takes another shot at infringing privacy and digital rights
The Kenyan government has passed a new bill that will allow it to demand the private mobile phone data of its citizens in the name of national security. These come against the backdrop of digital righ…
Burning questions arising as the Nigerian government plans to block SIM cards without NIN
Following the Nigerian government’s latest directive, millions of mobile subscribers without a National Identification Number could be blocked in two weeks. We explore some questions this move b…
With $950k pre-seed, OnePipe is building a super aggregator for every financial service API in Nigeria
OnePipe aggregates APIs from banks and fintechs into a unified gateway that makes partnerships seamless. Here’s why the Techstars-backed startup raised $950k in pre-seed investment and its plans to fo…
Kenyan healthtech startup, Ilara Health, raises $3.75m Series A led by TLcom Capital
Ilara Health has raised $3.75m to expand its diagnostic reach across Africa. This is two months after receiving a $1.1m grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and securing a $735k seed in…
Senegalese-based solar energy startup, Oolu Solar, raises $8.5m Series B
With over 60,000 solar home systems sold in five African markets since launching in 2015, Senegalese-based solar energy startup, Oolu Solar, has raised $8.5m Series B for product development and expan…
After Ekocab, Lagos yellow taxis partner with new ride-hailing company
Amidst backlash a few months ago, ride-hailing company, Ekocab, partnered with Lagos yellow cab drivers. However, a new ride-hailing company appears to have struck another deal. We try looking behind …
Disney partners Africa’s Kugali Media for animated series set in Lagos, Nigeria
The African entertainment industry could be set for another landmark as Disney, in collaboration with African entertainment entity, Kugali Media, plans a movie series adaptation of pan-African comic b…
How Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters, Nollywood’s first feature-length animated film, was made
Nigeria’s first feature-length animated movie, Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters made its official outing to the big screens on December 11, 2020. Here’s how it was made…
Why you can no longer buy or register new SIM cards in Nigeria, for now
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has temporarily suspended the sales, registration and activation of new SIM cards for all telcos and ISPs. With laudable plans at play, we explore what thi…
Nigerians may have a hard time meeting new SIM registration requirements in 2020
Here’s why Nigeria’s flawed database system might make it hard for subscribers to meet the new prerequisites for SIM registration before the December 2020 deadline…