Nigeria’s Task Systems Limited has won the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award, beating more than 4,000 candidates from over 100 countries. The award highlights decades of expertise in deploying digital solutions for major African enterprises and reinforces Task Systems’ position as a key driver of digital transformation on the continent.
Proparco is investing in Kenyan e-mobility startup BasiGo, which assembles electric buses locally and finances them through a pay-as-you-drive model. The funding will help the company expand its operations in Kenya and Rwanda, strengthen its charging network, and move closer to its goal of deploying 1,000 buses.
South Africa’s Competition Tribunal has approved Lesaka Technologies’ acquisition of digital-only bank Bank Zero for about $63.8 million. The deal still requires sign-off from prudential regulators. The acquisition will enable Lesaka to strengthen its financial services platform, expand its digital banking offering, and fund its growth more effectively through customer deposits.
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Trenderz connects African brands with influencers and creators through a mobile app launched in 2023 by Koami Rummenigge Aziabou and Kim Tran.
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The platform uses a pay-for-performance model that tracks reservations via personalised links or codes, allowing creators to earn commissions.
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Trenderz operates in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal and Cameroon and targets micro-influencers to democratise digital marketing.
Ivorian start-up Trenderz aims to establish itself as a key enabler of influence marketing on the continent as demand rises for local digital-engagement tools.
The company developed a mobile solution that connects brands, restaurants, hotels and leisure venues with influencers and content creators. Its goal is to boost business visibility while enabling creators to monetise their audiences. Founders Koami Rummenigge Aziabou and Kim Tran launched the platform in 2023.
The solution runs through a mobile app available on iOS and Android. According to Play Store data, the app has already recorded over 1,000 downloads. Businesses can create establishment pages, publish offers or services and receive applications from creators interested in promoting them.
Trenderz tracks reservations generated through personalised links or booking codes shared by influencers. Establishments pay only when performance is delivered, with no fixed fees.
The start-up does not require large follower counts from creators and welcomes micro-influencers. Registration is free. Each collaboration gives creators access to an experience — such as a night stay, a meal or an activity — and a commission on reservations produced.
Trenderz currently operates in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal and Cameroon. It markets itself as an accessible digital-marketing tool that helps African businesses reach local audiences through authentic, market-relevant content.
With Africa’s young and increasingly connected population, the company positions itself as a bridge between brands and consumers through creative content and measurable performance.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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Benin set a 2026 digital budget of CFA27.2 billion ($48 million), down 6.32% from 2025 due to a 12.22% drop in external financing.
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The government will still fund major initiatives, in cluding AI integration in public services, nationwide high-speed coverage, and the launch of a national digital-skills school.
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The GSMA estimates that Benin’s digital economy could add CFA1,200 billion to GDP by 2028 and create over 300,000 jobs.
Benin reduced its 2026 digital budget despite expanding ambitions for nationwide digital transformation. The government attributes the decline mainly to a 12.22% drop in external financing, even as it seeks to widen access to digital services and strengthen inclusion across the country.
Digital and Digitalisation Minister Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou presented on 25 November a planned allocation of CFA27.2 billion (US$48 million) to the National Assembly’s budget commission. The figure marks a 6.32% decrease from the CFA29.034 billion approved for 2025.
The 2026 proposal includes CFA9.7 billion in operating expenses and CFA17.4 billion in capital spending.
The budget distributes resources across three main programmes. Piloting and Support receives CFA2.1 billion to improve ministry performance and provide backing to the digital, digitisation and media sectors. The Digital Programme, allocated CFA12.3 billion, aims to promote nationwide digital transformation.The Media Programme, with CFA12.6 billion, targets audiovisual modernisation, improved access to quality information, upgrades to public media and continued deployment of digital terrestrial television (DTT).
The ministry highlights several strategic priorities, including the progressive integration of artificial intelligence into public administration and priority sectors. It also positions digital-divide reduction as a central goal through extended high-speed connectivity initiatives.
Authorities expect additional investments to improve access to digital equipment and strengthen the population’s digital skills.
The project outlines the development of an École des métiers du numérique, which will train specialised talent such as developers, network administrators, cybersecurity experts and data analysts. The facility aims to support a competitive, skilled digital workforce.
The 2026 programmes complement several projects already launched, including Phase 2 of the nationwide high- and ultra-high-speed broadband rollout, the SMART GOUV initiative to digitalise public administration, and the digital transformation of local governments.
The GSMA reports that Benin’s digital economy—supported by mobile connectivity and digital services—could generate CFA1,200 billion in additional GDP by 2028, create over 300,000 jobs and raise CFA150 billion in extra fiscal revenue.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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Mauritania joined 20 other countries in Doha for the first Arab cybersecurity exercise, aiming to boost regional coordination and crisis-response capabilities.
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The country has accelerated reforms, including the creation of a National Cybersecurity and Electronic Certification Agency (ANCCE) in 2024 and a national strategy running through 2026.
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The ITU’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index ranks Mauritania in the fourth and second-to-last tier, calling for stronger technical and organizational investments.
As digital transformation accelerates, African nations continue to scale up investments in cybersecurity. Twenty-one African countries are now among the 72 signatories to the UN Convention on Cybercrime.
Mauritania participated last week in the first Arab cybersecurity exercise held in Doha, Qatar, an initiative that gathered 21 participating countries. The exercise supports the government’s effort to reinforce national digital security.
The Ministry of Digital Transition said in a 25 November statement: “This exercise aims to strengthen Arab cooperation in cybersecurity, develop the technical and administrative readiness of participating countries to respond to cyberattacks and manage digital crises. It also represents an important step toward building a safer and more efficient Arab digital space.”
Cybersecurity has become a key pillar of Mauritania’s international cooperation agenda, notably with the United States. The government has adopted a 2022-2026 National Digital Security Strategy, which outlines six strategic goals covering governance, protection of critical infrastructure, anti-cybercrime measures, awareness and skills development, and both national and international cooperation.
In April 2024, authorities created the National Cybersecurity and Electronic Certification Agency (ANCCE) by decree. The institution aims to protect the national cyberspace and strengthen cybersecurity governance. The move builds on prior progress, including the country’s 2023 ratification of the African Union’s Malabo Convention on cybersecurity and data protection.
Mauritania’s initiatives reflect a continental and global environment marked by rapid digitalisation and rising cyber threats. In January, the government launched Digital-Y, a €4 million ($4.6 million) project funded through a partnership with the German cooperation agency. The initiative plans to expand digital tools across public administration, modernise services, improve transparency and support economic and social development.
Several public services have already been digitised since early 2025, especially in education and justice.
Despite progress, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that countries must increase cybersecurity investment to fully benefit from ICT adoption. In its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index, the ITU places Mauritania in the fourth and second-to-last tier. The organisation highlights strong performance in legislative frameworks but says the country must step up efforts in organizational, technical, capacity-building and cooperation pillars.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Skynesys, founded in 2023, centralises and automates the management of corporate bank accounts in a single AI-supported interface.
- The platform consolidates balances, transactions and operations from multiple banks to improve treasury visibility and reduce manual workloads.
- Co-founder Jalil Ketou also works as a support engineer at ALFYNS Group and holds a software engineering degree from the National Advanced School of Engineering of Douala.
Jalil Ketou introduces a new way of managing corporate banking operations through his digital solution, which improves access to financial information and the way firms use it daily.
Ketou, a Cameroonian tech entrepreneur and software engineer, is the co-founder of Skynesys, a digital-banking platform that applies artificial intelligence to corporate financial management by centralising and automating the oversight of bank accounts.
Skynesys, founded in 2023, presents itself as a platform for financial directors and executives who want to consolidate all their bank accounts in a single interface. The solution organises and analyses banking flows to simplify daily treasury monitoring and strengthen the quality of decisions linked to financial operations.
The platform aggregates balances, movements and operations from various banks into a unified dashboard. It integrates automation functions for control and analysis, which reduces manual tasks and limits risks associated with dispersed data processing.
For companies, Skynesys provides continuous visibility on cash positions, which helps them anticipate financing or investment needs more easily. The use of AI accelerates the identification of trends, irregularities and sensitive signals within the flows and supports banking and financial-risk management.
Alongside his entrepreneurial work, Ketou holds a support-engineer position at ALFYNS Group, a company active in IT training, digital financial services and IT services. He graduated from the National Advanced School of Engineering of Douala with a bachelor’s degree in software engineering.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- evolve, founded in 2014 by Richard Migambi, supports public institutions and companies with structured data strategies.
- The firm designs locally developed digital solutions that organise data flows and build analytical dashboards.
- Migambi built his career across the UK and Rwanda, including work for Hasbro Europe, the Rwandan Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.
Richard Migambi uses structured data to improve the functioning of organisations. Through his solution, he proposes a new way of organising information to strengthen decision-making and the implementation of policies.
Migambi, a Rwandan entrepreneur in public-sector digital transformation, is the founder and chief executive of evolve, a Rwandan company that helps organisations use structured data to improve decisions and support innovation.
evolve, founded in 2014, presents itself as a digital-transformation agency and technology partner working with companies, public administrations and organisations engaged in digital reforms. The company develops locally designed technological solutions that respond to needs identified in the field by mobilising national expertise and an impact-driven approach.
The firm builds its value proposition around a “data strategy” offering aimed at organising and exploiting the potential of internal data. evolve supports clients as they define adapted data governance, structure information flows and deploy analytical dashboards that convert data into management tools.
The company operates across the entire data-management cycle, including collection, security, organisation and sharing. This structuring aims to make information reliable, accessible and usable for teams while reducing systemic fragmentation that often slows digital-project efficiency.
evolve also develops customised dashboards and analytical environments tailored to each organisation. By making key indicators visible and usable daily, the tools enable faster and more coherent decision-making aligned with operational priorities.
Before founding evolve, Migambi created 37 Software Solutions in 2008 in the United Kingdom, a software-development and consulting agency for small and medium-sized companies seeking to structure their e-business strategies. He also worked there as a software developer until 2014.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in database technologies in 2006 from the University of Portsmouth and a master’s degree in software engineering in 2010 from the University of Southampton.
Migambi began his career in 2002 in the data-processing department of Velindre NHS Trust Hospital in Cardiff, Wales. In 2003, he joined Churchill Insurance Company as a customer adviser. In 2011, he became a software developer at Hasbro Europe in London, the international toy and entertainment company.
From 2015 onward, he served as electronic procurement project manager at the Rwandan Ministry of Finance. Between 2021 and 2023, he worked as a consultant on the implementation of Burkina Faso’s electronic public-procurement system for the World Bank.
This article was initially published in Frenbch by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
OceanHub Africa has opened applications for the seventh edition of its 12-month acceleration program, which will support up to twenty-four African impact startups focused on ocean preservation.
Selected startups will receive a mix of in-person and remote support, access to an international network of experts, investors, and customers, and various service and software benefits. Applications are open until December 30.
The Gabon chapter of the Congo Digital Economy Summit (Codes Africa) will host a regional meeting on cooperation, interoperability, and digital sovereignty in Central Africa on Thursday, December 4, at the Radisson Blu in Libreville.
The event, backed by the Association of Central African Telecommunications Regulators and consulting firm Deloitte, will bring together public- and private-sector leaders to discuss key digital issues.
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- Ugandan entrepreneur leads Kolaborate, a platform linking African talent to global firms.
- The start-up offers training, verified profiles, and BPO services powered by AI.
- Kolaborate helps professionals access higher-paying remote digital work.
Pearl D. Gakazi is a Ugandan tech entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Kolaborate, a start-up created to connect African talent with global digital job markets.
Founded in 2022, Kolaborate builds a direct bridge between companies around the world and African professionals specialized in tech, data, design, digital marketing, and content creation. The platform enables companies to assemble tailor-made remote teams using verified and supported profiles tailored to specific needs, whether developing a product, managing data, or running daily digital operations.
For talent, Kolaborate goes beyond matchmaking. The start-up has created an academy and training pathways designed to align local skills with international standards, especially in high-demand digital careers. Trained professionals then gain access to remote missions and jobs that offer higher pay than most local opportunities, while allowing them to remain in their home countries.
For companies, Kolaborate provides a service model that combines flexibility, operational quality, and cost efficiency. In addition to its talent network, the start-up develops business process outsourcing (BPO) services focused on data management and digital operations, allowing client organizations to delegate selected tasks while maintaining strong oversight. The platform uses artificial intelligence tools to refine matching, speed up recruitment, and secure collaboration.
Alongside her responsibilities at Kolaborate, Pearl D. Gakazi is also business development manager at Prism Marketing Ltd, a Ugandan agency specializing in marketing and sales.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Makerere University, obtained in 2013, and a master’s degree in business, management, marketing, and related support services from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, earned in 2016.
Gakazi began her career in 2010 as a wholesale sales supervisor at Fresh Cuts Uganda, a meat processing company. In 2013, she became a franchise business consultant at RE/MAX Uganda, a real estate company. In 2017, she joined the business development department of Yetu Credit Finance, active in microfinance. Between 2020 and 2023, she worked as a business adviser at Money Market Gurus, a financial firm.
Melchior Koba
- Officials discuss collaboration on digital government, AI, and cybersecurity.
- Azerbaijan showcases its MyGov super-app and national digital strategy.
- Senegal’s New Deal aims to invest $1.7 billion to modernize public services.
Senegal and Azerbaijan are considering stronger cooperation in the digital sector. On November 25, on the sidelines of the World Telecommunication Development Conference, Senegal’s minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital, Alioune Sall, met with Farid Osmanov, president of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), to explore potential areas of technological partnership.
Rencontre entre le MCTN et l’IAAD d’Azerbaïdjan : vers une coopération numérique renforcée
— Ministère Communication - Télécoms et Numérique (@mctngouvsn) November 25, 2025
En marge de la CMDT-25, le Ministre de la Communication, des Télécommunications et du Numérique Alioune SALL a rencontré M. Farid Osmanov, pic.twitter.com/KsUaSSX50U
During the discussions, Osmanov presented several solutions developed by the agency, including the MyGov super-app, used by more than 2 million citizens, as well as Azerbaijan’s strategy integrating AI, cybersecurity, and digital identity. He also highlighted Digital Bridge, a system that connects public platforms with private companies, including banks.
Minister Alioune Sall reaffirmed Senegal’s priorities in digital transformation, including modernizing state services, developing new digital offerings, and improving infrastructure. Both parties agreed to move toward a formal partnership framework focused on digital government, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
The meeting comes as both Dakar and Baku accelerate their digital agendas. Senegal’s New Deal, launched in February 2025, plans about $1.7 billion in investments to modernize the administration and support the digital economy. In Azerbaijan, the IDDA leads the national digital development strategy and is expanding public digital solutions.
A structured partnership would offer benefits to both countries. Senegal could draw on Azerbaijan’s experience in administrative digitalization, digital identity, and other areas, given Azerbaijan’s advanced status in e-government, with a United Nations index score of 0.7607 out of 1. For its part, Azerbaijan could strengthen its presence in West Africa and promote its digital solutions in a growing market.
Samira Njoya
- Ivorian officials meet a Russian delegation to discuss digital cooperation.
- Talks focus on technopoles, AI integration, and public-service digitalization.
- A visit to VITIB aims to deepen potential collaboration on innovation projects.
As part of its digital transformation strategy, the Ivorian government aims to modernize public services and build a strong innovation ecosystem. Collaboration with experienced partners is seen as essential to accelerate these ambitions.
Raymond Assoua, chief of staff to the minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, met on Monday, November 24, in Abidjan with a delegation from the Skolkovo Foundation led by Russia’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Alexey Saltykov. The meeting is part of a cooperation program designed to strengthen exchanges between Côte d’Ivoire and Russia in digital technology, innovation, and ecosystem development.
Discussions covered several strategic areas, including the development of technopoles, the integration of artificial intelligence in both public and private sectors, and the acceleration of administrative digitalization. The Russian delegation also presented Skolkovo’s expertise in building innovation ecosystems, a model that could support Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions for tech-driven urban development.
During the meeting, concrete collaboration opportunities were identified between the Skolkovo Foundation and VITIB, the Ivorian technology park in Grand-Bassam. The director general of VITIB outlined existing infrastructure and ongoing projects, opening the door to future initiatives in start-up incubation, applied research, and sovereign digital solutions.
The visit comes one day after Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly approved a CFA83.27 billion (about $146 million) budget for 2026 to support the country’s digital transformation. The funding targets modernization of the postal sector, implementation of universal electronic communications service, and development of the digital economy.
The Skolkovo Foundation is one of Russia’s main innovation hubs, specializing in supporting tech start-ups, developing technopoles, and conducting AI-related research through its partnership with the Skoltech Institute. Its expertise could help Côte d’Ivoire with talent development and the rollout of pilot projects in innovation and digital services.
No formal agreement has been announced yet. However, the delegation will visit VITIB on November 25 to continue technical discussions and explore partnership opportunities.
Samira Njoya
- Government plans lower Internet costs and expanded rural fiber coverage.
- A new national data center, Digital Delta, will open on November 25.
- Reforms support a wider digital strategy as Botswana ranks 6th in Africa for ICT.
One year after his appointment as Botswana’s minister of Communications and Innovation, David Tshere presented on Thursday, November 20, the main priorities of his roadmap. He emphasized the government’s ambition to make digital transformation a driver of growth, inclusion, and competitiveness.
Among the key announcements, the minister revealed a significant reduction in Internet and mobile data costs to make digital access more affordable for citizens and businesses. He also introduced a plan to extend fiber-optic infrastructure to rural and underserved areas to improve national connectivity and promote digital inclusion.
Minister Tshere confirmed the imminent commissioning of the Digital Delta data center, with its official opening set for Tuesday, November 25, in Gaborone. This state-of-the-art facility aims to strengthen national digital capacity, host critical cloud services, and support government and private-sector applications in areas such as education, health, and public administration.
The roadmap forms part of a broader national strategy that includes the expanding 1Gov government platform and the adoption of modern digital legislation covering cybersecurity, data protection, and technological innovation. Botswana also plans to commercialize data from the BOTSAT-1 satellite to support agriculture, environmental management, and smart infrastructure.
Results from earlier initiatives highlight the country’s progress. According to the 2025 edition of the International Telecommunication Union’s “Measuring Digital Development – ICT Development Index,” Botswana ranks sixth in Africa with a score of 82.1 out of 100, reflecting advances in ICT use and the development of a strong digital ecosystem. DataReportal estimates that 2.09 million people were using the Internet in Botswana at the end of 2025, representing an 81.4 % penetration rate.
Samira Njoya