A selection of tech news from Nigeria and Africa at large.
Ten Inclusive Jobtech Platforms | 12 SA Startups For Edtech Fellowship | Top Edtech Startups Revolutionizing Learning In Nigeria | DRC’s Altech Raises Capital | Digital Payment Opportunity
Jobtech Alliance announces 1st cohort of 10 inclusive jobtech platforms – Disrupt Africa
The Jobtech Alliance has announced its first cohort of 10 companies that are creating accessible, and appropriate jobtech solutions that connect young people to jobs, which will participate in two new programmes and secure access to funding and mentorship.
Disrupt Africa reported last October on the launch of the Jobtech Alliance, an ecosystem-building initiative around inclusive jobtech in Africa steered by Mercy Corps and BFA Global, which aims to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to build platforms that deliver quality livelihoods, are inclusive, and enable users to engage in decent work.
The alliance has launched two programmes – the Catalyst Jobtech Accelerator and the Jobtech Innovation Lab – designed to support digital platforms that connect people to work opportunities that build livelihoods. Read more here
12 SA startups selected for inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship – Disrupt Africa
South African ed-tech incubator Injini has announced the 12 startups selected for the first Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Programme, which offers selected companies access to funding and other types of support.
Founded in 2017, Injini, which is a member of the UVU Africa Group, is a registered non-profit company that exists for the sole purpose of improving educational outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The only ed-tech specialised accelerator in Africa, its programmes and research via the Injini Think Tank contribute towards its mission to increase the quality, accessibility, and relevance of education in the region.
Disrupt Africa reported last month Injini had partnered the Mastercard Foundation to launch the fellowship programme, which will provide eligible startups with direct grant funding, product quality evaluation and certification, intensive skills development, coaching and mentorship, bespoke market research and market access through Injini’s network of stakeholders across the education innovation landscape. Read more here
TECHTop Edtech startups revolutionizing learning in Nigeria – Ripples News
Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in Africa, with a thriving tech industry and a growing number of startups. The country has a large and young population, a rapidly expanding economy, and a growing demand for technology-based solutions to its many challenges. Some of the most significant areas of growth in the Nigerian tech industries are e-commerce, fintech, edtech and much more.
Edtech is improving the education sector in Nigeria which has seen significant growth in recent years, thanks in part to the adoption of technology. With a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria has a huge demand for education. Read more here
DRC’s Altech Group raises $18m growth capital to expand access to energy – Disrupt Africa
The DRC-based Altech Group has raised US$18 million in debt financing and grants to continue strengthening its market position and expand access to energy across the country. Founded in 2013, Altech has created a sales and distribution network with a national footprint, counting 4,500 employees and sales agents, covering more than 140 shops across 22 out of 26 provinces in the DRC. It has positively impacted the lives of more than 1.7 million Congolese by selling over 350,000 solar energy products.
The US$18 million growth capital just announced will enable Altech to open more than 30 new sales outlets in rural areas without competition, and distribute 180,000 solar products, to extend clean, reliable energy access to 900,000 people. Read more here
Digital payment infrastructure, major opportunity for investment- Routelink GMD – Punch News
The Group Managing Director of Routelink Group, Femi Adeoti, discusses how the country’s digital payment infrastructure is not primed for a cashless economy and other issues affecting the payment landscape in this interview with TEMITAYO JAIYEOLA. In January 2023, the Nigeria Inter-Banking Settlement Systems said there was a 125 per cent increase in the volume of mobile transactions compared to the same period last year. How sustainable is this increase in mobile electronic payment usage?
The recent spike in the volume of mobile-based transactions, among other things shows that Nigeria is ready and ripe for cash-less-based transactions, though the appropriate term and realistic expectation at this time should be cash lite. However, while the populace is ready to adopt these solutions, we realised that Nigeria’s current banking and digital payment infrastructure is inadequate to cater to the expected growth in the volume of digital/electronic-based transactions. While we are right to celebrate an increase as significant as 125 per cent, the failures recorded show that we could have achieved more. Read more here
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Image Credit: Disrupt Africa
