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MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme set to boost prosperity of African SMME

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At a time when unemployment challenges and economic instability are high, small and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) are proving to be the engines of economic growth and job creation throughout the African continent.

In recognition of the critical role SMMEs play, MultiChoice launched the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator programme which trained 29 businesses across 9 African countries in key entrepreneurial skills.

As the second leg of the programme, a panel of experts has selected 11 of the most promising small businesses and invited them to pitch to prospective international investors in Dubai.

“There’s no denying the impact African SMMEs have on job creation and economic growth,” says Fhulufhelo Badugela, MultiChoice Africa CEO. “Through the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme, our vision is to take that impact and multiply it beyond what our start-up founders ever believed possible. I have no doubt these small businesses will be able to take everything they’ve learned so far to unlock transformative business funding.”

The MultiChoice Africa Accelerator programme, the brainchild of the MultiChoice Group and part of the MultiChoice Innovation Fund, in collaboration with Dubai-based business incubator Companies Creating Change (C3), technical partner EOH, and Galelo Africa, has been designed as a platform to help grow start-up businesses from across Africa.

The programme specifically targets start-ups and small businesses in the technology sectors of health tech, agritech, fintech, edutech, the circular economy, and creative industries.

“The quality of the submissions this year was high. It confirms our view that Africa has enormous potential. The specific focus on tech industries allows us to showcase the innovation of Africa to the world, but also enables these businesses to develop tech solutions to real societal problems,” continues Badugela.

The first phase of the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme saw public and private-sector partners in each country nominating businesses or entrepreneurs for the programme. From there, 29 of the start-ups embarked on an intensive virtual training course during December 2022 and in Johannesburg.

The 11 start-ups attended a dedicated boot camp in Lusaka, Zambia to learn more about how to shape their story for international investors, and to get “pitch ready” before their big presentations.

The 11 start-ups shortlisted to present their business plans to a panel of investors for this year’s MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme are:

  1. Tupuca from Angola

Tupuca is an on-demand quick-commerce platform and logistical aggregator of uber-like drivers that allows users to order from multiple vendors and service providers ranging from restaurants, grocery stores, small retailers and courier services.

  1. Taskmoby from Ethiopia

Taskmoby is the first digital marketplace in Ethiopia that connects customers with qualified home services providers (e.g. plumbers, cleaners, electricians), leveraging a mobile application, SMS/USSD solutions and a dedicated call center.

  1. StarNews Mobile from Ivory Coast

StarNews Mobile is a pan-African media-tech company whose mission is to give financial freedom to African creators from the distribution and monetization of their digital content globally.

  1. Tendo from Ghana

Tendo is a social commerce platform that enables anyone to sell online with zero capital. 

  1. Zuri Health from Kenya

Zuri Health is a virtual hospital (Super Health App) providing affordable and accessible healthcare services to patients across Sub-Saharan Africa via mobile app, website, WhatsApp bot and SMS service.

Through the app, patients can chat and consult with doctors, buy medication from pharmacies, book labs and diagnostic tests and even have a doctor visit them at home.

  1. Dojah Inc and Crop2Cash from Nigeria

Dojah Inc is an end-to-end Identity verification and compliance framework to strengthen confidence, credibility, and compliance across digital businesses.

At Crop2Cash, we have built a digital financial service that allows smallholder farmers anywhere in Nigeria to open a bank account on their feature phones in under 2 minutes, with no internet required.

  1. MaTontine from Senegal

MaTontine is a digital financial services platform.

It digitise traditional, African savings groups to provide access to financial services for financially excluded women in Africa.

  1. Botlhale AI and Gradesmatch South Africa

Botlhale AI builds Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools for African languages. Developers and organisations can integrate any of these tools into their solutions through its APIs.

Gradesmatch helps students (and families) to transition from education to economic opportunity by making the journey as simple as possible. The company builds the core enabling infrastructure that simplifies the journey from education to economic opportunity.

  1. Mighty Finance Solution from Zambia

Mighty Finance Solution provides SMEs in emerging markets with seamless credit and financial solutions using artificial intelligence. The company leverages proprietary credit rating algorithm to pave the way for a unique lending experience and transforming lives through the provision of simple, quick and affordable loans.


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Researchers Develop Innovative Treatment for Malaria

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An international team of researchers have introduced a groundbreaking drug, known as the covalent kinase inhibitor, which shows promise in combating treatment-resistant malaria.

Researchers Develop Innovative Treatment for Malaria

Developed by chemists and bioscientists from the University of Glasgow, this innovative drug could surpass current medications by effectively targeting and disabling the proteins used by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite to replicate within the human body.

This is according to a report titled “Targeting Pf CLK3 with Covalent Inhibitors: A Novel Strategy for Malaria Treatment.”

The development, led by chemists and bioscientists from the University of Glasgow, was outlined in a November publication in the “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.”

According to the researchers, covalent inhibitors form bonds with proteins, usually irreversibly modifying them, and this new drug could be more effective than current medications at all stages of malaria infection.

The new drug works by permanently disabling a protein that Plasmodium falciparum, one of the mosquito-borne parasites that spread malaria, uses to replicate itself inside the human body.

The drug also has the potential to work as a single-dose treatment, a significant improvement over existing therapies.

This breakthrough marks the first adaptation of an approach from cancer treatments to tackle malaria.

The team expressed optimism that the parasite is unlikely to develop resistance to the new drug, which targets the protein Pf CLK3 and disrupts the parasite’s ability to splice RNA.

The researchers, including Prof. Martins Emeje from the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency and Prof. Oyewale Tomori from the West African Academy of Sciences, emphasise the importance of regular calibration and accreditation for medical laboratories to ensure accurate results and reliable treatment.

 

 


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Nigeria to Host ICEGOV 2025, A Milestone in Digital Governance and Global Leadership

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The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Nigeria has been officially confirmed as the host country for the 2025 International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) edition.

This confirmation by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) marks a historic milestone in our nation’s digital transformation journey, showcasing Nigeria’s leadership in digital governance, innovation, and technological advancements on the global stage.

ICEGOV is a prestigious global conference that convenes governments, academia, international organisations, industry leaders, and civil society to exchange insights, research, and best practices in electronic governance.

Hosting this event presents a unique opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, foster multidisciplinary collaborations, and drive policy innovations that will shape the future of governance in Africa and beyond.

Speaking on this momentous achievement, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, stated: “Nigeria’s selection to host ICEGOV 2025 is a recognition of our efforts to drive digital transformation and innovation in governance.

“I am a firm believer in the importance of the academia and research in supporting global discussions on e-Governance and we have seen this in some of the input in government initiatives like the National AI Strategy and the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill which are laying the foundation for the growth of Nigeria’s Digital Economy.

“As we prepare to welcome you all to Nigeria, we look forward to very useful outcomes that will be beneficial for the growth of digital governance and policy development globally.”


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MTN Nigeria Foundation Supports Education with Donation of School Supplies to 1000+ Students

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MTN Nigeria Foundation recently embarked on an initiative to donate support materials to nominated schools in seven states across the six geopolitical zones, including Edo, Oyo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Anambra and Enugu.

Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation

The donations form part of the foundation’s Learning Support Materials Initiative (LSMI) aimed at improving learning experiences for students nationwide.

The MTNF Learning Support Material Initiative (LSMI) is a program created to empower students with essential academic tools, enabling them to reach their highest academic capabilities. Over 1000 students received vital resources such as school bags and exercise books, with the schools also receiving additional equipment like umbrellas and Wi-Fi routers to aid the implementation of technology in learning.

The initiative forms part of MTN Foundation’s broader commitment to youth empowerment and educational development in Nigeria. Over the years, the foundation has invested in education through several initiatives. These include the MTN Scholarship Scheme for science and technology students and blind scholars at the undergraduate level. Additionally, MTN Foundation’s Science and Technology Lab Project (STLP) has resulted in the refurbishment of 102 science laboratories in public secondary schools across the country.

Speaking on the Learning Support Material Initiative (LSMI) and the Foundation’s dedication to national development through education, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya said “At MTN Nigeria Foundation, we believe that education is the cornerstone of growth and development, and all students deserve access to the resources necessary to unlock their full potential.

“This initiative emphasizes our commitment to fostering an enabling environment for learning and supporting access to quality education.”

The impact of these donations was evident and appreciated by students who expressed that the learning materials would aid their learning process and educators who affirmed that they would be put to good use.

This initiative demonstrates how corporate entities can play pivotal roles in supporting societal needs while promoting sustainable development within the communities they serve.

The Learning Support Materials Initiative by MTN Foundation highlights its unwavering dedication towards empowering young minds across Nigeria. Through strategic educational support programs, the foundation contributes to bridging resource gaps faced by several public institutions and shaping brighter futures nationwide.


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