📶 Airtel Africa Funds Scholarships, Builds Hubs in Nigeria & DRC

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Today’s Menu ☕️

🤖 Airtel Africa to Fund 100 Nigeria Scholarships, Build Tech Hubs in Nigeria and DRC
🏦 MultiChoice era ends as Canal+ finalizes historic takeover
🔋BII Commits $20 Million to Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach Energy Initiative in Africa
💰PayPal Commits $100M to Drive Growth in Middle East and Africa
⚙️ Acumen secures $246.5M to tackle energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa
🛒 Takealot expands beyond eCommerce with new ventures and government partnerships

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📶 TELECOMS

Airtel Africa to Fund 100 Nigeria Scholarships, Build Tech Hubs in Nigeria and DRC

Airtel Africa Foundation has unveiled its 2026 agenda, blending infrastructure and talent development across its 14 markets. The plan includes 100 Nigerian scholarships (200 continent-wide), two tech hubs in Nigeria and the DRC, and initiatives to connect 2,500 public schools to the internet, upgrade labs, and train over 100,000 youth in digital skills.

Nigeria, Airtel’s largest market, will serve as the main testing ground, with its planned tech hub complementing the federal 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program. The Foundation has already committed ₦1 billion and supports 25,000 Nigerians under 3MTT.......…continue reading

📺 MEDIA

MultiChoice era ends as Canal+ finalizes historic takeover

Canal+ has officially completed its R44.1 billion ($2.5 billion) takeover of MultiChoice Group (MCG), the largest equity capital markets deal in Johannesburg Stock Exchange history. With all conditions met, Canal+ now controls over 46% of MCG shares, cementing its position as Africa’s largest pay-TV operator and creating a global media powerhouse with 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries.

The merger includes a strong public interest package in South Africa, pledging continued investment in local content, support for small businesses, and unchanged billing for customers. Leadership changes see David Mignot appointed CEO of Canal+ Africa, Nicolas Dandoy as CFO, and outgoing MCG CEO Calvo Mawela transitioning to chair Canal+’s African operations...........…continue reading

🔋ELECTRICITY

BII Commits $20 Million to Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach Energy Initiative in Africa

British International Investment (BII) has committed $20 million to Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Initiative, aimed at expanding access to affordable, reliable energy in underserved African regions. The funding will flow through H2R Amplify, which provides blended-finance debt solutions to scale off-grid solar companies, complementing H2R Catalyze, which supports early-stage ventures.

With nearly 600 million Africans still lacking electricity, the initiative targets both scale and innovation—offering risk-mitigated financing to attract commercial capital while fostering startups. BII and Acumen emphasize the social impact, particularly in empowering women who are disproportionately affected by energy poverty.....…continue reading

💰PAYMENTS

PayPal Commits $100M to Drive Growth in Middle East and Africa

PayPal announced a $100 million initiative to accelerate digital transformation and financial inclusion across the Middle East and Africa. The funding will strengthen payment rails, support digital wallets, and expand access to secure, affordable financial services, aligning with PayPal’s mission to enable participation in the global digital economy. A significant share targets small and medium-sized enterprises, with tools for online payments, access to global marketplaces, and simpler cross-border transactions.

The company plans partnerships with local fintechs, banks, and governments to promote cashless adoption and reach underserved communities as mobile money, digital banking, and e-commerce adoption quicken. Industry observers say the move could lower barriers for millions of people and businesses while deepening PayPal’s footprint in high-potential markets. The $100 million commitment underscores confidence in MEA’s role in shaping digital commerce.........…continue reading

💰FUNDING

Acumen secures $246.5M to tackle energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

Acumen has secured $246.5 million for its Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Initiative, a blended finance strategy to deliver clean energy to nearly 70 million people across 17 African countries with some of the lowest electrification rates. Backed by partners like IFC, BII, GCF, and Shinhan Bank, the fund combines public, private, and philanthropic capital to de-risk investment in frontier markets.

The initiative has two arms: H2R Amplify ($189.5M) provides scalable debt financing with impact-linked loans, while H2R Catalyze ($57M) supports early-stage ventures through equity, grants, and technical assistance. Catalyze has already deployed $10M across seven companies, including Yellow Malawi, RDG Collective (Zambia), and KIMS Microfinance (Somalia)........…continue reading

🛒E-COMMERCE

Takealot expands beyond eCommerce with new ventures and government partnerships

South Africa’s leading online retailer, Takealot Group, is evolving into a multi-sector digital services provider. The company has signed an MoU with the Department of Higher Education and Training to deliver youth training in e-commerce, logistics, and digital business, while expanding bursaries, curricula, and township entrepreneurship initiatives nationwide.

Alongside its public sector partnerships, Takealot has launched new ventures: Takealot Fulfilment Solutions (logistics and global freight), Takealot Home Loan Hub (mortgage marketplace), Takealot for Business (B2B procurement), and TakealotMORE (subscription service with free deliveries and discounts).........…continue reading

 OTHER STORIES

• GoDaddy Launches Airo, an AI Tool for WordPress Site Design...continue reading

• Disney+ and Hulu Subscription Prices to Rise Next Month……continue reading

• DreamScene Returns: Windows 11 Users Can Now Set Animated Wallpapers…….continue reading

• WhatsApp rolls out on-device message translation…..continue reading

• Two Years’ Salary for a Phone: What the iPhone 17 Pro Reveals About West Africa’s Economy…..continue reading

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