A selection of tech news from Nigeria and Africa at large.
Verve partners Alcineo for SoftPoS | Logistics startup, Fez Delivery, secure funding | Funding for Prop-tech startup HouseAfrica | Pirated YouTube software malware Alerts | Access Bank Partners AfriGOPay on Card Development
Firms promote mobile contactless payment – Punch News
Verve has partnered with Alcineo to deploy a software point-of-sale SDK solution. According to the firms, the solution would enable merchants to use mobile phones or mobile devices to accept contactless payments from customers, without the need for additional hardware.
They stated that software solution will leverage Verve’s secure payments platform and Alcineo’s expertise in payment software development. In a statement, the firms said, “The solution is expected to be particularly beneficial to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often faced with the challenges of accessing traditional point-of-sale systems.
The SoftPOS deployment in Nigeria is expected to further strengthen and contribute to the growth of digital payments in the country, across Africa and other regions where the Verve card is accepted.”
The Managing Director of Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude, said, “We are excited to partner with Alcineo to deploy this innovative SoftPOS solution in Nigeria. Alcineo’s expertise in payment software development will be instrumental in ensuring that the solution is secure, reliable, and easy to use for both merchants and customers. Read more here
Lagos-based startup, Fez Delivery, secures $1M funding – Ripples News
Ventures Platform, a pan-African investor, led the $1 million funding round for Fez Delivery, a last-mile logistics firm with locations throughout Nigeria. Founder and CEO, Seun Alley, confirmed the funding in a statement on Tuesday.
The company said it plans to use the seed investment to deepen its work in Nigeria while it considers expansion into other African markets, including Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. The funding also saw participation from Voltron Capital, Acasia Ventures, and other angel investors.
“So I like to refer to Fez as running a hybrid model. We have the technology and still own 30% of the assets on our platform. “What that does is that if third-party partners don’t show up for any reason, we have backup and can complete our deliveries by ourselves,” the CEO explained of his company. Read more here
Nigerian prop-tech startup HouseAfrica raises $400k funding round – Disrupt Africa
Nigeria’s HouseAfrica, a prop-tech startup providing real estate digitalisation and transparency tools to property developers and their customers, has raised US$400,000 in funding. Founded in 2019 by Nnamdi Uba and Ndifreke Ikpoku, HouseAfrica aims to enhance the real estate industry’s efficiency and trust by leveraging innovative technologies.
Its flagship product Sytemap.com leverages proprietary blockchain and map technology to create a private land registry, digitising real estate project sitemaps and enabling instant land transaction authentication while growing sales for real estate companies. Sytemap simplifies buying and paying for properties, enabling more people to become digital realtors effortlessly, and is already used by more than 100 real estate companies.
The US$400,000 funding round will be used to deepen the startup’s technology, increase adoption, and grow its team. HouseAfrica is backed by investors such as Future Africa, SSE Angel Network (SSEAN), ARM Labs, CV VC, Startupbootcamp AfriTech, Niche Capital, and Rebel Seed Capital. Read more here
NCC-CSIRT alerts Nigerians to pirated YouTube software malware – TheGuardian News
Commission renews commitment to industry collaboration, inclusiveness.
The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has warned those looking to acquire pirated software and resources that they risk becoming victims of cybercriminal gangs that are using AI-generated YouTube videos to distribute malware.
NCC-CSIRT further warned in its advisory that the consequences of falling victim can be significant for individuals and organisations, resulting in critical damage like data theft, financial loss, identity theft, system damage, and reputation damage.
It said unsuspecting victims, who watch these AI-generated tutorial videos will be duped into clicking on one of the links in the video description, which usually results in the download of data-stealing malware. NCC said the number of YouTube videos containing such links has increased by 200 per cent to 300 per cent month-on-month since November 2022. Read more here
Access Bank Partners AfriGOPay to Provide First National Domestic Card Developed by CBN – Legit News
Access Bank is partnering with AfriGOPay, a financial services company aligned with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS) to launch Nigeria’s first National Domestic Card, created to meet the payment needs of Nigerians. The project initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NIBBS will provide creative solutions to users of financial institutions in Nigeria, Africa and across the world.
Access Bank launches National Domestic Card Credit: Access Bank’s Deputy Managing Director of Retail Banking, Victor Etuokwu said the bank is the first financial institution in Nigeria to issue the first live card of the National Domestic Card in partnership with AfriGo. He said: “The launch of AfriGO is another milestone in developing a vibrant and rapidly expanding payments industry. Consumers demand value in real-time, not just transactions. With AfriGO, we can provide valuable card benefits, robust loyalty rewards, and a compelling incentive to utilize electronic payments rather than cash. “The AfriGO Card has additional benefits because it is designed to facilitate the growth of Nigeria’s payment ecosystem, thereby supporting more tailored payment services. It will strengthen payment security, expand financial participation, guarantee data sovereignty, eliminate FX dependency, and provide Nigerians several other benefits. Cardholders will enjoy increased affordability and more flexible payment options.” Senior Retail Advisor of Access Bank, Robert Giles said the card operates locally and is designed for Nigeria’s specific needs. The bank has recorded successful purchases of PoS and ATMs beginning from March 14, 2023. Read more here
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