Innovation Village Newsletter
Posts
🛰 Lagos Deploys Drones to Strengthen Workplace Safety

🛰 Lagos Deploys Drones to Strengthen Workplace Safety

Plus: 🤖 Google Gives African Students Free Access to Gemini AI

Innovation Village
October 09, 2025

In partnership with

Good morning valued subscribers👋

We’re wrapping up the week with something extra for you. Alongside the latest in tech and innovation, we’ve added a fresh batch of opportunities from applications to programs that could give your next idea a real boost.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to take the next step, this might just be it.

So grab your Thursday energy and let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

🚀 Nigeria Joins Digital Public Goods Alliance to Boost Open Digital Transformation
🛰 Lagos deploys drones, digital tools to boost workplace safety oversight
📶 Airtel Nigeria, UNICEF Train 150+ Teachers on Online Safety
🤖 Google Gives African Students Free Access to Gemini AI
💵 Moniepoint Clarifies £1.2m First-Year UK “Loss” as Set-Up Spend Amid Strategic Expansion

🚀DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Nigeria Joins Digital Public Goods Alliance to Boost Open Digital Transformation

Nigeria has officially joined the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) — a UN-endorsed initiative that promotes open-source technologies to drive digital transformation and sustainable development. The move aligns with Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Framework, which aims to integrate open, interoperable tools like OpenCRVS, DHIS2, and KoboToolbox across government systems.

Minister Bosun Tijani said the membership reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to building an open and inclusive digital ecosystem, while the DPGA Secretariat hailed the country’s leadership in advancing digital public goods in Africa. Nigeria also plans to expand developer capacity through 3MTT and DevsInGovernment, supporting homegrown innovations such as BudgIT, eHealth Nigeria, and Citizens’ Gavel.........…continue reading

No MEV. No Gas

CoW Swap blocks MEV so bots can’t front-run your trades. Keep more of every swap.

Trade Smarter

🛰TECHNOLOGY

Lagos deploys drones, digital tools to boost workplace safety oversight

The Lagos State Government has launched new digital safety technologies — including drones, AI-driven monitoring, and safety reporting apps — to reduce workplace hazards and strengthen occupational safety across the state.

Unveiled at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH), the initiative aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of “predictive governance,” using technology to anticipate and prevent incidents in high-risk sectors like construction and manufacturing..…..…continue reading

📶TELECOMS

Airtel Nigeria, UNICEF Train 150+ Teachers on Online Safety

Airtel Nigeria and UNICEF have trained over 150 public school teachers across Nigeria on Online Child Safety and Digital Protection, as part of their joint Reimagine Education Programme. The virtual training equipped educators with tools to protect students from online risks like cyberbullying, data misuse, and digital exploitation.

The sessions, led by Airtel’s IT team and UNICEF experts, covered topics such as digital privacy, children’s rights online, and strategies for fostering responsible internet use. Teachers received classroom resources to extend the training to students, with 99% reporting greater confidence in ensuring child safety online..…..…continue reading

Gain access to renowned guest mentors and industry experts at African Masterclass Series 5
Earn while you learn, build real tech skills and get paid doing it at Rhizome Technology Academy
Gain hands on training in-demand tech skills at TechyJaunt scholarship

🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Google Gives African Students Free Access to Gemini AI

Google has launched a new initiative offering free one-year access to its Gemini AI tools for university students in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The program, open to students aged 18 and above until December 9, 2025, provides access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Deep Research, NotebookLM, Veo 3, Nano Banana, and 2TB of cloud storage — enabling students to enhance learning, research, and creativity through AI.

The initiative aims to make AI education accessible and practical, with features like Gemini’s Guided Learning mode serving as a digital tutor to support problem-solving and critical thinking. Creative tools such as Veo 3 and Nano Banana also allow students to generate videos and edit images using AI............…continue reading

💵 STARTUPS

Moniepoint Clarifies £1.2m First-Year UK “Loss” as Set-Up Spend Amid Strategic Expansion

Moniepoint founders - Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike

Moniepoint Inc. says the £1.2m loss reported by its UK subsidiary, Moniepoint GB, for 2024 reflects early-stage set-up costs—not an operating shortfall. Incorporated in February 2024, the unit booked no revenue as its UK build-out was funded by the parent and focused on compliance, infrastructure, and support. Moniepoint has launched MonieWorld, aimed at the African diaspora, starting with UK-to-Nigeria remittances via balances, bank cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with more products planned.

To accelerate entry, Moniepoint acquired FCA-authorised e-money institution Bancom Europe in July 2025 (SPA signed December 2024), gaining passportable EEA permissions; Bancom was largely dormant, with small losses and minimal 2024 revenue. Group backing includes a late-2024 $110m raise (incl. Google), valuing Moniepoint at $1bn. Filings show £7.3m in share capital to support UK growth......…continue reading