Author: Elan

Nigeria is poised to become one of the first countries in Africa with a comprehensive legal framework to govern artificial intelligence (AI), as the National Assembly moves to approve a landmark technology law that could reshape digital oversight across the economy.  Lawmakers are working to pass the National Digital Economy and E‑Governance Bill before the end of March, a development that signals a shift from voluntary AI guidance to formal regulation in West Africa’s largest economy. If approved, the law would create enforceable standards on the use of AI, giving authorities broad powers to oversee data usage, algorithmic systems, and…

Obsidian is by far the best note-taking app I’ve used. But I started with OneNote, then moved to Evernote, Notion, and finally to Obsidian. So I had notes scattered in multiple places that I needed to move to my Obsidian vault. While I’ve tried third-party tools to move from Evernote to Obsidian, Obsidian also offers an official Importer plugin that can import from all the major platforms, including Evernote, OneNote, Apple Notes, and Notion, without using an additional tool. Despite the quirks (more on this later), it offers an easy way to import all your notes from different platforms under…

Laurene Aigrain, managing director of Cygnum Capital** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **DEG, the German development finance institution, has committed a €30 million loan to the Africa Go Green Fund (AGG), managed by Cygnum Capital. AGG targets the scale-up of commercially viable climate solutions that reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. Although Africa’s climate investment needs are significant, many businesses operating in areas such as energy efficiency, clean cooking, electric mobility, green buildings, and distributed energy solutions remain underserved by traditional lenders. These sectors often require tailored financing structures that…

Africa will need to deploy at least $120 million annually in pre-seed capital to repair a weakening startup pipeline and secure the long-term health of its innovation ecosystem, according to an analysis by Grégoire de Padirac, chief executive of Digital Africa. Despite being the first and most critical layer of venture financing, pre-seed funding remains marginal in Africa, accounting for just 1.5 percent of total capital invested in 2025, far below the four percent to six percent typical in more mature markets such as the United States, de Padirac said. The imbalance, he warned, threatens the flow of viable startups…

African Growth and Opportunity Act extension passes US House – African Business African Growth and Opportunity Act extension passes US House – African Business

NFT Paris was supposed to be the kind of week people plan their year around.You book the ticket, you text the group chat, you lock in the flights before prices jump, you tell yourself the hotel bill is “work”, you start quietly hoping the market gives you a reason to feel optimistic again.Then, with about a month to go, the organisers pulled the plug.On the official site, NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026 are now marked as cancelled. The statement is blunt, almost tired. “The market collapse hit us hard,” the team wrote, adding that after “drastic cost cuts” and…

MTN Group’s long-discussed plan to reduce its shareholding in MTN Nigeria is no longer on an immediate timeline. While the Nigerian unit has returned to profitability and resumed dividend payments,  shifting tax dynamics have complicated the path to a public sell-down. Speaking during the company’s Q3 2025 earnings call in November, MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita suggested that recent changes to Nigeria’s capital gains tax (CGT) regime have made a near-term reduction in the Group’s stake commercially unattractive. As a result, plans to dilute ownership in favour of local investors are effectively on pause. “That has been complicated…

Are you thinking about buying a new external SSD? We all seem to be constantly in need of more storage, but I’d caution against heading straight for a pre-built external SSD. Pre-built external SSDs come with tradeoffs Admittedly, your typical external SSD offers a lot of convenience. A plug-and-play, “it just works” experience is typical. If that’s all you want, then carry on. However, there are drawbacks you may not be aware of. Let’s consider a popular choice for external drives: the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD. It’s rugged and relatively affordable. What’s not to like, right? Related 5 Reasons I’ve…

** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **Impact Fund Denmark has announced a $15 million commitment to the Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund. The fund deploys hybrid and mezzanine capital into African financial institutions that drive financial inclusion, specifically those serving entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprisesVCHF has a mandate to invest on a pan-African basis, with a footprint that currently includes Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.“An investment like this addresses a specific and significant issue in many developing countries, namely the lack of…

Shumei Lam Interview with Shumei LamFOUNDER and MANAGING DIRECTOR, POULTRY EAST AFRICA LTD Lives in: Singapore/Rwanda In most of the world, chicken is one of the more affordable protein options. However, when Singaporean Shumei Lam first visited Rwanda in 2011, it was considered a luxury that most Rwandans could only afford on special occasions. The primary reason was the absence of commercial chicken farms – a market gap that she would eventually step in to fill. Lam, who had a background in marketing and advertising, travelled to the country on a business trip with her late father, Larry Lam. He…