Tech Labari

Kenya Bets on M-Pesa to Attract Retail Investors The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is pivoting to a mobile-first strategy to end a decade-long IPO drought and democratize stock trading. By integrating with dominant mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, the exchange hopes to convert millions of phone users into active retail investors. Why It Matters For years, the NSE struggled with low retail participation […]

Kenya Bets on M-Pesa to Attract Retail Investors https://techlabari.com/kenya-bets-on-m-pesa-to-attract-retail-investors/

Bank of Ghana Greenlights Six Firms for Virtual Asset Sandbox The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has admitted six companies into its Regulatory Sandbox, a move designed to test and refine the country’s framework for digital assets over the next year. Why it matters As Ghana looks to formalize its crypto and digital asset sector, this “controlled experiment” allows the central bank to foster innovation while […]

Bank of Ghana Greenlights Six Firms for Virtual Asset Sandbox https://techlabari.com/bank-of-ghana-greenlights-six-firms-for-virtual-asset-sandbox/

Rwanda to Pilot AI Across 50 Health Clinics in Partnership with Gates Foundation Rwanda is set to deploy AI-powered technology in over 50 health clinics as the first step in a broader $50 million initiative by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and OpenAI. The Big Picture The program, dubbed Horizons1000, aims to scale AI tools to 1,000 clinics across Africa over the next two years to bridge […]

Rwanda to Pilot AI Across 50 Health Clinics in Partnership with Gates Foundation https://techlabari.com/rwanda-to-pilot-ai-across-50-health-clinics-in-partnership-with-gates-foundation/

What You Need To Know About X’s New Algorithm On Tuesday, X (formerly Twitter) made good on Elon Musk’s latest promise to open-source the code behind its recommendation engine. The big picture While Musk framed the release as a “new era of transparency,” the move comes as the platform faces mounting regulatory pressure in the EU and a growing crisis over AI-generated content. What’s […]

What You Need To Know About X’s New Algorithm https://techlabari.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-xs-new-algorithm/

Paystack Launches Holding Company, The Stack Group (TSG) Paystack is marking its 10th anniversary with a massive structural shift, evolving from a payment processor into The Stack Group (TSG)—a multi-brand holding company. Why it matters The move signals a transition from a single-product startup to a diversified tech conglomerate, backed by global giant Stripe and a newly minted status of group-level profitability. Driving […]

Paystack Launches Holding Company, The Stack Group (TSG) https://techlabari.com/paystack-launches-holding-company-the-stack-group-tsg/

Nigeria’s MAX Raises $24 Million to Scale EV Across West and Central Africa Lagos-based mobility tech firm MAX has secured $24 million in fresh equity and debt to accelerate its pivot toward electric vehicle (EV) financing across West and Central Africa. Why it matters The deal signals a growing investor appetite for African “green mobility” as rising fuel costs and falling battery prices make electric two- and three-wheelers […]

Nigeria’s MAX Raises $24 Million to Scale EV Across West and Central Africa https://techlabari.com/nigerias-max-raises-24-million-to-scale-ev-across-west-and-central-africa/

Visa Working On Restoring Uber Payments in Kenya Global payments leader Visa is in active negotiations with Uber to restore card acceptance in Kenya. The ride-hailing giant began phasing out Visa support late last year, culminating in a full suspension this month. Why It Matters The standoff highlights a growing friction between global card networks and local payment realities. For a market like […]

Visa Working On Restoring Uber Payments in Kenya https://techlabari.com/visa-working-on-restoring-uber-payments-in-kenya/

Bridge for Billions and Making More Health Launch Program for Ghana’s Healthcare Innovators Bridge for Billions has officially opened applications for the Ghana Social Entrepreneurs in Healthcare Program, a seven-month incubation initiative designed to scale early-stage healthcare solutions. Developed in collaboration with Making More Health (an initiative by Boehringer Ingelheim), the program aims to strengthen Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and address critical health challenges. The initiative specifically targets innovators […]

Bridge for Billions and Making More Health Launch Program for Ghana’s Healthcare Innovators https://techlabari.com/bridge-for-billions-and-making-more-health-launch-program-for-ghanas-healthcare-innovators/

Paystack Acquires Ladder Microfinance Bank; Will Provide Bank As A Service In Nigeria Paystack, the Stripe-owned fintech, has acquired Ladder Microfinance Bank, securing the regulatory license needed to offer lending, hold deposits, and provide banking-as-a-service (BaaS) in Nigeria. Why it matters For a decade, Paystack served as the “pipes” for digital transactions but had to rely on third-party banks to store money. By launching Paystack Microfinance Bank (Paystack […]

Paystack Acquires Ladder Microfinance Bank; Will Provide Bank As A Service In Nigeria https://techlabari.com/paystack-acquires-ladder-microfinance-bank-will-provide-bank-as-a-service-in-nigeria/

Amazon Leo, A Starlink Competitor, Secures Permit In Nigeria Amazon’s Project Kuiper—rebranded as Amazon Leo—has secured a landing permit from Nigeria’s Communications Commission (NCC), setting up a direct confrontation with Elon Musk’s Starlink in Africa’s most populous nation. Why it matters Nigeria is the ultimate testing ground for satellite internet. With over 23 million people currently living in unserved or underserved areas, the winner […]

Amazon Leo, A Starlink Competitor, Secures Permit In Nigeria https://techlabari.com/amazon-leo-a-starlink-competitor-secures-permit-in-nigeria/

New Data Positions Africa as the World’s Fastest-Growing Solar Market - Africa Solar Outlook 2026 Report Africa is no longer a marginal player in the global energy transition. New data from the Africa Solar Outlook 2026 reveals the continent is now the world’s fastest-growing solar market, with actual installations likely triple what was previously documented. By the Numbers Why it Matters For years, a lack of project-level data led global institutions […]

New Data Positions Africa as the World’s Fastest-Growing Solar Market – Africa Solar Outlook 2026 Report https://techlabari.com/new-data-positions-africa-as-the-worlds-fastest-growing-solar-market-africa-solar-outlook-2026-report/

Outliers and SVC Announce 2026 Fellowship to Develop Saudi & MENA’s Next Generation of Leaders Outliers Venture Capital has officially launched the 2026 edition of its flagship Fellowship Program, partnering with Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) to cultivate the next wave of tech leaders in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. Why it matters As the regional tech ecosystem matures, the bottleneck has shifted from a lack of capital […]

Outliers and SVC Announce 2026 Fellowship to Develop Saudi & MENA’s Next Generation of Leaders https://techlabari.com/outliers-and-svc-announce-2026-fellowship-to-develop-saudi-menas-next-generation-of-leaders/

Ghana’s Tech Ecosystem Raises an Estimated $56M in 2025 Ghanaian startups navigated a “quality over quantity” market in 2025, raising an estimated $56 million across the year’s major disclosed rounds. This figure was obtained from data from The Big Deal and Tech Labari’s internal database. While the headline figure is a step back from the $127 million peak of 2024, it reflects a global […]

Ghana’s Tech Ecosystem Raises an Estimated $56M in 2025 https://techlabari.com/ghanas-tech-ecosystem-raises-an-estimated-56m-in-2025/

MTN Wins ₦1 Billion Copyright Battle in Lagos A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a ₦1 billion copyright and breach-of-confidence suit against MTN Nigeria, with the judge labeling the legal challenge a “gold-digging exercise.” Driving the news Walls and Gates Ltd, along with Managing Director Okechukwu Udeichi, sued MTN over its “20 For 20” 20th-anniversary promotion. The big picture The ruling […]

MTN Wins ₦1 Billion Copyright Battle in Lagos https://techlabari.com/mtn-wins-%e2%82%a61-billion-copyright-battle-in-lagos/

Palantir Co-Founder Invests in Nigeria Based Drone Maker Terrahaptix Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and a heavy-hitting roster of VCs are backing Terrahaptix, an Abuja-based startup scaling drone production to combat the rising tide of extremism across Africa. Terrahaptix (also known as Terra Industries) announced Monday it has raised $11.8 million in a funding round led by Lonsdale’s firm, 8VC. The details Founded just last […]

Palantir Co-Founder Invests in Nigeria Based Drone Maker Terrahaptix https://techlabari.com/palantir-co-founder-invests-in-nigeria-based-drone-maker-terrahaptix/

What Ghana’s Crypto Regulation Actually Means for Businesses Republished from The Labari Journal Across Africa, 2025 marked a decisive shift in how digital assets are understood, governed, and integrated into real economies. From policy consultations to regulatory frameworks, governments moved beyond debating whether crypto should exist toward defining how it should operate. Among these developments, one stood out. At the close of the […]

What Ghana’s Crypto Regulation Actually Means for Businesses https://techlabari.com/what-ghanas-crypto-regulation-actually-means-for-businesses/

Nigeria to Mandate Near-Instant Refunds for Failed Recharges The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are finalizing a new regulatory framework to fix one of the biggest headaches for mobile users: failed airtime and data purchases. Driving the news Starting March 1, 2026, banks and telecom operators must provide near-real-time refunds when a customer’s account is debited but […]

Nigeria to Mandate Near-Instant Refunds for Failed Recharges https://techlabari.com/nigeria-to-mandate-near-instant-refunds-for-failed-recharges/

Africa Fintech NALA Debuts Stablecoin-Backed USD Global Accounts NALA, the African-led fintech focused on payments to emerging markets, is launching USD Global Accounts. The move aims to provide users in volatile economies with a stable way to store, earn, and spend money internationally. Why it matters In many emerging markets, local currency devaluation erodes purchasing power. By offering USD accounts backed by stablecoins, […]

Africa Fintech NALA Debuts Stablecoin-Backed USD Global Accounts https://techlabari.com/africa-fintech-nala-debuts-stablecoin-backed-usd-global-accounts/

Uganda Commumications Minister Downplays Former Twitter CEO’s Messaging App BITchat Uganda’s top communications regulator is downplaying the hype around BITchat, an alternative messaging app being championed by opposition figures. The government claims it has the technical prowess to shut it down if it’s used to bypass local laws. Driving the News Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), sent a clear message […]

Uganda Commumications Minister Downplays Former Twitter CEO’s Messaging App BITchat https://techlabari.com/uganda-commumications-ministers-downplays-former-twitter-ceos-messaging-app-bitchat/

Five Africa Startups To Pay Attention To In 2026 After years of “blitzscaling” and navigating a volatile funding winter, Africa’s tech ecosystem has entered an era of pragmatic dominance. In 2026, the conversation has shifted from “who is a unicorn?” to “who is indispensable?” The five companies below are no longer just startups; they are the critical infrastructure for the continent’s digital economy. 1. […]

Five Africa Startups To Pay Attention To In 2026 https://techlabari.com/five-africa-startups-to-pay-attention-to-in-2026/

Entering January 2026 The exit trail took an unusual turn in late December when African telecom Billionaire, Strive Masiyiwa, announced that Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited would delist from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, after years of trading at a steep valuation discount to regional peers, which trade at 6–8 times EV/EBITDA. He said “the decision forms part of a […]

Entering January 2026 https://techlabari.com/entering-january-2026/

US Officially Imposes 1% Remittance Tax To African Countries On January 1, 2026, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) officially introduced a federal 1% excise tax on outbound international remittances. While the tax applies globally, it could hit the African diaspora hardest. Why it Matters For Sub-Saharan Africa, remittances aren’t just “extra” money—they are the economy. The Digital Divide The law creates a […]

US Officially Imposes 1% Remittance Tax To African Countries https://techlabari.com/us-officially-imposes-1-remittance-tax-to-african-countries/

Flutterwave Acquires Open Banking Startup Mono Flutterwave, Africa’s most valuable fintech firm, has acquired Nigerian open banking startup Mono in an all-stock deal valued between $25 million and $40 million. Why it matters The deal signals a major consolidation phase in African fintech. By combining the continent’s largest payment network with its leading data aggregator, Flutterwave is building a “full-stack” financial […]

Flutterwave Acquires Open Banking Startup Mono https://techlabari.com/flutterwave-acquires-open-banking-startup-mono/

Bank of Ghana Updates Regulatory Guidelines On International Money Transfers The Bank of Ghana (BoG) just dropped a massive regulatory update for International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), aiming to formalize the multibillion-dollar remittance pipeline and safeguard the cedi. Why it matters Remittances are Ghana’s financial lifeblood. These new rules, effective January 2026, signal the end of the “Wild West” era for fintechs and money transfer […]

Bank of Ghana Updates Regulatory Guidelines On International Money Transfers https://techlabari.com/bank-of-ghana-updates-regulatory-guidelines-on-international-money-transfers/

Starlink Disables All Terminals in Uganda Amid Regulatory Crackdown SpaceX-owned Starlink has officially disabled all satellite internet terminals in Uganda as of Jan. 1, 2026, bowing to pressure from local regulators over the illegal importation of its hardware. The big picture The move highlights the friction between Western satellite firms aiming for borderless connectivity and African governments seeking strict control over communication infrastructure, especially […]

Starlink Disables All Terminals in Uganda Amid Regulatory Crackdown https://techlabari.com/starlink-disables-all-terminals-in-uganda-amid-regulatory-crackdown/

Nigeria Communications Commission Bets on Satellite-to-Phone Tech to Close Coverage Gaps The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is pivoting toward satellite-powered mobile connectivity to eliminate “dead zones,” according to its newly released draft Spectrum Roadmap for 2025–2030. Why it matters Nigeria still struggles with significant unconnected populations in rural and border areas where traditional fiber and cell towers are too expensive or dangerous to install. The Big […]

Nigeria Communications Commission Bets on Satellite-to-Phone Tech to Close Coverage Gaps https://techlabari.com/nigeria-communications-commission-bets-on-satellite-to-phone-tech-to-close-coverage-gaps/

Ghana Considers Legislation To Restrict Minors’ Access to Adult Content Online This is a republished article from The Labari Journal In a move that could significantly reshape internet access for its younger population, Ghana is currently debating legislation aimed at restricting minors from accessing adult content online. The proposed regulations, spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication and the Cybersecurity Authority (CSA), seek to create a safer […]

Ghana Considers Legislation To Restrict Minors’ Access to Adult Content Online https://techlabari.com/ghana-considers-legislation-to-restrict-minors-access-to-adult-content-online/

Bank of Ghana Greenlights Crypto; Virtual Asset Trading Now Legal in Ghana The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has officially legalized virtual asset trading. The central bank confirmed that cryptocurrency activities are now permitted under a new regulatory framework, ending years of legal ambiguity. The Details Speaking at the Bank’s annual Thanksgiving Service in Accra on Friday, Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama assured the public that crypto participants […]

Bank of Ghana Greenlights Crypto; Virtual Asset Trading Now Legal in Ghana https://techlabari.com/bank-of-ghana-greenlights-crypto-virtual-asset-trading-now-legal-in-ghana/

Absa and Visa launch “Absa Pay” in Ghana, Enabling Tap To Pay Via Smartphone Absa Bank Ghana and Visa have debuted Absa Pay, a mobile tap-to-pay wallet that turns smartphones into contactless payment tools. Why it matters The launch signals a push to accelerate Ghana’s transition toward a “cash-lite” economy by digitizing everyday retail transactions. How it works The feature is integrated directly into the existing Absa Mobile Banking […]

Absa and Visa launch “Absa Pay” in Ghana, Enabling Tap To Pay Via Smartphone https://techlabari.com/absa-and-visa-launch-absa-pay-in-ghana-enabling-tap-to-pay-via-smartphone/

Airtel Africa Announces Partnership With Starlink’s Direct To Cell Service in 2026 Airtel Africa has announced a partnership with SpaceX to deploy Starlink’s “direct-to-cell” satellite technology across all 14 of its African markets. Why it matters The deal aims to eliminate “dead zones” in remote regions where traditional cell towers are physically or economically impossible to build. It positions Airtel to leapfrog infrastructure gaps that have long […]

Airtel Africa Announces Partnership With Starlink’s Direct To Cell Service in 2026 https://techlabari.com/airtel-africa-announces-partnership-with-starlinks-direct-to-cell-service-in-2026/