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🌾 Julius Berger Agro-processing Exit

🌾 Julius Berger Agro-processing Exit

Plus: 📺 DStv, GOtv Lose Millions as Kenya’s Pay-TV Decline Deepens

Innovation Village
September 26, 2025

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TGIF☀️

You made it to Friday, the week’s finish line is finally here. Before you slip fully into weekend mode, we’ve got today’s roundup of stories to keep you in the loop (and maybe give you something smart to drop in conversation later).

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Today’s Menu ☕️

🌾 Julius Berger Exits Agro-Processing to Double Down on Construction
🗼Nigeria Customs Launches E-Clearance System, Using Tech to Eliminate Port Gridlock
🤝 Mastercard and Smile ID to scale digital identity across Africa
📺 DStv, GOtv Lose Millions as Kenya’s Pay-TV Decline Deepens
💵 Hinckley E-Waste Recycling secures $1.5M equity investment from All On
💰 Norfund and KLP invest $86M in South Africa’s Anthem energy platform
💵 Triodos Investment Management secures €30M from FMO and OeEB to expand Hivos-Triodos Fonds

🌾 AGRO-PROCESSING

Julius Berger Exits Agro-Processing to Double Down on Construction

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has ended its five-year diversification into agro-processing, approving the lease of its cashew-nut processing facilities to Eko Organic Food Industries after a board meeting on September 24, 2025. The move realigns the engineering giant with its construction core while extracting value from a non-core asset. Management said the lease reflects disciplined capital allocation—freeing cash and leadership bandwidth to pursue rising transport, housing, industrial and energy projects—while ensuring continuity of the cashew business under a specialist operator.

Terms were undisclosed. Analysts view the shift as a pivot that reduces risk, sharpens focus and could improve returns on invested capital. For Eko Organic Food, the agreement provides capacity to further deepen participation in Nigeria’s export-oriented cashew value chain. Julius Berger remains open to adjacencies that complement its strengths.........…continue reading

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🗼DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Nigeria Customs Launches E-Clearance System, Using Tech to Eliminate Port Gridlock

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched an automated overtime e-clearance system aimed at clearing long-abandoned cargo at Lagos ports, reducing congestion, and curbing corruption. The platform allows consignees to apply and track clearance remotely, cutting delays and limiting human interference.

Overtime cargo—goods left uncleared beyond 120 days—has long clogged Nigeria’s ports, driving up costs and slowing trade. Past reliance on physical auctions fueled complaints of unfairness, while even the 2024 e-auction portal failed to ease congestion........…continue reading

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🤝 PARTNERSHIP

Mastercard and Smile ID to scale digital identity across Africa

Mastercard has deepened its partnership with Smile ID, an African identity verification provider, to accelerate the adoption of secure digital identity solutions across the continent. The collaboration will help banks, fintechs, mobile money operators, and enterprises onboard customers faster, curb fraud, and expand financial inclusion.

The deal combines Mastercard’s global identity technology with Smile ID’s data verification and fraud detection tools. Mastercard has also made a minority investment in Smile ID, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Africa’s digital transformation..........…continue reading

📺 MEDIA

DStv, GOtv Lose Millions as Kenya’s Pay-TV Decline Deepens

Kenya’s pay-TV sector, led by MultiChoice-owned DStv and GOtv, is losing millions of subscribers as audiences migrate to cheaper, more flexible streaming alternatives like Netflix, Showmax, and YouTube. High subscription costs, repeated price hikes, and rising living expenses have pushed households toward free-to-air channels and mobile-friendly digital platforms.

While sports—especially the English Premier League—remains DStv’s strongest draw, piracy and shared subscriptions are eroding that advantage......…continue reading

💵 FUNDING

Hinckley E-Waste Recycling secures $1.5M equity investment from All On

Hinckley E-Waste Recycling, a Nigerian e-waste management company, has secured a $1.5M equity investment from All On, a Shell-funded impact investor. The funding will establish Nigeria’s first lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling facilities, addressing the growing e-waste challenge from solar products and battery-powered devices.

The project will formalize Nigeria’s largely informal e-waste sector, transition thousands of waste collectors into safer systems, and create new economic opportunities. Both companies stress that the initiative will advance clean energy, environmental protection, and inclusive growth while aligning with circular economy principles.........…continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

Norfund and KLP invest $86M in South Africa’s Anthem energy platform

Norfund’s Climate Investment Fund and Norway’s largest pension company, KLP, have committed NOK 850 million ($86M) to launch Anthem, a new renewable energy platform in South Africa. Formed through the merger of ACED and EIMS Africa, with Mahlako Energy Fund as a co-investor, Anthem aims to develop up to 11 GW of solar and wind capacity, making it one of the largest clean energy initiatives in the region.

The investment—structured through both Norfund and KLP’s joint venture—reflects the growing use of blended finance to de-risk large-scale renewable projects in emerging markets. South Africa, heavily reliant on coal and plagued by energy shortages, stands to benefit significantly as Anthem works to expand grid reliability, cut emissions, and support inclusive economic growth.....…continue reading