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African tech doesn’t need more strongmen We don’t talk about it enough, but African tech has a leadership problem. Too o...
22/08/2025

African tech doesn’t need more strongmen

We don’t talk about it enough, but African tech has a leadership problem. Too often, we mistake charisma for capability and control for strength. The result is that a culture of strongmen has flourished in an industry meant to be defined by innovation, collaboration, and long-term impact.
This isn’t a coincidence.

Across much of Africa, political history is written in the image of the strongman: presidents-for-life, revolutionary leaders who never step down, and decisions that hinge on a single person rather than strong institutions. And now, too many startups are mirroring the same brittle model , centralised, personality-driven, and hostile to dissent.

There’s a myth in African business that volatility requires strongmen, that only centralised authority can survive when markets are chaotic and institutions are weak. But that myth has a cost.

SARB opens national payment system to fintechs under new rules South Africa’s financial ecosystem is entering a new era....
22/08/2025

SARB opens national payment system to fintechs under new rules

South Africa’s financial ecosystem is entering a new era. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has announced a path for non-bank fintechs to access the National Payment System (NPS), a move long reserved for traditional banks under its Payments Ecosystem Modernisation (PEM) framework.

At the same time, the Reserve Bank has laid out stringent safeguards to ensure system integrity, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance.

The NPS, a critical backbone of the country’s financial infrastructure, governs everything from clearing and settlement to value exchange between payers and beneficiaries.

Previously, participation was restricted to established banks. Now, SARB is enabling fintechs, including mobile and wallet-based players, to enter, aligning with its Vision 2025 modernisation agenda.

The African diaspora in Europe sends back billions of euros each year, but for many, remittances remain costly and compl...
22/08/2025

The African diaspora in Europe sends back billions of euros each year, but for many, remittances remain costly and complicated.

CadRemit’s new expansion into Europe looks to give Africans across France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium another option for sending money home.

Read the full Brand Press https://zurl.co/vs6JZ

- Brand Press

22/08/2025

Ready, Set, Lagos.

Whether you're flying in from across the continent or heading over from downtown, getting to GITEX Nigeria is easier than you think.

Two venues. Zero stress. From where to stay to how to get there, everything’s mapped out, so all you need to do is show up and make it count.

🎟️ Heading to Lagos? Lock in your Premium Pass now and step straight into the action.
Register online now to avoid a $10 fee.

📍3-4 Sept | Landmark Centre, Lagos

http://bit.ly/3UGQ7Jy

Apex Network wants to make crypto-to-cash seamless across Africa In 2020, Nigerian fintech, Apex Network, began as a ...
22/08/2025

Apex Network wants to make crypto-to-cash seamless across Africa

In 2020, Nigerian fintech, Apex Network, began as a platform providing basic digital and financial services. However, a year later, the company spotted a gap. While cryptocurrencies were gaining traction in Nigeria, cashing out remained risky.

This led to a new trajectory for the company.
By 2021, it introduced its crypto-to-cash and gift card exchange system, targeting Nigeria’s growing base of early crypto adopters.

What began as a solution for enthusiasts grew into a large-scale operation. Five years after its launch, Apex Network has grown into a pan-African fintech player, now serving over 200,000 customers across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.

Japan’s new $20 million fund to boost fintech, mobility and sustainability in Africa Two Japanese venture capital firms,...
22/08/2025

Japan’s new $20 million fund to boost fintech, mobility and sustainability in Africa

Two Japanese venture capital firms, Uncovered Fund and Monex Ventures have launched a new ¥3 billion (approximately $20 million) fund to back early-stage startups in Africa and the Middle East.

Named Uncovered Monex Africa Investment Partnership, is set to invest up to $2 million in startups operating in key sectors including fintech, distribution and logistics, mobility, and sustainability.

But this is not just about money. According to both firms, the fund will serve as a strategic bridge between Africa’s emerging tech scene and Japan’s corporate giants.

The goal is to open up new opportunities for African startups by providing access to Japanese markets, expertise, and potential business partnerships. For Japanese companies, it’s a chance to tap into Africa’s high-growth innovation spaces.

Dobic Health officially launches SmartMRS to transform Nigeria’s healthcare recordsIn August 16, 2025, Dobic Health laun...
22/08/2025

Dobic Health officially launches SmartMRS to transform Nigeria’s healthcare records

In August 16, 2025, Dobic Health launched SmartMRS, an AI-driven electronic medical records (EMR) platform designed to streamline patient care, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In Nigeria, patients often endure long waits to see a doctor. Accessing medical records can be challenging, as healthcare providers often scramble to find paper files, delays occur in obtaining test results, and doctors spend more time searching through records than treating patients.

SmartMRS addresses these issues by integrating patient registration, consultations, lab tracking, billing, and data storage into one intuitive system.

According to George Umoh, Admin (Growth/Partnerships/Marketing/Tech) at Dobic Health, the company is dedicated to advancing clinical care with technology-driven healthcare solutions that promote equitable access to healthcare across Africa.

Admiral, a US appliance brand with more than 90 years of history, has officially entered the Nigerian market.The company...
21/08/2025

Admiral, a US appliance brand with more than 90 years of history, has officially entered the Nigerian market.

The company is partnering with DeeKay Group to bring appliances tailored for Nigeria’s unique energy and consumer landscape. From handling power fluctuations to improving energy efficiency, Admiral says it has designed products with local realities in mind.

Its arrival adds new competition to Nigeria’s already heated appliance market.

Get more details here https://zurl.co/hI0UO

- Brand Press

Notegrade.ai wants to be the all-in-one AI assistant for overworked teachers The experiences of teachers in Africa diff...
21/08/2025

Notegrade.ai wants to be the all-in-one AI assistant for overworked teachers

The experiences of teachers in Africa differ greatly from those of their European counterparts. However, if there is one consensus, it is the substantial workload. From Nigeria to the United States, teachers are burdened with planning lesson notes, creating and grading quizzes, tests, and assignments, giving feedback, and classroom administration.

This workload is often intensified by the fact that many countries, primarily in Africa, have one teacher managing up to 30 students. For example, in Nigerian primary schools, there is an average of 35 students to 1 teacher. In Rwanda, the student-to-teacher ratio is as high as 59 students to 1 teacher.

This shortage of teachers not only increases classroom sizes but also magnifies the amount of preparation and grading each teacher must handle. Faced with these pressures, many have turned to artificial intelligence for support.

.ai

President Tinubu removes 5% telecom tax on voice and data services President Bola Tinubu has revoked the 5% excise tax p...
21/08/2025

President Tinubu removes 5% telecom tax on voice and data services

President Bola Tinubu has revoked the 5% excise tax previously earmarked for telecommunications services in Nigeria, a move expected to ease cost pressures for millions of mobile users.

The tax, which was meant to be applied to both voice calls and data, had drawn widespread criticism from industry players and consumer advocates since its announcement under the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Though temporarily suspended in mid-2023, its complete removal had remained uncertain until now.

Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), disclosed that President Tinubu directed the tax be eliminated outright during discussions over the recently passed Finance Act.

20/08/2025

The FCCPC is rewriting the rules for digital lending in Nigeria.

Join us on X as , Grace Effiom Head of Enterprise, Lendsqr and Babatunde Akin-Moses, CEO of Sycamore.NG break these rules down, answer burning questions and share insights you won't find anywhere else.

Date: August 22, 2025
Time: 6:00pm WAT

Add a reminder here: https://x.com/i/spaces/1yNGabrmMXXJj

Digital lenders face stricter rules as Nigeria’s FCCPC moves to protect borrowers Nigerian residents accessing loans thr...
20/08/2025

Digital lenders face stricter rules as Nigeria’s FCCPC moves to protect borrowers

Nigerian residents accessing loans through digital lending platforms are set to receive stronger legal protection under new regulations introduced by the country’s consumer protection agency.

Consumer credit remains a significant opportunity for financial institutions in Nigeria, where access to credit is still out of reach for many. However, the absence of state-backed loan recovery systems has left many lenders hesitant to enter the space. In contrast, digital lending platforms have taken the risk, providing unsecured loans to millions of Nigerians.

While their efforts to serve an underserved population are notable, some have resorted to aggressive and controversial tactics to recover outstanding debts. In recent years, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has stepped up activities geared at protecting lenders.

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