Author: WAJ Reporter

At the beginning of this year, the partnership between Logidoo and Skynet modernized supply chains, connecting China, Europe, and South Africa to West African markets. This collaboration focuses not only on accelerating the movement of goods but also on contributing to Africa’s economic growth. As the world’s largest global franchise network, Skynet is leveraging Africa’s increasingly significant opportunities. Meanwhile, Logidoo is working to streamline the movement of goods and expand market access across the continent. The supply of goods from China to West Africa has been significantly improved. Additionally, the Europe-to-West Africa route now offers a more cost-effective and efficient…

PBR Life Sciences Secures $1M to Expand AI-Powered Healthcare Analytics in Africa PBR Life Sciences, a data analytics company backed by Techstars, has raised $1 million in funding to expand its AI-powered healthcare analytics operations in Africa. The company plans to use this funding to broaden its operations into Ghana and Kenya. Investors participating in the funding round included Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, Marula Square, XA Africa, Launch Africa, Microtraction, ARM Labs, and Techstars. One of the major challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies across the continent is accurately estimating market demand. This often results in overproduction issues. PBR Life Sciences…

Entrepreneurs in Africa continue to grow despite economic challenges. The past two years have been particularly difficult for startups, as investors grapple with macroeconomic barriers and reduce capital investments. Nevertheless, billion-dollar ventures have managed to forge ahead under tough conditions, restoring confidence in the market. Examples of startups that have secured over $1 billion in funding include Interswitch, MNT-Halan, Flutterwave, Wave, OPay, Andela, Chipper Cash, Moniepoint, and Tyme. Interswitch, founded in 2002 and based in Nigeria, has become a key player in digital payments and financial infrastructure integration. In 2019, Visa invested $200 million in the company, marking a major…

Village Capital has invested $150,000 in two female-led startups: Rhea Soil Health Management (Rhea) and Regxta, through Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech Financing Facility. Rhea, based in Kenya, provides affordable and accessible soil testing solutions to smallholder farmers, enhancing crop yields and improving soil health. Regxta, based in Nigeria, offers tailored financial services to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), focusing on empowering women-owned businesses. These types of investments are aimed at helping women overcome barriers and create positive change in their communities. Priscilla Wakarera, founder of Rhea, commented: “Building a science-driven hardware-software business in Africa’s agritech sector is challenging,…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Nigeria has reportedly been affected by a cyberattack announced on Wednesday, December 18. The attack has raised concerns about the potential exposure of critical national information, including population statistics, economic reports, and data crucial for national planning. In response, the Bureau has warned Nigerians to disregard updates from its platform until its website is fully operational again. The continent has recently experienced a surge in such cyberattacks. In June, data from Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was reportedly sold online, while in Kenya, sensitive government information from the Micro and Small Enterprise…

Oxford Insights has published the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index, evaluating the adoption of AI in public services across 188 countries. The results were analyzed under three main categories: government, technology, and data & infrastructure. The United States ranked first with 87.03 points, followed by Singapore with 84.25 points. South Korea took third place with 79.98 points. In Africa, Egypt led the continent with 55.63 points, ranking 55th globally. Mauritius followed in third place in Africa with 53.94 points, while South Africa secured third place in Africa and ranked 72nd globally with 52.91 points. Rwanda, with 51.25 points, ranked fourth…

The African film industry is on the verge of a transformative era. With access to small, portable, and user-friendly technologies, local stories can now reach diverse audiences. Industry leaders emphasize the importance of placing cultural narratives at the heart of African storytelling agendas. Beyond cultural preservation, they view the sector as an educational tool. By leveraging social media, Africans can now showcase their work to much broader audiences. Artificial intelligence offers capabilities such as scriptwriting, video editing, CGI generation, sound design, and virtual actor creation. These innovations can significantly reduce production costs, streamline workflows, and enhance creativity. However, AI is…

Nigeria-based e-commerce company Konga is set to introduce Africa’s first AI-powered FM radio station, KongaFM. The station is scheduled to begin broadcasting in the early weeks of the new year. KongaFM aims to bridge the sectors of technology, commerce, and entertainment, fostering both local and international connections. It seeks to enable brands, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers to access new markets, providing a platform capable of transforming commerce in real-time. This initiative is being hailed as a groundbreaking development in media and commerce. According to the company, KongaFM will offer businesses a new channel to enhance product visibility and penetrate…

Doballi, a Dubai-based tech talent recruitment platform, has announced its expansion into Africa. This will enable the continent’s growing talent pool to connect with global employers. The platform is setting new standards in recruitment by using AI-powered evaluations and digital assessments. Africa has a younger population compared to other continents, with over 400 million individuals aged 15-35. The continent’s total population is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and by 2035, more than half of the young people entering the workforce will be African. Despite this potential, access to international job opportunities remains limited in Africa. Doballi aims to…

A significant electricity price hike is expected in South Africa. The energy regulatory body, Nersa, has stated that it will make a decision on Eskom’s request for a 36% price increase by the end of January 2025. Originally, this decision was expected by the end of December, but the hearing period was extended, and further clarifications were required, which led to the delay. Eskom has not only requested a price hike for next year. The proposed increases include 36.15% on April 1, 2025; 11.91% on April 1, 2026; and 9.1% on April 1, 2027, meaning a total increase of 66%…

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB)’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab has sent 20 young African entrepreneurs to South Korea to gain inspiration and investment from its innovative technology ecosystem. Through this initiative, these young African entrepreneurs are participating in a two-week study tour aimed at acquiring investment and insights. These 20 entrepreneurs were selected from a pool of 133 young participants. The selection took place during the forum organized under the framework of the “Leveraging the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Success of Korea to Strengthen African Enterprise Support” project. During the forum, the entrepreneurs presented the best business models as part…

The African Development Bank has announced a $30 million equity investment in the Africa Finance Corporation to support climate action projects across the continent, aiming to bolster the future of green energy in Africa. The funds will be directed towards initiatives that promote the use of green energy, including solar power plants and energy storage systems. This investment is linked to AFC’s green shares program. Through this initiative, various projects will be supported, such as wind and solar power plants in Egypt and Djibouti, as well as energy storage systems in Cape Verde, alongside innovative financial instruments. By 2031, this…

Paratus Botswana is leading a project aimed at improving digital infrastructure in Southern Africa. This project, known as the SADC Highway, will create a digital pathway linking Gaborone, Livingstone, and key regions in Zimbabwe. The first section of the fiber route, connecting Botswana/Gaborone to Zimbabwe/Plumtree, is expected to be completed by February 2025. This route is estimated to cover 500 kilometers. The fiber route is believed to have the potential to provide 11 terabits of capacity, which could strengthen infrastructure in areas lacking network access. Additionally, it is expected to offer a strategic advantage by reducing operational costs for smaller…

Todd Ashton, Vice President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa and Head of the Customer Unit for South and East Africa, spoke at the 2024 Africa Tech Festival. The main points of his speech were the expansion of 4G and 5G networks and the opportunities in the enterprise sector. Ashton discussed the continued growth of 4G technology in Africa and its importance for the continent. He highlighted how lower-cost 4G devices are more accessible to African citizens, leading to increased smartphone usage and a stronger fintech market. He also spoke about the high cost of 5G devices but predicted a…

Every year, groundbreaking startups emerge in Africa, and this year, the continent has made significant strides with some pioneering ventures. These startups across various African countries highlight the continent’s growing commitment to digital growth and innovation. The rise of these ventures further emphasizes the importance Africa places on fostering technological advancement and digital transformation. Plentify Hotbot is a South African startup and a smart energy company with a mission to provide citizens with reliable, clean, and affordable electricity. Through its product, HotBot, it transforms electric or solar water heaters into smart devices. Additionally, users can access monthly reports, such as…

China-based Gotion High-Tech has announced a €2.5 billion investment in battery production facilities in Morocco and Slovakia, marking a significant step in its expansion into North Africa and Europe. For Morocco, the company will invest €1.28 billion to establish an advanced lithium battery production facility. The system will be gradually enhanced over the next five years and will play a strategic role in Morocco’s transition to sustainable energy. The country’s strong industrial infrastructure and its position as a gateway to both European and African markets are the main reasons Gotion High-Tech chose to invest in Morocco. The facility will have…