World Bank signs $3.8m science and technology skills training deal in Nairobi
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS
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BUDX Lagos is a celebration of the Naija Sound. It is an experience for those in the know, those that have their own identity and dress accordingly in spaces that are as authentic as they are. BUDX Lagos runs from 1-2 December 2018 and will include panel talks, live musical performances and an after party. Head here to register and learn more about the event.
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| The World Bank has signed a $3.8 million skills training deal with Nairobi-based International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. The deal is part of a $9 million grant by the Korean government to support the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund aimed at developing science and technology skills across Sub-saharan Africa (SSA). The deal will enable the ICIPE, through the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences Engineering and Technology (PASET), to provide PhD scholarships and research support to university students and faculty working on innovative projects across SSA. Africa has only 198 researchers per million people compared to a global average of 1,150. The continent produces less than 1% of the world’s research output despite making up 16% of the world’s population. To match the global average, Africa needs about 1 million new PhD scientists. Initiatives like PASET will go a long way in closing the gap. |
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Guaranty Trust Bank has launched Habari, a lifestyle mobile application. The bank unveiled the app at an event in Lagos last Friday. The platform provides access to a catalogue of local and foreign music as well movies and books. Users can also shop and pay bills on the app. Think of it as an “everything app”.
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Telkom has raised $40 million in debt funding from the European Investment Bank. The money will be used to grow its 3G and 4G coverage across Kenya as well as improve the quality of service offered to enterprise customers.
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Rebecca Enonchong has been elected into the United Nations (UN) Africa Digital Identity Advisory Board. The board is chaired by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Ethiopia’s PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed and is responsible for providing technical advice to African governments on Digital ID initiatives.
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Safaricom has launched the DOT Braille Watch partnership with DOT incorporation. The device displays SMS notifications in braille that enables people living with visual impairment and blindness conveniently use MPesa.
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| The Lagos Angel Network (LAN) is Africa’s most active angel group according to a new report by the African Business Angel Network. LAN has the highest number of investments (32) totaling $1.5 million. Egypt’s Cairo Angels and Tunisia’s Cartage Angels were second and third with 21 and 20 investments respectively. The report found that 76% of angel investing initiatives only happened in the last two years and that 97% of angel investors prefer equity. Find out more about the report here. |
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Got a health tech startup operating in Nigeria? We would like to hear from you. We are putting together a map and analysis of the health tech sector that highlights the solutions innovators are bringing to bear on the problems of access to quality and affordable healthcare in Nigeria as well as provide actionable insights for policy makers, investors and entrepreneurs. Sign up here so we can feature your startup and to help us better understand the sector.
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The Tanzania Angels Investors Network is holding an angel investors masterclass on December 8 in Dar-es-Salaam. Find out more here.
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS
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Entrepreneurship is rising in Ibadan and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Check out our interactive snapshot of the support landscape for this region’s entrepreneurs: https://ecosystems.andeglobal.org/snapshot/ibadan/2018/
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VC4A has released its startup ecosystem report for Kenya. According to its findings, 50% of the companies participating in ecosystem support programs secure investment. The average investment secured by these companies was 6 times higher than their counterpart without ecosystem support and they were more likely to create new jobs. Learn more about the report here.
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TechCrunch is headed to Lagos to host its second Startup Battlefield Africa competition on December 11, 2018. Sub-Saharan Africa’s best innovators, makers and technical entrepreneurs are invited to attend this year’s TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Africa. Get your tickets now!
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| You are invited to TC Townhall, Fintech 2.0, holding in partnership with Softcom on November 30. The forum will take a look at the next generation of financial technologies in Nigeria. Speakers include Adia Sowho (MD, Mines.io), Gbenga Agboola (CEO, Flutterwave), Titi Odunfa (MD, Sankore Investments), Dr. Yinka David West (Academic Director, LBS), Yvonne Johnson (fintech angel investor) and Tomi Amao (CIO, Softcom). Registration is now live, and seats are limited. See you there! |
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| Clickbait: BBC’s Oge Obi takes to the streets to measure the impact of Nigeria’s cashless policy |
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That’s It.
Have a great week ahead. We’ll see you tomorrow
– Olanrewaju.
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