Innovation Village Newsletter
Posts
🚙 P-CNGi and LNG Arete Sign $27.3M Deal to Boost CNG Access

🚙 P-CNGi and LNG Arete Sign $27.3M Deal to Boost CNG Access

Plus: Trump Grants Second 75-Day Reprieve on TikTok Ban

Innovation Village
April 07, 2025

Today’s Menu ☕️

🚙 P-CNGi and LNG Arete Sign $27.3M Deal to Boost CNG Access in Northern Nigeria
📱Trump Grants Second 75-Day Reprieve on TikTok Ban
🎶 Nigeria and South Africa Earn Big from Spotify’s $59 million Artist Payout
💰 IFC and Afriland First Bank Partner on $60 Million Deal to Boost SME Financing in Cameroon
💵 Unilever, UK Government & EY Award £500k to West African Startups Driving Sustainability and Innovation
🎥 YouTube Premium Prices Jump in Nigeria and South Africa
📱Meta’s Llama 4 Ushers in the Future of Open Multimodal AI for Business

If you haven't subscribed, join over 7,000 people curious about Innovation, New Products, New Technologies in Africa.

🚙 AUTOMOBILES

P-CNGi and LNG Arete Sign $27.3M Deal to Boost CNG Access in Northern Nigeria

In a bold move to reshape the energy landscape of Northern Nigeria, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) has partnered with LNG Arete Ltd. to develop a $27.3 million gas plant project aimed at boosting access to compressed natural gas (CNG) across the region.

Signed last Friday, the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a significant step in addressing the region’s persistent energy shortfalls—particularly in the transportation and industrial sectors. With millions in investment and an ambitious 12 to 16-month timeline to completion, the project promises to drive economic growth, create jobs, and reduce reliance on expensive, polluting fuels...…continue reading

📱SOCIAL MEDIA

Trump Grants Second 75-Day Reprieve on TikTok Ban

In a last-minute decision, President Donald Trump issued an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension, delaying a previously scheduled ban and allowing more time to secure a U.S.-based ownership deal. The announcement came Friday via Trump’s Truth Social account, offering a temporary lifeline to the popular video-sharing app. The extension is meant to give negotiators time to complete and approve a deal that satisfies national security concerns and regulatory requirements.

This is the second time the Biden-era TikTok divestment law has seen its deadline shifted. Initially, ByteDance was given until January 19 to resolve national security concerns by divesting its U.S. operations. Trump, however, signed a new executive order on his first day back in office, effectively restarting the countdown......…continue reading

🧑🏽‍💻 TRAININGS

Get Ready for upcoming Product Trainings from Tenth Code Media this April

As we enter a new quarter, it's the perfect time to refocus, set goals, and invest in career growth. Our upcoming training offers valuable insights into product development and design, equipping you with the skills to enhance strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, or transition into product management.

Introducing 2 awesome training courses:

1️⃣ New Product Development & Management Fundamentals
What You’ll Learn: The key stages of product development from idea to launch
Learn how to create and manage effective product roadmaps that align with business goals, conduct market research to develop products that truly resonate with users, and apply best practices in product lifecycle management to ensure long-term success.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 10th – Thursday 11th April, 2025
📍Location: Canton Concourse, Oniru, Victoria Island - Lagos.
✍🏽Registration Link: bit.ly/TCNPD0425

2️⃣ Product Design Fundamentals
What You’ll Learn: The principles of user-centered design
Learn how to transform ideas into wireframes and prototypes, master essential UI/UX design tools and techniques, and gain industry insights to kickstart or advance your career in product design.

🗓️ Start Date: Saturday 27th April, 2025 (6 consecutive Saturdays),
💻 Location: Online
✍🏽Registration Link: bit.ly/TCPD0125

🎶 MUSIC STREAMING

Nigeria and South Africa Earn Big from Spotify’s $59 million Artist Payout

Africa’s music industry is no longer an emerging force—it’s a global movement. And leading the charge in turning streams into steady incomes is audio streaming giant Spotify, which has become a powerful bridge between African artists and international audiences.

In 2024 alone, Spotify paid out approximately $59 million in royalties to artists from Nigeria and South Africa—its two biggest African markets. This marks a significant milestone in the continent’s digital music evolution, as rising stars and household names alike cash in on a wave of global enthusiasm for African soundscapes.

Spotify’s global royalty payout hit a staggering $10 billion in 2024, showing just how much the streaming economy has matured. While Africa still accounts for a relatively small portion of the platform’s global earnings, its cultural impact far outweighs its current market share.....…continue reading

💰FUNDING

IFC and Afriland First Bank Partner on $60 Million Deal to Boost SME Financing in Cameroon

In a landmark move to strengthen Cameroon’s small business sector, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Afriland First Bank Cameroon (First Bank) have announced a $60 million financing partnership aimed at expanding access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This strategic initiative is designed to help businesses grow, enter new markets, and drive job creation in one of Central Africa’s most dynamic economies.

The funding package includes $20 million from IFC’s own account and an additional $40 million mobilized from other lenders, signaling strong confidence in the growth potential of Cameroon’s private sector. This financing will support First Bank’s lending activities to thousands of smaller businesses, with a special focus on underserved segments, including women-led enterprises........…continue reading

💵 STARTUPS

Unilever, UK Government & EY Award £500k to West African Startups Driving Sustainability and Innovation

In a major win for sustainable innovation in West Africa, TRANSFORM West Africa – an impact accelerator backed by Unilever, the UK Government, and EY – has awarded £500,000 in grant funding to five trailblazing enterprises across the region. These businesses are tackling urgent challenges in circularity and regenerative agriculture, with three Nigerian startups leading the way.

The grantees were honoured at a celebratory event hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, where the winners were not only applauded for their ingenuity but also introduced to a broader ecosystem of support. In addition to funding, they will gain hands-on business insights, mentorship, and access to networks through Unilever and EY to help scale their impact.

The three Nigerian organisations selected are:

Chanja Datti is setting up Micro-Recycling Plants (MRPs) near waste collection points, decentralising plastic waste processing and making recycling more accessible.
Planet 3R empowers women and youth by teaching them to transform plastic and textile waste into useful products like bags and storage boxes.
Scrapays runs a digital platform connecting waste producers to aggregators and processors, using technology to streamline recycling operations........continue reading

🎥 VIDEO STREAMING

YouTube Premium Prices Jump in Nigeria and South Africa

YouTube has raised the cost of its Premium subscription plans in Nigeria and South Africa, marking a significant change for users who have enjoyed the ad-free streaming experience at lower regional rates.

In Nigeria, users were notified via email on April 4, 2025, that the individual YouTube Premium plan would now cost ₦1,700 per month, up from ₦1,100—a 54% increase. The family plan saw an even steeper jump, rising over 64% from ₦1,700 to ₦2,800.

“YouTube explained the price hike as a necessary step to maintain and improve the service,” the email stated. “We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve YouTube Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.”........…continue reading