💵 M-KOPA Nigeria Disburses ₦231bn to 1M Users

TGIF👋

Japan has extended the visa requirement for permanent residency applicants to five years, marking a significant change in its immigration policy aimed at tightening eligibility and ensuring long-term commitment from foreign residents. The move affects individuals seeking permanent residency, including skilled workers, long-term residents, and international students planning to settle in the country.

The policy shift reflects Japan’s cautious approach to immigration, balancing the need for foreign talent with social and economic integration considerations. For prospective residents, the change introduces new timelines and planning requirements, while signaling the government’s ongoing efforts to manage population growth, labour markets, and residency compliance within a rapidly evolving demographic landscape.

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Today’s Menu ☕️

💵 M-KOPA Nigeria Disburses ₦231bn to 1M Users
🗼Nigeria Secures $100m for Fibre Network Expansion
🏦 Access Bank Rolls Out Zero-Fee PAPSS Transfers
✈️ Emirates, Cellulant Introduce Split-Pay Flights
🤖 Fido Raises $5.5M to Expand AI Lending in Africa
✈️ Japan Extends Visa Requirement for Permanent Residency to Five Years

💵FUNDING

M-KOPA Nigeria Disburses ₦231bn to 1M Users

M-KOPA Nigeria has disbursed over ₦231 billion in credit to more than one million customers, making it the company’s fastest-growing market since launching in 2019. Its model centers on flexible smartphone financing and digital financial services tailored to informal workers, with 77% of customers using financed devices to generate income and 75% reporting increased earnings.

The company has also expanded financial inclusion, enabling 290,000 Nigerians to access a smartphone for the first time and increasing female participation to 33% of customers...............….continue reading

  🗼DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Nigeria Secures $100m for Fibre Network Expansion

The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a $100 million investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to accelerate Project BRIDGE, a nationwide initiative to expand fibre-optic infrastructure. The funding complements $500 million already approved by the World Bank Group and additional European Union grants, signaling strong international backing for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Project BRIDGE aims to deploy approximately 90,000 km of fibre-optic cable across all 774 local government areas, significantly expanding beyond the country’s current 35,000 km network..............….continue reading

🏦BANKING

Access Bank Rolls Out Zero-Fee PAPSS Transfers

Access Bank has launched a Zero Fee Outbound Campaign for the Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), allowing customers to send Naira to other African countries without outbound charges from February 1 to April 30, 2026. Funds are received in local currencies, making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more convenient.

The integration of PAPSS into Access Africa simplifies intra-African transfers for trade, remittances, business, and education payments, reducing reliance on foreign currencies. Customers can access the service via the AccessMore App or at any branch................….continue reading

✈️TRAVEL

Emirates, Cellulant Introduce Split-Pay Flights

Emirates has partnered with Cellulant to launch a split-payment feature for Kenyan travelers, powered by Cellulant’s Tingg digital payments gateway. The solution allows customers to combine multiple payment methods or pay in short-term installments, overcoming mobile money daily limits that often hinder high-value transactions like flight bookings.

The feature enables travelers to pay part of the fare upfront and complete the rest in up to four additional payments within 24 hours, improving affordability and accessibility to international flights............….continue reading

🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Fido Raises $5.5M to Expand AI Lending in Africa

Ghana-based fintech Fido has secured $5.5 million in debt financing from Symbiotics to scale its AI-driven lending platform across Ghana and into Uganda. Fido uses its proprietary AI-powered Fido Score to assess creditworthiness of underserved individuals and MSMEs without traditional documentation, enabling instant, transparent loans through its mobile app.

The debt funding allows Fido to expand its loan book while preserving ownership and supports its mission to enhance financial inclusion, reduce borrowing costs, and empower low-income entrepreneurs.............….continue reading

✈️TRAVEL

Japan Extends Visa Requirement for Permanent Residency to Five Years

Japan has updated its permanent residency (PR) rules, raising the minimum visa duration for eligibility from three to five years. Most foreign workers must now hold a five-year visa before applying for PR, though the overall 10-year residency requirement remains.

Stricter compliance checks will focus on timely tax, pension, and health insurance payments, with late or missing payments potentially affecting eligibility. Exceptions exist for highly skilled professionals, recognized refugees, and certain transitional cases.............….continue reading

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