Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT Ltd.) has launched the second edition of its Accelerator programme, aimed at propelling start-ups into the global space-tech arena.

This announcement was made in a statement by Aisha Bantam, assistant general manager, Corporate Affairs at NIGCOMSAT, on Thursday in Abuja.

Bantam clarified that the accelerator programme offers a transformative journey, comprising key stages with a unique combination of mentorship, networking, and exposure.

She further explained that prospective participants would need to complete application forms available on the company’s website.

In her statement, Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, managing director, NIGCOMSAT Ltd., remarked that start-ups would be able to leverage satellite technology to tackle everyday challenges across various sectors.

Egerton-Idehen mentioned that the programme encourages applications from sectors such as space-tech, Agri-tech, fin-tech, ed-tech, health-tech, and cybersecurity.

She explained that the market value attached to this programme serves as a prestigious stamp of partnership with NIGCOMSAT, opening doors to the expansive global market and providing participating start-ups with valuable visibility and profitable opportunities.

She also highlighted that the participating start-ups would progress from initial conception to market-ready solutions.

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.”

In Africa’s economically diverse and highly competitive market, building customer loyalty has never been more important for businesses. The continent’s consumers are highly price-sensitive, driven by the need to get a bargain or good deal on purchases. Indeed, research on consumer behaviour indicates that affordability and value for money are top considerations for many Africans when making purchasing decisions.

For businesses seeking to stand out and thrive, discount solutions such as those offered by SeerBit provide a powerful way to attract and retain customers. These strategies not only build trust but also inspire repeat patronage, turning casual buyers into lifelong advocates.

Discounts also tap into cultural values and purchasing behaviours that vary across regions, ensuring that businesses connect deeply with their target audiences.

Importance of Discounts in African Markets

Economic factors play a critical role in the effectiveness of discounts. With much of Africa’s population operating on tight budgets, discounts act as a motivating factor that makes goods and services more accessible. For example, a promotional discount can help a consumer purchase essential household items without financial strain. Beyond economic incentives, discounts also tap into emotional triggers that foster brand loyalty. When customers feel they are getting a good deal, they are more likely to associate positive emotions with the brand, enhancing long-term relationships.

Moreover, discounts provide businesses with a competitive advantage in saturated markets. By strategically offering discounts, companies can differentiate themselves from competitors, encouraging customers to choose their products or services over others. This advantage is particularly crucial in sectors like retail and e-commerce where customer retention is key to growth and sustainability.

Popular Discounts Models for African Consumers

Different discount models resonate with African consumers, depending on their needs and cultural contexts.

Loyalty-based discounts: Loyalty-based discounts rewards repeat customers with exclusive deals, encouraging them to continue patronising the business. For instance, a business offering a discount after a specific number or value of purchases not only builds customer trust, but also boosts sales through consistent engagement. This strategy appeals to customers who value recognition for their loyalty.

Seasonal promotions: Seasonal promotions linked to cultural and local events are another effective strategy. For instance, during festive seasons like Ramadan, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc., businesses can provide discounts on relevant products, creating an emotional connection with customers while driving sales.

Referral discounts: These are equally impactful, as they leverage word-of-mouth marketing by rewarding existing customers for introducing new ones. This type of discount encourages social proof and expands the business’s customer base organically.

Flexible payment options: When tied to discounts, these are especially powerful in Africa, where digital wallet adoption is growing rapidly. Discounts that incentivise customers to use mobile money or other digital payment methods promote financial inclusion while simplifying transactions. For example, offering a small discount for payments made via platforms like M-Pesa encourages faster adoption of these tools, while enhancing customer satisfaction.

The Role of Technology in Delivering Discounts

Technology is revolutionising how discounts are designed and delivered. Mobile payment systems allow businesses to integrate discounts seamlessly into their platforms. Customers receive instant cashback or discounts at checkout, enhancing convenience and satisfaction.

AI-powered personalisation further elevates the experience by tailoring offers to individual preferences. By analysing customer behaviour, AI algorithms suggest discounts on products that customers are more likely to purchase, increasing conversion rates. This level of personalisation fosters a sense of exclusivity, encouraging customers to return.

Data analytics also plays a crucial role in optimising discount strategies. Businesses can track customer responses to various discount campaigns, identifying what works and what doesn’t. This data-driven approach ensures resources are allocated efficiently, maximising ROI. Companies like SeerBit have built platforms that support instant cashback and reward programs, simplifying the management of discount campaigns for businesses across industries.

Real-World Success Stories

Across Africa, businesses are witnessing tangible benefits from well-implemented discount programs. Jumia Black Friday sales is an example of a successfully implemented discount program. For example, in 2021, Jumia’s Black Friday revenue increased by 30% to $150 million, and it has continued to experience a year-on-year increase. TEMU is also a recent and very good example of a brand that has leveraged discount offerings to drive customer adoption and repeat patronage.

Common Challenges and Solutions

While discounts are highly effective, there are a few challenges that some businesses still have to navigate

Over-discounting: Over-discounting is capable of eroding the profit margins of business. To avoid this, companies should align discounts with broader business goals, offering them strategically rather than indiscriminately.

Fraud: This is a present concern with digital transactions. Secure payment gateways, such as those offered by SeerBit, help mitigate these risks by verifying transactions and ensuring transparency.

Transparency: This is essential for maintaining customer trust. Clear communication about terms and conditions prevents misunderstandings, ensuring customers fully understand the value of the discounts offered. Businesses that prioritise transparency in their discount programs are more likely to build loyal customer bases.

Best Practices for Implementing Discounts

Successful discount programs are built on strategic planning and execution.

Align discount strategies with business goals: This can be to drive sales, enhance customer retention, or increase market share.

Use clear messaging: Discounts should be communicated through engaging campaigns on social media, email and other marketing channels. For instance, using visually appealing graphics and videos of winners can make discount promotions more attractive and authentic.

Promote discounts effectively through social media, email campaigns and partnerships.

Monitor and measure the ROI of discount initiatives. By analysing metrics such as redemption rates and customer feedback, businesses can refine their strategies to achieve better results.

Why Discount Solutions Represent Game-Changer for Businesses

Discount solutions play a critical role in the successful implementation of discount programs. They enable businesses to automate processes like instant cashback and reward allocation, reducing the administrative burden and enhancing customer experience.

SeerBit’s secure and user-friendly discount solution is designed to support innovative discount initiatives tailored to African markets, empowering businesses to deliver value seamlessly. The SeerBit Discount Feature enables businesses to configure and apply discounts based on their unique requirements to suit various product/service types.

With businesses often struggling to implement and manage discounts effectively, leading to missed sales opportunities and customer dissatisfaction, the SeerBit Discount Feature addresses this challenge by providing a user-friendly solution that streamlines the discount configuration process, enabling businesses to attract customers, boost sales and enhance customer satisfaction.

The SeerBit Discount Feature is ideal for businesses of all sizes across various industries, including retail, e-commerce, hospitality and more.

How it Works

With the SeerBit Discount Feature, businesses can access and set up discounts using card BIN with options to specify single or multiple card BINs. Alternatively,  discounts can be set up based on payment methods. In addition, the SeerBit Discount Feature allows businesses to decide how the discount is applied. This could be via flat amounts or as a percentage on their prices, thereby encouraging flexibility and convenience.

Users can also define the period for the discount, including start and end dates. This feature allows businesses to schedule discounts in the future or deactivate upcoming discounts

Discount solutions are a proven strategy for driving customer loyalty in Africa. By leveraging technology, understanding market dynamics and adopting best practices, businesses can create meaningful connections with their customers. As competition intensifies, staying ahead requires not just offering discounts but delivering them strategically.