🌱Can Groundnuts Restore Nigeria’s Agricultural Glory?

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Today’s Menu ☕️

🌱 Can Groundnuts Put Nigeria Back on the Global Agricultural Map?
💵 Aavishkaar Capital expands African portfolio with strategic investment in Horizon Group Africa
📰 Vantage Capital exits Equity Invest
💵 Basata Holding unveils $7M investment plan and regional expansion strategy for 2026
🤖 Sweden Unveils First-Ever AI Music Licence, Aiming to Set Global Standard
🔐 Kaspersky Launches External Attack Surface Module

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 🌱 AGRICULTURE

Can Groundnuts Put Nigeria Back on the Global Agricultural Map?

Nigeria is quietly staging a comeback in groundnut production. Once famous for Kano’s groundnut pyramids before oil wealth shifted attention away, the country is now projected to harvest 4.3 million metric tons in 2025 — the highest in Africa. Groundnuts remain vital at home, supplying nearly a quarter of Nigeria’s vegetable oil and sustaining countless food businesses.

But while global demand in Europe and Asia is strong, Nigeria still exports only a fraction of what it grows. To truly reclaim its place on the world stage, the country will need better storage, processing, and quality control. The pyramids may be gone, but the ambition for groundnut glory is back....…continue reading

💵 INVESTMENT

Aavishkaar Capital expands African portfolio with strategic investment in Horizon Group Africa

Aavishkaar Capital has made its fourth African investment under the $250M Global Supply Chain Support Fund, extending a loan to Nigeria-founded Horizon Group Africa. Horizon, which processes premium spices like ginger, turmeric, and cloves across Nigeria, Tanzania, and Madagascar, supplies major markets in the EU, Asia, and the U.S.

The funding will help the company scale operations, source more raw materials, and deepen its work with over 3,000 smallholder farmers. Backed by KfW, this move builds on earlier GSCSF investments in apparel and agribusiness, reinforcing Aavishkaar’s strategy of strengthening sustainable supply chains and empowering local communities across Africa.........…continue reading

📰 DIVESTMENTS

Vantage Capital exits Equity Invest

Vantage Capital has completed its first full exit in Morocco, selling its stake in Equity Invest, a leading local technology group. The firm had invested €8M in 2019 to back a leveraged management buy-out that allowed founder Ali Bettahi to regain control of one of Equity Invest’s subsidiaries. The deal was among the first of its kind in Morocco, using mezzanine finance to support such a transaction.

Equity Invest has since grown into a diversified group spanning security, renewable energy, e-commerce, and digital payments. For Vantage, the partnership helped establish its presence in Morocco, where it has now closed four investments in six years....…continue reading

📱SOCIAL MEDIA

Gen Z Protests Erupt After Nepal’s Social Media Ban

In September 2025, Nepal’s government banned 26 major social media platforms—including Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X—sparking nationwide outrage. While officials claimed it was to fight misinformation, young people saw it as blatant censorship. Within days, tens of thousands took to the streets in what became known as the “Gen Z protests.”

Facing mounting pressure, Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and senior officials resigned, and the ban was lifted. But the damage was done—the protests persisted, symbolizing a larger fight for accountability and democratic freedoms.

Nepal’s miscalculation revealed a hard truth: in today’s world, silencing digital voices doesn’t stop dissent—it fuels it......…continue reading

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🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Sweden Unveils First-Ever AI Music Licence, Aiming to Set Global Standard

Sweden just made history with the world’s first AI music licensing deal. The Swedish Performing Rights Society (STIM) has partnered with Songfox, a Stockholm start-up, to ensure songwriters get paid when AI generates music. Using attribution tech called Sureel, Songfox can trace AI-created melodies back to the human works they’re built on, guaranteeing royalties for the original creators.

It’s a bold shift from endless lawsuits to a working payment model: upfront fees, revenue shares, and training compensation — turning AI’s appetite for music into a revenue stream rather than a threat. STIM calls it a “stress test” for collective licensing, but if it succeeds, it could set the blueprint for Europe and beyond...…..continue reading

💵 INVESTMENT

Basata Holding unveils $7M investment plan and regional expansion strategy for 2026

Basata Holding for Financial Payments, Egypt’s leading e-payments provider, plans to invest USD 7 million in 2026 to strengthen its market leadership and expand regionally. The company is eyeing acquisitions and preparing to launch new investment fund services with its affiliates, pending regulatory approval.

Currently serving over 120,000 merchants, Basata aims to reach 150,000 by year-end while accelerating its evolution into a full financial services platform. Beyond Egypt, the firm will enter Saudi Arabia in 2025 through its stake in Madfoatcom, with further expansion into Morocco and Kurdistan. With 40% TPV growth over the past three years, Basata is positioning itself as a regional fintech powerhouse...…..continue reading

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• Apple to Launch AI Answer Engine in Siri to Compete with ChatGPT…….continue reading

• New Forests invests in Rance Timber…….continue reading

• Google Expands AI Search With Five New Languages, Eyeing Global Inclusion…….continue reading

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