TechCabal Daily – These MFS 🤝

MFS AFRICA ACQUIRES DIGITAL CAPRICORN

No, no. Capricorn Digital is not a tech term we use for high-net raises and valuations. It’s the name of a company. 

Anyway, in the latest news, MFS Africa has signed an agreement to acquire, for an undisclosed amount, Capricorn Digital, one of Nigeria’s largest digital solutions and distribution companies with a 90,000-strong agent network across the country.

What do we know about the deal?

Well, according to Degbolan Abudu, Capricorn’s CEO, the deal is the second-largest of its kind in Nigeria’s fintech space, behind the $200 million Stripe paid for Paystack last year. 

The 100% cash acquisition—MFS Africa’s third in five years—will see the pan-African payments giant expand into Africa’s largest economy, where its presence to date has been limited given the country’s small number of mobile wallets. 

Capricorn will be called MFS Africa, but its core product, Baxi, will retain its name.

Baxi-ng out the potential

MFS Africa is also planning to build Baxi into a key node on its digital payment network, allowing customers to make cross-border payments to and from Nigeria, similar to what it’s done with mobile money operators across Africa like Julaya, Maviance, and Numida. 

Read more about the merger in MFS Africa acquires Baxi in Nigeria’s “second-largest” fintech acquisition deal.

KENYA LIFTS 19-MONTH CURFEW

“… I hereby order and direct that the nation’s dusk-to-dawn curfew that has been in effect from the 27th of March 2020 be and is hereby vacated!”

Words from Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, said to a roaring crowd on Wednesday afternoon. 

In place for 19 months, the curfew took different forms. It started as a 7 p.m.–5 a.m. curfew and was then adjusted to a 10 p.m.–4 a.m. 

Home alone

While locked indoors during the evening hours, Kenyans came up with new ways to keep the party going. Creatives took to Instagram Live, hosting online concerts to entertain would-be partygoers; and Friday night Twitter Spaces, covering topics like sports, entertainment and the news. 

But digital innovation could not be wielded to support every sector of Kenya’s economy.

“…we are suffering”

…said two taxi drivers in an interview with regard to the curfew. 

Kenya’s digital economy contributes an estimated 7.7% to its GDP. But rideshare and delivery drivers were restricted in income amid curfew restrictions.

These limitations had rippling effects on the nation’s economy, and their effectiveness are in doubt as well considering that 5.6% of Kenya’s population has contracted the virus since its onset.

If the country hopes to maintain its status as a growing hub for tech and innovation, it will have to work overtime to support the economy as it rebounds from the effects of COVID-19 and a dusk-to-dawn curfew that has finally come to an end.

CAN AFRICA RAKE IN BILLIONS FROM SMART CITIES?

According to a report by the World Bank, Africa, despite being hit hard by climate change, has huge potential to minimise its impact, and in some instances, even triple a return on investment by embracing climate change adaptation. 

The report says three African countries, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia, have the potential to rake in billions of dollars from investments in more compact, clean and connected cities.

Projections

• An investment of $215 billion in South African cities would return the biggest benefits for an investment of this kind in Africa, with a return valued at $700 billion and creating 120,000 jobs by 2050.

• A $42 billion investment in Ethiopia would return benefits worth $240 billion, and an average of 210,000 net new jobs would be created.

• A $27 billion investment in Kenya could potentially return $140 billion, with Kenyan youths gaining from 98,000 employment opportunities, the report said.

Read more here.

HOW AFRILABS CONTRIBUTES TO AFRICA’S TECH ECOSYSTEM

“I believe technology is going to be the leverage that will help accelerate development in Africa. For instance, with the large number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, if we had more centres equipped with technology for them to learn skills relevant for the 21st century, we can begin to overcome some of those challenges.”

– Fayo Williams, Managing Consultant, Simply Exponential Consult Ltd

Technology plays a critical role in almost every industry and area of our lives. It is also instrumental to modern economic growth and development. 

But while Africa is yet to record the same technological progress as other economies in the developed world, its tech ecosystem shows tremendous potential. 

Enter tech hubs

Technology hubs across Africa are helping to bridge the gap by supporting more communities with the infrastructure to promote home-grown innovations. These hubs provide training, technical support to startups and access to fast internet. Entrepreneurs are also given social and professional networking opportunities through which they can thrive. 

One of these hubs is AfriLabs where 300+ technology and innovation hubs across 49 African countries are co-creating high-potential products and services. 

But don’t take it from us. 

Take it from three outstanding innovators who speak about AfriLabs’ contribution to Africa’s tech ecosystem.

OPPORTUNITIES: AFRICAN FOLK TALES REIMAGINED

Netflix is partnering with UNESCO to launch a short film competition targeted at finding the bravest, wittiest, and most surprising retellings of some of Africa’s most-loved folktales. 

The competition is open to emerging filmmakers across sub-Saharan Africa who are seeking to venture into feature film development and production.

Six winners will be awarded $25,000 each with a production budget of up to $75,000 to create their short film centred on a reimagined African folktale. 

Find out more and apply here.

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