🏍️ SafeBoda Electric bikes in Uganda | 👨🏻‍💻 MTN&Huawei Tech Lab

In today’s menu ☕️

👨🏻‍💻 MTN and Huawei inaugurate Collaborative Tech Lab for Africa’s Digital Evolution and Sustainable Growth
👨🏼‍🌾 EIB and Bank of Kigali Launch €100 million agroecological funding to revolutionize Rwandan agriculture
🏍️ SafeBoda ushers in eco-friendly commuting with electric motorcycles in Uganda
🪪 NIMC Targets 200 Million NIN Enrollments by 2025
🛜 Starlink announces service disconnection for users in Ghana, South Africa, and Botswana
👨🏻‍💻 Opportunities

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👨🏻‍💻 TECHNOLOGY

MTN and Huawei inaugurate Collaborative Tech Lab for Africa’s Digital Evolution and Sustainable Growth

MTN Group and Huawei have officially launched the Technology Innovation Lab at MTN Group’s headquarters, heralding a new era of collaboration in the digital realm. This venture, first unveiled during MWC 2024 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, signals a strategic move to deepen their partnership, driving digital transformation and sustainable development across Africa.

The Technology Innovation Lab is set to revolutionize digital progress in Africa by fostering cross-regional collaboration. It aims to invigorate the African digital ecosystem, accelerating the development, deployment, and adoption of cutting-edge innovative solutions. This initiative reflects MTN’s transition from a traditional telecommunications operator to a comprehensive technology services provider. The lab will focus on critical areas such as 5G and 5G-A technologies, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing, FTTH, automation, and digital financial services – all essential components for Africa’s digital future.….continue reading

🧑🏽‍🌾 AGRICULTURE

EIB and Bank of Kigali Launch €100 million agroecological funding to revolutionize Rwandan agriculture

The European Investment Bank (EIB) in collaboration with the Bank of Kigali, has embarked on a strategic partnership to funnel a €100 million investment into agroecological ventures across Rwanda. This financial boost is envisaged to revolutionize the agricultural landscape of rural Rwanda by enhancing the availability of loans to agricultural technology startups and established agribusiness enterprises.

This substantial investment from the EIB is poised to assist Rwandan farmers in navigating the increasingly volatile climate, which presents a myriad of challenges including but not limited to intense weather fluctuations, periods of drought, and excessive rainfall. The ramifications of such climatic disturbances are manifold, impacting the economic viability, social dynamics, and commercial outcomes of Rwanda’s agricultural domain........continue reading

🏍️ TRANSPORTATION

SafeBoda ushers in eco-friendly commuting with electric motorcycles in Uganda

SafeBoda, the prominent Ugandan bike-hailing enterprise, has declared the launch of an electric motorcycle option on its mobile application, heralding an innovative addition to its service array. This initiative, first publicized via a post on platform X on April 16, 2024, signals a significant pivot towards environmentally conscious travel within the local transportation sector, setting a foundation to transition Uganda’s transit system towards more sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

In Uganda’s bustling urban centers, the traditional motorcycle taxis, locally referred to as boda bodas, serve as a critical commuting solution, prized for their cost-effectiveness and agility in navigating city traffic.

Historically powered by gasoline, these motorcycles have contributed to the escalating issues of noise and air pollution plaguing the urban atmosphere in the region. Through the induction of electrically powered motorcycles—termed “Electric Boda”—SafeBoda aims to retain the quintessential convenience offered by conventional boda bodas while dramatically curtailing the environmental detriments.........continue reading

🪪 IDENTITY MANAGEMENT

NIMC Targets 200 Million NIN Enrollments by 2025

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has a massive undertaking ahead. The goal of registering 200 million Nigerians with the National Identification Number (NIN) by 2025 requires a dramatic acceleration of the enrollment process. With approximately 105 million NINs issued to date, nearly 95 million citizens still lack this key identifier.

The NIN’s growing significance is undeniable. This unique digital ID underpins a wide spectrum of public services, financial inclusion programs, and security initiatives. Its potential to improve service delivery and combat fraud makes it a vital tool for national development..........continue reading

🛜 CONNECTIVITY

Starlink announces service disconnection for users in Ghana, South Africa, and Botswana

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has officially communicated with its roaming clients via email to announce a crucial update regarding its service accessibility. The notice clarifies that Starlink’s services can only be lawfully utilized within those territories where the company has obtained authorization to conduct its operations.

By the conclusion of April 2024, Starlink intends to sever connections with any user—be it individual customers or businesses—actively using their service in regions of Africa where the company lacks the necessary authorization to operate. This decision will affect users in countries such as Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, where the service is currently being used without proper licensing.

Conversely, subscribers residing in countries where Starlink has secured the requisite permissions, like Mozambique, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria, will not experience any disruption. These customers are free to continue using their Starlink kits under the newly implemented guidelines.........continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Lagos Computer Village Traders Seek Answers as Katangowa Project Stalls…..read more

• Goodwell Investment funnels capital into OmniRetail to strengthen Sub-Saharan Africa’s informal retail sector….read more

• Nigeria Startup Act Gains Momentum: Almost 13,000 Startups Register on Official Portal….. read more

• AltCoinTrader secures key FSCA licenses strengthening crypto regulatory framework in South Africa…..read more

OPPORTUNITIES

• Mastercard Foundation Fund Invites Agribusiness SMEs to Apply for Resilience and Prosperity Grants….read more

• Huawei invites applications for Kenya’s Seeds for the Future Programme 2024…..read more

• Entries open for 2024 Edition of Global Startup Awards Africa: Aiming to spotlight Africa’s top innovators and entrepreneurs…..read more

• 12 African entrepreneurs win a total of US$400,000 in grants from the FINCA Ventures Prize Competition…..read more

• AgriTech4Egypt Innovation Challenge invites applications from agri-tech ventures for a sustainable agricultural future….read more

• Irish Tech Challenge 2024: Call for South African startups to help address global issues….read more