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Speakers at the International Conference on Responsible and Inclusive Finance (ICRIF) (http://www.amir.org.rw) held in Kigali on 21 March urged Rwandan microfinance institutions (MFIs) to embrace new-age technology to streamline their operations and to enhance their ability to extend financial inclusion among the country’s unbanked and underbanked population. Straton Habyalimana, senior programme manager for responsible financing at…

The Republic of Malawi (“Malawi”) has become the second Southern African member country of Africa Finance Corporation (“AFC” or “the Corporation”), Africa’s leading infrastructure development finance institution. The accession of Malawi to AFC’s membership is a progression of the Corporation’s existing investment footprint in the country. AFC had previously acted as Joint Mandated Lead Arranger…

Millions more people in Africa now have access to financial systems thanks to cashless systems using digital technology, and more and more people are seeing the benefits of mobile banking, according to Ecobank . Ecobank is the main sponsor at the Africa Tech summit currently taking place in Kigali, Rwanda. Today, Nshuti Lucy Mbabazi, Assistant…

Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. An important part of this is supporting the leaders who foster community—people who offer support, build bridges and make change. We believe society thrives as a result of their work. The Facebook Community Leadership Program exists to empower…

The U.S. African Development Foundation invites proposals for grant financing and local support, from African enterprises, cooperatives, and producer groups with innovative solutions

Richard Branson,Founder of Virgin Group in a recent blog post encourages Impact Investors to explore the $10 Billion Renewable Energy Market in Nigeria.Here is excerpts from his post: Energy access in Africa is close to my heart. Bringing clean, renewable power to people instead of building coal-fired power stations is absolutely essential if we are…

How artificial intelligence is revolutionizing personalized medicine,

This came as a shock learning about the death of Prof Calestous Juma.Africa has in deed lost a distinguished academics who is passionate and wants  to see the continent leverage her potentials through technology and innovation.His views on where Africa should be is always very obvious.His contribution to technology and innovation in Africa will always remain…

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) recently announced its second Ambassadors Class, 45 scientists and tech champions across Africa, all under 42 years of age, who are solving Africa’s and the world’s challenges. An initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the NEF will hold its second…

MainOne (www.MainOne.net) and Tizeti (www.Tizeti.com) today announced the completion of a joint development project with Facebook (www.Facebook.com) to enable the expansion of internet services in Lagos. This partnership will leverage MainOne’s fiber connectivity, Tizeti’s twenty brand-new solar-powered towers, and Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi. As a result of this project, internet services will be more accessible across…

The ICAEW Economic Insight: Africa, is a quarterly economic forecast for the region prepared directly for the finance profession. Africa’s performance over the year 2017: Q4 summary The aftershock of the oil price slump continues to plague un-diversified economies Overall growth is braked by the problems of the big economies (Nigeria, South Africa, Angola) Diversified…

Africa’s smartphone market bounced back from two consecutive declines to post quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth of 4.4% in Q3 2017, according to the latest insights released today by International Data Corporation (IDC). The global technology research and consulting firm’s Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows smartphone shipments for the quarter reached 21.7 million units, spurred by ongoing economic recoveries…

Facebook in partnership with Co-creation Hub Lagos Nigeria will open the NG_Hub by Facebook  in 2018 to grow a community of digitally empowered entrepreneurs, business leaders and people in Nigeria. NG_Hub will open early next year in Lagos in partnership with the Co Creation Hub. This multi-faceted space will bring together developers, start-ups, entrepreneurs and the…

The World Intellectual Property Report 2017  released recently examines the crucial role of intangibles such as technology, design and branding in international manufacturing.First-ever figures reveal that nearly one third of the value of manufactured products sold around the world comes from “intangible capital,” such as branding, design and technology, according to a WIPO study of…

Few days ago Google reminded everyone about the impact Chinua Achebe made through his literary works.Google Doodle Celebrates Chinua Achebe’s 87th Birthday and his achievement in promoting African literature to the rest of the world.Google website states: One man took it upon himself to tell the world the story of Nigeria through the eyes of…

Konnect Africa (www.Konnect-Africa.com), the Eutelsat-owned satellite broadband service provider, has unveiled SmartWIFI, a new hotspot service, as part of its ongoing commitment to bring digital opportunities to Africans. This new service leverages Konnect Africa’s powerful, reliable satellite broadband network to enable sales outlets (retailers, hospitalities, gas stations, etc.) as well as healthcare centres or schools…

The Republic of Benin (Benin) has become the 17th Member State of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Africa’s premier infrastructure development finance institution. Hon. Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Economy & Finance, formally acceded to AFC membership by signing the Letter of Adherence on 7 November, 2017. Benin, therefore, joins the list of Francophone African States that…