The cryptocurrency platform VALR has partnered with Onafriq to let users in several African countries fund their accounts via mobile money in local currencies. Under the agreement, users can buy Bitcoin, stablecoins and tokenized assets, and use additional financial services. The integration of local payment systems with digital assets is intended to broaden access to financial services across the continent.
Nigerian startup PowerLabs has raised a pre-seed round to accelerate deployment of its Pai Enterprise platform, which uses artificial intelligence to manage multiple energy sources for businesses. The platform helps clients cut electricity costs, prevent outages and reduce emissions by integrating solar, grid and generator power into a single real-time system.
Tanzania is launching a dedicated fund for youth-led startups to support its digital economy. Announced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the initiative will be government-funded and overseen by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. The fund aims to help young entrepreneurs access capital, take advantage of expanding telecommunications infrastructure, and create jobs in online services, education, healthcare and e-commerce.
- Program targets 250 firms, focusing on SMEs and productivity gains
- Initiative aligns with national AI roadmap for 2026–2035
Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Guinée (CGE-GUI), the country’s main private sector body, launched the "AI Xcelerate" programme in Conakry on Wednesday, April 8. The initiative, developed in partnership with the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and Microsoft, aims to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into Guinea’s private sector.
The programme targets more than 250 Guinean companies, with the goal of facilitating the adoption of technologies that remain largely underused in the country. It aims to help businesses improve productivity, modernise management tools and adapt to shifts in the global economy, according to Mansah Sy Savané, vice president of CGE-GUI.
Beyond training, "AI Xcelerate" offers a structured support framework that allows companies to test and gradually integrate artificial intelligence into their operations. The programme seeks to move participants from awareness to practical adoption, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for most businesses in Guinea.
The initiative comes as artificial intelligence is emerging as a driver of growth worldwide. For Guinea, the challenge is to avoid falling behind technologically by equipping its companies with the tools needed to benefit from AI in a rapidly changing economic environment.
According to Rose Pola Pricemou, presidential adviser on technology and artificial intelligence, the country has adopted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) AILA framework, which led to the development of a national artificial intelligence roadmap for 2026–2035. This momentum has been reinforced by the DounIA conferences, which focused on shaping a national data strategy.
Samira Njoya
In Casablanca, Orange unveiled the ambitions for its Max it super app, which it aims to make one of its main growth drivers in Africa and the Middle East. With already 23 million monthly active users, the platform is looking to scale up significantly by 2028.
Orange is stepping up its transformation under a new 2026–2030 strategy, “Trust the Future,” unveiled to international media on April 8 in Casablanca. Long seen as a traditional telecom operator, the French group is now pivoting toward digital services to drive its next phase of growth, with Africa and the Middle East at the core.
A central pillar of that shift is Max it, a super-app developed in Casablanca that Orange sees as a key driver of new revenue beyond its core telecom business. “By 2028, we aim to add 50 million monthly active users on Max it. The app will also support Orange Money in adding 20 million active users in the region, as well as one million new customers for Orange Energies,” said Yvan Delègue, head of the Max it program.
The targets underline Orange’s ambition to position Max it as a single gateway for everyday services, including mobile account management, payments, digital content, service purchases and access to an integrated marketplace.
A broad ecosystem of services
Now deployed in 16 countries, the app has 23 million monthly active users. Of these, 8 million use its financial services via Orange Money, which has 47 million active users across the region. Max it also integrates Orange Energies, available in 13 countries, allowing nearly one million customers to buy and top up electricity directly through the app.
Orange’s strategy is straightforward: bring multiple services into one platform. Users can manage their accounts, make payments, access entertainment — including video on demand, live sports, gaming and TV series — and purchase services without leaving the Orange ecosystem. The approach streamlines the user experience and strengthens customer retention.
Delègue said the app also supports bundled offers combining connectivity and content. For example, Orange can pair a data plan with sports streaming to boost usage while reducing concerns over data consumption.
This shift comes as the Africa–Middle East region becomes Orange’s main growth engine. In 2025, the group generated 8.4 billion euros in revenue there, up 12.2%, making it the largest contributor to overall growth. The strategy is underpinned by strong demographic trends: Africa’s population could reach 2.5 billion by 2050, offering significant potential for digital services.
AI and ecosystem expansion
Beyond commercial goals, Orange aims to turn Max it into an open platform for both global partners and local businesses. The objective is to expand the range of services while giving companies access to a large and growing user base. In this model, the app acts as a hub for payments, content and essential services.
To meet its 2028 targets, Orange is focusing on two levers: expanding partnerships and integrating artificial intelligence more deeply. The group plans to use AI to tailor services to individual users and deliver more relevant offers in real time. It is also developing voice interfaces in local languages to lower barriers to digital adoption in several African markets.
With Max it, Orange is moving beyond connectivity. The group is positioning itself at the intersection of telecoms, digital finance, energy and merchant services, aiming to capture a larger share of the continent’s digital economy.
Muriel EDJO
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UNICEF and Maarif Foundation signed an agreement to expand digital and STEM education for girls.
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The initiative will leverage the U-Report platform with over 3 million users to drive youth engagement.
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Girls’ school enrollment rose to 83% in 2024 from 33% in 2011, but STEM participation remains low.
UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire and the Maarif Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on April 7 in Abidjan. The agreement aims to strengthen digital inclusion and improve access to education for girls, with a particular focus on scientific disciplines.
The two institutions concluded the partnership after one year of negotiations. They plan to reduce gender disparities in the Ivorian education system by directing more students toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, where girls remain historically underrepresented. “This protocol is an opportunity to emphasize girls’ participation in fields that are not traditionally theirs,” said Jean‑François Basse.
Moreover, the agreement includes the use of the youth digital platform U-Report. The platform, which has more than 3 million users in the country, will serve as a channel to promote civic engagement among young people, including in rural areas.
The partners aim to transform adolescents into agents of change while developing practical training programs to improve employability among the most vulnerable groups.
This collaboration comes as Ivory Coast accelerates efforts to modernize its education sector. According to data from the Ministry of National Education and Literacy, the girls’ enrollment rate increased from 33% in 2011 to 83% in 2024.
However, the transition toward technical and scientific fields remains a major challenge. The Maarif Foundation, which manages a growing international network of schools, will contribute pedagogical expertise to complement the humanitarian programs led by UNICEF.
Finally, the agreement builds on commitments made during last year’s technology festival. It also includes support for major national events such as the Fête de la Science, with the aim of creating a sustainable link between international institutions and the local education ecosystem.
Samira Njoya
The Botswana Innovation Fund is launching a 12-month program to support 10 startups in climate and digital technologies. Selected companies will be supported in turning their ideas into viable products, testing their solutions, gaining customers, and preparing to attract investors. The program targets renewable energy, energy efficiency, water management, and data-driven technologies.
Vertiv, a company specializing in critical digital infrastructure, will host an online event on April 15 at 11:00 AM (GMT+2) focused on AI-ready data centers in Africa. The session will examine the power, cooling, and scalable infrastructure needed to support the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing. Industry experts will discuss key technical challenges and the solutions required to support future expansion.
The Africa Tech Summit is scheduled to take place on May 29, 2026, at the London Stock Exchange. The event will bring together African startups, diaspora investors and global funds. It will focus on funding and partnerships in London, a key hub for access to international capital.
As payment security becomes a strategic priority for banks, a South African entrepreneur is developing a technological solution that is already drawing international attention.
Schalk Nolte is a South African entrepreneur and co-founder and chief executive of Entersekt, a company that secures online and mobile financial transactions for banks and other financial services firms.
Founded in 2008, Entersekt works with banks, credit unions, card issuers and other financial institutions to reduce fraud, increase revenue, meet regulatory requirements and improve customer experience.
The company says it holds more than 120 technology patents covering innovations in digital security, payments and user experience. It has more than 210 clients across 70 countries, including over 850 card-issuing banks, 550,000 merchants and around 360 million users of its software.
Entersekt offers a single platform designed to meet the needs of financial institutions. Its core functions include protecting against scams, preventing account takeovers and securing access to digital banking services. The platform also supports more reliable online payments through solutions that comply with market standards and help reduce pressure on call centers.
Nolte graduated from Stellenbosch University with a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering in 1999. From 2022 to 2024, he was a member of YPO, a global network of business leaders. He also served on the board of LaunchLab, Stellenbosch University’s incubator, from 2022 to 2023.
Melchior Koba
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He is exploring a new approach to the rental market, aiming to make renting more seamless by rethinking how security deposits move between tenants and landlords.
Ndaedzo Madume is a South African entrepreneur and founder and chief executive of GraceNineteen, a company providing financial solutions for the residential rental market, with a focus on security deposit payments and management.
Founded in 2019, GraceNineteen develops investment and lending products for rental housing. Its model is built on two core components: financing tenant security deposits and growing those deposits through investment products for landlords and property managers.
In practice, the platform pays the deposit to the landlord or agency on behalf of the tenant. This allows tenants to secure housing without tying up significant upfront capital. The tenant then repays the startup in affordable installments over a defined period.
Interest rates vary depending on the tenant’s risk profile and whether the deposit is invested through GraceNineteen. The advertised annual rate ranges from 14% to 27%. The company also offers the option to combine the loan with an investment product, allowing clients to earn a return on the financed deposit.
Madume holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, completed in 2014. He also holds a master’s degree in corporate finance and valuations from the University of Cape Town, completed in 2022.
He began his career at Investec Asset Management, where he interned between 2011 and 2013, before joining Rand Merchant Bank in 2014 as a research intern. He remained there until 2021, including as a market risk analyst.
Melchior Koba
- Atos and ABA Technology sign deal to deploy Fusion AI across public and private sectors
- Partnership targets sovereign, secure AI systems in regulated environments
- Global AI investments could exceed $1.5 trillion, boosting demand for local control of data
ABA Technology, a Moroccan artificial intelligence company, and Atos announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, April 7, on the sidelines of GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech. The agreement aims to accelerate the deployment of the Fusion AI platform among public and private stakeholders.
The companies designed the recently launched technology to structure AI usage in complex environments while ensuring data sovereignty.
“Fusion AI meets a central requirement today: deploy governed, secure and fully operational artificial intelligence in critical environments,” said Safia Faraj, Africa Director at Atos. She added that the partnership will help organizations “move from experimentation to production” by integrating systems that automate processes while complying with strict security and regulatory standards.
Atos will act as an integrator of the platform developed by ABA Technology for its clients, particularly in the public, industrial and scientific sectors. The partners will deploy AI solutions adapted to multiple use cases, including industrial optimization, scientific research and public policy management.
They aim to deliver architectures that unify data, systems and operations within highly regulated environments.
The agreement comes amid accelerating global investment in artificial intelligence. Africa also increases its focus on technological sovereignty as a strategic priority. Estimates from Google indicate that global AI investments could exceed $1.5 trillion in the coming years, pushing governments and companies to strengthen control over infrastructure and data.
The partnership follows the launch of Fusion AI by ABA Technology one week earlier. The company designed and operates the platform from Morocco. The solution relies on a unified architecture that connects IT systems, industrial infrastructure and connected devices.
The platform includes several sector-specific applications. It allows companies to optimize industrial production through digital twins. It enables governments to improve decision-making using territorial intelligence tools. It also helps researchers accelerate biomedical research.
Through this alliance, the two partners aim to structure an artificial intelligence offering aligned with African market realities. They combine technological expertise with large-scale integration capabilities.
ABA Technology seeks to expand adoption of its platform beyond Morocco. Atos strengthens its positioning in digital sovereignty projects across the continent.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The pan-African neobank Zazu has partnered with Visa to offer entrepreneurs and small businesses in Morocco a 100% online business account. Customers can open an account, send and receive payments, issue multiple cards for their teams, and track expenses in real time from a single dashboard, eliminating the need for multiple tools, saving time and improving cash flow management.
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Morocco signs partnership with Huawei to support gaming ecosystem and talent development
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Gaming revenues reach $227.3 million in 2024 and could hit $297 million by 2027
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Authorities intensify efforts to structure a fragmented but fast-growing sector
Morocco accelerates the structuring of its gaming industry, which remains nascent but shows strong growth potential. On the sidelines of the GITEX Africa Morocco 2026 event in Marrakech, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and Huawei Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, April 7, to support the development of digital and creative industries.
Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and David Li, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Morocco, signed the agreement. Both parties aim to consolidate a national ecosystem that remains fragmented but benefits from the rise of a new generation of developers and independent studios.
The partnership outlines several areas of intervention. It includes technical support for the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026, scheduled from May 20 to 24 in Rabat. Huawei will equip training and workshop spaces to improve learning conditions and allow developers to test their projects in a suitable environment.
The agreement also includes support for local talent. Huawei will back Moroccan teams participating in international initiatives led by the Chinese group. The ministry will also provide targeted support to five selected developers.
This approach aims to increase the visibility of Moroccan profiles and facilitate their integration into global value chains.
Morocco now positions gaming beyond entertainment. Stakeholders view the sector as a creative industry with strong potential to create jobs, attract investment, and develop advanced digital skills.
According to the “State of the African Video Game Industry 2026” report by SpielFabrique, published in January 2026, annual gaming revenues in Morocco reached $227.3 million in 2024. Projections indicate growth to $297 million by 2027.
Public authorities continue to expand initiatives to structure the gaming ecosystem. The government supports startup incubation programs and develops dedicated hubs such as Rabat Gaming City. It also promotes public-private partnerships to connect local talent with global markets.
The agreement with Huawei Morocco extends this broader strategy. It follows an earlier partnership focused on developing local e-sports. Authorities implemented that initiative in collaboration with Rabat Gaming City, the Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games (FRMJE), and innovative training programs.
Samira Njoya