app for NIN diaspora registration in February👨🏽 | BDCs now allowed to publicly post Naira rates 💵

In today’s menu 🥘

👨🏽 Nigeria to launch app for NIN diaspora registration in February
🪙 Core Chain introduces $5M Africa Innovation Fund to support local Web3 developers
🪙 Core Chain introduces $5M Africa Innovation Fund to support local Web3 developers
🛜 Starlink demand persists in South Africa despite regulatory barriers
💵 Bureaux de change now allowed to publicly post Naira rates
👨🏻‍💻 Opportunities

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👨🏽 IDENTITY MANAGEMENT

Nigeria to launch app for NIN diaspora registration in February

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is set to launch a user-friendly self-service application that will enable Nigerians in the diaspora to effortlessly enroll for their National Identification Number (NIN). This initiative aims to provide a seamless and contactless experience for diaspora Nigerians seeking to obtain their NINs.

The app is scheduled to go live in February 2024.

As of December 31, 2023, the total number of Nigerians with NIN stood at 104.16 million. Despite this figure, it is considered low when compared with the country’s population, which is currently over 200 million...….continue reading

🪙 CRYPTOCURRENCY

Core Chain introduces $5M Africa Innovation Fund to support local Web3 developers

Core Chain has initiated a $5 million Africa Innovation Fund aimed at supporting Web3 builders. As a layer-1 blockchain committed to bringing decentralized apps to the Bitcoin ecosystem, Core Chain plans to provide support in the form of grants, technical resources, builder programs, and partnerships with accelerators and institutions.

The Core Africa Innovation Fund aligns with Core Chain’s long-term strategy to empower Web3 developers across Africa. The Fund is designed to adopt a sustainable, long-term approach to supporting startups, with an added benefit of connecting them to VCs and potential investors..….continue reading

🛜 INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

Starlink demand persists in South Africa despite regulatory barriers

The use of Starlink in South Africa has experienced a notable surge despite warnings from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). Notably, over 14,000 Starlink kits have been imported into the country in the past year, even though the service is not officially approved, according to a report by MyBroadband.

Two prominent companies facilitating the import and activation of Starlink for South Africans, namely IcasaSePush and Starsat Africa, operate out of Mozambique to sidestep potential legal conflicts with Icasa. This regulatory authority maintains that the use or provision of Starlink in South Africa is unlawful.

IcasaSePush reported selling 1,463 kits to South Africans since its launch in September 2023, catering to a diverse customer base ranging from large multinational businesses to small local enterprises. Similarly, Starsat Africa claims over 12,000 customers as of November 2023, emphasizing its role in bridging the digital divide in Southern Africa.….continue reading

💵 MONEY

Bureaux de change now allowed to publicly post Naira rates

Nigeria is bringing foreign-exchange trading back into public view, the latest step in its bid to narrow the gap between the official and unofficial rate of its naira currency.

The country’s financial crimes watchdog has given the Association of Bureaux de Change Operators of Nigeria the go-ahead to publicly post the buying and selling rates of the Naira against the dollar online......….continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• WWE enthusiasts can expect to spend their Monday nights on Netflix soon, following a colossal agreement between the wrestling organization and the streaming service to air “RAW” in 2025. The deal is worth $5 billion and spans 10 years…..read more

• MrBeast earned over $263,000 in ad revenue from his latest video posted on X, but the YouTube star considers this figure to be somewhat misleading…..read more

• Twiga Foods, a Kenyan eCommerce platform, has reached an agreement with Google Cloud reseller Incentro Africa to resolve their lingering dispute over Google Cloud Services debt….read more

• Telegram launches a ‘view-once’ feature for voice and video messages…read more.

🚀 OPPORTUNITIES

• The Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has opened applications for Nigerian girls to participate in its new initiative called the National Girls in ICT Competition. Application deadline: 18 February 2024. Click here to apply.

• Safaricom, M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation calls for tech startups looking to join the Spark Accelerator program, which aims at accelerating early stage startups to grow and scale their businesses. Application deadline: 16 February 2024 . Click here to apply

• Norrsken22 invites African startups to apply for its $125k Accelerator Program. Interested entrepreneurs can apply here.

• Cohort 2 of the Visa Accelerator Program is now open for applications. Click here to apply. Application deadline: February 18, 2024

• CcHUB is currently accepting applications from EdTech companies interested in becoming members of its 2024 cohort. Click here to apply. Application Deadline: 17th February, 2024

• Application open for the MEST Training Program. The MEST Training Program is a one year, fully sponsored, graduate-level program in tech entrepreneurship. Click here to apply. Application Deadline: 18th March 2024