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Catalytic Africa Goes Live at 2021 AfriLabs Annual Gathering

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L-R: Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs; Rebecca Enonchong, Board Chair, AfriLabs; Tomi Davies, President, African Business Angels Network (ABAN) and Fadilah Tchoumba, Secretary General African Business Angel Network (ABAN) at the launch of Catalytic Africa, a co-matching fund for African startups.
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AfriLabs, in collaboration with African Business Angels Network (ABAN), has officially launched Catalytic Africa, a co-matching fund designed for African startups, at the AfriLabs Annual Gathering held on Thursday, October 28th, 2021.

Catalytic Africa is an investment tool that aims to increase the pool of capital available to promising African growth-stage entrepreneurs, support the startup ecosystem, and increase the visibility of impact to institutional funders.

This co-matching investment is designed to fund African startups with innovative digital solutions and measurable impact, increase the investments made by angel investors in African start-ups, present reliable ecosystem data and insights to impact reporting for all stakeholders and ultimately strengthen African angel networks and innovation hubs.

The requirement for startups to access this matching funding is to be a part of the Hubs from AfriLabs and Angel investors from ABAN. The maximum financing from Catalytic Africa is €60,000 per transaction.

“If the business angel invests an amount less or equal to €10,000, then the matching fund will double the amount of funding the startup receives from the angel investors. If the business angel invests more than €10,000, then the matching fund will triple the amount of funding the startup receives from the angel investors.

“We have been working extremely hard to make this come to life and today, we are happy to launch Catalytic Africa, the game changer that will support startups across the continent. This will help hubs within our network attract startups because Catalytic Africa serves as an incentive and has the ability to offer matching funds for their startups.

“We have designed this matching fund to offer value and sustainability to all stakeholders which also greatly benefits institutional funders and the government in tracking the impact of their funds’ long term. The platform also hosts a range of toolkits that help strengthen the capacity of hubs and angel groups.” said Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs.

Also commenting, Tomi Davies, President African Business Angels Network (ABAN) said, “We look forward to growing the African business space by helping businesses find the matching funds and access opportunities that will truly impact the continent. We as ABAN aim to position Catalytic Africa as the continent’s leading startup matching fund because ‘Now is the time to invest in Africa.”

“The goal of Catalytic Africa is to support the tech ecosystem and we have made it as simple as possible without compromising on high quality standard. I also use this opportunity to extend our deepest appreciation to Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for trusting us with 1.5M euros to start the Catalytic Africa funds. We look forward to encouraging and stimulating nascent angel networks and propel the growth of the African tech ecosystem”, added Rebecca Enonchong, Board Chair, AfriLabs.

This is an open opportunity for African startups, hubs, Angel investors and angel networks to register fully throughout November in anticipation of the launch of matching fund applications in December 2021.


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PalmPay Supports Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Walk

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Chika Reginald Nwosu, Managing Director, PalmPay at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja, recently.
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PalmPay, a Nigerian leading digital banking platform, supported the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Themed “Secure Our World,” the event brought together key stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to promote public awareness on cybersecurity, financial fraud prevention, and safe online practices.

PalmPay joined other participants in advocating for stronger public vigilance and safer digital engagement, reaffirming its commitment to supporting national efforts that enhance cybersecurity and consumer protection.

Speaking during the event, PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr Chika Reginald Nwosu, commended the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) for its efforts in combating cybercrime and protecting consumers. He emphasised the need for continued collaboration across sectors to build a safe and secure payment ecosystem for all Nigerians.

“We commend the NPF-NCCC for its proactive leadership in driving cybersecurity awareness,” said Nwosu. “At PalmPay, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote digital safety and foster trust in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.”

At the event, PalmPay was commended for its outstanding efforts in strengthening regulatory engagement and advancing consumer protection initiatives across the fintech industry.

The partnership underscores PalmPay’s ongoing commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness, consumer protection, and fraud prevention as part of its mission to create a safer digital financial ecosystem in Nigeria.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.


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Fidelity Bank Salutes Air Peace for Flying Nigeria’s Flag to Heathrow

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Fidelity Bank Plc has congratulated Air Peace on the successful launch of its maiden direct flight from Lagos to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a testament to the power of indigenous partnerships.

Fidelity Bank Salutes Air Peace for Flying Nigeria’s Flag to Heathrow

 

The commendation was delivered by Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director of Fidelity Bank, during a special event held in Lagos to celebrate the airline’s expansion into the European market.

“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a win for Nigeria,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “It reflects the strength of home-grown businesses and the impact of strategic financial support in enabling national champions to thrive on the global stage.”

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that Fidelity Bank has played a pivotal role in Air Peace’s growth, providing early financial backing and advisory services that helped the airline become the largest carrier in West Africa. The bank continues to support Air Peace through payment processing and other financial services

The launch of the London route marks a new chapter for Air Peace, which now joins a select group of African airlines operating direct flights to Heathrow.

The development is expected to boost tourism, trade, and connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to excellence and service.

“This partnership has been instrumental in our journey,” Onyema said. “We are proud to fly the Nigerian flag across international skies.”

Industry stakeholders present at the event praised the collaboration between the two companies as a model for sustainable business growth and national development.


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After MultiChoice Buyout, Canal+ Eyes Full Ownership of Showmax

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Canal+, French media giant, is reportedly eyeing the full takeover of Showmax, the African streaming platform jointly owned with MultiChoice Group.

After MultiChoice Buyout, Canal+ Eyes Full Ownership of Showmax

This followed its recent push to expand across the continent’s digital entertainment market.

The move comes after Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice to strengthening its hold on Africa’s pay-TV and streaming ecosystem.

With Showmax being a key growth asset under the partnership, industry analysts say a full takeover could give Canal+ end-to-end control of content production, distribution, and subscription revenue in multiple markets.

The acquisition would also align with Canal+’s broader strategy to rival global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video by leveraging African content demand and localized storytelling.

According to RipplesNigeria, Ayo Balogun, Media and Telecoms Analyst, CardinalStone Partners, while reacting to the move, said: “Canal+’s full acquisition of Showmax would mark a decisive step in consolidating Africa’s digital media value chain.

“With MultiChoice now under its control, Canal+ can fully integrate content, distribution, and streaming into a single monetizable ecosystem—something we’ve not seen before on this scale in Africa.”

Thandiwe Mokoena, Senior Media Strategist, Johannesburg, added: “This move gives Canal+ strategic dominance in both the pay-TV and OTT spaces. It positions them not only as a regional player but also as a continental gatekeeper for premium African content. The competitive pressure on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in Africa will rise sharply if this takeover goes through.”

Financial markets are closely watching how the potential consolidation could reshape Africa’s media landscape, particularly in terms of valuation, competition law, and licensing rights.


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