• Egypt’s parliament plans legislation to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.
• President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi publicly urged age limits on minors’ social media use.
• Egypt joins a global regulatory trend as Africa lags in child online protection frameworks.

Egypt’s parliament announced on Sunday, January 25, its intention to draft legislation regulating children’s use of social media. The House of Representatives released the information in an official statement. The statement said the draft law aims to limit the negative effects of digital exposure on minors, including psychological and behavioral risks associated with early use of social platforms.

Lawmakers said they plan to hold consultations with the government and specialized institutions. The process aims to design an appropriate legal framework. The framework seeks to establish mechanisms to control children’s access to social media. The framework also seeks to regulate the practices of digital platforms operating in Egypt.

The initiative follows direct political momentum. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called on the government and parliament one day earlier to examine restrictions on children’s social media use. The president said authorities should consider limits until children reach an age at which they can “manage properly” these digital tools.

Through this move, Egyptian authorities align with a growing global debate over child protection in digital spaces.

Several countries have already adopted concrete measures to regulate minors’ access to social platforms. In France, the National Assembly recently approved at first reading a bill banning social media for children under 15.

Australia adopted a landmark law in December 2025 banning access to social media for children under 16. The law requires platforms to delete non-compliant accounts. The law also imposes heavy fines for violations.

Online child protection remains uneven across Africa. The International Telecommunication Union said that only 39 African countries had adopted a national child online protection strategy in 2024.

At the same time, 32% of African states remained in the drafting phase. Meanwhile, 41% of countries had taken no action. The situation contrasts with rapid digital growth. The ITU said one child worldwide connects to the internet for the first time every half-second.

For Egypt, adoption of such legislation could strengthen protections against digital risks. These risks include cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and social pressure linked to intensive screen use.

However, the legislative process remains complex. Member of parliament Amira El-Adly recently highlighted the lack of reliable official data on children’s internet use in Egypt. She also cited the absence of verified data on psychological and behavioral impacts. This data gap could complicate the creation of a framework that is effective, balanced, and enforceable.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM

• Benin issued 10.5 million digital civil status and identity documents in 2025.
• Online and remote channels handled 75% of all identification procedures.
• Digital identity services reached 4 million citizens through ANIP operations.

In 2025, the National Agency for the Identification of Persons served 4 million citizens and issued 10.5 million civil status and identity documents in Benin. The agency released the data on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Online and remote channels accounted for 75% of all recorded procedures. The figure highlighted the growing role of digital tools in access to identification services.

The digital transformation relied on multiple access channels. Citizens submitted 37% of requests through eservices.anip.bj. Users submitted 30% of requests through the ANIP BJ mobile application. Users submitted 8% of requests through the USSD service. Physical service counters handled the remaining 25% of requests.

The agency strengthened operational security across platforms. GSM operators processed 3.8 million authentication requests. The system performed 25 million electronic identity checks, or eKYC verifications. These measures supported data reliability and system integrity.

The program forms part of a broader digital transformation agenda launched in 2018. Benin gradually introduced digital public services to modernize administration, improve transparency, and strengthen proximity with citizens.

Digital civil status and identity documents represent a central pillar of this strategy. The system plays a critical role in facilitating access to social and economic services.

ANIP supports the national objective of universal digital public services. Benin deployed several government platforms covering tax declarations, health procedures, and administrative formalities.

These platforms promote service interoperability and data centralization. Authorities aim to improve governance, process traceability, and citizen satisfaction while supporting economic efficiency.

For 2026, ANIP plans to continue registration and document issuance. The agency places particular emphasis on rural areas that remain underserved.

Citizens will access a broad range of services online. These services include birth certificates, residence certificates, certificates of custom and single status, personal identification certificates, and the biometric national identity card.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM

• Togolese entrepreneur Alphonse Gogoli co-founded Deezpro, an online professional training platform launched in 2023.
• Deezpro offers online courses, mentorship, and certification preparation across digital, technical, and management fields.
• The initiative targets skills development and career advancement amid rapid technological change.

Alphonse Gogoli is a Togolese engineer and technology entrepreneur. He co-founded and leads Deezpro, an online training platform focused on professional skills development and career progression.

Founded in 2023, Deezpro targets learners seeking new knowledge as well as professionals aiming to strengthen existing skills. The platform offers a broad catalog of online training programs.

Courses cover office software such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The catalog also includes 3D modeling, web development, data management, artificial intelligence, marketing, management, quality systems, and preparation for professional certifications.

Each training program presents detailed information. The platform specifies course content, duration, and, in most cases, pricing.

Deezpro differentiates its offering through personalized support via mentorship. Learners interact with advisors or tutors, ask questions, and receive tailored academic guidance.

The platform also emphasizes preparation for recognized certifications. International partnerships enable official validation of acquired skills.

Alongside his entrepreneurial activities, Alphonse Gogoli serves as an associate lecturer at the University of Lomé. He also works as a science communicator at Cosmos Materia, a media agency specializing in science and materials engineering.

Gogoli graduated from the University of Lorraine in France. He earned a master’s degree in materials mechanics, structures, and processes in 2018. In the same year, he obtained an engineering degree in mechanical and production engineering from the National School of Engineers of Metz.

In 2022, he completed a doctorate in materials mechanics at the University of Caen Normandy.

Gogoli began his professional career in 2016 as an assistant engineer at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, a manufacturer of measurement and control systems for liquids and gases.

In 2017, he joined IKEA France as head of technical services and logistics project management. In 2018, he worked as a research and development engineer at the Laboratory for the Study of Microstructures and Mechanics of Materials.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM

• Nigerian entrepreneur Sunday Paul Adah co-founded and leads Radius, a cross-border payments platform for international students.
• Radius enables same-day payments for tuition, visas, exams, and housing while avoiding traditional international transfer constraints.
• The platform launched in 2022 and operates with real-time tracking and competitive exchange rates.

Sunday Paul Adah, a Nigerian entrepreneur based in Boise, United States, co-founded and leads Radius, formerly known as Pay4Me App, a payment platform designed to simplify financial procedures for international students who must pay fees to foreign schools, institutions, or organizations.

Founded in 2022, Radius enables users to pay tuition, visa fees, examination costs, and housing expenses while avoiding constraints linked to traditional international bank transfers. The mobile application allows users to execute same-day payments and monitor transactions in real time, which increases transparency and reduces uncertainty.

The platform integrates currency management tools that offer competitive exchange rates, which remain critical for cross-border payments. Radius also emphasizes a user-friendly interface and provides 24/7 customer support to assist students throughout every step of their education-related financial processes.

In parallel, Sunday Paul Adah founded Across The Horizon in 2015, a study-abroad consulting firm that supports African students and families in identifying affordable international education opportunities. He also founded Scholarships Africa in 2020, a platform dedicated to identifying and applying for international scholarship programs.

Sunday Paul Adah earned a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from Boise State University in 2021. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration, government, and politics from Grand Canyon University, obtained in 2023, as well as a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, completed in 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM