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Founder Institute, Semicolon Partner to Provide Early-Stage Startups with Technical Resources

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Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., Regional Director for Africa, Founder Institute; Uzo Uba, Comm Mgr, Semicolon; Wande Adalemo, Lead Director, Founder Institute Lagos & Sam Immanuel, CEO, Semicolon
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The Founder Institute, world’s largest pre-seed accelerator program, and Semicolon, an organisation turning Africa’s vibrant youth population into an army of technologists – software developers, enterprise architects, project managers, etc., are announcing a local partnership to further connect early-stage startups with technical resources.

As part of this partnership, the two organizations are announcing a mutual partnership to collaborate and work with aspiring software engineers and entrepreneurs in the tech ecosystem through Founder Institute program and Semicolon’s Techpreneurship program in Lagos, Nigeria.

“A country’s greatest investment is in its people and we must do what we can at all times to drive it—drive them.” – Semicolon

Founder Institute and Semicolon will collaborate to support and provide resources for the 40+ startups joining Founder Institute Lagos each year.

In addition to supporting startup founders throughout Lagos, a goal of this initiative will be to [train entrepreneurs from the idea stage to early company stage/equip individuals with problem-solving skills for society].

According to Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr, regional director, Founder Institute, “we are proud of the value Semicolon has added so far.

“This collaboration will in no small way increase the value both organisations can offer the ecosystem because the connection between a world-class curriculum and quality technical resources will result in the creation of great companies in a very short time”.

For early-stage founders and teams up to the challenge, the Founder Institute’s comprehensive step-by-step program provides the structure, mentor support, and global network of entrepreneurs needed to start an enduring company.

The Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.

Founder Institute Graduate companies include fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Travelcar, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.

Semicolon achieves its aim through an intensive 12-month programme, we train Nigerians in core IT skills (such as software development, enterprise architecture and project management), as well as leadership, entrepreneurship and business management skills.

Semicolon students work on innovation-oriented projects, take internships and work with mentors to develop hands-on experience, build their professional networks and develop innovative technical solutions to the world’s problems.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Kenya Beats Nigeria As the Most Progressive ICT Regulation in Africa

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Kenya is celebrating its regulatory ecosystem being ranked as the most progressive in Africa. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked the East African country first in its most recent ICT Regulatory Tracker.

ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-gathering tool for decision-makers and regulators. It demonstrates the effectiveness of regulatory systems in the age of technology.

The ITU evaluates the design of the national regulatory authority, the scope of the regulatory mandate, the obtaining regulatory environment, and the robustness of the competition framework in member countries.

Kenya received 93 points, up from 92 in 2023, and now leads the continent in best practices for ICT regulations.

Nigeria and South Africa finished second and third, with 92 and 88 points respectively. Malawi, Egypt, Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Senegal complete the top 10 list.

Globally, Kenya was ranked 20th out of 194 countries covered.Italy led the rankings, with 100 points.

The regulator, Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya, said the achievement underscored Kenya’s commitment to creating a robust, technology-neutral regulatory environment that supports innovation, affordability and access.

Steve Isaboke, permanent secretary for broadcasting and telecommunications, visited CA Centre in Nairobi following the announcement on Thursday.

“The ranking is a clear testament of the excellent work that CA has done in spearheading Kenya’s digital transformation and driving digital access for all,” he said.

“After 25 years, CA’s regulatory regime has attained maturity, and gained global recognition. This ranking shows that the CA staff and leadership are executing their work diligently.”


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MTN’s Female Leadership Surges to 41.4%, Doubles Industry Average

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MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced a significant increase in female representation within its leadership, with women now making up 41.4% of its workforce, a notable rise from 38.7% in 2023.

MTN

This figure reportedly doubles the industry average, positioning MTN Nigeria as a frontrunner in gender diversity within Nigeria’s ICT sector.

The company’s recently released 2024 Annual Report highlights its sustained commitment to workplace inclusion and gender equality, aligning with its “Ambition 2025” strategy. Female representation within the executive management team has reached approximately 46.7%.

MTN Nigeria attributes this progress to dedicated initiatives aimed at empowering women professionally. These include the “Women in Tech” programme, which provides targeted upskilling in high-demand fields such as Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, AI/ML, Data Science, and Cyber Security.

The “MTN Y’ello Mums Internship Programme” also supports young mothers in their transition back into the corporate world after career breaks.

Odunayo Sanya, executive director of the MTN Foundation, was recognised as the CSI Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards (NTITA), further underscoring the company’s impactful social initiatives.

Additionally, Uto Ukpanah, the company secretary, received the inaugural Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award from the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA).

Speaking at a recent conference, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the importance of balancing profitability and sustainability equation, saying, “Businesses today need to be purpose-driven. While the soul of business is profitability, it is not profitability alone that should matter to stakeholders.”

Uto Ukpanah, added, “Showcasing our corporate values and ethos to the world opens the door for greater collaboration with other organisations, as we believe there’s a lot to learn when we all come together. Governance continues to evolve. The challenges today are not the same as they were 10 years ago. Greater accountability is expected, and companies can only continue to do better.”

The company’s broader efforts in diversity and inclusion have been acknowledged with multiple accolades, including the Corporate Responsibility Award. MTN Nigeria also received the “Employer of the Year” award at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Employers’ Excellence Awards.

Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, in the report, reiterated the company’s commitment to building a purpose-driven organisation, emphasising that its success is intrinsically linked to its people and their dedication to a shared vision.

“Since we initiated our culture transformation journey in 2021, our culture transformation has significantly enhanced employee engagement and organisational cohesion. It’s directly strengthened our ability to deliver outstanding business performance and drive sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders.”


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TikTok Rolls Out Personalization Tools for Nigerian Users

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TikTok has today announced a new set of features designed to give users greater control over the content they see—helping them explore their interests, discover fresh creators, and personalise their TikTok experience.
These tools will include a Manage Topics feature, smart keyword filtering and a 101 guide to how the For You feed works. The For You feed lies at the heart of the TikTok experience. It’s where users discover new topics, and where creators, communities, and small businesses find their audiences and grow.
Entertainment creators like Anchi Vibes have built a name for themselves on TikTok. Posting everything from red carpet interviews to BTS moments from judging Nigerian Idol, Anchi’s posts give the world a uniquely Nigerian perspective on the biggest moments in local and global pop culture. Through wit and humour, other creators like Charityekezie are breaking down myths about Africa one stereotype at a time. The For You feed is a powerful tool to elevate these crucial voices and spark meaningful conversations.
The company’s Head of Operations & Trust & Safety, Adam Presser said, “the For You feed is a growth engine like no other. It’s where our users discover new interests and a crucial tool for creators to grow thriving communities. We’re thrilled to offer more resources that empower people to find their favourite creator, shape their ideal For You feed experience and explore safely in a place customised for their needs.
The new updates include:
Manage Topics:
Manage Topics is a new feature that allows users to customise how frequently they see content related to over 10 popular categories, including Creative Arts, Travel, Nature, and Sports. With just a few taps, users can shape their For You feed to more accurately reflect what they want to see.
These settings won’t eliminate any topics but can influence how often they’re recommended as people’s interests evolve. This makes it even easier for communities to discover new topics and creators that they love.
TikTok has introduced a new Smart Keyword Filter, a setting that expands filtering to include synonyms and related terms, helping users sort through a broader range of content more effectively. The enhanced feature will help users easily limit content they may want to avoid or see less of in their feeds.
TikTok’s custom keyword filters have long helped users tailor their feed by limiting content that includes specific words or phrases. This tool has been used more than 190 million times by our global community.

To help users better understand how the For You feed works, TikTok is also rolling out a comprehensive educational guide. This resource will equip users with practical tips and tools to effectively understand and personalise their feeds in one convenient place.

The guide will include features that show why content was recommended, and educational videos that have received over 180 million views around the world. The new updates are eligible for both teen and adult accounts, building on tools and safeguards that help people have a great For You feed experience. These include:

  • Applying strict For You feed eligibility standards to restrict content that isn’t appropriate for a general audience from recommendation in For You feeds and working to prevent content with mature or complex themes from reaching teens through Content Levels.
  • Offering additional For You feed tools to help people refresh their For You feed, indicate they’re “not interested” in a video or turn on Restricted Mode to further limit content that may not be comfortable for broad audiences.
  • Taking steps to interrupt frequent recommendations of some types of content that may be problematic if seen too often.
All these updates will further empower Nigeria’s TikTok users to explore, learn and discover content and creators they love.

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