The Seychelles Council of Ministers has approved a new law to regulate virtual assets (VAs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs), Vice President Ahmed Afif announced. The legislation, awaiting National Assembly approval, aims to foster responsible and sustainable growth in the burgeoning industry.
Nigerian fintech startup Kippa is shifting gears and venturing into the education technology (edtech) space, according to a Wednesday report by Techcabal. The company is developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered e-learning platform to facilitate the creation of online course modules and deliver bite-sized training sessions.
In line with his ambition to establish Kenya as a digital hub in Africa, the Kenyan President traveled to Silicon Valley last November. He engaged in discussions with several U.S. technology leaders, encouraging them to invest in his country.
US technology giant Oracle is set to construct its second African data center in Nairobi, Kenya. The announcement was made on January 31, during a meeting held by President William Ruto with a delegation from Oracle, led by Scott Twaddle, the Senior Vice President in charge of products and industries at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
The initiative aims to accelerate the digital transformation of Kenya's government, public institutions, businesses, and startups. "We are delighted to see Oracle planning such an important investment in Kenya. [...] I am excited to see major technology companies like Oracle investing in Kenya and bringing state of the art technologies like AI and cloud applications that will benefit Kenyan citizens, especially in creation of jobs," Ruto said.
Data centers, the physical powerhouses behind the digital world, are experiencing a surge in growth across Africa. These facilities, which store, manage, and distribute essential data, offer the computing muscle needed for online services, applications, websites, and more. This growing demand stems from the continent's rapid digital transformation, with businesses and governments increasingly relying on cloud-based solutions.
While Africa currently houses less than 2%- According to the International Telecommunications Union– of the world's data centers, major players like Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, and Huawei are taking notice, investing heavily in building new facilities across the continent. This expansion is driven by the need to address the existing gap in cloud infrastructure and capitalize on the region's immense potential for digital growth.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With the ongoing digital transformation push across Africa, connectivity investments are surging continentwide. The aim is to close the digital gap and cater to all societal levels.
Algeria’s Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Karim Bibi Triki, announced on Monday, a substantial rise in the country’s international bandwidth capacity to 9.8 Tbit/s. This marks a significant increase from 7.8 Tbit/s in 2022, 2.8 Tbit/s in 2021, and 1.5 Tbit/s at the start of 2020.
According to the Ministry, the enhancement aims to provide increased flexibility, emphasizing the strategic role of international bandwidth in ensuring and maintaining Internet services.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to augment Algeria’s international bandwidth capacity, coinciding with the deployment of a telecommunications infrastructure modernization and development program. The primary objective is to anticipate the escalating Internet demand and ensure ultra-high-speed access.
As per the “Digital 2023” report by international consultancy Datareportal, the median mobile Internet connection speed in Algeria via cellular networks reached 13.40 Mbps, marking an over 17% increase in the 12 months leading up to the start of 2023. Fixed-line Internet speeds reached 11.01 Mbps, rising by 1.23 Mbps compared to 2022.
The bandwidth expansion to 9.8 Tbit/s will facilitate the adoption of new technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging services. It will also bolster network resilience, catering to the growing demand for services that require rapid data transmission, including video streaming, online gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive applications.
Samira Njoya
Senegal is fully committed to digitizing its entire healthcare system. In a bid to achieve its goals, the government is multiplying its initiatives in collaboration with all the stakeholders in the sector.
Senegal's state-owned digital infrastructure company, Sénégal Numérique SA (Senum SA), and the Ministry of Health and Social Action signed an agreement on Tuesday to speed up the digitization of the country's healthcare system.
According to Cheikh Bakhoum (photo, left), CEO of Senum SA, the agreement encompasses various activities, including the domestic hosting of health data, which was previously stored abroad. The data will now be housed within Senegal, specifically in national resource centers.
Under this three-year collaboration, Senum SA will aid in the execution of all digital projects within the sector, host data in the national data center, and enhance connectivity for healthcare facilities, among other tasks. The company will also augment the hosting capacity and bandwidth for digital health records, including the shared patient file (Dpp), telemedicine, the hospital information system, the geographic health system, the digitization of medicines, community health processes, and electronic health governance.
The partnership aligns with the 2023-2027 healthcare system digitization program (PDSS), a government-led initiative. The program, which has received significant financial backing from the World Bank to the tune of $50 million, coincides with the country’s efforts to construct data centers dedicated to storing and hosting national data. The most recent addition to this infrastructure is a Tier 3 data center, established in Diamniadio.
Samira Njoya
With a background in economics, he has served as an investment analyst for global corporations. Currently, he leads a firm that provides financial support for the acquisition of solar energy equipment to underserved communities.
South African entrepreneur Michael Heyink (photo), a University of Cape Town Economics graduate, co-founded and now leads Yellow, a startup focused on distributing and financing affordable solar home systems for low-income rural households.
Established in 2018 by Heyink and Maya Stewart, Yellow offers a solar system package that includes a panel, battery, four lamps, a cell phone charger, and a radio. The company also markets smartphones and larger solar systems.
Yellow has developed Ofeefee, a comprehensive sales force network solution for last-mile delivery. This platform automates recruitment and training, offers engaging incentives, and includes an e-commerce and task management engine to streamline informal processes. It facilitates digital inventory, delivery, and warranty service management, and provides real-time credit scoring and portfolio management services.
With its headquarters in South Africa, Yellow operates in Malawi, Rwanda, Madagascar, Uganda, and Zambia. The company employs over 1,000 agents and serves more than 480,000 customers across Africa. In June 2023, Yellow secured $14 million in Series B funding to bolster its presence in existing markets.
Before founding Yellow, Heyink worked as a strategy consultant at Monitor Group from 2012 to 2014. He later joined Agis Investment as an investment analyst in 2015, and subsequently worked as a private equity analyst at Metier, a private equity fund manager.
Melchior Koba
Nigeria, like many other countries, faces persistent challenges when it comes to electronic fraud, particularly bank card fraud. To counter this threat to the economy, initiatives are currently being rolled out across the country.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in partnership with the Nigerian Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) and the Association of Mobile Money and Banking Agents of Nigeria (AMMBAN), is set to introduce a new feature aimed at improving the detection of potentially fraudulent transactions. This initiative, a response to the country’s increasing fraud incidents, will necessitate specific Know Your Customer (KYC) details for validating certain transactions.
Fasasi Sarafadeen Atanda, AMMBAN’s Chairman, stated that the technological development of this feature is nearing completion, with its activation slated for the first quarter of this year. Point-of-service terminals nationwide will prominently display this new feature, enabling the identification, reporting, and cancellation of suspicious transactions.
This measure is a reaction to a significant surge in fraud, as evidenced by data from the Financial Institutions Training Center (FITC). In the second quarter of 2023, Nigerian deposit banks reported fraud-related losses of 9.75 billion naira ($10.8 million), marking a 276% increase from the same period in 2022, when losses totaled 5.79 billion naira.
The ultimate objective of this innovation is to foster a more secure, transparent, and regulated financial ecosystem in Nigeria. By bolstering consumer trust in electronic financial services, it aims to stimulate healthy and robust sector growth.
Samira Njoya
Senegal's ongoing drive to digitize administrative services marks a significant milestone as GUDE embarks on its digital transformation journey. This crucial segment of the Senegalese economy, previously undergoing initial digitization efforts, has now entered a key phase that promises to streamline procedures and enhance efficiency.
Starting February 1, Senegal's authorities will expand the Single Dematerialized Collection Desk (GUDE) to all participants in the port sector. The move aims to enhance the Port of Dakar (PAD)'s efficiency, increase the port platform's revenue, and simplify procedures for economic operators.
Makhtar Lakh, Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer Affairs, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, stated that the new system for dematerializing collection procedures would save operators time and resources, reduce state and consumer costs, and improve operation predictability.
The GUDE, a collaboration between the PAD, the General Directorate of Customs, and the Community of Port Actors, will extend to other services such as transit, export, and transfers to customs clearance areas outside the PAD over the next three months.
The GUDE's launch is part of Senegal's public sector's ongoing digital transformation. Despite the digital transition's progress, many services are still catching up with the country's public administrations' technological revolution.
Earlier this month, the General Directorate of Public Accounting and the Treasury (DGCPT) introduced an online payment service for road fines. Last November, Senegal Numérique, the national company responsible for managing the State's digital infrastructures, partnered with Blaise Diagne International Airport to digitize all airports in the country.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In Africa's evolving digital landscape, the ability of regulators to respond to the needs of investors can help support the development of the sector. Developing effective collaborative tools is becoming a necessity.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has introduced the Tanzanite Portal system, revolutionizing communication services across the nation. This innovative platform aims to simplify operations and promote transparency among service providers.
Dr. Jabiri Bakari, TCRA's Director General, in a statement released on January 28, lauded the Tanzanite Portal for its role in streamlining registration and enhancing regulatory oversight. With a user-friendly interface, the portal facilitates licensing across diverse sectors, including Telecommunication, Internet, Postal, and Broadcasting, while streamlining fee payment.
Key features like a centralized application window and electronic device certification underscore TCRA's commitment to improving customer experience and operational efficiency. Stakeholders can now submit license applications remotely, marking a departure from traditional procedures.
The portal's transparent framework enables swift responses to inquiries and feedback, promoting accountability within the regulatory ecosystem. Its streamlined electronic device approval process, complemented by a verification USSD code, ensures greater control over unauthorized service providers.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed TCRA's initiative, citing its potential to expedite processes and provide clarity in the communication sector. The launch of the Tanzanite Portal reflects TCRA's ongoing efforts to foster innovation and transparency, aligning with its mission of advancing Tanzania's communication infrastructure.
The Tanzanite Portal launch follows TCRA's commitment to openness, with routine press briefings serving as a platform for disseminating sector updates and performance reports. As Tanzania's communication landscape evolves, the Tanzanite Portal stands poised to reshape industry dynamics, offering stakeholders a streamlined pathway to enhanced services and regulatory compliance.
Hikmatu Bilali
Through its programs, the KivuTech incubator aims to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, contributing to the technological and economic development of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
KivuTech, a business incubator in eastern Congo, champions young entrepreneurs and emerging businesses, fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem and driving economic growth. Founded by social entrepreneur Benjamin Cinamula and other young Congolese, KivuTech caters to a diverse audience, including entrepreneurs, students, researchers, and startups.
Its mission revolves around fostering technological innovation and economic development. The incubator provides a supportive environment, offering training, mentorship, financing, and collaborative workspaces to nurture promising ventures. Its diverse programs empower entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to thrive, contributing to Congo's technological advancement and economic diversification.
The incubator actively promotes education, particularly in tech and computer skills, to equip future generations with the necessary tools for success. It also champions initiatives focused on socio-economic reintegration, gender equality, and unemployment reduction, contributing to broader societal development in the region. Its work has yielded impressive results. With over 40 expert mentors and a robust network of partners, the incubator has supported more than 200 projects, boasting over 100 success stories. Notable initiatives include "l'or dans nos poubelles," a UNDP-backed project that upcycles plastic waste, showcasing KivuTech's commitment to sustainable development.
KivuTech's Kivu Digital Summit, organized in collaboration with young entrepreneurs' organizations, is a testament to its commitment to fostering connections and collaboration within the Congolese tech ecosystem. The event brought together hundreds of young innovators, government officials, academics, and business leaders, fostering dialogue and driving innovation forward.
Melchior Koba
More...
Kenya is aiming to become a leading technology hub in Africa, ramping up investment in the sector and forging strategic partnerships to fast-track its ambitions.
Kenyan President William Ruto (photo, right) announced on Saturday, January 27, during the inauguration of the Mukiria Technical Training Institute’s teaching block and engineering workshop in Central Imenti, that China has been chosen to equip the country’s digital hubs. The initiative aims to provide Kenyan youth with digital skills.
Ruto emphasized the importance of investing in technical colleges and ICT hubs to ensure that the youth acquire the necessary competencies to monetize their knowledge and skills, thereby contributing to the country’s economic development.
"Our investment in technical colleges and ICT hubs guarantees our youth the acquisition of competencies to help them monetize their knowledge and skills so that they can contribute meaningfully to our economic development," he said.
The Kenyan government has prioritized digital technology in its development policy, taking steps to enable its population, particularly the youth, to keep up with the global technological revolution. The establishment of various digital hubs is a part of this initiative, and the government has increased the education budget to support this project.
“Technical training is a crucial element of the Kenyan government’s strategy to equip our human capital, especially the youth, with skills that can significantly contribute to the country’s development,” Ruto explained.
Kenya, along with Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, boasts one of the most advanced technological ecosystems in Africa. As of early 2023, Kenya had 17.86 million Internet users, representing an Internet penetration rate of 32.7%, according to DataReportal.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
He is an award-winning technology entrepreneur in Africa. Specializing in educational technologies, he aims to stimulate the continent's development through education and knowledge sharing.
Edouard Claude Oussou (photo), a Gabonese strategic leader and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Scientia Africa, an educational technology startup established in 2017. The company, which operates in Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Comoros, aims to ensure 100% academic success for all students through its web, mobile, and SMS/USSD applications.
According to the World Bank, Gabon has the highest school failure rate globally, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure and poor quality school supervision. “Since we can’t replace the state in terms of building schools, we’ve positioned ourselves in terms of school follow-up,” Oussou stated in 2020.
Scientia Africa offers a school tracking application, providing students, parents, teachers, and school administrators with real-time access to essential information for monitoring students’ education. The application analyzes and processes data to evaluate pedagogy, course quality, student assimilation, potential shortcomings, and educational progress.
In addition to his role at Scientia Africa, Oussou serves as the Head of Strategy, Research, and Development at Société équatoriale des mines (SEM) in Gabon. He holds a diploma in computer administration and management from the Institut Supérieur de Technologie in Libreville, obtained in 2003, and a certification in business and entrepreneurship from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in the USA.
Oussou also founded Routedusucces.com, an educational platform where he served as CEO from 2016 to 2020. His professional career began in 2003 at CRN, a marketing company, where he was a Multimedia Manager. In 2018, he interned in business development at Microsoft.
Oussou and his company, Scientia Africa, have received several awards and distinctions. In 2017, the African Startup Forum voted Scientia Africa as the best African startup in the education category. Positive Youth’s Africa named Oussou as one of the 100 most inspiring young Africans. In 2019, the African Union Commission recognized him as one of Africa’s top education innovators. In 2021, he won the Moov Africa Gabon Télécom Startup Challenge.
Melchior Koba
Ghita Mezzour (photo), the Moroccan Minister for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, outlined the Maroc Digital 2030 strategy at a Government Council meeting on Thursday, January 25. The strategy is anchored in two main pillars: the digitization of public services and the stimulation of a new dynamic in the digital economy. The goal is to foster the development of Moroccan digital solutions, create added value, and generate jobs, forming the basis for digital development in the country.
Financial hurdles can hinder start-up growth. To equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to secure funding, 250 STARTUPS offers customized incubation, acceleration, and mentorship programs in Rwanda.
250STARTUPS, a Rwandan incubation and acceleration center led by Managing Director Charles Shyaka, provides technology startups with the resources to develop a proof of concept and become investment-ready through a customized program. The center accelerates startups for six months per cohort, offering financial, legal, technical, and mentoring support to help them transition from incubation to expansion.
The center also runs a capacity-building program for young graduates in information and communication technology (ICT), finance, and law, who collaborate closely with entrepreneurs under expert guidance. Each month, the center hosts Capital Talks, where incubatees showcase their progress to potential partners, investors, and other startups. The center currently supports 160 beneficiaries, 40 companies, and 80 associates.
Among the startups backed by 250 STARTUPS are Nyereka Tech, an e-commerce platform selling IoT sensors and experiential learning tools, and AFIA Pharma, a pharmaceutical e-commerce platform. Another notable startup is Safe Sana, which has developed a safety device that detects gas leaks, automatically shuts down the gas cylinder, triggers an alarm, and sends SMS alerts and calls to a mobile phone.
Melchior Koba