Ghana’s Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation will train 3,000 girls this year through its Girls-In-ICT Initiative, expanding in-person sessions to the Volta, Upper East, and Upper West regions, with 1,000 participants in each.
Participants will receive training in coding, computer literacy, cybersecurity, and digital creativity, along with mentorship, career workshops, and ICT competitions designed to build skills and confidence.
Launched in Ghana in 2012, the Girls-In-ICT Initiative—supported by the International Telecommunication Union—aims to inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM and support Ghana’s broader push for digital inclusion.
Money Fellows, a fintech platform digitizing traditional savings practices, has raised $13 million in new funding. The funds will boost platform upgrades and support regional expansion.
The round was co-led by Al Mada Ventures (AMV) and DPI Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund, with continued backing from Partech and CommerzVentures. The investment will help scale access to digital savings, lending, and investment services, particularly in underserved communities.
With plans to expand into North Africa, Money Fellows aims to tap into rising demand for digital finance, driven by events like the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
In Nigeria, access to higher education remains a major challenge for many families due to the high cost of tuition fees. To address this, fintech company PressPayNg offers a digital solution designed to help parents finance their children’s education.
PressPayNg, a fintech solution developed by a Nigerian startup, enables parents of students to gradually save funds to cover their children's university tuition fees. Founded in 2021 by Abiola Metilelu, the platform aims to ensure uninterrupted educational paths for all, regardless of financial limitations.
"With the average cost of public universities in Nigeria at $125-$500 per year, the average cost of private institutions at $2,700 annually, and an average annual tertiary education dropout rate of 18%, affording and financing education have become fundamental challenges for Nigerians," the startup explains.
The solution is accessible through a mobile application available on both iOS and Android platforms. According to the Play Store, the app has been downloaded over 10,000 times. Beyond savings functionalities, PressPayNg also provides access to flexible educational loans, scholarships, and sponsorship opportunities through partnerships established with educational institutions, companies, and donors.
The startup's core mission is to democratize access to education through technology. By simplifying financial planning, it targets both parents and students, who often encounter financial instability during enrollment periods.
This approach aligns with a broader trend of financial and social inclusion, where fintech companies play a crucial role in addressing gaps left by traditional financial systems. Looking ahead, PressPayNg envisions building a sustainable education financing ecosystem, spanning from the initial tuition payment to professional integration, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and future-ready society.
By Adoni Conrad Quenum,
Editing by Feriol Bewa
In a context marked by accelerated digital transformation, entrepreneurs play a key role in the adoption of innovative solutions. Among them, Momar Diop stands out for his commitment to advancing technological practices in Africa.
Momar Diop (photo) is a Senegalese serial entrepreneur specializing in the development of innovative technological solutions. He is a co-founder and the CEO of Africa Digitale Native (ADNCORP), a company founded in 2016 that offers digital solutions focused on data analysis and digital transformation.
ADNCORP empowers businesses to enhance their performance by fully capitalizing on their technological capabilities. The company designs digital tools that enable clients to leverage their data for strategic decision-making and the identification of new avenues for growth.
Notably, ADNCORP develops chatbots to improve customer engagement and drive sales. The company also designs web and mobile applications to facilitate the digitization of business processes.
In 2022, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ADNCORP launched the Beezee application. This application allows users to digitize their invoicing and expense tracking processes, providing them with key indicators and data analysis for effective business management, Momar Diop explained in 2022.
Deeply committed to the growth of Senegal's tech ecosystem, Diop also presides over Sen Startup, an independent organization that unites innovation stakeholders across the country. Beyond ADNCORP, he co-founded Skillake in 2016, a platform dedicated to job searching within emerging markets.
Diop holds a master's degree from TBS Education, a business school in France. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, he worked as a financial analyst for several companies. In 2011, he became a sales manager at Altran, an IT company in France. He held the same position at CGI in France, an IT services and consulting firm, between 2014 and 2015.
Melchior Koba
He is an active information technology professional with experience spanning the corporate sector, public administration, and entrepreneurship.
Karim Nazonna Soro (photo) is an Ivorian computer engineer and entrepreneur specializing in technology. He is the founder and CEO of Innov Invest, a startup that designs and manufactures computers and tablets “made in Côte d’Ivoire.”
The Innov Invest project was launched in 2014 before officially becoming a company in 2019. The startup specializes in designing ICT (information and communication technologies) solutions.
Soro's core ambition is to dismantle technological barriers and make computing accessible to all Ivorians. Innov Invest's product line includes computers, mini-PCs, and both standard and educational tablets tailored for children, all designed to meet the specific needs of African users.
"Innov Invest is much more than just a computer manufacturer. It is a company committed to developing its ecosystem and Ivorian youth," the company states on its website. Beyond its hardware offerings, the startup develops custom software applications, provides IT maintenance and repair services, and conducts training programs in the information technology field.
Soro is also the Sales and Marketing Director at Fret Consignation Logistique (FCL). His academic background includes a higher technician certificate (BTS) in new information and communication technologies (NICT) earned in 2011 from ALT Académie in Côte d’Ivoire. He further holds a master’s degree in engineering, specializing in networks and telecommunications, obtained in 2014 from the Institut des technologies d’Abidjan.
In 2022, he was named Best Young Entrepreneur at the Poro Golden Awards and subsequently received the Best Young Entrepreneur award in the "Technological Innovation" category at the 2023 Young Entrepreneurs Awards. In 2023, his company was honored with the award for Best Innovative Technology Company in Africa by the African Intellectual Property Organization. This was followed by the prestigious 2024 Excellence Award, bestowed by the Presidency of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
- Madagascar plans to partner with Pakistan’s Beaj Education to train underqualified “FRAM teachers” using AI-supported 20-minute WhatsApp modules.
- A pilot program with content in Malagasy and French is planned, but no timeline has been announced.
The Malagasy government is exploring a partnership with Pakistani educational technology firm Beaj Education to enhance the skills of its "FRAM teachers" – community-based educators often lacking formal professional training.
The groundwork for this collaboration was established last week during a meeting in the United States at the Harvard Kennedy School. Representatives from Madagascar's Ministries of Digital Development and National Education met with Zainab Qureshi, the founder of Beaj.
The proposed project features an innovative training program built around concise, 20-minute modules delivered via WhatsApp. This program would be supported by multilingual artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT and Gemini. A pilot phase is in the works, with content tailored to the local context in both Malagasy and French languages. However, a specific timeline for implementation has not yet been announced.
This initiative reflects the Malagasy government's intent to harness digital technology to tackle the issue of inadequate training among "FRAM teachers." These educators are a vital component of the national education system, particularly in rural regions. A UNICEF report issued in November 2024 indicated that 64% of teachers in Madagascar's rural areas fall into this category.
"FRAM teachers tend to have lower academic qualifications [...], often holding only a lower secondary school certificate. Although the official minimum qualification required to become a teacher in Madagascar is the completion of upper secondary education, such candidates are not always available, which forces parent-teacher associations to hire underqualified candidates," the U.N. agency explained.
While AI-powered training could bolster the skills of "FRAM teachers" and elevate the quality of education, the chosen delivery method could present accessibility challenges. Accessing training via WhatsApp necessitates a smartphone and internet connectivity – resources that remain limited for a significant portion of Madagascar's population. According to the International Telecommunication Union, nearly 80% of Malagasy citizens lack internet access.
By Isaac K. Kassouwi,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodjiv
With the launch of the consultation forum, Ghana signals its readiness to lead the AI revolution sweeping across the globe. By combining digital infrastructure, inclusive policies, and a bold vision, the country is laying the foundation for an innovation ecosystem where AI serves people first.
Ghana has taken a bold step toward positioning itself as a continental leader in artificial intelligence (AI) with the official launch of the National AI Strategy Stakeholder Consultation Forum.
Speaking at the event, announced April 29, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George (MP), emphasized the country’s ambition to harness AI’s transformative power while ensuring that digital progress benefits all citizens. “Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is here and it is already reshaping our world,” he stated, noting that data is now the world’s most valuable resource, and AI is the intelligence that unlocks its true potential.
The strategy is being rolled out with the goal of making Ghana the AI Hub of Africa. The move is supported by structural changes, including the renaming of the Ministry to explicitly reflect its focus on digital technologies and innovation.
The AI Strategy focuses on four pillars to drive inclusive and responsible AI development. First, it treats data as a national asset, aiming to ethically leverage Ghana’s diverse datasets, especially in health and agriculture, through an Open Data Framework developed with the Data Protection Commission. Second, it emphasizes computer power as essential infrastructure, with plans to expand data centers, enhance cloud capacity, and foster regional and public-private partnerships.
Third, talent development is central, led by the One Million Coders Program launched on April 16, which equips youth with digital skills and builds a workforce of AI engineers, machine learning experts, cybersecurity professionals, and informed civil servants. Lastly, the strategy stresses governance and real-world use cases, promoting ethical, transparent AI deployment in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, education, transport, and border security.
Ghana’s National AI Strategy positions the country to take full advantage of the growing opportunities within Africa’s digital economy. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this transformation could add up to $180 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025, depending on the extent to which digital technologies are adopted by businesses.
Hikmatu Bilali
- Nigeria signs cybercrime cooperation deal with UK, aiming to boost judicial efficiency and tackle cross-border digital threats.
- Joint teams and early collaboration between investigators and prosecutors are key to the new approach, alongside capacity building.
- Cybercrime causes Nigeria $500 million in annual losses; 751 suspects were arrested in 2024, including 130 in a major Interpol-led operation.
Nigeria is looking to deepen its collaboration with the United Kingdom in the battle against cybercrime. Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi signed a memorandum of understanding with a British delegation on Tuesday, April 29th, to formalize this intent.
Both nations have pledged to streamline Nigeria's judicial system by cutting through bureaucratic red tape. This will involve closer collaboration among key players: investigators and prosecutors will now work in tandem from the initial stages of a case, aligning their strategies, pooling resources, and enhancing their skills to jointly achieve desired outcomes. The partnership also extends to transnational crimes, with a joint team established to tackle these issues.
"Cybercrime is complex and constantly evolving, while we have a national legal framework for combating it, it is important to note that laws alone cannot win battles. It is the people who interpret, enforce, and apply these laws that must be equipped, united, and empowered to act—swiftly, cohesively, and effectively," Fagbemi stated.
This partnership is part of the Nigerian government's broader efforts to control the increasing rate of cybercrime, which is accelerating alongside digital transformation. In November 2024, an Interpol-coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of 306 cybercriminals across several African nations, including 130 in Nigeria. Over the course of the year, Nigerian police reported the apprehension of 751 individuals involved in cybercriminal activities. This problem inflicts significant economic damage. According to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2022, cybercrime costs Nigeria $500 million annually.
If this cooperative effort proves successful, the Nigerian government aims to establish a strong system to safeguard its citizens, uphold their rights, and bring cybercriminals to justice. However, it is important to note that the two parties have, to date, only signed a memorandum of understanding. No specific timeline has been announced for the finalization of a definitive agreement or its implementation. Tangible progress will be necessary before any conclusions can be drawn about its potential and actual impact.
By Isaac K. Kassouwi,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Digital ID systems reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption. By digitizing identity verification, governments can cut down on duplicate registrations and ghost beneficiaries in public programs.
Zambia is looking to Ethiopia as a model for implementing its national digital identification system, citing the East African country’s successful home-built approach as a blueprint for locally driven innovation. This was disclosed by Mr. Percy Chinyama, National Coordinator of Smart Zambia, during the Africa Innovation Conference in Addis Ababa. Emulating this model could help Zambia strengthen security by ensuring proper citizen identification and preventing identity fraud.
According to the official press release issued by the Zambia Embassy in Ethiopia on April 29, 2025, Mr. Chinyama highlighted the Zambian government’s strategic shift away from proprietary systems in favor of homegrown digital infrastructure. Ethiopia’s locally developed digital ID framework was cited as a prime example of what Zambia aims to replicate.
Ethiopia’s Fayda Digital ID initiative is emerging as a leading example on the continent because of several factors. Unlike many systems that rely heavily on foreign proprietary solutions, Ethiopia’s digital ID is developed in-house with open-source technology, ensuring sustainability, adaptability, and reduced long-term costs.
The Fayda system uses biometric authentication and de-duplication, ensuring each citizen has one unique, verifiable ID. It complies with the MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform) standards, making it interoperable with other systems globally.
The UNDP reports that while 89% of Zambians possess paper-based National Registration Cards, only 1.5 million out of an estimated 9 million have been enrolled using biometric data. The finding underscores a major digital identity gap. This limits citizens’ access to essential digital services and undermines efforts toward financial and social inclusion.
Ethiopia’s home-grown biometric digital ID system, Fayda, offers a valuable model for Zambia to transition from insecure, paper-based IDs to a robust, inclusive digital identity infrastructure. Adopting this model could help Zambia improve service delivery, reduce fraud, and ensure more citizens can fully participate in the digital economy.
Hikmatu Bilali
MYDAWA, a digital health platform in East Africa, has raised new funding to expand its services and improve access to essential medicines across the region. The investment will support regional growth, AI-powered service upgrades, and the scale-up of MYDAWA’s hybrid “Bricks-and-Clicks” model, which combines online health services with physical pharmacy support.
The funding round includes global healthcare investors such as IFU, Alta Semper, AAIC Investment, Creadev, and Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
The funds will also expand chronic care support, enhance digital tools, and reduce patient costs through smarter logistics and inventory systems. MYDAWA recently strengthened its presence in Uganda through the acquisition of Rocket Health.
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- IMF supports Madagascar's AI-driven customs reform, with experts training officials on integrating AI to boost efficiency and transparency.
- AI tools already in use—such as image analysis and risk assessment systems—helped increase customs revenues by 68% year-on-year in January 2025.
Madagascar's customs authority is currently receiving technical support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to accelerate its digital transformation. Two specialists, Victor Budeau and François Chastel, began their mission in Antananarivo on Thursday, April 24th. Their assignment, scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, May 7th, includes intensive training focused on incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into customs procedures.
The objective is to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of operations. During a working session, the Director General of Customs, Ernest Zafivanona Lainkana (pictured, center), underscored the significance of centralizing data within a unified database to fully harness the potential of AI. He also affirmed that this technology must now become a fundamental component of customs tools.
This initiative is not merely an experiment but rather part of an ongoing strategy. The customs administration is already using several AI-driven solutions: automatic image analysis (RESNET), Smart Scanning, and the Enhanced Risk Assessment (ERA) system. These tools have contributed to a 68% increase in customs revenues in January 2025 compared to January 2024.
Given these positive outcomes, the IMF has designated Madagascar as a pilot project in Africa for the integration of AI into customs services. This strategic recognition could lay the foundation for a continent-wide strategy. By 2029, Madagascar's customs authority aims to extend these technologies to additional control sectors, strengthen its digital infrastructure, and share its expertise at the regional level.
- Kenya launches 2025–2030 national AI strategy focused on ethical, inclusive, and innovation-driven adoption across key sectors like health, agriculture, and public services.
- Strategy emphasizes data sovereignty and responsible governance, outlining future regulations on privacy, cybersecurity, and cross-border data flows.
- Plan aims to position Kenya as a regional AI leader, aligning with African Union initiatives and aiming to attract global partnerships and investment.
Kenya has unveiled its inaugural national artificial intelligence strategy, covering the years 2025 through 2030. The document articulates a distinct vision for the ethical, inclusive, and innovation-led integration of AI technologies. This initiative forms part of the nation's wider digital transformation agenda and serves as a clear indicator to international technology firms closely observing regulatory developments within emerging markets.
While formulated at the national level, the strategy mirrors a broader trend: the adaptation of global AI governance norms to the specific circumstances of emerging economies. It organizes Nairobi’s ambitions around several core pillars, encompassing infrastructure development, data sovereignty, sector-specific applications, and responsible innovation. The strategy also lays the groundwork for future legislative action.
Data governance stands out as a pivotal element of the document. Kenya signals its intent to cultivate an AI ecosystem anchored in local frameworks, adhering to principles of privacy, cybersecurity, and ethics. This approach could introduce new obligations for multinational corporations operating through cloud infrastructure or engaging in cross-border data transfers, particularly concerning data localization requirements or consent protocols.
The sectors identified for targeted AI deployment are those where the technology has the potential for rapid and significant impact: healthcare, agriculture, financial services, and public administration. Use cases such as AI-assisted diagnostics, personalized medicine, and the automation of administrative processes are prioritized, with a strong emphasis on managing potential ethical risks.
The strategy also envisions the development of a robust national digital infrastructure, fostered through collaborations between the public and private sectors. Data centers, cloud computing resources, and technology research centers will be central to this transformation. These investments could unlock substantial commercial opportunities while simultaneously establishing new compliance requirements, especially for cloud service providers and telecommunications operators.
Although the document does not yet carry the force of law, it outlines a prospective regulatory framework for AI within Kenya. The strategy addresses sensitive areas including risk classification, regulatory oversight mechanisms, and algorithmic governance.
Through this strategic document, Kenya aims to position itself as a key voice in the African AI discourse. While other nations on the continent, including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Algeria, have already adopted their own national AI strategies, Nairobi seeks to assert its unique vision, strengthen international partnerships, and proactively anticipate evolving global standards. The strategy thus aligns with several pan-African initiatives, notably those spearheaded by the African Union, the East African Community (EAC), and the Africa Smart Alliance.
The primary challenge will be the practical implementation of this vision. Success may hinge on the ability to mobilize both public and private sector investments, establish a governance framework that is both open and rigorous, and enhance local expertise—particularly through training programs, research initiatives, and the development of technology innovation hubs.
By Samira Njoya,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
African payments company Onafriq has announced a partnership with global financial technology company Circle to improve cross-border payments across the continent.
The collaboration, announced on April 30, will integrate Circle’s USDC-powered settlement solutions into Onafriq’s infrastructure, marking a major leap toward simpler, faster, and more affordable intra-African transactions.
The partnership aims to break down traditional barriers in cross-border finance, including high transaction fees, slow processing, and currency exchange hurdles, by leveraging blockchain-powered stablecoin technology.
- Algeria plans to fully replace its outdated copper telecom network with high-speed fiber optics by the end of 2027.
- The shift supports national goals to boost internet quality and enable sectors like AI, e-services, telemedicine, and fintech.
- Only 27% of households are currently connected to fiber; high subscription costs may hinder broader adoption.
The Algerian government plans to gradually retire its copper wire network by the close of 2027, prioritizing the implementation of more efficient fiber optic technology. This ambition was announced on Tuesday, April 29th, by Minister of Post and Telecommunications Sid Ali Zerrouki (pictured), during ceremonies marking the connection of two million Algerian households to fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure.
This decision arises because the copper network, initially designed for telephone services, no longer meets contemporary demands. It exhibits slow internet access speeds and is susceptible to outages. In contrast, fiber optics transmit data at the speed of light, maintaining signal quality.
"Among its advantages, fiber optics offers significantly superior upstream and downstream speeds compared to the copper network, ranging from 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to several gigabits per second (Gbps), and provides better service quality than copper. Remote work, video conferencing, e-education, telemedicine, and numerous other applications have recently increased the demand for bandwidth," explained France's Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), where a similar copper network phase-out is underway.
Mr. Zerrouki also expressed his belief that expanding fiber infrastructure aligns with a strategy aimed at empowering startups to develop advanced digital solutions, accelerating the digitization of governmental and public services, fostering innovation in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data, while also bolstering financial inclusion through the expansion of electronic payments and the growth of the digital economy.
It is important to note, however, that achieving a successful transition to fiber will require the Algerian government to increase investment in network coverage. The two million households currently connected to fiber optics represent only 27% of the 7.4 million households recorded nationwide. Furthermore, as of September 30, 2024, Algeria had 2.6 million ADSL (copper) subscribers, accounting for approximately 44% of the 5.9 million fixed internet subscribers.
Moreover, despite its numerous benefits, the adoption of fiber optics could be constrained by its cost. For instance, Algérie Telecom offers three ADSL plans: 10 Mbps at 1,600 Algerian dinars ($12.06) per month, 15 Mbps at 2,000 dinars, and 20 Mbps at 2,150 dinars. In comparison, the entry-level fiber optic plan starts at 30 Mbps for 2,200 dinars per month. The operator also provides higher-speed packages at 60 Mbps for 2,400 dinars, 120 Mbps for 2,600 dinars, 240 Mbps for 2,800 dinars, and up to 1.2 Gbps for 4,200 dinars.
By Isaac K. Kassouwi,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji