Telecom
How Zipline is Revolutionizing Nigerian Healthcare and Economic Development With Autonomous Drones
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Zipline, the leader in autonomous delivery, is teaming up with the government of Nigeria to transform health access and equity by using drone delivery to improve the country’s infrastructure, positioning it to leapfrog barriers to economic growth and development.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2022, Zipline’s climate-friendly and time-saving aircraft – designed to enable access for vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations – have delivered millions of vaccine doses, essential medicines, and more than 260 types of health products to more than 900 hospitals, health facilities and community drop points.
Across Africa, Zipline has invested to build local infrastructure and human capacity, creating more than 500 local jobs in robotics, healthcare, software engineering, and business disciplines.
On September 26, at the United Nations General Assembly, Zipline and the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will announce a plan to deploy Zipline’s drone delivery service across the country to reduce maternal mortality, malnutrition, malaria and other intractable health challenges. This project will build a more resilient logistics system that enables access to high quality, reliable healthcare for a substantial portion of the country’s non-urban population and improves the health system’s ability to respond to disasters and emergencies.
The partnership aims to create a sustainable financing framework to attract commitments from global health, economic development, and climate funders to establish autonomous drone infrastructure around the country in strategically determined locations, and to enable the operation of these drone networks through hiring, training and empowerment of local talent.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has partnered with Zipline since 2016 and supports vaccine programs in Nigeria; the Elton John AIDS Foundation has collaborated with Zipline in Kenya since 2022 to bring HIV services to young adults outside of traditional health settings.
Together, they are seeding the vision for this new partnership in Nigeria by coming in as the first financial backers. It underscores their commitment to innovative, collaborative approaches, using creative financing mechanisms to transform health outcomes for key communities, with a focus on young people.
“It is this sort of partnership – one that brings tens of millions of dollars of foreign investment, turns Nigeria into a global AI and robotics powerhouse, and creates jobs of the future for its youth – that will reshape Nigeria and the world over the coming years,” Zipline CEO and Co-Founder Keller Rinaudo Cliffton said.
Since coming into office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced a package of reforms to improve Nigeria’s security, strengthen public services and bolster the business environment.
In October 2023, he launched the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) to transform the country’s healthcare ecosystem. Under the leadership of National Coordinator Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, PVAC is making strides to increase local healthcare manufacturing, reduce medical tourism, and create quality jobs in the nation.
“This new Memorandum of Understanding will dramatically advance PVAC’s goals,” said Nigerian Minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, previously Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group.
“Scaling Zipline’s infrastructure nationwide can digitize, modernize, equalize and raise the quality of healthcare services available to all Nigerians, while at the same time propelling our country into a new era of economic prosperity, climate resilience and global technological leadership.”
With its zero-emissions, AI-powered logistics system and commitment to local job creation, Zipline demonstrably helps surmount obstacles to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Nowhere are the benefits of on-demand drone delivery more apparent than in healthcare, encompassed by SDG 3.
Today, in the areas that Zipline serves, a doctor or community healthcare worker can get blood, vaccines, drugs and other medical supplies in as little as 10 minutes.
The impact of Zipline’s early operations on health outcomes in Africa has been staggering:
- Zipline has centralized almost all of Rwanda’s blood supply and sends it on demand where it’s needed, avoiding long storage of unused blood components in the field. A study published in The Lancet shows that Zipline reduced blood expiries by 67% in its first three years of operating in Rwanda.
- Also thanks to its ability to centralize and deliver blood on demand, Zipline has reduced in-hospital maternal mortality due to postpartum hemorrhaging by 51% in Rwanda.
- Similarly, the Ghana Health Service finds a4% decline in maternal deaths at Zipline-served facilities vs. non Zipline facilities, driven by increased health system utilization.
- Research published in the peer-reviewed finds a 21 percentage point average increase in childhood vaccination rates in Zipline-served areas in Ghana.
- A study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation finds that in Ghana, Zipline reduced missed vaccination opportunities by 42% and the duration of vaccine stockouts (when a product is out of stock due to inventory shortage) by 60%.
- PrEP retention refers to how regularly a patient takes pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a tool used to prevent transmission of HIV. In Kenya, Zipline has helped increase 1-month and 6-month PrEP retention rates to 94% and 86% respectively (rates were 9-12% before Zipline).
- While studies on Zipline’s work in Nigeria are still underway, Zipline has already helped vaccinate more than 15,000 children, 10,000 of whom were originally classified as zero-dose (children who have never received a single dose of vaccine).
A second arrangement between Zipline and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria will extend the envisioned national partnership’s benefits to address sectors beyond healthcare, including agriculture, education and disaster relief.
Telecom
Apple Introduces Affordable iPhone 16e Model
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Apple has announced the iPhone 16e, a new iPhone model, which is priced lower than its main models that usually debut in September.
The iPhone 16e, retailing at $599, is set to go on sale later this month.
It features a modern design without a home button or fingerprint sensor, using Apple’s FaceID scanner and a sensor notch at the top of the screen.
Powered by the same A18 chip as the main iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16e can run all the same apps and games. It will be available in black and white.
The iPhone 16e also introduces Apple’s first cellular modem, the C1, replacing the Qualcomm modems used in previous models.
With a single camera lens, as opposed to the multiple lenses on more advanced models, the iPhone 16e aims to attract new customers to Apple’s ecosystem, supporting features like image generation and notification summaries via Apple Intelligence.
Apple is releasing this low-cost iPhone to boost sales amidst mixed results in recent quarters, as overall iPhone sales fell 1% annually in the December quarter, though the company still sold over $69 billion worth of phones during this period.
This model continues Apple’s tradition of offering affordable iPhones, following the iPhone SE. Unlike previous major product launches, the iPhone 16e was introduced through a press release, reflecting Apple’s new approach to product announcements.
Telecom
Airtel Nigeria Faces 40 Percent Revenue Dip amid Naira Devaluation
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Airtel Nigeria’s revenue fell by 40.34% in 2024, reaching $738 million, down from $1.24 billion the previous year.
This sharp drop is mainly due to the steep devaluation of the Nigerian naira.
Although the company saw a 3.2% increase in its customer base, which grew to 52.1 million subscribers, the rise in data usage per customer was more significant.
Average data consumption grew by 37.2%, reaching 8.4 GB per month.
Airtel’s EBITDA dropped by 46.4%, standing at $360 million.
Despite the challenges posed by inflation and rising operational costs, the company adjusted its pricing for voice and data services, in line with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) tariff changes.
The company said it remains focused on adapting to the tough economic situation while maintaining its service quality for a growing customer base.
Telecom
Digital Payments Fuel Growth for Nigerian SMEs: Mastercard Report Highlights Trends
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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria are leveraging digital payments, innovation, and partnerships to expand their reach and strengthen business operations, according to the third edition of the Mastercard SME Confidence Index.
With 99% of SMEs in Nigeria now accepting digital payments, businesses are capitalizing on cashless transactions to enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, and build financial resilience. This digital shift is enabling SMEs to grow in an evolving business environment, with many prioritizing secure payment solutions and financial inclusion initiatives.
“Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of economies, driving innovation, employment, and resilience. As digital transformation accelerates, SMEs are unlocking new opportunities through digital payments and financial inclusion.
“Their ability to adapt and grow in a rapidly evolving business landscape reflects the strength of an ecosystem that prioritizes access to finance, digital enablement, and sustainable growth,” said Dimitrios Dosis, president Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.
“Nigerian SMEs are demonstrating remarkable adaptability and foresight by leveraging digital payment solutions to drive economic transformation. Their positive revenue outlook highlights a commitment to harnessing technology for sustainable growth. At Mastercard, we are dedicated to empowering these businesses with innovative digital tools, fostering strategic partnerships, and supporting their journey toward greater financial inclusion and security,” said Mark Elliott, division president, Africa, Mastercard.
Digital payments at the core of SME expansion
As Nigeria’s economy embraces digitalization, SMEs are recognizing the advantages of cashless transactions in driving business efficiency. Many business owners highlight ease of managing payments, seamless supplier transactions, and reduced reliance on cash handling as key benefits. Looking ahead, SMEs are focused on expanding their digital payment capabilities and ensuring seamless customer experiences to sustain their competitive edge.
Looking ahead, 73% of SMEs plan to further expand their digital payment capabilities across various channels, and 70% are focused on providing seamless, user-friendly payment experiences to customers to drive business improvement.
SMEs focus on growth, cybersecurity, and financial access
While most SMEs anticipate maintaining or increasing their revenue, they acknowledge cybersecurity, inflation, and financial access as key areas influencing business growth. Strengthening digital security measures is a growing priority as businesses increase their reliance on online transactions.
Many SMEs also emphasize the need for broader financial access, with business owners identifying private sector partnerships, government-led initiatives, and international collaborations as key enablers for long-term success.
This highlights the growing role of collaboration in driving SME resilience and supporting businesses as they navigate an evolving financial landscape.
Access to credit remains a priority for over three-quarters of SMEs, with 47% aiming to secure financing to grow their businesses and 27% seeking capital to maintain daily operations.
Optimism amid challenges
While SMEs face challenges such as inflation (77%) and rising costs of goods and services (75%), a significant 78% expect to achieve the same or higher revenue this year compared to last, signaling resilience and adaptability.
SMEs identify private sector initiatives or partnerships (56%), government-led initiatives (47%), and international collaborations (41%) as key factors that will positively impact their operations this year.
Through strategic collaborations, Mastercard aims to support Nigerian SMEs in achieving their growth objectives. For instance, in July 2023, Mastercard partnered with Alerzo, a leading Nigerian B2B e-commerce company, to digitize SMEs in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, making digital payments more accessible and efficient.
Recognizing the growing market need, Mastercard’s Product Express is helping Nigerian fintech launch card programs quickly and easily, enabling them to reduce their time to market and service customers more efficiently.
Furthermore, Mastercard’s award-winning startup engagement program, Start Path is providing fintech like Duplo and Mono with operational support, commercial engagement, and the opportunity for strategic investment.
Mastercard remains committed to supporting SMEs in Nigeria by leveraging its extensive network, cutting-edge technology, and strategic collaborations. By introducing contactless payment solutions like Tap on Phone, QR Pay by Link, and Payment Link, and collaborating with governments, financial institutions, and private sector partners, Mastercard is driving financial inclusion and digital transformation, and supporting small businesses as they navigate evolving commercial landscapes.
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