Author: Elan
Hamdiya Ismaila, founder of Savannah Impact Advisory and fund manager of Ci Gaba** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Savannah Impact Advisory announced the GHS 383 million (about $35 million) first close of its Ci Gaba fund of funds. The vehicle has a target size of GHS 1 billion (about $91 million). The fund is designed to unlock domestic institutional capital to invest in private equity, venture capital and private debt funds that support SMEs across Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.The Ci Gaba Fund of Funds is anchored by FSD…
Africa continues to emerge as one of the world’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems. Over the past decade, the continent has produced a growing number of unicorn companies—privately held startups valued at over $1 billion. These companies are transforming key sectors such as fintech, mobile payments, logistics, and digital infrastructure, while attracting significant attention from global investors and venture capital firms. In 2026, African unicorns remain at the center of discussions around Africa startup funding, venture capital Africa, and the digital economy Africa, shaping the future of innovation across emerging markets. Copyright © 2026 AfricaBusiness.com – All materials can be used…
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On the morning of April 2, 2026, millions of Nigerians sending money, paying bills, and checking balances had no reason to look toward the Gulf. Yet their transactions often travelled through global cloud infrastructure that, weeks earlier, had come under direct attack. On March 1, 2026, Iranian Shahed drones struck two AWS data centres in the United Arab Emirates and damaged a third facility in Bahrain. Additional disruptions followed, including a reported strike on a telecoms facility in Bahrain’s Hamala district on April 1 that affected critical AWS infrastructure, such as a Direct Connect node. Within roughly one month, AWS…
Industry leaders have identified culture, quality practices, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) as central factors shaping product development in Nigeria, as discussions at Scrum Day Nigeria 2026 highlighted how organisations can deliver better outcomes in a changing environment. The event, held in Lagos under the theme “Building Better Products—Sooner, Safer and Happier”, brought together professionals across technology, finance, and consulting to examine how agile frameworks such as Scrum can improve delivery, collaboration, and long-term value. Effective collaboration takes centre stage at Scrum Day Nigeria Convener of the event and Managing Partner at ValueHut Consulting, Sam Adesoga, explained…
Kia has opened 2026 on a high note, posting the strongest first-quarter sales performance in its history. Strong demand for core SUVs, hybrids, and family-focused models has helped push the brand to a new milestone, proving its mainstream lineup continues to resonate with buyers. But beneath the headline growth, the momentum story is becoming more complicated. While Kia’s overall electrified sales still rose in the quarter, recent trends suggest its fully electric lineup is losing steam compared to the rapid growth seen in previous years. Models like the EV6 and EV9 are no longer driving the same level of excitement,…
Raven Moodley, head of corporate finance advisory within Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank South AfricaBy Standard BankStandard Bank Business and Commercial Banking’s Corporate Finance Advisory team has confirmed the completion of the of R2.1 billion (about $123.7 million) sale of South African non-alcoholic beverages manufacturer, Twizza, to The Beverage Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of India-based Varun.This follows the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, marking the formal conclusion of the transaction and representing a significant milestone and a landmark transaction in South Africa’s fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.Twizza is a South African soft drink manufacturer that produces and…
Nairobi — President William Ruto has hit back at his critics, declaring that he will not be intimidated by political noise and propaganda, and insisting that his leadership will be judged solely on performance. Speaking during the AIPCA Holy Oil Consecration at Mukaro South Diocese in Nyeri County, the Head of State struck a defiant tone, telling supporters that he remains firmly focused on delivering for Kenyans. “Everyone should be measured by their work,” Ruto said. “The person of insults should be measured by insults, the person of drama by their antics. But for me, give me my scale of…
Addis Ababa — Over the past eight years, Ethiopia has undergone a far-reaching economic transformation, shifting from a restrictive and state-led model to a more enabling, resilient, diversified, and market-oriented economy, according to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister marking the eighth anniversary of the reform program. Prior to 2018, economic growth was constrained by structural weaknesses, including limited job creation, narrow export diversification, and heavy dependence on external borrowing. The Agriculture Development-Led Industrialization (ADLI) framework expanded agricultural output but remained insufficiently action-oriented and did not fully utilize Ethiopia’s vast agricultural potential or generate adequate rural incomes…
Kenya is moving to place strict limits on how cryptocurrency companies advertise their businesses, while also introducing fees that take a cut from activity across the sector. The changes would increase oversight of marketing and add new costs to crypto transactions. Kenya’s National Treasury has published the proposed framework under draft Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) regulations, which are open for public consultation until April 10. If adopted, they would require crypto firms to comply with detailed advertising rules and pay fees linked to trading and token issuance. The draft rules signal Kenya’s approach to regulating how crypto businesses promote…