Author: Elan

Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala has sparked controversy by claiming that terrorist groups operating in Nigeria remain untraceable because they use Starlink satellite internet and foreign mobile networks, an explanation that quickly unravelled under questioning during a live radio interview. The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication made the assertion while attempting to explain why criminals who brazenly display ransom proceeds on social media platforms continue to operate with apparent impunity. Starlink excuse fails under scrutiny Speaking on Nigeria Info’s Hard Facts programme with host Mimi Eyo, Bwala faced pointed questions about why security agencies can swiftly arrest frustrated…

Last week, I reported that ChatGPT and Copilot are removing their services from WhatsApp due to a change in Meta’s policy. That policy is now under scrutiny in the European Union. The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation to find out if Meta’s rules are hurting the competition. In case you missed it, Meta has updated its terms and conditions, which forbids AI companies from using WhatsApp’s Business API to distribute their services. WhatsApp will allow businesses to use AI tools for providing support or ancillary functions like automated customer support, but third-party AI services are pretty much banned.…

Pilot framework aims to ease cross-border capital flows while retaining jobs and IP locally. A new regulatory initiative designed to unlock international investment for South African startups was unveiled at the SA Venture Capital and Private Equity Association’s (Savca) Venture Capital Conference. The framework introduces a regulatory sandbox to help qualifying startups raise offshore capital while keeping operations and intellectual property (IP) in South Africa. “The sandbox is designed to give startups a faster, legally compliant pathway to structure offshore IP while retaining jobs and headquarters locally,” said Safeera Mayet, Savca’s head of policy and regulatory affairs. The initiative is…

Chui Ventures, a Pan-African seed-stage venture capital fund with a gender-inclusive mandate, has announced the final close of its debut Fund I at $17.3 million, marking a major boost for early-stage founders across the continent. The fund aims to bridge critical startup financing gaps across Africa while actively promoting gender diversity within the venture ecosystem. With the final close now secured, Chui Ventures is positioned to accelerate its mission of supporting high-growth founders building scalable, tech-driven solutions for African markets. The fund has attracted commitments from a diverse base of Foundations, Family offices, and over 30 High-Net-Worth individuals, including…

Nigerian fuel king Femi Otedola takes on country’s power deficit – African Business Nigerian fuel king Femi Otedola takes on country’s power deficit – African Business

The European Commission has proposed expanding the powers of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) over crypto and broader financial markets in a bid to narrow the competitive gap with the United States.Published Thursday, the package would transfer “direct supervisory competences” for key pieces of market infrastructure, including crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), trading venues and central counterparties, to the ESMA and strengthen its coordination role in the asset management sector.The proposal still needs approval from the European Parliament and the Council, where it is now under negotiation.If adopted, ESMA’s role in overseeing EU capital markets would more closely resemble…

Barely two months after announcing the completion of its Series C round, Moniepoint is deepening its grip on Nigeria’s business landscape with an integrated inventory-management and POS solution called Moniebook. The new product gives merchants real-time visibility into their sales, customers, payments, and stock levels. According to Babatunde Olofin, Managing Director of Moniepoint MFB, Moniebook is designed to serve as a growth partner and a single source of truth for entrepreneurs who want more control over their operations. Moniebook marks the fintech’s latest attempt to diversify its revenue streams beyond its agency banking roots. In the past two years, Moniepoint…

Our phones are supposed to make our lives easier, not busier. Yet I used to spend so much time adjusting simple settings, like turning Do Not Disturb on during meetings, opening Spotify every time I go for a run, or enabling silent mode every time I used the camera app to avoid that annoying shutter sound. These are simple things that only take seconds, but they make you feel like you’re constantly managing your device instead of the other way around. That all changed when I discovered Samsung’s Modes and Routines. They take care of all those little chores without…

Amma Gyampo, CEO, Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (GVCA)By GVCASouth Africa’s 2025 G20 presidency successfully leveraged its platform to steer the conversation about private capital and development finance to a new direction. This G20 was marked by significant breakthroughs including the release of empirical data to correct the continent’s crippling cost of capital and a call to action to widen the solution space to unlock trapped capital including blended finance. The most profound shift was the structural embedding of African priorities into the G20’s financial agenda. The 2025-2030 G20 Africa Engagement Framework ensured that Africa’s core concerns –…

Nigeria’s technology ecosystem is expanding rapidly, yet new research shows that the local capital markets have not kept pace. According to TLP Advisory’s latest report, “Rethinking Funding & Exits: Nigeria’s Missing IPOs and the NGX,” a significant awareness gap is preventing Nigerian startups from leveraging the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) as a viable route for growth and exits. The findings highlight structural challenges, currency mismatch issues, and market frictions that collectively hinder Nigeria’s ability to build a robust pipeline of local IPOs. Lack of Awareness Limits NGX Tech Listings The report identifies a striking knowledge gap: 53% of founders lack sufficient…