Startup Lagos, 50, Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos (2025)

26/09/2025

TikTok Expands to Train 3,000+ Creators Across Sub-Saharan Africa

TikTok has announced the expansion of its flagship programme, aiming to empower and train over 3,000 content creators across Sub-Saharan Africa. The eight-month initiative will provide creators with tailored training, mentorship, and revenue-generating opportunities to help turn content creation into sustainable careers.

Launched in 2021, the programme has already helped hundreds of African creators grow their brands and unlock partnerships. The expanded version will now feature monthly masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and in-person events, covering content strategy, monetisation, brand partnerships, and TikTok’s Community Guidelines.

Announcing the programme in Lagos during TikTok Creator Education Day, Boniswa Sidwaba, TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the platform is committed to “building real pathways for African creators to thrive.”

By scaling , TikTok says it hopes to strengthen Africa’s digital creative economy while offering creators the structure, access, and support needed to achieve long-term success.

25/09/2025

PayPal Commits $100M to Expand Digital Commerce Across MENA and Africa

PayPal has announced a $100 million investment package to scale its presence across the Middle East and Africa, deploying capital through minority investments, acquisitions, PayPal Ventures funding, and technology and talent expansion.

The move builds on its new regional hub in Dubai, which serves as a gateway to nearly 80 countries. PayPal says the funding will support startups, merchants, and consumers with cross-border payments, product integrations, and partnerships.

Short term, expect more collaborations and local hiring across compliance, payments, and engineering. Longer term, PayPal may pursue acquisitions to strengthen local settlement rails and expand market reach.

Analysts note the investment is catalytic, not transformational, given the region’s size and complexity. Execution—particularly on local settlement, regulatory compliance, and product localisation—will determine whether PayPal’s bet moves the needle in Africa and MENA’s fast-growing digital commerce sector.

25/09/2025

The 7𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 (𝗔𝗢𝗧 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 7.0) is almost here, and it’s set to transform Lagos’ innovation landscape!

Get ready for a day of 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. From 𝗔𝗜, 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗼𝗧 to 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, AOT Lagos 7.0 brings together policymakers, investors, startups, and tech talent to shape the future of Africa’s most vibrant megacity.

Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Venue: Landmark Event Centre, Lagos
Theme: 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 & 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙨

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲:
🔹 High-level keynotes & panels with global thought leaders
🔹 Hands-on workshops & breakout sessions
🔹 𝗔𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 (4th Edition)
🔹 Career Pavilion for talent connections & job opportunities
🔹 Startup exhibitions & live product showcases
🔹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 where innovation meets investment

AOT Lagos 7.0 isn’t just a conference, it’s a movement toward a smarter, sustainable, and tech-driven Lagos.

🔗 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚: http://www.aotlagos.com

25/09/2025

Acumen Raises $246M to Expand Clean Energy Access in Africa’s Hardest-to-Reach Communities

Impact investor Acumen has secured $246.5 million for its Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Initiative, a blended finance programme targeting clean energy expansion across 17 African countries, including underserved markets like Malawi and Burkina Faso.

Backed by the Green Climate Fund, IFC, British International Investment, and Shinhan Bank, H2R aims to bring electricity to 70 million people. The programme combines two vehicles: H2R Amplify, a $189.5m debt facility offering impact-linked loans to growth-stage firms, and H2R Catalyze, a $57m early-stage fund blending equity, concessional debt, grants, and technical support.

The initiative seeks to bridge financing gaps for off-grid and mini-grid developers while aligning investor returns with social outcomes. Success will hinge on overcoming hurdles such as currency volatility, customs delays, and the operational challenges of reaching last-mile communities.

If effective, H2R could become a blueprint for scaling blended finance in Africa’s energy transition.

24/09/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻-𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀

WhatsApp has begun rolling out in-app message translations, allowing users to translate individual texts or entire chats without leaving the app. The feature, available from September 23, 2025, supports six languages on Android (including English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic), with iOS to support 19+ languages.

Translations are processed on-device, boosting privacy as WhatsApp cannot access the text. For African users, this update could ease cross-language communication across communities, businesses, and diaspora groups, especially in North Africa with Arabic support. However, the absence of African languages like Swahili, Yoruba, and Hausa limits its immediate reach.

If WhatsApp expands language support while keeping its privacy-first approach, the feature could significantly reduce language barriers across the continent.

23/09/2025

Happy Birthday, Dr. Adetutu Afolabi

Today we celebrate not just your birthday, but the incredible impact you continue to make in healthcare, enterprise, and mental wellness. Your dedication to empowering people and improving lives is truly inspiring.

May the year ahead bring you more joy, fulfillment, and memorable milestones as you keep touching lives and shaping positive change.

Wishing you good health, happiness, and continued success.

23/09/2025

Uber Reports ₦34B Boost to Nigeria’s Economy, Launches Impact Report at Lagos Mobility Summit

Uber has revealed that it contributed ₦34 billion to Nigeria’s economy in 2023, alongside nearly ₦500 billion in consumer surplus, according to its Nigeria Economic Impact Report unveiled at the Lagos Road Mobility Summit.

The summit, themed “Reimagining an Inclusive Road Safety Strategy”, was held in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Transport and brought together regulators, safety experts, and private sector leaders.

The report highlights Uber’s role in creating earnings opportunities—drivers earned ₦6.1 billion more than their next best alternative—while offering riders safer, more convenient travel. Nearly 78% of women said Uber is the safest way to get home at night, and the platform added ₦930 million to nightlife and ₦5.4 billion to tourism in 2023.

“Uber is more than a way to move from A to B, it’s a platform that empowers people to shape their own futures,” said Deepesh Thomas, GM for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa.

22/09/2025

Mukuru Partners MoneyGram to Boost Cross-Border Payments Across Africa

Mukuru, one of Africa’s leading fintech platforms, has partnered with global payments giant MoneyGram to expand affordable, secure, and inclusive remittance services across Africa, Asia, and beyond.

The deal links Mukuru’s strong Southern African infrastructure with MoneyGram’s global payout network, giving millions of customers access to faster transfers via cash pickup, mobile wallets, and bank accounts. With Africa’s cross-border market projected to hit \$1 trillion in the next decade, the partnership aims to bridge traditional cash services with digital ecosystems through API-driven integration, mobile-first access, and best-in-class compliance.

“This is a milestone moment for Mukuru and the communities we serve,” said Andy Jury, Mukuru CEO, noting the collaboration’s focus on financial inclusion.

19/09/2025

Today, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (), Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

A steadfast leader whose vision, dedication, and commitment to public service continue to drive the dream of a Greater Lagos. Your passion for progress, innovation, and people-centered governance is truly inspiring.

Here’s to more years of wisdom, impactful leadership, and remarkable achievements for the good of our state and its people.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Hamzat!

19/09/2025

Google Strengthens Africa with New Connectivity Hubs, Free AI Tools for Students, and $9M Research Fund

Google has announced fresh investments to boost Africa’s digital transformation. The tech giant will set up four new subsea cable hubs across the continent to expand connectivity, while also offering free one-year AI Pro subscriptions to college students in eight countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

In addition, Google will invest $9 million in AI research funding for African universities and institutions, building on the 7 million people already trained in digital skills and $17 million previously committed to AI capacity.

“These initiatives will equip Africa’s youth with the tools and infrastructure to innovate, lead, and drive economic growth,” said Alex Okosi, Google’s Managing Director for Africa.

19/09/2025

Meta Connect 2025: AI Glasses, Neural Band, and the Next Computing Platform

At Meta Connect 2025, Mark Zuckerberg declared that glasses will be the vessel for “personal superintelligence,” unveiling what may be the company’s clearest vision yet for life beyond smartphones.

The headline announcement was the Ray-Ban Meta Display glasses, Meta’s first consumer eyewear with a built-in screen. Paired with the new Neural Band — a wrist-worn controller that reads electrical signals from muscles for silent gesture control — the launch signals Meta’s push into ambient computing.

Unlike previous years heavy on metaverse hype, the 2025 showcase focused on tangible breakthroughs. The Neural Band, using sEMG technology, offers 18-hour battery life and allows users to control the glasses without touch or voice. The Display glasses themselves feature a monocular screen with 42 pixels per degree, 5,000 nits brightness, and a disappearing display for distraction-free wear. The combo launches at $799, targeting early adopters.

Meta also introduced Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, designed for sports and outdoor users, with nine-hour battery life and integration with fitness platforms. Accessibility took center stage as well, with the company highlighting partnerships to equip blind and low-vision users, including U.S. veterans, with Meta glasses.

Beyond hardware, Meta doubled down on AI integration. Improvements to its Ray-Ban collaboration include longer battery life, 3K video, and “conversation focus” voice tech. Crucially, the company is shifting toward always-available AI assistants that can respond continuously without wake words, though battery limits currently restrict use.

Meta hasn’t abandoned VR. The new Horizon Engine improves performance fourfold, while partnerships with Disney+, Universal, and James Cameron’s Lightstorm bring premium content like an exclusive Avatar: Fire and Ash 3D clip to headsets. Features like Hyperscape Capture, which scans real spaces into photorealistic VR, hint at an eventual AR-immersive future.

17/09/2025

DeFi Technologies Invests in Nigeria’s Regulated Stablecoin cNGN, Signaling Shift to Core Infrastructure

DeFi Technologies has taken a strategic stake in Continental Stablecoin Inc., the issuer of Nigeria’s regulated Naira-backed stablecoin, cNGN, joining Coinbase Ventures and other backers through a SAFE instrument.

Unlike earlier waves of crypto investment focused on exchanges and speculative tokens, this deal highlights a pivot toward regulated, local-currency infrastructure. The cNGN stablecoin is pegged 1:1 to the Naira and operates under Nigeria’s regulatory framework, making it more suitable for institutional use cases.

Adoption has been strong. More than 603 million cNGN tokens are currently in circulation, with over 75,000 transactions recorded and a cumulative trading volume exceeding ₦20 billion. This traction is one reason institutional investors are backing the project, seeing potential in a programmable digital currency that reduces FX costs and provides compliant settlement rails.
Still, challenges remain. The success of cNGN depends on credible reserves, transparent redemption guarantees, and deep integrations with banks and payment processors. Regulators will closely watch how reserves are managed and whether robust KYC/AML safeguards are in place.

For investors, the attraction is clear: after years of volatility in retail-driven crypto markets, capital is shifting to the “rails” of digital finance — settlement, liquidity, and tokenized local currencies. If successful, cNGN could become a blueprint for fintech infrastructure in emerging markets with high exchange-rate volatility.

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