Author: Elan
A new scramble for Africa is underway. It is not marked by warships or colonial flags, but by battery supply chains, green transition targets, and high-level trade delegations. The race is for lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, platinum group metals and rare earth elements — the minerals powering electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and digital infrastructure. This scramble is quieter than the 19th-century version. But its implications could be just as profound. The difference today is that Africa is not politically fragmented in the same way. The continent possesses regional economic blocs with the institutional capacity to shape outcomes — if…
Nigerian crypto startup operators have said the increased minimum capital requirements, introduced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 16, will place a “disproportionate burden” on early-stage startups. In a position paper submitted to the SEC, the Stakeholders in Blockchain Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), an advocacy group comprising startups such as Dantown, Roqqu, and Breet, asked the SEC to review and refine the hiked capital thresholds for virtual asset companies. The increased capital requirements require Digital Asset Exchanges (DAXs) and Digital Asset Custodians to maintain a minimum of ₦2 billion ($1.4 million) in their operating coffers, up from…
When Joshua Nwankwo looks back at his childhood, he doesn’t recall a specific moment of inspiration that led him to software engineering. Instead, he remembers his mother’s phone. He was the kind of child who was always “looking for what’s not there,” driven by an innate curiosity to poke around and discover new features in every piece of hardware he could get his hands on. That early inquisitiveness laid the foundation for a career that has transitioned from low-level programming in Nigeria to leading developer relations for global crypto agencies. And Nwankwo’s work sits inside a larger truth about how…
YouTube Premium has many benefits—ad-free access to YouTube and YouTube Music, which, for some people, is worth the price of admission alone. Some of the other perks of YouTube Premium, however, are more basic features that other apps offer for free. Background playback Background playback lets the audio from whatever you’re playing on YouTube continue when you close the app or even when your screen is off. If you’re following a recipe from a YouTube video, for example, you don’t want the instructions to suddenly stop when your screen turns off. Trying to unlock your phone with raw chicken all…
Simon de la Rey, CIO at Platcorp When international investors think ‘fintech’ their first thought may not be Africa. In 2026, it should be. The African tech sector overall has seen explosive growth: between 2015 and 2022, the number of tech firms receiving funding each year multiplied sevenfold to more than 700; one of the fastest growth rates in the world. Within this, fintech is especially privileged, receiving the most investment and accounting for eight of Africa’s nine unicorns. However, it’s not just this rapid expansion that is enticing. African fintech enjoys a unique position in its ability to trigger…
Will the Winter Olympics kickstart African winter sports? – African Business Will the Winter Olympics kickstart African winter sports? – African Business
In brief A total of 41 House Democrats urged Scott Bessent to scrutinize a bank charter application from the Trump family’s crypto firm. The lawmakers warned such an approval could pose national security and foreign influence risks. They cited recent reports that World Liberty Financial sold a major stake to a UAE royal. Forty-one House Democrats are pressing U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the potential approval of a banking charter for the Trump family’s crypto company, warning such an approval could threaten the legitimacy of the American banking system and its independence from foreign actors.In a letter sent to…
Table of contents Tecno Camon 50 Pro Tecno Camon 50 Tecno Camon 50 Pro vs Camon 50 On February 18, 2026, Tecno Mobile, the premium sub-brand of Transsion Holdings, quietly announced the Tecno Camon 50 and Tecno Camon 50 Pro. This silent launch comes before the official global showcase at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona from March 2 to March 5, 2026. The phones were first put on pre-order in Kenya and Nigeria, underscoring Tecno’s mobile-first focus in the African market. The Camon 50 series follows the Camon 40 lineup from the previous year. The name still means…
What makes streaks so powerful and addictive? To design them well, you need to understand how they align with human psychology. Victor Ayomipo breaks down the UX and design principles behind effective streak systems.I’m sure you’ve heard of streaks or used an app with one. But ever wondered why streaks are so popular and powerful? Well, there is the obvious one that apps want as much of your attention as possible, but aside from that, did you know that when the popular learning app Duolingo introduced iOS widgets to display streaks, user commitment surged by 60%. Sixty percent is a…
** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Swedfund has invested €15 million in Hummingbirds Gondwana, a new platform that finances nature-based solutions.The investment will support the restoration and protection of forests and coastal ecosystems. It will also support sustainable land use and clean cooking solutions. “Nature-based solutions are a critical but underfinanced part of the climate transition. Through this investment, Swedfund takes a first step into this space, guided by integrity and long-term impact, and by a belief in new business models that can deliver both sustainability outcomes and financial viability,”…