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General News

GSMA Launches New Innovation Fund for Startups in Africa, Others

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The GSMA, in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has launched the GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI, to empower small and growing enterprises in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

This initiative seeks to address a critical global challenge: ensuring LMICs are not left behind in the AI revolution and can harness emerging and mobile technologies to drive inclusive and sustainable development.

Applications for the Fund, which opened on 29 January 2025, recognise the untapped potential of AI and emerging technologies in LMICs. The goal is to harness these tools to create inclusive and sustainable solutions tailored to the unique needs of these communities, fostering resilience and driving meaningful impact.

Driving Change Through Innovation

The GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI is designed to:

  • Empower Impactful Solutions: Grants ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 will be provided over a 15- to 18-month period, enabling enterprises to test and scale solutions that address critical challenges.
  • Accelerate Growth: Tailored support will help enterprises build partnerships with mobile network operators, attract investors, and develop scalable business models.
  • Foster Capacity Building: Beneficiaries will gain access to bootcamps, learning exchanges, and global industry events such as MWC to build their technical and operational expertise.
  • Enhance Impact Measurement: Enterprises will receive support to monitor and report the socio-economic and climate impacts of their innovations.

While technologies like AI, IoT, and mobile big data are gaining traction globally, their application in LMICs remains limited. This Fund aims to close this gap by:

  • De-risking innovation: Supporting cutting-edge solutions designed to benefit low-income and vulnerable communities.
  • Strengthening resilience: Ensuring the sustainability and scalability of AI-driven solutions through local partnerships.
  • Raising awareness: Showcasing the transformative potential of AI to create lasting change in LMICs.

Targeting Diverse Local Challenges

The Fund targets LMICs in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific regions, seeking to support AI-driven innovations across a broad range of sectors. By addressing diverse local challenges, we aim to enable impactful solutions that drive socio-economic development and climate resilience. Examples of potential areas of impact include (but are not limited to) healthcare, education, financial services, and climate change adaptation. Projects will need to:

  • Leverage AI innovations (e.g., predictive and generative AI) to deliver scalable and positive socio-economic or climate impacts.
  • Utilise emerging technologies such as IoT, blockchain, or mobile big data
  • Directly benefit low-income and vulnerable communities.
  • Show clear pathways to sustainability and scalability through strong local partnerships and ecosystem engagement.

A Vision for Local Leadership and Inclusion

The Fund prioritises enterprises that are female-founded or female-led and actively address gender inequities. By supporting locally led organisations, the initiative also aims to build regional capacity, foster leadership, and deliver impactful, community-driven outcomes.

Applications Now Open

Applications are open until 19 March 2025, 23:59 GMT.

The GSMA’s Head of Mobile for Development, Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, said:AI and emerging technologies have immense potential to tackle global challenges, but much of their development has focused on advanced markets, leaving a gap in the solutions designed for and by communities in LMICs. The GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI seeks to change this by empowering enterprises in these regions to harness AI for transformative, inclusive, and sustainable development where it is needed most.”


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General News

NAFDAC Introduces Traceability Technology to Combat Fake Drugs

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Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general, NAFDAC,
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National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a significant step in its fight against substandard and falsified drugs by introducing advanced traceability technology in Northwest Nigeria.

NAFDAC Introduces Traceability Technology to Combat Fake Drugs

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general, NAFDAC,

 

This initiative aims to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical products available to the public.

The agency has deployed a traceability system designed to monitor the movement of pharmaceutical products from manufacturers to end-users.

This system enhances transparency in the drug supply chain, making it easier to identify and eliminate substandard and falsified medicines.

One of the key tools introduced is the GreenBook, a digital verification platform that enables consumers and regulatory authorities to authenticate pharmaceutical products in real time.

In addition to the traceability system, NAFDAC has launched the Paediatric Regulation 2024, which focuses on addressing the unique medical needs of children and ensuring that paediatric medicines meet stringent quality and safety standards.

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general, NAFDAC, emphasised that the introduction of these technologies aligns with the agency’s broader mandate to protect public health. She stated that the five-year traceability implementation plan, in line with the Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy, will enhance supply chain visibility and further strengthen measures against substandard and falsified medical products.

By leveraging these digital solutions, NAFDAC aims to restore public confidence in the pharmaceutical sector, ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe and high-quality medicines.

The initiative also supports the agency’s ongoing commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance and tackling the challenges of counterfeit drugs in the country.

 


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New Horizons Partners Four More Varsities on ICT Empowerment

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New Horizons, a technology training institute has partnered with additional four universities to train their students in 21st-century-oriented, lucrative international certification-based ICT and project skills.

The universities include Lagos University Teaching Hospital Schools, Hillside University of Science and Technology, Aletheia University, and Ahman Pategi University.

The initiative was a response to the increasing demand for highly qualified graduates who possess both academic excellence and internationally recognized professional IT, e-business, and project management certifications, aimed at addressing the pervasive graduate unemployment syndrome.

The management team of New Horizons, led by the MD/CEO, Mr. Tim Akano, was present at the events. Akano asserted that the four universities had taken a bold step toward making their institutions relevant in the 21st century by embracing the rapid advancements in emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, and machine learning.

He further stated that New Horizons would leverage its 43 years of international experience as a U.S-based organization with 370 centers in 71 countries and 20 years of operations in Nigeria.

With existing partnerships with 25 Nigerian universities, New Horizons aims to ensure that undergraduates are equipped with internationally recognized IT, e-business, and project development skills.

The stakeholders emphasised that the initiative was designed to enhance post-graduation employability and entrepreneurial opportunities for graduates, positioning them to compete on an international level with their counterparts from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.

Vice-Chancellor of Hillside University of Science and Technology, Oke-Imesi, Ekiti State, Professor Iheayinchukwu Okoro, led other principal officers of the institution to sign the commencement of the training programme with New Horizons on September 23, 2024.

Similarly, at an event hosted by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, Professor Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, on December 17, 2024, a strategic partnership was established with the school. The principal officers led by the CMD, expressed excitement over this landmark achievement, stating that the collaboration would enhance the institution’s training programmes with ICT, aligning them with global medical developments.

Also, the partnership was launched at Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, on October 20, 2024. The principal officers, led by Professor Amos Adeyinka, stated that the collaboration would increase the value of students both before and after graduation by providing entrepreneurial empowerment and preparing the institution for global competition.


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Rising Costs, Rising Challenges: What’s Forcing Telcos to Increase Costs?

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After over a decade of maintaining stable pricing, Nigeria’s telecommunications industry has implemented a 50% tariff increase, a move that has stirred mixed reactions and ignited conversations nationwide.

Approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025, this adjustment marked the first tariff change in 12 years and is attributed to rising operational costs and the need for long-term sustainability within the sector.

Reactions to the tariff hike have been largely focused on the newly-priced data plans. However, charges for SMS, and voice calls have increased across different networks. Users noticed that text message prices have risen to N6.00 from the previous N4.00. Telco giant, MTN Nigeria, began to implement the increase on its data prices. Followed closely by Airtel. Glo and 9mobile are expected to follow suit. (Additionally, Airtel has introduced a 25 kobo flat rate for all voice calls.)

The price hikes have sparked widespread discussions, with subscribers taking to social media to voice their discontent. Nigerians have expressed concerns over higher telecom costs, especially with rising inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies. Telecom operators have explained, on the other hand, that call and messaging tariffs have remained static for years, while they have faced soaring operational costs. These costs have been driven by inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and the substantial investments required to meet growing consumer demand. Industry data indicates that running costs have surged by over 300% in the last 18 to 24 months, forcing operators to scale back investments in network infrastructure.

According to the Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayor, many systems within the telecom sector are outdated and require optimisation. In his words, “If nothing is done, we might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as service shedding. Operators may not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected.”

The coming months will be critical in determining whether the tariff increase can indeed revitalise the industry and pave the way for sustainable growth.


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