Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Highlights Explosive Growth of Hamster Kombat, Predicts Major Blockchain Adoption
Posted on Jul 11, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
1 min read
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has shared insights and predictions for Hamster Kombat, a popular Web 3 play-to-earn game that has significantly impacted the industry since its launch. Durov emphasized the impressive growth of the project and its potential to onboard millions to blockchain technology. He noted that Hamster Kombat, a tap-to-earn game hosted on Telegram where players simulate being CEOs of a cryptocurrency exchange, has attracted 239 million users in just three months.
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Nigerian Air Force Clarifies Drone Crash in Kaduna, Dispels Helicopter Crash Rumors
Posted on Jul 02, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
2 min read
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, crashed in Kaduna on Monday morning, contrary to earlier reports of a helicopter crash.AVM Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF, issued a statement in Abuja to address the misinformation.“Contrary to reports on social media and some traditional media outlets, no NAF helicopter crashed in Kaduna on July 1. Instead, a NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle experienced a mishap after take-off for a mission near Rumji Village, about 15 km from the Base. Since it is an unmanned vehicle, there were no casualties on board or on the ground,” Gabkwet clarified. He added that a preliminary investigation has begun to determine the...
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Nigerian Banks Shift to Local Card Schemes Amid Changing Consumer Behavior and Economic Conditions
Posted on Jun 27, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
2 min read
A shift in consumer behavior and macroeconomic conditions is leading Nigerian banks to adopt local card schemes like Verve, moving away from international card schemes such as Visa and Mastercard. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian fintech companies found success in acquiring customers by issuing foreign debit cards. These cards, often provided at little to no cost, enabled customers to withdraw money at ATMs and make purchases at supermarkets, boosting spending and transaction fee earnings for fintechs. "No regular Nigerian was going to spend [their] money from your bank if they did not have your card," a former banker told TechCabal. However, COVID-19 restrictions on in-person shopping, a 2023 cash crunch, and ATM cash shortages have shifted these dynamics, reducing reliance on card payments...
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Carbon Halts Debit Card Services in Nigeria, CEO Cites Possible Misstep
Posted on Jun 20, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
1 min read
Nigerian fintech company, Carbon, has ceased its debit card operations in Nigeria, just two years after the service's launch. The announcement was made by Carbon’s co-founder and CEO, Ngozi Dozie, in a Substack post on Wednesday. Dozie did not provide explicit reasons for the discontinuation, but his post hints at the possibility that the company may have misjudged the market need for the debit card service. This move marks a significant shift in Carbon's strategic direction as it reassesses its offerings in the competitive fintech landscape.
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UNICEF's Nigeria Learning Passport Reaches One Million Subscribers, Boosting Educational Access Nationwide
Posted on Jun 18, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
3 min read
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Tuesday that the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) has reached a significant milestone of one million subscribers, marking a pivotal moment in enhancing educational access in the country. In a press statement, UNICEF highlighted the success of the groundbreaking digital learning platform, which was launched to ensure continuous learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NLP has now become an essential tool for providing quality and uninterrupted education to children across Nigeria. The NLP is a collaborative effort between UNICEF, the Federal and State Ministries of Education, and key partners, including Microsoft, Airtel, IHS Towers, Sony, Botnar Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). It offers over 15,000 curriculum-aligned educational resources, such as interactive lessons,...
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Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Apple Devices Over OpenAI Integration, Citing Security Concerns
Posted on Jun 11, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
2 min read
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, has raised alarms over Apple Inc.'s potential integration of OpenAI's artificial intelligence software at the operating system level, citing security risks and issuing a stern warning against the move. Apple boasts a massive user base, with over 1.4 billion active iPhone users worldwide, alongside an estimated 100 million Mac users and a growing Apple Watch user base. Musk's concerns emerged following a presentation by Apple Inc. where the tech giant unveiled plans to incorporate OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot into its Siri digital assistant. Musk swiftly condemned the prospective tie-up, labeling it a "security violation" in a post on the social media platform X. The Tesla CEO outlined stringent measures, declaring that Apple devices would be banned from his companies...
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Flutterwave Named 'Fintech of the Year' at African Banker Awards, Continues Global Recognition Streak
Posted on May 30, 2024 | By Shola Akinyele
Technology
2 min read
Flutterwave, Africa’s leading startup in the fintech sector, has clinched the prestigious title of 'Fintech of the Year' at the African Banker Awards, reaffirming its status as a pioneer in financial technology across the continent. The award recognizes Flutterwave's remarkable contributions to revolutionizing the banking sector in Africa through innovation and growth.This latest accolade marks the third international recognition for Flutterwave in 2024, following its inclusion in CNBC’s Disruptor 50 list and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.While Flutterwave's plans for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) remain undisclosed, the successive awards hint at the company's aspirations to go public. Speculations regarding Flutterwave's IPO surfaced in August 2023 when CEO Olugbenga Agboola revealed the fintech's intentions to proceed with its 2022 IPO...
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We’ll leverage digital technology to grow Abia economy – Otti
Posted on May 17, 2024 | By Nathaniel
Technology
2 min read
Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has said his administration is passionate about taking advantage of the opportunities provided by digital technology in managing the state’s economy.Otti stated this while addressing participants of Study Group 7, Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru Jos, who are on a study tour and fact-finding mission to Abia State.Commending the participants for the choice of Abia for the tour, Governor Otti described the study theme: ‘Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,’ as key, noting that any organisation that fails to key into the digital space will be left behind.He averred, “In a few days, we will be one...
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