Table of contents Q1 2026 is drawing to a close, and the Nigerian job market has had a rough three months. Across the banking sector, the startup world, and the crypto industry, companies have been laying off staff, in some cases quietly and in others more publicly. Two things drove most of these decisions. The

Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is tightening its grip on the mobile phone number. New regulatory proposals would require telecom operators to flag high-risk phone numbers in real time, an intervention aimed at curbing rising fraud and restoring trust in digital systems. At the centre of this effort is the proposed Telecoms

Kenya’s draft rules for virtual asset firms will place a heavy burden on startups, who say high capital demands, costly insurance, and ongoing fees could push many of them out of the regulated market, according to Rober Salim, chief executive officer of the Virtual Asset Association of Kenya (VAAK), an industry group representing 50 crypto

The story of Nigeria’s fintech boom is usually told as one of founders moving fast and regulators catching up. But that framing misses something fundamental. For over two decades, the Central Bank of Nigeria has been laying down infrastructure, payments rails, identity systems, licensing frameworks, that every major fintech in the country now runs on.

On Wednesday, March 25, employees of Kuda, a Nigerian digital bank, were invited to a video call with senior executives. Before it ended, hundreds were told their contracts had been terminated as part of a company-wide restructuring. The job cuts affected multiple departments, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter and official documents obtained

In November 2024, Mayowa Ayodeji paid ₦7,000 ($5.05) to watch a film online. He didn’t get the film. What he got instead was that quiet frustration of staring at your inbox, refreshing it like it owes you money. No link. So he did what we all do when technology embarrasses us: he went looking for

This week I reported on some rather unusual research that focuses on the...

In the rapidly evolving wearable market of 2026, smart glasses have transitioned from niche gadgets to essential productivity and lifestyle tools. No longer just a secondary screen for your phone, these devices now offer high-fidelity spatial computing, professional-grade cinematography, and AI-driven sensory enhancement. This article explores the top-performing smart glasses in 2026, focusing on the

Ashley Immanuel is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Semicolon, a company that is enabling Africa’s digital transformation by building tech-focused talent and businesses. Immanuel coordinates Semicolon’s delivery of innovative solutions related to education, talent management, digital advisory/implementation services, and venture-building. She has two decades of experience delivering impact-focused work in locations worldwide.

Scale, a South African card‑issuing startup, has partnered with Mastercard, a global payments company, to simplify card products for businesses in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  Across many African markets, companies offering card payment must coordinate with several parties, including issuing banks, payment networks, and Bank Identification Number (BIN) sponsors, leading to slow

Moniepoint Inc., a Nigerian business-banking unicorn, has completed its acquisition of a 78% stake in Kenya’s Sumac Microfinance Bank, ending a multi-year effort by the Nigerian fintech to secure a foothold in East Africa’s largest economy. The deal was finalised on Thursday as executives gathered for a reception in Nairobi’s Westlands area. It provides Moniepoint

Plus: a new fine for Meta and YouTube is set to reshape legal protections...