News
Africa Gradually Transitioning Towards the Gig Economy – Report

Early-stage entrepreneurs and funders increasingly favour on-demand services as opposed to more traditional jobs boards – which signals Africa’s gradual transition into the gig economy.
This is according to the Future of Work: Exploring the African Digital Work Landscape Report 2018 released by Disrupt Africa.
According to the report, 180 startups in operation across Africa are “changing the face of the continent’s work and employment landscape.”
Gabriella Mulligan, co-founder of Disrupt Africa said, “Africa faces significant unemployment issues, with 16 of the world’s 30 highest unemployment levels belonging to African countries. In its tech space, however, the answers could be found. Startups are coming up with increasingly innovative ways of connecting all kinds of professionals with work, and investors are seeing the potential.”
The report also found that Africa’s startup community has fully embraced the digital workplace, with evidence of a thriving “future of work” ecosystem on the continent evidenced by a sudden boom between 2015 and 2017, a period in which almost 75% of the now active startups were launched.
Though the initial growth in the space was attributable to the establishment of startups applying tech to the traditional jobs board approach, by allowing employers to advertise jobs to prospective employees online, the sector is gradually maturing.
Increasingly, more mature solutions aimed at freelance, one-off or project-based work are taking centre stage.
Tom Jackson, co-founder of Disrupt Africa, says the continent is moving towards the on-demand economy at pace. “Everyone from domestic cleaners, to teachers, to artisans now has the opportunity to access work via various marketplaces and on-demand platforms across Africa. These solutions are putting power into the hands of individuals – be they workers or customers – and are ensuring more and more Africans are able to access opportunities. It is an exciting time for the space.”
On-demand platforms now account for a greater percentage of the market (35%) than recruitment services and marketplaces, a share that is increasing over time.
These services are identified in the report as being active across a variety of vertical markets, most notably logistics, transport, education and home services.
The report also established that as on-demand solutions increasingly come to the fore, investors have focused their attention on this space whereas the three major sub-sectors – recruitment, marketplaces, and on-demand – secured similar total amounts of funding in 2015, with the latter increasingly asserting itself as the leader by raising over US$14.5 million in funding in the last 3.5 years.
Nigeria and South Africa are the continental leaders when it comes to digital work startups according to the report, with the former hosting 58 startups active in the space, and the latter contributing a further 47.
News
PalmPay Launches CSR Initiatives to Empower Women, Foster Financial Literacy in Northern Nigeria

In a strategic move to expand financial inclusion in Nigeria, leading mobile banking platform, PalmPay has launched a series of CSR programs across Kano and Kaduna. The CSR initiative named “Passing the Baton” represents the brand’s commitment to passing on knowledge and providing the resources individuals and businesses need to achieve financial independence and drive economic empowerment.
This initiative is a bold move by PalmPay to bridge the opportunity gap in the North by providing financial literacy training and micro-business branding support to 5,000 women-owned businesses in Kano and Kaduna. This strategic initiative reaffirms PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive development and economic empowerment, particularly in underserved regions.
“At PalmPay, we believe that real financial inclusion must be far reaching and cover the grassroots,” said Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay. “Our new CSR program is focused on supporting gender equity by equipping women with the knowledge, tools, and visibility they need to thrive as entrepreneurs in their communities.”
Through this initiative, beneficiaries will receive free health insurance, hands-on training workshops, enhanced store branding to boost visibility, and branded merchandise to strengthen their business presence.
The initiative is part of PalmPay’s broader strategy to extend its innovative solutions, expand its footprint in Northern Nigeria, while building sustainable partnerships with local stakeholders for long-term impact.
In a show of support, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, has endorsed the initiative, calling on other stakeholders to join forces with PalmPay in ensuring the North benefits fully from the growing digital economy. PalmPay has received commendation from community stakeholders, as the initiative aims to serve as a model for similar projects across other northern states.
As PalmPay continues to scale across Nigeria, the company remains committed to bridging the financial inclusion gap and empowering underserved groups, particularly women and youth, through its innovative solutions and impact initiatives.
News
EFCC Witness Admits Writing Off Arik Air’s $2.3M Debt Amid N76Bn Fraud Trial


News
Anambra Shines in 2025 E-Governance Rankings, Setting National Standards

Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
- E-Financial2 days ago
Fidelity Bank Plc Wins 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support
- E-Business2 days ago
Nigeria Among Hotspots as Kaspersky Warns of Rising Ransomware Threat in Africa
- E-Business2 days ago
NDPC Probes Suspected Data Breach in Examination Centres
- Telecom1 day ago
MTN Nigeria Invests ₦900Bn in 2025 to Boost Network Quality in Lagos & Abuja
- Telecom2 days ago
Vitel Wireless Completes Interconnectivity with all Major Telcos in Nigeria
- Telecom2 days ago
MTN inducted into Brand Africa Hall of Fame
- General News2 days ago
Nigeria Approves $500m for AfDB’s Trust Fund Replenishment over Next 15 Years
- Telecom2 days ago
eBusiness Life Girls In ICT: Stakeholders Call For More Action On Girls Participation In ICT