The DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (left) and the Chief Consultant of the project, Teruyasu Ezure (right) with the signed agreement

Nigeria, JICA to Unveil $11.2M Innovation Hub to Boost Startup Ecosystem

ByTechTrends

In a landmark move towards implementing the Presidential priority area of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth and accelerating diversification through industrialisation and digitisation by strengthening Nigeria’s innovation and technology ecosystem, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has announced the commencement of $11.2 million innovation hub…

Akinade Akinadeniyi, Nigeria, Design

Looking at Nigeria’s Art and Design History with the spectacles of AI today

ByTechTrends

Nigerian design has long been shaped by the country’s rich artistic traditions and crafts. From vibrant textiles to intricate bronze, wood, and ivory carvings, Nigerian artisans have crafted functional objects that display a flare for ornamentation, pattern, and detail. Elaborately crafted terracotta and bronze sculptures, as well as ornate iron weapons, were the product of…

Nigeria Forex

How Forex Impacts Trade in Nigeria

ByTechTrends

Nigeria’s economy has been in a slump in recent months, owing to inflation, interest rates, public debt, and current account deficits. Nigeria’s inflation rate increased to 21.09 percent in October 2022, up from 15.92 percent the previous year. The volatile currency exchange rate, however, also has an impact on Nigeria’s economic problems. The term “Foreign Exchange” or…

Kudi-Nomba
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African Fintech Company, Kudi, Rebrands to Nomba

ByTechTrends

Kudi, an African payment network, has rebranded as Nomba. This was announced in a press release as part of the company’s transition from a single payment platform to an omnichannel payment platform. Payment collections, trade finance, company reporting, and multiple location administration are among the new business capabilities produced by the new omni-channel payment platform,…

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Huawei
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Huawei to Empower 100,000 People Across Sub-Saharan Africa With New Programme

ByTechTrends

At Huawei’s ICT Competition Awards Ceremony on April 9, 2022, the company announced the commencement of its LEAP digital skills development program. According to the Chinese tech conglomerate, the LEAP program seeks to help over 100,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa improve their ICT abilities in three years. LEAP (Leadership, Employability, Advancement, and Possibilities) is a…

MTN
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MTN Nigeria Obtains CBN’s Approval to Operate Mobile Money Bank (MoMo)

ByTechTrends

The Central Bank of Nigeria granted MTN the permission to operate Mobile Money (MoMo). Since its inception in 2019, MTN Nigeria’s Mobile Money (MoMo) service has attracted over 9 million subscribers. According to TechCabal, the license means MTN Nigeria would be able to provide practically all the services provided by traditional commercial banks, except for…

EatSafe Innovation Challenge
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Nigerian, Ethiopian Startups can now Apply for the EatSafe Innovation Challenge

ByTechTrends

The EatSafe Innovation Challenge, organized by Feed the Future in collaboration with the SUN Business Network (SBN) and the Innovative Food System Portal, is searching for businesses, students, researchers, and other innovators in Nigeria and Ethiopia who are concerned about food safety. The EatSafe Innovation Challenge invites innovators to offer their thoughts on how existing…

MarkHack 1.0
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Eko Innovation Centre Announces Nigeria’s First Marketing and Media Hackathon With $20,000 Star Prize

ByTechTrends

Nigeria’s first marketing and media hackathon, dubbed MarkHack 1.0, has been established by Eko Innovation Centre, a growth and development hub for startups and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The luncheon, which took place at D’Podium Event Centre in Lagos, was attended by innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, marketers, and media professionals, as well as many more from across…

ShapShap Riders
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Nigerian On-Demand Delivery Startup ShapShap Completes Seed Round for Expansion

ByTechTrends

V8 Capital Partners has given ShapShap, a Nigerian on-demand delivery firm, a seed extension investment to help it expand its capabilities and penetrate new markets. The fresh funds will be used to improve the startup’s last-mile delivery capabilities for businesses and individuals in Nigeria, with ambitions to expand to other African countries in the near…

Nigeria's Lemonade Finance
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Nigeria’s Lemonade Finance is now Live in 7 new markets

ByTechTrends

Lemonade Finance, founded in 2020 by Ridwan Olalere and Rian Cochran and a participant in Y Combinator’s W21 batch last year, allows Africans living abroad to send and receive money from their home nations in a cost-effective, timely, and efficient manner. Its software lets users keep their balances in the currencies that are important to…

Createch Accelerator Programme
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Nigeria’s CcHub Unveils Createch Accelerator Programme

ByTechTrends

  The Createch Accelerator focuses on businesses that employ innovation or technology to improve value chains in Africa’s creative industries or to address market problems in these value chains. The program’s goal is to provide knowledge, networks, and assistance to companies operating at the interface of technology and creativity, allowing them to accelerate their route…

Marsha Wulff
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LoftyInc Capital Management, Nigerian VC firm made up to 65 African investments in 2021

ByTechTrends

  LoftyInc Capital Management is a venture capital business with the goal of “creating an ecosystem of Africans investing in Africans solving African problems.” The business announced the first closing of its US$10 million LoftyInc Afropreneurs Fund 3 (LAF3) in September, as it ramped up its participation in the African startup area. This followed after…

Egyptian, Nigerian founders accepted into global Endeavor network
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Egyptian, Nigerian founders accepted into global Endeavor network

ByTechTrends

Founders of tech startups based in Egypt and Nigeria have been accepted into the global Endeavor network, gaining access to various support services to help their companies scale. Written by  TOM JACKSON The Endeavor initiative works to catalyze long-term economic growth by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating the best high-impact entrepreneurs worldwide, and has accepted a host…

Why Tech Hubs Are Developing In Africa
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Why Tech Hubs Are Developing In Africa

ByFolami David

Going by the recent report by GSMA, 128 tech hubs have kick-started their operations across Africa since 2016. Comparing with the recent reports of 442 active hubs just last year, this is massive progress. This progress is unrivaled and is a great signal as to why we can look forward to further growth.   What…

Don’t Give up! Success Takes Time – Founder House of Usanga
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Don’t Give up! Success Takes Time – Founder House of Usanga

ByRoberta Edu

African startup TV is proud to showcase House Of Usanga fashion collection, a contemporary African fashion label in Lagos. In a one on one chat with the founder of house of Usanga, Mrs shummailte Usanga, she told us how she found love in fashion after she escorted her friend to a fashion design training school….

Top Speakers Announced for Africa’s Leading Mobile Event-Mobile West Africa(20th & 21st April)
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Top Speakers Announced for Africa’s Leading Mobile Event-Mobile West Africa(20th & 21st April)

ByKenneth Omeruo

Mobile West Africa has confirmed that its 2016 conference, taking place in Lagos on 20th & 21st April, will feature its strongest ever speaker line-up. Representatives from Jumia, Huawei, Uber, Opera, iROKO Partners and Google are set to deliver presentations to confirmed delegates from companies including Konga, Wikimedia Foundation, Grant Thornton, Promasidor and Ringier Nigeria….

Nigeria Communication Technology Development Issues of the Moment

Nigeria Communication Technology Development Issues of the Moment

ByTiti Omo-Ettu

Editor’s note:This is a text from Nigeria Telecoms Advisory Council inaugural Meeting presented by Titi Omo-Ettu on the 8th April,2016. Two reasons informed this contribution to on-going industry development initiatives:  One is that there has been a wait-and-see attitude by industry players in the communication technology industry and this may be a convenient time that specific…

The Gionee M5 Mini Launch:All The Cards On The Table

The Gionee M5 Mini Launch:All The Cards On The Table

ByKenneth Omeruo

INTRODUCTION After so much anticipation, Gionee launched its newest addition to its M5 family. News of the arrival of the Gionee M5 Mini has been generating speculations and debate since the company hinted the new release. Speculations came to an end on 10th February 2016 when the spectacle was finally unveiled. Yes, there was a…

WorldRemit Announces a $45 Million in New Funding
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WorldRemit Announces a $45 Million in New Funding

ByKenneth Omeruo

Money transfer service WorldRemit in a recent press statement to us,has raised $45m in financing from TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp and Silicon Valley Bank. Pioneering a mobile-first approach to remittances,WorldRemit will use the funds to support its rapidly growing transfer volumes.The WorldRemit app lets people send money straight from their smartphone, instead of having to…

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Promotes Smart City Initiatives in Nigeria

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Promotes Smart City Initiatives in Nigeria

ByKenneth Omeruo

Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) promotes Smart City Initiatives in Nigeria through the National Smart Cities Initiative which received a boost recently.The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has launched a multi-year National Smart Cities Initiative designed to kick-start the drive towards using smart, scalable solutions that will be replicable nationwide to address…

16 Million Nigerians Visit Facebook Every Month On Their Mobile Phones
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16 Million Nigerians Visit Facebook Every Month On Their Mobile Phones

ByKenneth Omeruo

Facebook is gradually deepening its presence in Nigeria and Africa through several initiatives and partnerships.In a recent press release,Facebook announced while celebrating the Friends Day that 16 million people in Nigeria visit Facebook every month with 100% of them coming on mobile. Each day, 7.2 million people visit Facebook with 7 million on mobile.During the past…

Uber Partners Nigeria’s Mobile Payment Platform Paga

Uber Partners Nigeria’s Mobile Payment Platform Paga

ByKenneth Omeruo

Nigeria mobile payment platform, Paga has announced a partnership with technology company, Uber. The global company that has revolutionized the way people think about travel, which accepts payments for services via its app is looking to broaden its reach across Nigeria by making its services accessible to all commuters, irrespective of how they choose to…

WorldRemit Expands Instant Money Transfers To Nigeria

WorldRemit Expands Instant Money Transfers To Nigeria

ByKenneth Omeruo

A press release reaching us today states that WorldRemit,a global money transfer app, today introduced instant transfers to Nigeria. In addition to its same-day bank transfer service, WorldRemit now allows people to send money to more than 140 cash pickup locations in Nigeria, instantly. People in more than 50 countries can use the app to send…

Nigeria Computer Society Lays Foundation for N1 Billion Secretariat to Drive Technology and Innovation in Nigeria

Nigeria Computer Society Lays Foundation for N1 Billion Secretariat to Drive Technology and Innovation in Nigeria

ByKenneth Omeruo

Pics:Prof Adesola Aderounmu,President Nigeria Computer Society The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS),the flagship body of Information Technology companies and organisations in Nigeria led by Prof Adesola Aderounmu, has made history with the groundbreaking for its N1 billion national secretariat, deemed a technology innovation centre in Lagos. A ground-breaking stone laying for the billion naira six storey…

Mobility, Cloud, Big Data,IoT drive Nigeria IT spending to $5.3 Billion in 2016

Mobility, Cloud, Big Data,IoT drive Nigeria IT spending to $5.3 Billion in 2016

ByKenneth Omeruo

Information Technology spending in Nigeria-the largest economy in Africa- will top $5.3 billion in 2016 as organizations increasingly embrace digital transformation initiatives in a bid to streamline their costs and bolster their flexibility. This is according to global technology research and consulting services firm International Data Corporation (IDC), which last week hosted an event at Victoria Crown…

Steve Wozniak,Alec Ross,Muhammad Yunus,Jonathan Henning,Chinedu Echeruo at Access Conference Lagos Nigeria

Steve Wozniak,Alec Ross,Muhammad Yunus,Jonathan Henning,Chinedu Echeruo at Access Conference Lagos Nigeria

ByKenneth Omeruo

Top experts in Innovation and Transformation around the world gathered today in Lagos,Nigeria at the 2015 Access Conference.The theme of the conference was Leading in a Transformational World – The Imperative of Innovation. Some of the speakers at the conference include:Steve Wozniak-Co founder Apple,Alec Ross- Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the…

Senate Confirms Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Senate Confirms Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

ByKenneth Omeruo

We got this news from Nigeria Communications Commission that the Nigerian Senate yesterday confirmed Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as Executive Vice Chairman (EVC and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He was appointed in Acting capacity by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 4, 2015 following the expiration of the tenure of Dr. Eugene…