Apple has begun accepting applications for its annual Swift Student Challenge, a global competition for children hoping to become developers. The competition requires competitors to demonstrate their coding abilities and creativity through app playgrounds. Every year, the Cupertino-based computer behemoth selects 350 winners from among the contestants. This year, Apple will select 50 excellent submissions…
Qualcomm, a leading global provider of wireless technology, is now accepting applications for its Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program. This program provides companies with access to engineers, coaching, and advice on intellectual property protection. The NASDAQ-listed company An American multinational company called Qualcomm develops wireless technology-related semiconductors, software, and services. According to Disrupt Africa,…
Google has revealed that new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered upgrades to Google Maps will be available soon with the goal of assisting users in finding new locations. According to each user’s unique needs, a customized recommendation system powered by generative AI will provide results. To generate travel recommendations, it analyzes over 250 million locations on Google…
An on-demand beauty tech platform called TausiApp, founded in Kenya, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match clients with independent beauticians. TausiApp is a marketplace that was founded in 2021 by well-known Kenyan musician Amos Kimani. It allows users to quickly select and schedule beauty services, including as makeup application and hair styling, from a network…
Nigerian startup alGROWithm has obtained funds to expand its patented Growth Talent Accelerator Programme to additional people in six African nations. AlGROWithm, founded in March 2022, is the firm behind the Growth Talent Accelerator Program, which offers ed-tech solutions to growth hackers. The company has now acquired funds from Digital Africa, which it will use…
The Kofi Annan Award for Innovation in Africa (KAAIA), which focuses on technologically advanced approaches to guarantee that no one goes hungry in Africa, is now accepting applications. In order to scale their impact and help as many Africans as possible, the Austrian Federal Chancellery and the Kofi Annan Foundation are organizing the KAAIA, which…
After a Two-Year Investigation, Sophos X-Ops Discovers Unprecedented Sophistication in Scams That Trick Victims into Fake Investments Sophos, a global leader in innovating and delivering cybersecurity as a service, today revealed how sha zhu pan scammers—those conducting elaborate, romance-based cryptocurrency fraud—are leveraging a business model similar to cybercrime “as-a-service” by selling sha zhu pan kits on…
The more sophisticated technology becomes, the more adept scammers get at tricking and robbing us. Be careful! Scammers will be using new tactics in 2024, like deepfake impersonation. Because of this, developing a zero-trust mentality can help you avoid falling for these con artists. 1. Scams using Deepfake impersonation Say your CEO gives you a…
One year after choosing Johannesburg as its first African location, Google announced today that its cloud region in South Africa is now active. Cloud regions give users access to a variety of services, such as compute engines, cloud storage, and essential management systems, and enable them to deploy cloud resources from particular geographic locations or…
The first half of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s term will see the digital education of over ten thousand Liberian youngsters empowered. On Monday, January 29, 2024, Mr. Boakai revealed the idea at his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the Capitol. He reassured parliamentarians that during the next six years, the goal of…
Fliprecharge, a Value-Added Service (VAS) startup in Nigeria, has proudly announced a monumental milestone, achieving over 200 million Naira in transactions since its go-live in August 2023. This milestone reflects the app’s strong market presence and vital role in providing affordable telecom services to Nigerians. Founded in 2022 by Kayode Shoyemi, Fliprecharge has quickly become…
Financial industry experts are warming up for the first edition of Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON), scheduled for the first quarter of this year. The Payments Forum Nigeria is a cross-industry platform focused on addressing issues that require broad cooperation and coordination across many constituents in the payments industry. Payments Forum Nigeria which will take place…
A report claims that Google has made it possible to move eSIMs—an embedded, digital SIM that can be used to activate a cell plan—across Android smartphones. Last year, some users were able to transfer their eSIM from an older Pixel phone to the Pixel 8. This suggests that the feature is becoming available to users…
AfriLabs, a support organization for innovation hubs, has introduced the AfriLabs Connect Deal Room (ACDR) to tackle the significant obstacles associated with locating, financing, and gaining access to investable businesses in Africa. AfriLabs is a network organization that brings together investors, startups, technology hubs, and other important players in the ecosystem to promote innovation and…
With the likes of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation expected to take over many repetitive tasks, companies globally are trying to fill scarce skills in IT, data analytics, and even AI itself. Advanced technologies are creating opportunities for the next-generation of data professionals who are willing to adapt and leverage their tech-mindedness in this new…
Anambra State’s ascent to technological excellence reached new heights as it clinched the First Runner-up position in E-Government Implementation at the recent 11th National Council on Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy (NCCIDE) meeting held in Kano. The award not only spotlights Anambra’s dedication to tech-driven governance but also highlights a series of groundbreaking achievements in…
A Nigerian startup called Miden has been chosen for Y Combinator’s winter 2024 class. Through its API, Miden enables businesses to issue virtual cards to their clients. After the cross-border payment provider Cleva, the newest Nigerian company in this year’s winter batch is called Miden. In 2022, Miden started to address the operational issues businesses…
According to co-founder Elon Musk, Neuralink, a neurotechnology startup based in California, has successfully implanted a wireless brain chip in a human for the first time. Musk made the significant announcement on January 29 through a series of posts on X (previously known as Twitter). Neuralink has been developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that can be…
Africa as a continent endowed with immense natural resources and a rapidly growing population, stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. As it navigates the challenges of economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion, the adoption of green technology and sustainability practices presents a unique opportunity. This article explores the potential benefits of…
Africa, with its rich natural resources and burgeoning population, is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the global green economy. This economic paradigm emphasizes sustainable development without degrading the environment, focusing on sectors that promote low carbon emissions, resource efficiency, and social inclusivity. The continent’s transition to a green economy presents an opportunity to…
By Eugenia Marina, Business Development Director, MENA As the world marks the sixth International Day of Education on January 24, 2024 with the theme “Learning for lasting peace,” our search for transformative education tools acquires great significance. In light of the urgent global problems such as violent conflicts, discrimination, racism, xenophobia and hate speech, education…
For the Google Chrome browser, Google has revealed new generative artificial intelligence (AI) features. The business started integrating these functionalities with the most recent Chrome update (M121), and they will be accessible on Chrome for Mac and Windows machines as well. The browser currently has two new AI functions, and a third is scheduled to…
Just behind Apple, Microsoft’s stock market valuation crossed the $3 trillion milestone on Wednesday. This kept Microsoft’s ranking as the second most valuable corporation in the world. Since the beginning of the year, Microsoft and Apple shares have been competing to be the most capitalized stock on Wall Street; earlier in January, the software giant…
Anambra State has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, securing an incredible four prestigious awards during the ICT peer review session at the 11th National Council on Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy (NCCIDE) meeting held in Kano. The meeting was chaired by the Honorable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun…
Today marks a significant milestone as MyShopLauncher proudly announces its official launch, bringing forth a groundbreaking e-commerce platform designed to redefine the landscape for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. According to statista, the revenue in the E-commerce market in Africa was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2028 by in total 15…
The Anambra State Government represented by a resourceful delegation from the State ICT Agency, led by the MD/CEO Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, is actively participating in the 11th General Meeting of the National Council on Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (NCCIDE). The week-long event, which commenced on Monday, 22nd January, to end on Friday, 26th January,…
For 1,500 secondary school students, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy is preparing to start a Build-A-Thon program. A statement claims that pupils from 150 schools spread over three locations—Owerri, Maiduguri, and Abeokuta—will participate in the four-day event. A Build-A-Thon, according to the organizers, is an ecosystem that provides a range of…
Together with African nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the “timbuktoo” initiative, which it claims is positioned to be “the world’s largest financing facility,” bringing together commercial and catalytic resources to assist Africa’s startup ecosystem. Achim Steiner, the UNDP administrator, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Secretary General Wamkele…
This past year may have been comparatively calmer for Web3 development on the African continent, but experts in the cryptocurrency space are heading to Nairobi for the 6th Africa Tech Summit. As we covered in our 2023 African Crypto Roundup, certain steps were taken to encourage adoption despite the general slowdown in the cryptocurrency industry…
During a groundbreaking meeting held over the weekend, at the US Consulate General in Lagos, the Anambra State Government’s Executive Council delegation, led by His Excellency, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, engaged in strategic discussions with the US Consul-General, William Stevens, and influential leaders from 26 renowned US high-tech companies. This distinguished Executive Council delegation…