A selection of tech news from Nigeria and Africa at large.
Blueroomcare – Healthtech Startup Therapy | Tabulio Connect African Tech Talents | Bank Of Ghana Approves New Payment Service Provider | Villgro Africa Funds Africa Healthcare Startups | Multichoice Streaming App
Nigerian mental healthtech startup, Blueroomcare, wants to provide therapy to everyone with a mental illness – Techpoint
Globally, nearly one billion people have some form of mental disorder, but accessing appropriate care and treatment can be difficult. This is especially true in Africa, where mental healthcare and therapists are scarce. Although there is more awareness of mental health issues across the continent, it is still challenging to help those in need because of stigma, lack of funding, and inadequate resources.
For instance, Moses Aiyenuro, CEO of Blueroomcare — a mental healthtech startup — struggled with anxiety and depression in 2019. However, it wasn’t easy getting the mental health care he needed. Mental health issues frequently result in lost productivity, disability, and even premature death, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and society.
…However, the Mental Health Act is changing the narrative, as it defines and protects the rights of Nigerians with mental illnesses. It provides equal access to treatment and care, discourages stigma and discrimination, and sets standards for psychiatric practice in Nigeria, among other provisions…… Read more here
Nigeria’s Tabulio launches to connect African tech talents – Ripples News
Tabulio, a Nigerian startup, has launched a social networking platform aimed at connecting African tech talent with global opportunities. The startup was founded by Tosh Ajibade and Chris Steve in 2019 and was released as an MVP in 2021.
Through the platform, the team enables users to showcase their work, connect with potential employers and network with other tech talents.Unlike other social networking platforms, Tabulio focuses more on technical expertise and proficiency, providing developers with a centralized platform to display their portfolio of codes and repositories.
After a successful beta, Tabulio officially launched in May 2021, and has already accumulated over 5,000 users, with more than 1,500 projects posted on the platform. Read more here
Bank of Ghana Approves New Payment Service Provider – IT News Africa
Cross Switch Ghana LTD, and Cross Switch International S.A.R.L. are pleased to announce that Cross Switch Ghana LTD has obtained approval from the Bank of Ghana to operate as an Enhanced Payment Service Provider.
Cross Switch Ghana LTD was recently granted approval by the Bank of Ghana to operate as an Enhanced Payment Service Provider (EPSP). As an EPSP, Cross Switch Ghana is set to leverage its payments and technology infrastructure to digitise merchant payments, collections and disbursements for ecommerce, remittances as well as for financial inclusion.
Cross Switch Ghana is set to leverage its payments and technology infrastructure to digitise merchant payments, collections and disbursements for ecommerce, remittances as well as for financial inclusion. Read more here
Villgro Africa gives more than $2 million to healthcare startups in Africa – Tech In Africa
Villgro Africa has put more than $1.36 million into 36 Kenyan healthcare startups in the last seven years. As part of its plans to grow in the region, the company plans to open a Biotech Innovation Hub. The incubator and impact investor announced these plans at the annual 2023 Sankalp Summit, where it also released its 2015–2022 Impact Report.
Wilfred Njagi, CEO and Co-Founder of Villgro Africa, said, “Since the beginning, Villgro Africa has given people at the bottom of the pyramid access to health care.”In the past seven years, Villgro has steadily put seed money into social enterprises with homegrown solutions to Africa’s health and lifestyle problems.
So far, these businesses have made over $5.2 million, created more than 540 jobs, and helped more than 2 million people. The Impact Report shows that out of the $2,146,401 Villgro Africa has invested since it began seven years ago, $1,317,087 has gone to Kenyan startups. This is the lion’s share. Read more here
Multichoice partners firm to re-launch streaming app – Punch News
MultiChoice Group and Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky have announced a new partnership to expand and relaunch Showmax.
According to the firm, the relaunched Showmax would be powered by NBCUniversal’s Peacock technology platform, while offering audiences new local and global content, as well as live matches of the English premier league. The firm stated that the new Showmax group would be 70 per cent owned by MultiChoice and 30 per cent by NBCUniversal.
In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice, Calvo Mawela, said, “We launched Showmax as the first African streaming service in 2015 and are extremely proud of its success to date. “This agreement represents a great opportunity for our Showmax team to scale even greater heights by working with a leading global player in Comcast and its subsidiaries. Read more here
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