• Aella Rebrands to Aella Microfinance Bank, Pledges Enhanced Financial Solutions for Nigerians

    Aella, a leading provider of credit and financial solutions in Nigeria, proudly announces its official name change from Aella Credit to Aella Microfinance Bank. This strategic move is in line with Aella’s commitment to innovation and delivering inclusive financial services to the average Nigerian.

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    Started in 2015, the Aella Group was founded by Akin Jones. The fintech, which currently boasts of over 2 million users in Nigeria, is backed by US venture funds such as Y Combinator, 500 Global, Zeno Ventures, and Gluwa Capital among others. The company was founded to simplify and open up financial services to support financial inclusion in emerging markets.

    Sosthenes Oluwaseun, managing director of Aella Microfinance Bank, expressed excitement about the rebranding, stressing why it is such an important decision, especially in today’s economic climate. 

     “This transition to Aella MFB is proof of our dedication to innovation and constant reinvention. And this is more than just a name change. Our users will now have access to better banking experiences.”

    Widely known for empowering Nigerians with accessible and low-interest loans, the managing director emphasized the company’s dedication to safeguarding users’ funds, highlighting Aella’s adherence to regulations set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

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    “The transition to becoming Aella MFB guarantees extra safety for our users’ money. We now have stricter measures in place to control fraudulent activities. We are very particular about earning the trust of our users and keeping their money safe is the only way we can do that,” Oluwaseun affirmed.

    Aella MFB also pledges to make financial management easier for Nigerians, offering free transfers, zero maintenance fees on debit cards, high-interest/hybrid savings plans, and low-interest rates on loans. 

    The chairman of Aella Microfinance Bank, Akin Jones, also added that the corporate decision was made in response to the financial struggles of the average Nigerian. 

    “This name change is not a random decision, it is a response to some of the financial challenges Nigerians face. Aella’s acquisition of Flourish MFB has enabled us to provide safer and more advanced banking services to our users,” Jones added.

    The renaming reflects Aella MFB’s commitment to upholding Aella Credit’s fundamental vision and objectives while expanding beyond the old scope to address more pressing financial challenges facing Nigerians.

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    To support the government’s proposed student loan scheme, Aella MFB believes that the private sector should take a lead role in supporting the government in the facilitation of student loan disbursement. 

    Aella MFB is pioneering the integration of ledger technology into microloans including student loans. They’ve also expressed their commitment to facilitating micro-loans for short courses and ensuring transparency in fund allocation through partnerships with educational institutions and automated compliance.

    Aella’s name change represents more than just a rebranding effort—it promises better financial services and more financial inclusion for all its users. As Aella Microfinance Bank, the company looks forward to continued growth and innovation in the Nigerian financial landscape.

  • Sony’s Creators Convention Redefines the Creative Landscape for Content Creators

    L – R: Adaora Mbelu (a.k.a Lumina), Tobi Ayeni (a.k.a Miss Techy), Daro Umaigba, Fisayo Fosudo, and Salem King

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    Lagos, Nigeria – March 28th, 2024 – The Sony Creators Convention 2024 concluded on Saturday, March 23rd, 2024, with resounding success, leaving attendees inspired, informed, and equipped with the tools to take their content creation to the next level.  Hosted by Daro Umaigba, the event brought together a diverse community of creators from art and culture to the digital content creation sphere for a day packed with workshops, discussions, and practical sessions.

    Having taken place at the vibrant Nexthought Creative Hub in Lekki, Lagos, the convention aimed to celebrate the convergence of creativity and technology while empowering attendees with valuable insights to fuel their professional growth and explore new horizons in content creation.

    Jobin Joejoe, Managing Director at Sony Middle East and Africa says, “We are proud to support and empower Nigerian creators as they continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. The Creators Convention serves as a testament to our commitment to support content creators and provide them with the best available technologies, create lasting connections to learn and network, and establish collaborative opportunities together”.

    L – R: Dr. Emmanuel Iwueke (a.k.a Dr. Craze), Timi Agbaje, Ifiok Effanga (a.k.a Fiokee), Akinyemi Ayinoluwa (a.k.a Akinyemilaw), and Precious Omoregie (a.k.a Mychaskia).

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    The convention also featured speakers including Dr. Emmanuel Iwueke, Ifiok Effanga, Timi Agbaje, Akinyemi Ayinoluwa, and Precious Omoregie, who underscored the importance of safeguarding intellectual property in an increasingly digitized landscape. Debo Adedayo, Maryam Apaokagi, Dami Dawson, and Hauwa Lawal engaged in a spirited dialogue on crafting content with widespread appeal. Kelechi Amadi-Obi’s presentation on turning inspiration into action resonated with the attendees. At the same time, Adaora Mbelu, Tobi Ayeni, Fisayo Fosudo, and Salem King offered invaluable insights into diversifying revenue streams and forging lasting partnerships. In addition, Anjola Awosika, Tilewa Odedina, and Ify Igwe also facilitated a riveting masterclass in food photography, offering practical tips for elevating creative pursuits to professional heights. 

    L – R: Fegho Umunubo (SA to the President on Digital and Creative Economy) and Bukola Oloyede (Demand Creation & Partner Relationship Specialist)

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    L – R: Kelechi Amadi-Obi (Creative Director, Kelechi Amadi-Obi Studios) and Bukola Oloyede (Demand Creation & Partner Relationship Specialist)

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    Participants had the opportunity to engage in practical sessions tailored to their interests during the event, supported by Kontakt Pro Nigeria, advising creators on Sony’s digital imaging products and offerings.

    Alongside a variety of workshops, the convention also provided a platform for networking and collaboration with leading brands such as Miele Nigeria (A Plus Appliances), Taeillo, Fayrouz, Zagg, Amstel Malta, Legend Twist, M.Inc PR, and Pulse Nigeria. 

    A cross-section of the audience

    The Sony Creators Convention 2024 underscored the power of collaboration, innovation, and community in driving creative excellence in Nigeria’s digital landscape and taking their content creation endeavors to new heights. 

    Stay tuned for highlights and updates from the Sony Creators Convention 2024 on our social media channels! Follow us on Instagram: @sonyalphanigeria and @sonymea.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Felix Imoh

    PR Account Manager, M.Inc Public Relations.

    felixi@minc.ng | www.minc.ng

    +2348095572316.

    About Sony Middle East and Africa:

    Sony Middle East and Africa FZE is a 100% subsidiary of Sony Corporation and is the regional headquarters for the Middle East and Africa regions. The company is engaged in the business of Sony Consumer Electronics, Mobile Electronics (Car Audio), broadcasting and professional products, and Computer Entertainment (PlayStation) products in more than 40 countries in the region.

    Apart from stock operations in the Jebel Ali Free Zone Establishment in Dubai, Sony Middle East and Africa leads the execution of various logistics, sales, marketing, advertising, and customer service activities through its business partners. 353 accredited third-party service centers reinforce Sony’s presence in key regional markets.

  • Contributing to a smarter Nigerian economy through solution-driven strategies

    The data centre giant growing a digital ecosystem on the Lagos Mainland. 

    In Africa’s ever-evolving digital ecosystem, Rack Centre holds a pride of place as the only carrier and cloud-neutral Tier III Constructed Facility Certified data centre in West Africa. The company, operating in Nigeria, focuses on providing best-in-class data centre colocation services and unlimited internet exchange interconnection and peering between carriers and customers. 

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    Nigeria is one of Africa’s key entry points for global telecommunications, content and cloud players, with about 85 million Internet subscribers, more than any country in the region or Europe. The interconnection metrics in the country are pointers to the significant growth of interconnectivity in the country. As of 2023, 250 licensed ISPs have been registered, about 60% are not operational or outside of Lagos, while about 10% are owned by enterprise businesses utilising the licenses for internal delivery. Interestingly, 65 networks are fully operational from Rack Centre, with 30 providing dark fibre or wave capacity. 

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    Despite the data centre market being very capital-intensive and highly competitive, Rack Centre has been able to carve a culture of operational excellence through solution-driven strategies that address its location on the Mainland and effective management of fibre cuts challenges. This strategy resulted in the company’s zero downtime in ten years, a rare feat in the Nigerian business environment of epileptic power supply, dearth of workforce and poor infrastructure. 

    Pushing the envelope

    Currently, Rack Centre is expanding its data centre campus by constructing a new build, the LGS 2 data centre, with an IT power of 12MW. This is a quantum leap from the first facility, the LGS 1, which boasts a 1.5MW IT load and is home to over 65 telecommunication carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), global Tier 1 networks, and pan-African international carriers, including direct interconnections to all five undersea cables serving the South Atlantic Coast of Africa including Equiano and in the foreseeable future 2Africa and every country on the Atlantic coast of Africa. On completion, the LGS 2 and its mammoth capacity will significantly contribute to the thriving Nigerian digital landscape broadening the company’s capacity and power to give more carrier-neutral access to the richest variety of network service providers and all cable landing stations in Lagos State. 

    Unlocking connectivity from the mainland  

    The solution has been at the heart of Rack Centre’s strategy, from Ikeja, on the Lagos Mainland, to its operational strategy. In terms of location, a data centre can be built anywhere, as long as power and connectivity issues are appropriately handled. However, the site is key because it will impact the service quality it can provide its customers. Choosing a good location translates to optimised infrastructure and application environment that helps for a wider reach, while a poor site can result in unstable connections and efficiency problems.

    In the case of Rack Centre, the location of its LGS 1 and LGS 2 data centre campuses are favourable and strategic, sitting 30 meters above sea level, a vantage position against any form of flooding. It enables perfect redundancy for enterprise businesses with disaster recovery sites on the Island, giving it access to the largest population for FTTH service providers and access to the Southwestern part of Nigeria by Enterprise and Service providers. Added to this is proximity to the four compass points of Lagos with easy access to the airport, train and bus stations, and fire service stations. These are some of the key factors prospects customers/clients are looking for in a data centre provider beyond the physical security as they will guarantee disaster recovery, service levels, scalability, and reliability to ongoing support. 

    Data centres have supported businesses across various industries, helping them cope with digital transformation by offering infrastructure flexibility, better recovery options, and improved collaborative systems, among others at a lower cost.

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    Re-routing as a solution to fibre cuts complaints

    The presence of terrestrial and undersea fibre optic cables crisscrossing the four corners of the globe has made the internet possible, thereby aiding the interconnectivity between businesses, people and continents. Fibre optic cables provide much higher bandwidth speeds across very long distances. There are about 1.5 million kilometres of undersea cables in the world’s oceans. When the undersea cables reach the shore, they connect to cable landing stations, which serve as access points for terrestrial cable networks to connect with undersea cables.  

    One of the major causes of terrestrial fibre optic cuts is natural disasters due to wear and tear, which could cause breakages and lead to poor connection. In the case of distances, like it is with terrestrial/metro fibre distance from the cable landing stations in Lagos Island to Rack Centre on the Lagos Mainland, there could be mishaps. To mitigate such effects and maintain ideal connectivity for the benefit of its esteemed clients, Rack Centre has been strategic by plotting diverse fibre routes that promote a redundancy outlook to ensure operations continue even if a component fails. To avail of such situations, Rack Centre operates along five major diverse route entries, which allows for a reroute of service should a mishap occur along a specific route. These multiple redundant fibre connections have helped ensure infrastructure flexibility, better recovery options, and improved collaborative systems. The five major diverse routes are: through Eko Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Ikorodu into Epe to Lagos and Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Epe to Lagos. The effectiveness of these diverse routes is the flexibility to switch to other routes in case of a mishap. 

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    More solutions to better connectivity 

    Rack Centre is going beyond re-routing fibre optic cables in the case of mishaps to embracing new and direct metro fibre deployment between cable landing stations such as Brainshare networks, I2M Cable by Cedarview and FLV. As a carrier-neutral data centre, Rack Centre also enables subsea cable partners to terminate at its facility, allowing for more connectivity as it enables the partners to be closer to their customers and business partners. The Subsea cable partners terminating at Rack Centre consist of the following leading connectivity solutions providers: WIOCC: – 2Africa Submarine, NATCOM:– SAT-3 Submarine Cable, PCCW: – Sat-3 Submarine Cable, Liquid Intelligence:- SAT-3 Submarine Cable, Liquid Intelligence: – WACS Submarine Cable, PCCW:- WACS Submarine Cable, Dolphine Telecoms:–ACE Submarine Cable, MTN:-ACE Submarine Cable, Orange:-ACE Submarine Cable, Glo:-Glo-1 Submarine Cable, MainOne:– MainOne cable Submarine Cable, and MainOne:- Nigeria Cameroon Submarine Cable System (NCSCS) Submarine Cable. 

    The presence of these subsea cable partners at Rack Centre is a testament to the operational excellence and projects the vast opportunities available in the thriving Nigerian digital marketplace. It also highlights the necessity of expansion in the construction of the LGS 2 campus data centre, which increases the Rack centre data campus capacity to 13.5MW. 

    As the first IFC Edge Green building-certified data centre campus in the EMEA region, the company is not letting down its guard in ensuring that Nigeria’s economy becomes smart and that the digital ecosystem in Africa is at its optimal best. With the ongoing construction of the LGS 2 campus data centre, Africa would have enough capacity for enterprise businesses, small and corporate businesses, Telco & Carriers, financial institutions, international cloud and content providers and hyperscalers to enjoy latency reduction from Rack Centre.

  • Kwakol Funds 2.0: Opening Doors to Investment Opportunities

    As a pioneering force in online trading and investment since 2020, Kwakol has persistently aimed to empower individuals with the necessary tools and resources for navigating the intricacies of financial markets. Now, with the introduction of Kwakol Funds 2.0, the investment experience is poised to reach unprecedented heights, promising simplicity and accessibility for all investors.
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    Abundant Investment Options

    Kwakol holds firm to the belief in democratising access to investment opportunities. Regardless of whether one is a seasoned investor or a novice, Kwakol Funds 2.0 presents a diverse range of investment avenues to explore. The platform offers a comprehensive selection to align with varying risk tolerances and financial objectives, from stocks and bonds to mutual funds and beyond.

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    Guidance on Investing Your Capital

    Navigating the complexities of investing can prove daunting, particularly for newcomers. Kwakol Funds 2.0 addresses this challenge with a design focused on simplicity and ease of access. With its intuitive interface and user-friendly features, investing becomes as straightforward as a few clicks. Whether users prefer a hands-on approach or automated strategies, the platform caters to individual preferences and requirements.

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    Finding Lucrative Investment Opportunities

    In pursuit of favourable returns on investments? Kwakol Funds 2.0 provides a gateway to explore numerous investment prospects across different asset classes and geographical regions. Whether it’s venturing into emerging markets, investing in dividend-paying stocks, or exploring high-yield bonds, the platform’s research-backed insights and expert guidance facilitate the identification of promising opportunities to optimize returns.

    Empowering Financial Futures

    With Kwakol Funds 2.0 the authority to shape one’s financial destiny rests within reach. Whether individuals are planning for retirement, saving for significant life events, or aspiring to build generational wealth, the platform equips them with the necessary tools and assistance to realise their investment objectives.

    Join the Kwakol Movement

    Embark on a journey into the future of investing with Kwakol Funds 2.0. From enhanced user experiences to innovative features such as the new wallet system and beneficiary profiles, the platform is committed to transforming the investment landscape. Seize the opportunity to unlock your full investment potential and chart a course toward financial prosperity with Kwakol Funds 2.0.

    Visit funds.kwakol.com  to learn more.

  • Bitcoin to naira: Best app to sell Bitcoin in Nigeria

    A month ago, you could easily sell Bitcoin in Nigeria using Binance P2P. As of today, that is no longer possible. Right from time, Binance has never been in the good books of the Nigerian government, leading to the permanent removal of the naira trade on the platform.

    Previously, the government under the former president of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari, banned crypto trading in the country to caution against money laundering. The Central Bank Of Nigeria explained that terrorists used crypto trading platforms to get funds for their evil acts because crypto transactions can’t be traced to an individual.

    After President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into power, the Central Bank of Nigeria lifted the ban on crypto transactions with the promise to monitor and regulate the transaction and use of cryptocurrency in the country. However, in the recent turn of events, Nigerians can no longer access popular crypto trading platforms, not to mention that Binance has removed access to trade naira on its platform.

    Recent Developments: Why The Nigerian Government Restricted Crypto Trading Platforms

    P2P crypto trading has been the major medium of transaction for Nigerians since the initial ban of cryptocurrency in the country. One major issue with P2P crypto trading is that the exchange rate can’t be regulated by the Nigerian government.

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    Each trader on the P2P crypto trading market decides the exchange rate at which they wish to buy or sell their coins. While some people were reasonable with the exchange rate, some set outrageous rates which led to the rapid and continuous fall of the naira.

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    The naira to dollar rate went from N800 to almost N2000 in just three months, with high volatility every hour of the day. The instability of the rate affected the country economically, with the price of goods and services doubling and tripling literally every week.

    This led to the Nigerian Government forcing Binance to close down the trading of naira on its platform as well as restricted access to popular crypto trading platforms in the country like Breet, Prestmit, Luno, Paxful, etc.

    Bitcoin to naira: Best app to sell Bitcoin in Nigeria

    Dtunes is the best app for selling Bitcoin in Nigeria. You can easily convert Bitcoin to naira on the Dtunes app, which is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Unlike Binance P2P, selling your Bitcoin on the Dtunes app is seamless and also safe and secured for transactions.

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    Why Dtunes is the best app to sell Bitcoin in Nigeria

    Aside from the fact that trading on Dtunes is safer than using P2P trading on any crypto exchange, below are some of the features that make Dtunes a go-to app for crypto traders in Nigeria:

    1. Best Rates: The Dtunes rate is updated daily and hourly as the rate of naira to dollar fluctuates. Before you sell your BTC, you can always check the updated rate of bitcoin to naira both on the Dtunes website and the app.
    2. Fast Transaction: With the updated rate you will get trading on the app, Dtunes also boasts of fast transaction and quick withdrawal to your Nigerian bank account. Once your transaction has been confirmed which takes a few minutes, your fund is instantly sent to your wallet where you can then proceed to withdraw directly to your Nigerian bank account.
    3. 24/7 Support: Understandably, the tech world sometimes has glitches for various reasons. With this in mind, DTunes offers 24/7 customer support to solve any dispute and answer traders’ questions any time of the day. You can easily reach Dtunes customer support via WhatsApp, call, live chat, or email.
    4. Secure Transaction: One of the major features of Dtunes app is the end to end secure transaction. Unlike the P2P platform, where you can easily lose your money or coins, Dtunes has structures in place to make sure your transaction is seamless, fast, and secure.

    How to sell Bitcoin in Nigeria on the Dtunes app

    Converting your bitcoin to naira on the Dtunes app is easy and seamless. To sell your bitcoin in Nigeria on the Dtunes app, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

    • Download Dtunes App: To start trading, you first want to head to Google Play store or Apple Store to download the Dtunes app. Alternatively you can click this link to download the app -> Download Dtunes App or visit Dtunes website to download the app.
    • Create An Account: proceed to create an account with your email and set a secure password. Creating an account on Dtunes is fast and easy.
    • Log Into Your Account: Use the email account you provided and the password you set to log into your account. If, for some reason, you forgot your password, you can always reset your password on the same screen.
    • Set PIN and Bank Details: Immediately you log into your account, you’ll get a series of pop-ups prompting you to set your PIN and bank details. Use the pin to authorize your transaction on the app, while the bank details should be the account you want to use to receive withdrawals from the Dtunes app.

      If you mistakenly close the pop-ups, you can always set your PIN and bank details by clicking the settings icon at the bottom right corner.

    Once your account has been set up, to initiate your first trade, follow the instructions below:

    • Click Trade Crypto: On the home screen of the app, click on Trade Crypto. This should take you to another screen where you can either check the Dtunes leaderboard, which is a reward system for top traders or proceed to trade crypto. Click on the Trade Crypto banner.
    • Select Bitcoin: On the new screen, you will see all the coins you can sell on Dtunes. Proceed to click on BTC to sell your Bitcoin.
    • Input Amount of BTC: On the next screen, input the amount of bitcoin you wish to sell in dollars. Immediately you input the amount in dollars, the amount you’ll receive and the rate will be displayed.
    • Proceed with the Transfer: Finalise the transaction by copying your unique wallet address for transfer or you scan the QR code to finalize the trade.

      NB: You want to make sure you transfer the right amount. Not higher, not less. Transfer the actual amount you want to sell.

    Once you do the transfer, the system will confirm your transaction in a few minutes and your funds will be credited to your Dtunes wallet. Once you receive your funds in your wallet, you can proceed to withdraw them into your Nigerian naira bank account with no hassle.

    Benefits of trading on Dtunes

    Dtunes is known to reward traders. You earn cash backs, bonuses and giveaways as you trade on Dtunes. Below is a list of how Dtunes bonus and cash back system works.

    • Gift Card: For every $200 gift card you trade on Dtunes, you’ll get a bonus of N1000. If you trade a gift card worth of $5000, you will get a cash-back bonus of N25,000
    • Crypto: For every $500 crypto you trade on Dtunes, you’ll get a bonus of N500. That means if you perform a crypto transaction of $10000, you’ll get a cashback bonus of N20,000
    • Refer and earn: When you refer your friends and family to trade on Dtunes, you instantly get N1000 for each referral. If you refer ten people, you’ll get N10,000. You can access your referral code on the settings page of the app.
    • Leaderboard Bonus: You stand a chance to win up to N50,000 monthly if you top the Dtunes leaderboard. Dtunes leaderboard is a reward system for top traders on the app. The more you trade, the more you move up the leaderboard.

    Other things you can do on Dtunes app.

    Bitcoin is not the only token you can sell on Dtunes. You can also sell your tether USDT, Binance Coin (BNB), and Litecoin (LTC)

    Beyond just selling bitcoin and other cryptocurrency on the app, you can also perform other actions such as selling your unused gift cards to naira, using gift cards and crypto to purchase airtime, purchase data, purchase electricity, and also pay for cable subscriptions.

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    Conclusion

    All features and benefits of trading on Dtunes are what makes Dtunes the best app to sell Bitcoin in Nigeria and do much more. To enjoy all these features and benefits, head to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download the Dtunes app and start trading. Don’t forget you can earn N50,000 and more if you trade often. The more you trade, the more you can win huge cash back.

  • Benjamin Oyemonlan is creating a protean payment platform at Platnova

    Platnova Co-founder, Benjamin Oyemonlan

    Everyone has a bank app installed on their phone these days. The digital economy is thriving and so are payment and financial services. Despite this industry growth, there are still limitations to these systems. If you fly from Nigeria to London or Kenya, your bank app becomes useless the minute you land at Heathrow/Jomo Kenyatta Airport. This problem is what Benjamin Oyemonlan stays up all night solving through Platnova, the ultimate fintech app. 

    Platnova is a dynamic fintech platform that is designed to simplify and revolutionise the way individuals and businesses manage their financial transactions across borders. In a crowded fintech landscape, Platnova stands out by offering a comprehensive suite of services, including multi-currency vault savings, multi-currency wallets with instant currency conversion, tuition fee payments, global gift card payments, bill payments, and diverse deposit options like debit cards, bank transfers, Apple pay, Google Pay, cryptocurrency deposits, USSD, mobile money, and more. Whatever your bank is currently doing, Platnova is doing it all and more. The goal, according to Platnova co-founder Benjamin, is to adequately cater to the current needs of a global audience. “Platnova is all-in-one, so we basically do what everybody is doing and more. We’re aiming to make financial transactions seamless and efficient globally” he states. 

    Platnova is incorporated in five countries with licences and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with appropriate partners which allows them to do remittances (Both collections and payouts) in multiple currencies and also allows them conduct business  in multiple regions. With Platnova, users can fly from Nigeria to Ghana, switch from a Nigerian naira wallet to a Cedi wallet, and start conducting business. Instead of filling Form A in the bank to pay educational fees, you can easily use Platnova to make your payments directly to your foreign university. You can also freelance/work for foreign companies or conduct business and receive foreign currency payments directly into your wallets. Platnova has something for everyone. 

    Global experience…

    According to Benjamin, Platnova was inspired by his understanding of the experiences of travelling Africans. According to a report from the African Centre for Strategic Studies, African migration has been on a steady upward trajectory for the past two decades with over 40 million migrants from Africa travelling within and outside the continent. Travelling from a young age, Benjamin has seen first-hand the challenges Nigerians in the diaspora go through. From London to Dubai and everywhere else, there was no one bank app he could carry along to conduct transactions everywhere he went. He saw the need for a platform that was going to address some of the hassles of dealing with multiple currencies and the challenges of making international payments like tuition payments. “The inspiration for Platnova largely came from recognizing the complexities and limitations of managing financial activities in a globalised economy and the desire to participate in global transactions. We brought together what everybody else is offering and put them all in one easy-to-use platform.” He says.

    Something for everyone…

    Platnova offers innovative solutions for every user. The platform differentiates itself through its comprehensive range of financial services, especially the fact that these services are not only localised but tailored for global users.

    For a lot of fintechs, cross-border payments and diaspora remittances are difficult to facilitate. Dealing with multiple complex regulations and regional compliance measures, managing multiple deposit and payout services efficiently, while also ensuring user safety, is quite a herculean task for most fintechs to handle.  To surmount this challenge, Benjamin draws from years of experience in the fintech industry to build Platnova. Speaking of the challenges in this endeavour and why Platnova is equipped to handle it, he says “. I have seven years of fintech experience so I understand what it takes to build this and Platnova enables me to solve problems I have encountered first-hand. Before Platnova started, we spent the last five years doing the underground work that is required to build a super app like ours that solves all your financial problems in one place.” Years of underground work have now culminated in the app that is Platnova. 

    Platnova is aiming to solve as many problems as possible in the fintech space, from problems with savings to problems with money transfers and contactless payments. Data security and user experience are also important to the fintech industry. Years of experience have taught Benjamin about the importance of users’ trust, security, and the need for continuous innovation to meet evolving customer needs. At Platnova they have found a balance between creating a seamless user experience and maintaining security across multiple countries. “Maintaining this balance and overcoming the challenges that come with it requires a dedicated effort towards innovation, stringent security measures, and adaptability to regulatory compliances so you can sustain long-term goals.” Benjamin states.Regulations change frequently in the financial landscape, so to thrive in this space, one needs to have an innovative mindset and be flexible. 

    With previous experience as CTO of one of the biggest crypto exchanges in Nigeria (which thrived during his time there); founding BillerPay, a crypto money transfer and bill payment fintech; and years spent doing his part to build the African fintech ecosystem, Benjamin has an understanding of complex markets and a deep well of fintech experience to harness strategy from. “We have identified all the gaps across the financial landscape and the goal is to address these gaps with platnova. We keep learning every day but we also ensure that we have the right partnerships to allow us ride any storms that arrive,” he says.

    On autopilot to the moon 

    The future of Platnova seems very promising. According to Benjamin, Platnova is on autopilot to the moon meaning they’re set for the future and way ahead of whatever users might expect from a fintech company. The company has built a top-notch fintech infrastructure and they’re ready to scale. 

    Benjamin and his team have plans to expand their global footprint, introduce more innovative financial solutions, and improve user experience. They will also be launching a B2B platform to service other fintech companies and enable them to tap into the outstanding work Platnova is doing and the world-class system they’re building. The goal is to become the go-to platform for both individuals and businesses. “We’ve done the hard work, we’ve solved the problems, and now we’re extending a handshake to support the ecosystem,” he states.

    They are also building POSs to allow businesses accept multi-currency payments and are working on launching an ApplePay-enabled international Platnova card. This card will allow users to access card services anywhere in the world and contactless payments.

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    What keeps Benjamin up at night these days is knowing that there’s always something he could be doing better. According to him, nothing is ever enough for him when it comes to solving problems. “I innovate for a living and what literally keeps me up at night is knowing that there’s just that one extra thing I need to do to make my users have a better experience. In as much as I have solved a problem, I’ll go back and look for ways to improve that solution”

    Platnova is uniquely equipped and strategically positioned to meet the financial service needs of the current world. With its range of current products and the products it is building, Platnova is on its way to becoming the super app for all local and global financial transactions.

  • The Standard Chartered Women in Technology Incubator is Africa’s leading incubator program for female-led and founded businesses.

    This program is an initiative of Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with Enteprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria and is currently in its 5th cycle. 

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    The key objective of the incubator program is to help Nigerian female founders who are using digital technology to grow their business by providing targeted support in areas of capacity building and business management. The outcome of the program is to support female-led entrepreneurial teams with training, mentorship and an opportunity to qualify for grant support for 5 founders. 

    Program highlights:

    • Expert-led sessions on business and leadership skills
    • Personalized business advisory sessions
    • Network meetings
    • Grant funding opportunites 

    To apply, register via bit.ly/scwiti5

    Application closes April, 7th 2024.

  • Forex swap: what it is, how it is calculated, and what are swap-free accounts in Octa?

    One of the most misunderstood terms in Forex trading is swap or Forex swap. To trade successfully, you should understand what Forex swap depends on and how it is calculated. This article describes what a Forex swap is, explains its mechanics, and describes swap-free trading accounts.

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    What is a Forex swap?

    Swap is a commission charged for carrying open positions overnight to the next trading day in the Forex market. The exact moment when the swap is withdrawn from your trading account depends on your broker. Most brokers charge it most often between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. server time.

    The Forex market is over-the-counter and non-deliverable, meaning you are not the owner of the trading asset. In order not to cause the need for calculations, the system automatically closes an open position on the current trading day and opens it on the next one. Such closing is considered conditional, as the position is carried over, and the swap is charged.

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    Depending on the value of the swap and the position, the swap can be negative or positive. In other words, you will either have to pay a commission or be paid a commission for holding an open position overnight. This is because the margin system used in Forex trading allows you to use the additional capital the broker provides. You borrow funds to open a position from your broker.

    There is an opinion among traders that the Forex swap is nothing but a broker’s commission. However, this is not true. Let’s find out how swaps work in the Forex market.

    How do swaps work in the Forex market?

    Every time you open a position, you make two transactions: buying one and selling another currency in a currency pair. So, you are essentially borrowing that money to sell one of the currencies and need to pay interest on the borrowed amount. However, in doing so, the currency you buy will earn you interest.

    If the base interest rate on the currency you buy is higher than the currency you sell, you can earn interest on the difference in rates for carrying an open position to the next day. However, given the broker’s markup, regardless of the direction of the open position (buying or selling), you will have to pay a commission.

    Thus, the value of a swap depends on the market and the instrument you are trading. For example, the swap on the same EURUSD and USDJPY positions will differ.

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    The value of swap varies depending on:

    • online broker
    • type of the position—Buy or Sell
    • type of the asset
    • number of days the position remains open
    • nominal value of the position (number of lots).

    Why is there a triple swap?

    Sometimes, a swap is charged for holding an open position over the weekend, even if you did not have it on Saturday and Sunday. Such a fee is called a triple swap. Since the markets are closed on weekends, the triple swap was invented to compensate for this and is charged either on Fridays or Wednesdays, depending on the specific market.

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    This is because orders are settled on the Forex market on the second working day from the trade date (T+2). Since the value date falls on a weekend, the transfer is made for three days at once (on Monday). Therefore, from Wednesday to Thursday (at 12 a.m.), the swap is charged for the past weekend and Wednesday.

    In other words, if you hold your position overnight when the triple swap is applied, your order will be charged three times the standard swap.

    Are there swap-free accounts?

    To make trading more convenient and accessible, many brokers have introduced the concept of swap-free accounts.

    Swap-free accounts relieve the trader from the need to constantly monitor the size of accounting rates on currencies in a currency pair, make trading more straightforward, and allow taking into account in advance the commission for the transfer of positions when calculating the financial result of planned transactions. It is also relevant for those clients who cannot use swaps due to religious beliefs. This determines the second name of this type of account—Islamic accounts.

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    Charged daily, the swap fee accumulates over time, making trading less favourable. To enhance the investment opportunities of its customers, Octa has decided to remove swap fees for all types of trading accounts. These fees will no longer prevent traders from using medium- and long-term strategies in the financial market. Now, they can keep that position open for as long as they see fit and with no swap cost.

    Octa is an international broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services already utilised by clients from 180 countries with more than 42 million trading accounts. Free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools they provide help clients reach their investment goals.

    The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.

    Octa has also won over 70 awards since its foundation, including the ‘Best Educational Broker 2023’ award from Global Forex Awards and the ‘Best Global Broker Asia 2022’ award from International Business Magazine.

  • Nigerian Entrepreneurs Praise Cascador Accelerator as 2024 Applications Open

    Accelerator for mid-stage African entrepreneurs announces the opening of 2024 application cycle

     Cascador, a ground-breaking accelerator program helping mid-stage African entrepreneurs grow their businesses and improve their leadership skills, has announced program details and the opening of 2024 applications. Launch of the 2024 application cycle is accompanied by a new round of testimonials from past participants and glowing updates on the progress of their companies. 

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    Entering its sixth year, Cascador has successfully elevated dozens of entrepreneurs and their companies through a unique blend of education, mentoring, pitch training and personalized support, driving over $55M USD in capital raised by past Cascador fellows. 2024 is the first year that Cascador is offering a professional development stipend of $5,000 USD to each participating entrepreneur accepted into the cohort.

    A key component of the unique Cascador model involves instruction and long-term mentoring by successful American and Nigerian entrepreneurs. As Cascador continues to expand and train new cohorts of entrepreneurs, the vibrant network of alumni, faculty and mentors enriches the African business community and elevates participants’ results.

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    Interested applicants can view a wrap-up video summarizing the 2023 cohort on YouTube: Watch Now. 

    Farmer Samson Ogbole, Founder and CEO of Soilless Farm Lab, and a 2022 Cascador fellow, shared the impact of his experience, “Cascador was a path to self discovery, vision alignment and market-driven problem solving. I found it very helpful to share unpolished ideas with Cascador’s facilitators, thought leaders and mentors, and then leverage their expertise and industry network to match my business model to market needs.”

    Founder and CEO of Adunni Organics, a Nigeria-based natural skincare company, Olumide Gbadebo, stated, “The Cascador Program was an epiphany for me. I examined my business from a completely different perspective, which has basically changed our trajectory in the months following Cascador. Your individual personality and business challenges are addressed, and the faculty and mentors are available to offer support and guidance, all of which leads to outcomes that are perfectly tailored to your unique needs. Participating in Cascador was my best decision of 2022.”

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    Regarding the personal journey of entrepreneurship, Farmer Samson Ogbole said, “With Cascador you get to be part of a family – in every sense of the word. The environment was open and receptive, and I experienced no feeling of competition with my fellow Cascadors. Cascador’s faculty and fellows are with you every step of the way, and if you reach out to them the door is always open.”

    A 2023 participant, Femi Bewaji, the CEO of Fembol Group reveals that, “Cascador has been very impactful in all areas of our business. It’s been a very interesting journey for me personally. There have been a lot of lessons learned… on leadership, self-discovery, fundraising and scaling. The most important thing for me in the programme is that we’ve been able to build a good ecosystem of co-founders where we can collaborate to do great things.”

    Femi advises other entrepreneurs to apply, saying, “I feel like you shouldn’t think about it, you should see this as an opportunity to come and learn and scale your business. From day one you will feel the impact on your business, you’ll see the network, and you can actually grow.”

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    Cascador participants are mid-stage entrepreneurs with at least 2 years in operation. They must generate annual revenue from sales that exceeds ₦50,000,000 per year. Participation is limited to 10 fellows.

    The 2024 Cascador program will be hosted from November 4-8, 2024 at Lagos Business School. Participation in all 5 days of the in-person intensive is mandatory.

    The week-long intensive is augmented by pre-program preparatory sessions and foundation-building exercises, and 6 months of follow-up mentoring. All lodging and meals for the week are provided by Cascador. $5,000 USD is provided to each Cascador participant after program completion, and funds may be used for professional development, business capital or personal use with no limitations.

    Learn more at www.cascador.org and explore video content on the accelerator’s YouTube channel. Interested applicants can apply online for early acceptance through April 30th


    About the Cascador Program

    Cascador is an annual, no-cost program focused on business scale. Accelerator curriculum is designed for mid-stage African entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and their leadership skills by working with successful American and Nigerian entrepreneurs from a wide range of industry sectors, backgrounds and geographic locations. A one-week annual intensive in-person program is augmented with preparatory exercises, self-awareness coaching, and is followed by 6 months of mentorship. Interested applicants, partners, sponsors and prospective faculty can learn more and contact the Cascador team at www.cascador.org.

  • UNVEILING THE TECH NICHE NAVIGATOR- A tool designed to help early tech professionals, find their place in the digital world.

    In the ever evolving terrain of the tech industry, proper career guidance isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. 

    Whether you’re a recent graduate venturing into the realm of technology or an experienced professional contemplating a shift in your career trajectory, the insights from seasoned experts can be invaluable. The advantages are manifold: aiding in navigating the complexities of myriad options, staying abreast of trends to remain competitive, and steering clear of common pitfalls such as choosing the wrong specialization or neglecting skill development and networking opportunities. 
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    To provide early tech professionals with the essential tools for navigating their careers, Jane Odonwodo, a seasoned Tech Talent Manager, has unveiled a valuable resource titled “Tech Niche Navigator: Finding Your Place in the Digital World.” This eBook serves as a compass in the digital wilderness, offering practical insights and actionable advice across various tech domains including software development, data science, UX design, cybersecurity, IoT technology, and more. 

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    Throughout the pages of “Tech Niche Navigator,” readers embark on a journey of self-discovery, uncovering their passions, identifying strengths, and defining career goals within the digital realm. Authored by Jane Odonwodo, an accomplished leader in HR management with over a decade of diverse experience, the book reflects her commitment to fostering talent development initiatives and facilitating cross-border collaborations.

    Jane’s impressive track record includes spearheading initiatives such as the Digital Explorers II program, an EU funded initiative which matches Nigerian tech experts with EU and Nigerian employers, as well as contributing to national efforts to train 1 million technical talents as part of Nigeria’s presidential target to creating 2 million digital jobs in the country. 

    Jane’s influence extends beyond Nigeria; in 2022 at the behest of the International Office of Migration Netherlands IOM, she educated Dutch employers on recruiting and working with Nigerian talents in the Baltics on the MATCH program. She currently leads efforts to bridge cultural divides within TeleSoftas, a multinational tech company in Lithuania and Nigeria. 

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    The Tech Niche Navigator eBook, available on Selar, is a testament to Jane’s dedication to advancing tech education and talent development. By providing professionals with the guidance and resources they need to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the tech industry, Jane empowers individuals to carve out their niche and thrive in the digital world. 

    Access the Tech Niche Navigator eBook on Selar via the link below: https://selar.co/ed1311.

  • Unlock Savings with Verve Cards: Discounts and Offers Await You!

    In today’s fast-paced world, where every penny counts, saving money is more critical than ever. Looking for an easy way to enjoy discounts and exclusive offers is of great importance, look no further, Verve cards are the best options. These versatile and widely accepted payment cards offer an array of fantastic benefits, making your shopping and spending experience more enjoyable.

    Why Choose Verve Cards?

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    Verve is a popular payment card network known for its widespread acceptance across various businesses, both online and offline. Here are some compelling reasons to consider getting a Verve card:

    1. Discounts Galore: Verve card holders have access to a multitude of discounts and promotions at partnering merchants. Whether you’re shopping for clothing, dining out, or booking a hotel stay, you can enjoy significant savings. For instance, Verve card holders in March enjoyed 5% – 10% discounts when they shop in Ebeano and Adide with their Verve cards. 

    2. Widely Accepted: Verve cards are widely accepted in Nigeria and, in some cases, internationally. You can use your Verve card for everyday purchases, travel expenses, and online shopping.

    3. Convenience: Verve cards are easy to use and offer a convenient payment method, eliminating the need to carry cash or visit ATMs frequently.

    4. Security: Verve places a high premium on cardholder security. Advanced security features protect your transactions, giving you peace of mind.

    Exclusive Verve Card Offers

    Verve cards take your shopping experience to the next level with exclusive offers. Here are some types of discounts and benefits you can enjoy:

    1. Retail Discounts: Many retailers partner with Verve to offer cardholders special discounts and promotions. From fashion to electronics, you can save big on your favorite items.

    2. Dining Deals: Love dining out? Verve cards often come with exclusive dining offers, allowing you to savor delicious meals at a fraction of the cost.

    3. Travel Perks: Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a long-awaited vacation, Verve cards can provide discounts on flights, hotels, and car rentals.

    4. Entertainment Savings: Enjoying a night out at the movies or a concert? Verve cards frequently offer discounts on entertainment tickets.

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    Get Your Verve Card Today!

    Are you ready to unlock a world of savings and exclusive offers? It’s time to get your Verve card and start enjoying the benefits it brings. Applying for a Verve card is simple, and you can do it through various banks and financial institutions. Don’t miss out on these amazing discounts and offers. Get your Verve card now, and start saving on every purchase!

    Get Your Verve Card and Start Saving!

    Ready to enjoy incredible discounts and offers with a Verve card? Don’t wait any longer. Apply for your Verve card today, and start saving on your everyday expenses. Simply visit https://www.vervecard.com/apply to get started. It’s fast, easy, and the key to unlocking fantastic savings. Join the Verve community and experience the joy of saving with every swipe! With Verve cards, the more you spend, the more you save. Don’t miss out – apply now!

  • Hannatu Musa Musawa, Obi Asika, Addy Awofisayo and More to Lead Conversations on Africa’s Creative Industry at DICE 2.0

    Beyond Limits, a pan-African organisation committed to digital transformation, excellence, and empowering the next generation of leaders across the continent, announces the second edition of its highly anticipated Digital Innovation and Creative Excellence (DICE) mixer, an event fostering innovation and collaboration among visionaries reshaping Africa’s tech, creative, and business landscape. 

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    Scheduled for Friday, April 26th, in Lagos, Nigeria, DICE 2.0 is themed “Solve For Africa: Unlocking the Revenue Potential of the Creative Economy.” This event will convene key players in Africa’s creative industry to unlock the continent’s untapped potential.

    First held in November 2023, DICE 1.0 brought together over 250 participants, including founders, investors, creators, business leaders, media personalities, and policymakers. Insightful conversations centered on the need for growth, policy changes, and innovative actions, leading to several successful collaborations. 

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    Dr Juliet Ehimuan, Founder and CEO of Beyond Limits, expressed her excitement about the success of the DICE 1.0 mixer. “Our first edition of the mixer was such a huge success; we also created a DICE Report as a reference. I’m delighted to reunite the ecosystem again to cultivate innovation and connections, this time, for the creative industry.”

    “The creative economy’s current contribution to our GDP is a modest 2.49%. Yet, the industry has tremendous potential to become a more robust contributor. DICE 2.0 was created to address issues that hinder us from fully realizing our creative potential,” she added.

    With a lineup of renowned personalities, including Hannatu Musa Musawa, Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Obi Asika, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture; Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media; Kola Oyeneyin, CEO of Opportunik Global Fund; Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa at YouTube; Winifred Nwania, Founder/Creative Director of Zeelicious Foods; and other exceptional leaders.

    [ad]

    DICE 2.0, having TechCabal and The Guardian as official media partners, will feature thought-provoking conversations and a unique networking opportunity for attendees.

    While the event is by invitation only, Beyond Limits offers interested members of the creative, tech, and business community a chance to attend by applying for free at www.dice.beyondlimitsafrica.com 

  • Quidax Encourages Users to Do Crypto With Quidax, Offering Over $60,000 in Crypto Assets

    Quidax, the African-founded cryptocurrency exchange and the only local crypto exchange with an active order book, has unveiled an exciting initiative to incentivize new users to kickstart their crypto journey. 

    The platform will be rewarding newcomers with QDX tokens (Quidax exchange token) valued at over $60,000 in the next few months, empowering them to dive into the world of digital assets.

    In light of the current global economic landscape, Quidax aims to foster greater participation in crypto trading by providing a user-friendly and convenient platform.

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    Buchi Okoro, Co-founder and CEO of Quidax, emphasizing the importance of these initiatives, said, “Amidst the ongoing economic challenges, it has now become important for many people to explore alternative income streams. Our platform caters to both newbies and seasoned crypto traders, making it the ideal starting point for all.” We are thrilled to welcome new traders to Quidax and guide them through their journey on our platform.”Buchi, who is also a speaker at the Paris Blockchain Week added.

    The ‘Do Crypto With Quidax’ campaign is slated to run from March to June 2024, exclusively targeting new users of the Quidax mobile app or web platforms.

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    Recognizing the potential challenges newcomers face in navigating the crypto landscape, Quidax has also established a learning platform aimed at easing their entry into the exciting realm of crypto trading. Dubbed Quidax Academy, this educational initiative offers a complimentary beginner course accessible through the platform. The course features concise and beginner-friendly videos designed to provide new traders with fundamental knowledge essential for embarking on their crypto journey.

    Adepoju Bakare, Marketing Director at Quidax, encourages new users to complete the beginner course before executing their first trade with the provided free QDX tokens. He also hinted at new upgrades that are currently being done to improve the Quidax Academy learning experience for new and current customers.  

    To qualify for the complimentary trading coins, interested individuals should visit the website or download the Quidax app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Upon signing up and using the referral code ‘QPearl,’ users will automatically receive free coins to initiate their crypto trading journey. 

    For further information on participation details, interested parties can visit Quidax’s social media pages or reach out via email at pearl@quidax.com. Additionally, users can join the Telegram channel for timely updates.

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    About Quidax

    Quidax is an African founded cryptocurrency exchange that gives anyone access to tokens on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) and popular cryptocurrencies. It also enables Fintech companies to offer cryptocurrency services to their customers. Quidax was officially launched in 2018 and currently has customers in over 70 countries.

    Social Links 

    Quidax Global Community (Telegram): https://t.me/QuidaxGlobal

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuidaxGlobal

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/QuidaxGlobal

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quidaxglobal

    Quidax Academy: https://blog.quidax.ng/quidax-academy-beginner-crypto-course/

  • Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri, Olori Atuwatse III & The Royal Iwere Foundation Partner with Omilola Oshikoya to Launch Innovative Business Incubator Program

    Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri & Olori Atuwatse III, in collaboration with Omilola Oshikoya, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a groundbreaking business incubator program in the Kingdom of Warri, Nigeria.

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    The incubator program, developed and operated by Omilola Oshikoya with support from the Crown and its humanitarian development organisation, the Royal Iwere Foundation aims to foster economic growth and prosperity in the Kingdom, with far-reaching implications for Nigeria and the African continent. This initiative aligns with Ogiame Atuwatse III’s visionary global master plan, which aims to position Warri as a pivotal hub for global business operations and technological innovation.

    Following the successful completion of the inaugural phase, the Olu of Warri Tech Challenge, a strategic partnership has been formed to host selected participants in Warri, Delta State, for a comprehensive three-month pre-seed incubator program.

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    In discussions regarding the partnership, Omilola Oshikoya stated, “Our mission is to cultivate economic prosperity in Africa, beginning with the Kingdom of Warri. Through an innovative technology incubator program tailored for early-stage to pre-seed startups and developers in Warri, we aim to provide a nurturing environment that catalyzes tech ideas into viable businesses.”

    “Entrepreneurship and innovation are integral to driving economic progress,” Omilola emphasized. “Our focus on market-creating innovations targeting non-consumption/non-consumers is crucial for sustainable development. We believe that by fostering innovation, we can address the challenges facing Africa and create opportunities for growth and prosperity.”

    The success of the Olu of Warri Tech Challenge in 2022 underscores the region’s potential for technological innovation. With over 600 applications received and the emergence of promising ventures like Oghenetejiri Onosajerhe’s accessible electronic book-reader for the visually impaired community, the incubator program aims to build on this momentum.

    The 12-week resident pre-seed incubator program, spearheaded by Omilola Oshikoya, is designed to provide participants with comprehensive business training, mentorship, and resources. Upon completion, participants will be equipped to develop robust business plans and pitch their ideas effectively.

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    About The Incubator Program

    The incubator program, led by Omilola Oshikoya, is committed to fostering economic prosperity in Africa through innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and gender and income equality. Its objective is to establish a robust pipeline of high-quality, high-value startups and scalable, bankable enterprises for the startup ecosystem. The incubator program aims to contribute to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. These goals are Goal 1: no poverty, Goal 4 – quality education, Goal 5 – gender equality, Goal 8 – decent work and economic growth and Goal 9 – industry, innovation and infrastructure.

    For inquiries regarding partnership or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

    Omilola Oshikoya

    Email: omioshikoya@gmail.com

    Phone: +2348055349562

    Ruth Zubairu

    Phone: +2349090367368

  • Sony unveils the Ultimate Party Experience with the X Series Party Speaker Launch

    The activation drew in retailers and music enthusiasts for an unforgettable two days of entertainment and exceptional sound quality

    Nigeria, March 19, 2024: Sony brings an electrifying atmosphere to Nigeria, as it unveils its exclusive lineup of the X series party speakers. Having taken place on Friday March 15th at the famous Ikeja Computer Village and Saturday March 16th at the Ikeja City Mall, the activation aimed to spread awareness amongst consumers and retailers set against a vibrant market and mall focused setting. 

    Led by a full delegation of the Sony Middle East and Africa team, this activation was a testament 

    to the long-standing commitment of the Sony brand to the Nigerian market. Attendees had the opportunity to experience firsthand the innovative features and exceptional sound quality of the party speakers and redefine the art of sound. The X series party speakers lineup includes the SRS XV-900, SRS-XV800, SRS-XV700, and the SRS XV-500, offering a comprehensive range of features that make them the ultimate companion for any party.

    The activation kicked off with engaging activities such as karaoke sessions, dancing competitions, and other entertaining activities, for an unforgettable day of entertainment and throbbing bass. Renowned reality star and OAP Tacha as well as celebrity hype man, the energy gad Dotun captivated the audience with their electrifying presence as guests showcased their vocal prowess.

    Commenting on the event Dotun says” These speakers serve as the ultimate powerhouse and the perfect companion for any party starter. Moreover, with its long-lasting battery life of up to 25 hours on a single charge, the groove never had to stop”

    Jobin Joejoe, Deputy Managing Director at Sony Middle East and Africa says: “We’re thrilled to showcase the X series party speakers in Nigeria. As the last two days demonstrated, these speakers are designed to elevate every gathering into an unforgettable experience. This activation not only showcased the remarkable capabilities of the X series but also underscored Sony’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment and technology.”

    Notably, the X series party speaker activation is currently underway in various African countries, highlighting Sony’s dedication to providing exceptional audio experiences across the continent.

    Other features include:

    • Karaoke and guitar inputs for entertaining guests with musical talents.
    • User-friendly touch panel for easy control of settings.
    • Party Connect, capable of connecting up to 100 compatible Sony speakers for an immersive sound experience.
    • Powerful surround sound with omni-directional party sound and ambient lighting.
    • The X Series Party speaker portable design and 25-hour battery life ensure it can accompany you anywhere.
  • From Unicorns to Uncharted Territories: Navigating Africa’s FinTech Landscape

    Growing at an annual growth rate of 32%, the Africa FinTech market is set to achieve annual revenues of $65 billion dollars by 2030 based on assessments by Boston Consulting Group and QED Investors. While the growth rates are significant, and revenues of $65 billion seem impressive, it is worth considering the relative significance of the market in the global context. We can consider two FinTech businesses outside of Africa to see that the forecasted revenues might in fact be considered minimal to serve an entire continent. Take for example the FinTech Stripe, founded in California and valued at ~ $80 billion, it achieves annual revenues of approximately $14 billion while Ant Group, established in China, owning several digital banking and financial service brands, is valued at $80 billion. In context, the African FinTech market starts to seem underdeveloped, even at the aggressive forecasted growth rates.

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    We can view this to be even more true when we also consider it in context of the need for FinTech on the continent. With a unique financial landscape, Africa presents several challenges in achieving financial inclusion as approximately half of the continent’s population remains unbanked. FinTech has emerged as an opportunity to improve access and affordability to the African consumer by providing a value proposition that is differentiated in its cost, efficiency, access, and often simplified services. Traditional banks enjoy their own value proposition, especially in areas related to security, regulatory compliance, and consumer trust, given the many long-standing brands which dominate the sector on the continent. Thinking about what could be achieved if combining the value proposition of the two, we can start to see the potential for lower cost banking that enables access and efficiency while ensuring customer trust is built by leveraging the loyalty and safety associated with traditional banks. 

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    Confronting Critical Questions on the path to financial inclusion

    We then need to challenge ourselves to ask how we achieve this. How do we ensure that we maintain double, or even triple digit growth in catalysing innovative and digital banking solutions best suited to the needs of the dynamic African consumer? How do we build investor trust to attract the investment seen by some of the FinTech players in more developed parts of the world? And how do we encourage a mindset shift among consumers to see and understand the potential value that comes with empowering themselves to be financially included? Three questions which should undoubtedly be top of mind for the leaders in the industry on the continent, both in the spirit of unlocking financial opportunities for the many consumers which so desperately need it while also enabling sector growth to contribute to the economic development of the continent. A first opportunity which presents itself is the prospect of collaboration between the ‘new’ and the ‘old’ where FinTechs and traditional banks come together to create an outsized impact by leveraging their respective strengths and developing innovative models in the sector, geared towards the benefit of both sides. 

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    The Impact of African FinTech Unicorns and the Path to Local Investment

    We take inspiration from FinTechs on the continent which have achieved unicorn status, being valued at $1 billion or more, demonstrating the ability of African innovators to have a significant impact on the continent. The likes of Nigerian entities Flutterwave, Interswitch and OPay all enjoy this status through the development of Africa-focused technology solutions which has resulted in its significant growth and success. What remains interesting is the unicorn investment round leaders which consist of Visa, Tiger Global Avenir Growth and Softbank Vision Fund 2 for the three FinTechs respectively. What we evidently do not see in these FinTechs, and many others, is the backing of African investors or financial institutions; many which have the financial capital and capacity to make catalysing investments from which they stand to benefit in significant investment return with the opportunity to drive integration into their traditional offerings, encouraging innovation and strengthening its reach and potential to impact the African consumer. 

    The burgeoning African FinTech market holds immense potential yet lags behind the needs of the continent. By fostering collaboration between traditional banks and FinTech innovators, there’s significant opportunity to accelerate financial inclusion and drive economic growth across the continent. Strategic investments and partnerships, with the elimination of industry silos, are fundamental in realising this vision and positioning Africa as a major player in the global financial landscape. There has never been a more critical time for each of us, along with industry leaders, to confront the pressing questions of how to stimulate growth through fit-for-purpose African-oriented solutions, how to generate sector-stimulating investment and how to best encourage the African consumer to benefit from the advantages of financial inclusion.

    Hassan Abdullahi is a Business Development Executive with over 17 years’ experience in Corporate & Commercial Banking. He is currently a Corporate Executive in the African Subsidiaries Division of Access Bank Plc, driving the bank’s global relationship management.

    Kelly-Ann Mostert is the Managing Director of a strategy consulting firm, Sustainable Strategies Africa, with sustainability, people and Africa at its core.

  • FirstBank launches fourth Digital Xperience Centre in Banana Island

    Image source: Technext

    On the 20th of March, the premier bank of Nigeria, FirstBank commissioned its fourth fully automated branch. These fully-automated branches, also known as FirstBank Digital Xperience Centres (DXC), are innovative banking centres designed to give customers 24/7 digital self-service experiences devoid of unnecessary human interaction. The first Digital Xperience Centre by the bank is located at Victoria Island. The second centre is at the campus of the University of Ibadan (U.I), the third at FirstBank Wuse Branch, Abuja and this fourth centre (second in Lagos) is housed at the Biporal Limited building in the upscale neighbourhood of Banana Island.

    In his opening speech, the CEO of FirstBank, Adesola Adeduntan lauded the work Biporal has been doing and commended Mr Odukoya kehinde Olusola the General Manager of Biporal, for the mutually beneficial relationship the company has built with FirstBank.  He also spoke about the reasoning behind opening these centres, stating that the bank’s goal is to always excite their customers and improve their experiences. 

    “For us at FirstBank, we care about being woven into the fabric of the societies where we operate and being an integral part of it. What we’re commissioning today is a world-class digital experience centre where customers will have the opportunity to carry out banking transactions without any human intervention. Our focus is to continually delight our customers and allow them to be able to transact in the comfort of their homes but if they choose to interact with us at a branch, we believe we should give them a world-class environment and  platform to transact from.” He said.

    FirstBank CEO, Adesola Adeduntan

    Over the last 130 years, FirstBank has led the charge for financial inclusion by pushing the envelope of what is possible in banking. The bank has continued to impress its customers by leveraging technology to constantly innovate. 

    In line with its vision to offer customers a fully-automated digital experience, when you step into a Digital Xperience Centre you will meet an interesting “Branch staff” who will help with any of your needs. FirstBank DXCs are manned by humanoid robots attending to customers. These robots are AI-enabled, understand speech, they help customers with things like video banking if one ever needs to speak to a human representative. They can also help with handling non-financial transactions needs like updating one’s account, requesting an ATM, and more.

    Besides AI and video banking, customers using the DXC can also request and print their own ATM cards in under 3 minutes. They can deposit physical cash to their account or another person’s account at these centres, deposit cheques, make transfers both within and outside FirstBank, hotlist/block their ATM card and hardware token, and do so much more without human intervention.

    According to Callistus Obetta the Group Executive for technology, digital Innovation, and services at FirstBank, the edge of these Digital Xperience Centres is that users get access to the complete suite of banking services FirstBank offers and they get this wrapped in an elevated and premium banking experience. “At the core of opening these digital centres is FirstBank’s commitment to continue to provide seamless personalised banking services to our customers. The uniqueness of this digital experience centre is that it brings together the best of physical and digital banking services to customers in a very welcoming and ambient environment,” he said.

    With the explosion of fintech and AI services globally, FirstBank’s Digital Xperience Centres help its customers in Nigeria access world-class innovative services in their own backyard. These innovative centres are tailored to meet both the banking needs of tech-savvy customers and those who still prefer traditional methods of banking. According to Callistus, before building these centres, the bank takes into account the locations where their customers will benefit the most from these experiences. Security is also taken into account so customers can feel both physically and digitally safe to stop by and conduct transactions.

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    With the combination of its mobile apps and these DXCs, FirstBank customers are stepping into a future where banking is so convenient and efficient, they may never have to interact with another human to access financial services. According to Adeduntan, FirstBank plans to open five more centres in 2024. Ultimately, the goal is to continue to cater to the evolving needs of customers by leveraging technology to create state-of-the-art services.

  • Stanbic IBTC Bank and Easybuy partner to make smartphone ownership more accessible

    Amid the current economic constraints many Nigerians are currently facing, particularly those in the low to middle income bracket, acquiring smartphones takes a back seat mostly due to the prohibitive upfront costs. This, therefore, limits the ability for many to maintain seamless virtual communication and conduct online personal and business transactions.

    Recognising this barrier to meeting this dire needs, Stanbic IBTC Bank has partnered with Easybuy, a retailer of smart devices, to offer partial financing solutions for individuals who need to purchase smartphones. This collaborative effort aims at facilitating ownership for individuals aged 18 to 59, irrespective of their economic background.

    The Easybuy app is a financial platform with a Quick Loan feature that allows customers fulfil their aspirations of owning smart phones. This digital loan offering streamlines the process and extends instant loans to customers and even non-customers of Stanbic IBTC Bank, who meet the eligibility criteria.

    Stanbic IBTC Bank’s partnership ensures smooth application for eligible individuals, regardless of their banking affiliation. Also, the slightly relaxed procedure of credit profiling ensures swift approval and disbursement of funds, fostering inclusivity and removing unnecessary hurdles for people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

    Stanbic IBTC Bank and Easybuy have empowered individuals with access to essential technology. This initiative promotes financial inclusion and economic empowerment; expands education, communication, and entrepreneurship opportunities, and contributes to societal development.

    Beyond financial metrics, the true success of this initiative is the positive impact on the lives of Nigerians enabled by the improved technology and seamless communication they will enjoy. 

    As we navigate the digital landscape, partnerships like that of Stanbic IBTC Bank and Easybuy underscore the power of collaboration in addressing societal challenges and fostering meaningful change.

    For more details on Easybuy and how to apply, kindly visit the nearest Easybuy retail store close to you. 

  • uLesson Education Launches Revolutionary Classboard Device for Schools

    Abuja, Nigeria; Thursday, 21 March 2024 – uLesson Education, a leading edtech company in Nigeria, introduced the uLesson Classboard at its inaugural launch event in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, March 4, 2024. This cutting-edge Classboard represents a significant stride in transforming the educational landscape in Nigeria, offering a dynamic platform to enhance the teaching and learning experience within classrooms.

    The uLesson Classboard on display at the Abuja launch.

    Two other launch events were held in Yaba and Lekki in Lagos State on Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, 2024, respectively. These pivotal launches brought together teachers, school owners and administrators, businesses, and industry leaders across Nigeria, who were among the first to explore the innovative features of the uLesson Classboard.

    Classboard’s Innovative Features

    Classboard merges superior hardware and industry-leading academic content that enables primary and secondary school teachers to teach easily with engaging video lessons and learning resources. This 65-inch 4K display device is pre-loaded with an array of offline-accessible resources, including:

    • Over 10,000 video lessons
    • More than 3000 quizzes
    • Multiple visual aids

    With touch-screen functionality, teachers can also annotate on-screen and share those sessions for students to revisit. In addition, Classboard allows teachers to explain dual concepts simultaneously with a split screen.

    Members of the Content and Curriculum team attending to guests in Abuja.
    A demo session in Lagos.

    A Solution for Classroom Needs

    The launch events served as a platform to showcase how Classboard addresses the evolving needs of the education sector in Nigeria and beyond, emphasising the importance of efficiency and engagement in the teaching and learning process.

    Furthermore, teachers, school owners, and industry leaders present at the launches expressed enthusiasm about the potential impact of Classboard on enhancing the overall educational experience.

    A cross-section of attendees at the Classboard launch in Abuja.
    Mrs. Ayopeju Njideaka, CEO of Nurture House and keynote speaker at the Mainland launch, addressing attendees

    The Future of Education: Reimagining Education in the Digital Age

    uLesson K-12’s Chief Executive Officer, AyoOluwa Nihinlola, stated in the Lagos Mainland launch, “Unlike our learner-focused app, the uLesson Classboard was built differently with educators and teachers in mind. We’ve worked with several schools and educators to think about what we can truly do to support the work of teachers in the classroom; that is what is behind this product. We don’t want to take teachers out of the classroom; we want to support how they deliver better lessons and classes.”

    In comparing the Classboard with other SMART boards, Iheanyi Akwitti, Senior Vice President, Academics and Curriculum at the uLesson Group, said, “The major difference between the uLesson Classboard and other SMART boards is that this is the first classroom technology device that was built by an education company. The product was built by teachers who are staff of uLesson and by feedback from schools.”

    Mrs. Ayopeju Njideaka, CEO of Nurture House, emphasised educators possessing the right attitude, skills, and innovative mindset in addition to having the right tools to successfully drive educational outcomes.

    She said, “I don’t call the uLesson Classboard a product; I call it a solution. In fact, it’s a bundle of solutions. But no matter how fantastic a bundle of solutions is, if the person who’s going to bridge the gap between the students and the bundle of solutions doesn’t have the right attitude and skills, among other things, then we haven’t really started.”

    Launch Raffle Highlights

    Attendees who made commitments for the Classboard had the opportunity to participate in a raffle for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Rwanda or a brand new MacBook. At the Abuja launch, AJEC Schools Kaduna emerged as the lucky winner of the raffle. The Yaba launch raffle winner was Learn, Play, and Grow Learning Centre, while Holy Child College clinched the prize at the Lekki launch.

    Mr. Suleiman A., representative of AJEC Schools Kaduna, winner of the Abuja raffle.

                 

    Head of Marketing and Analytics, uLesson K-12, Tosin Oyetade (M), with representatives of Mainland raffle winner, Learn, Play, and Grow Learning Centre.
    Iheanyi Akwitti, Senior VP, Academics and Curriculum at the uLesson Group (L), with representatives of Holy Child College at the Island launch.                

    The successful Classboard launch events marked a significant step forward in uLesson’s commitment to empowering the education community with the best in-class media and technology and reinforcing their dedication to creating positive and collaborative learning environments worldwide.

    Since 2019, uLesson Education has been on the mission to prepare people for opportunity and improve society through education. With 5 million+ app downloads, 7 million+ questions attempted, and 14 million+ lessons watched, the uLesson app for learners caters to students between grades 1 and 12 with high-quality, animation-rich video lessons that are curriculum-relevant and delivered by expert tutors. uLesson has helped over 2.5 million+ learners love learning, improve grades, and pass exams in one sitting. uLesson is also committed to helping teachers love teaching the efficient way.

    For additional information about uLesson Classboard, please visit www.ulesson.com/classboard or call +234 201 330 3222.

  • Zap Africa Strengthens Regulatory Compliance with Infusion Lawyers Partnership

    Nigerian crypto tool software development company, Zap Africa, a leading player in the development of secure, accessible, and transparent crypto software tools is thrilled to announce a momentous collaboration with Infusion Lawyers, a preeminent virtual law firm specialising in intellectual property and technology. This strategic partnership serves to solidify Zap’s unwavering commitment to operating with transparency and ensuring adherence to the ever-shifting legal landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies.

    Infusion Lawyers is recognized as an accredited agent of the Trademark, Patents, and Designs Registry, the Commercial Law Department, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment in Abuja FCT, Nigeria, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)

    By joining forces with Infusion Lawyers, Zap gains access to their team of highly qualified specialists, possessing unparalleled mastery in navigating the intricacies of cryptocurrency regulations. This invaluable expertise will be instrumental in:

    • Unwavering Compliance: Ensuring Zap remains constantly updated on the ever-evolving regulatory environment governing cryptocurrencies.
    • Proactive Guidance: Guiding Zap’s software development to ensure strict compliance with current and upcoming regulations.
    • Mitigating Legal Risks: Proactively anticipating and addressing potential legal challenges associated with crypto software development.

    “Zap’s operations serve as a shining example of how cryptocurrency and DeFi can be harnessed responsibly to empower the Nigerian people. Our platform stands as a testament to the fact that, with a responsible approach, the crypto industry can offer Nigerians secure, inclusive, and transformative financial services. I am confident that our work will play a pivotal role in shaping a more open, progressive, and inclusive financial future for Nigeria,” proclaimed Tobi Asu-Johnson, CEO of Zap.

    About Zap Africa 

    Zap Africa is a software development company on a mission to build a future grounded in secure, accessible, and transparent crypto software tools.  These tools pave the way for financial inclusion, empowering Nigerians to actively participate in the global economy on their own terms, fostering prosperity through ubiquitous access and financial inclusivity.

    To learn more about Zap Africa visit – https://zap.africa 

  • RKY Careers Earns Esteemed ACTD-USA Accreditation, Marking a New Era of Expansion to operate in 100+ countries

    The American Council of Training and Development (ACTD-USA) accreditation sets RKY Careers on a distinguished path of international excellence and credibility in professional training services.

    The American Council of Training and Development (ACTD-USA) accreditation, issued by the Secretary of State of New Jersey, is a significant achievement in professional education and training.

    RKY Careers Bootcamps are practical and experience-focused, equipping professionals with the work experience to scale interviews and thrive on the job. The institution boasts 1000+ success stories of students hired into their desired jobs in 2023. Their Bootcamps and services are offered remotely and leveraged by candidates worldwide.

    This landmark achievement further endorses RKY Careers’ goal to provide high-quality, impactful training programs and empowers it to extend its influential educational reach across over 90 countries worldwide.

    RKY Careers’ newly acquired ACTD-USA accreditation underpins the organisation’s mission to deliver education that transcends borders, ensuring that professionals around the globe have access to training that is both globally recognised and locally relevant. This accreditation affirms RKY Careers’ standing at the forefront of professional development providers, solidifying its reputation for excellence in the international education landscape.

    For professionals, whether located in or relocating to countries like the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, or beyond, RKY Careers’ certification now carries an added weight of international credibility. This recognition is instrumental for those seeking to advance their careers globally, offering them a competitive edge through certifications that are valued and recognised worldwide.

    With this accreditation, RKY Careers is set to expand its reach and impact, bringing quality education to professionals across the globe. Furthermore, This follows the CEO’s recent recognition of her effect on immigrants’ career journey by the US Times.

    RKY Careers is also listed on the UK Government Website as a Recognised Learning Provider (UKRLP), affirming the organisation’s stature and the high regard it holds within educational and professional circles across the globe.

    Rukayat Alabi, AKA Ruky, the CEO of RKY Careers, expressed excitement about the accreditation, stating, “Achieving the accreditation is a great milestone demonstrating our commitment to providing top-tier education. We prioritise delivering exceptional education that meets the highest standards and empowers professionals worldwide with the skills and knowledge for success.”

    Professionals and organisations interested in leveraging RKY Careers’ accredited courses for career advancement are encouraged to explore the wide range of programs offered. For more information, visit www.rkycareers.com].

    Check out Our success stories: https://rkycareers.com/blog/success-stories/

  • Binary Options Trading Platforms in Singapore: A Review and Comparison

    Binary options trading has gained popularity in Singapore due to its simplicity and potential for high returns. However, the success of a trader can be heavily influenced by the choice of trading platform. 

    A good platform should offer not just ease of use and reliability, but also a range of tools and resources to aid in making informed trading decisions. Therefore, this guide is here to help all Singapore traders and provide an in-depth review and comparison of various binary options trading platforms available in Singapore. 

    Understanding the Singaporean Market

    Before delving into specific platforms, it’s crucial to understand the context of binary options trading in Singapore. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulates the financial services sector, ensuring a safe and transparent trading environment. Traders in Singapore need platforms that are not only compliant with these regulations but also cater to the specific needs and preferences of the local market.

    Top 3 Binary Options Trading Platforms in Singapore

    Singapore traders should consider the following platforms:

    Quotex

    Quotex is a relatively new player in the binary options market but has quickly gained popularity due to its innovative approach and modern interface.

    Key Features:

    • User Interface: Sleek and user-friendly, designed for both beginners and experienced traders.
    • Asset Variety: Offers a wide range of assets, including stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
    • Tools and Resources: Equipped with advanced charting tools and indicators for comprehensive market analysis.
    • Security: Implements robust security measures to protect user data and transactions.

    Pros and Cons:

    • Pros: Modern interface, a wide range of assets, advanced analytical tools.
    • Cons: Being newer to the market, it has a shorter track record which might concern some traders.

    Olymp Trade

    Olymp Trade is well-regarded in the trading community for its focus on trader education and development.

    Key Features:

    • User Interface: Intuitive and easy to navigate, making it ideal for new traders.
    • Asset Variety: Provides a diverse range of trading assets including currencies, commodities, and indices.
    • Tools and Resources: Offers free educational materials, webinars, and a demo account.
    • Security: Prioritizes the security of its users with strong protective measures.

    Pros and Cons:

    • Pros: Strong educational focus, excellent for beginners, user-friendly platform.
    • Cons: May lack some of the more advanced features sought by professional traders.

    Pocket Option

    Pocket Option is known for its versatility and is favored by traders for its high payouts and comprehensive asset choices.

    Key Features:

    • User Interface: Features a straightforward and flexible platform suitable for all types of traders.
    • Asset Variety: Offers an extensive list of assets, including high-yield options.
    • Tools and Resources: Provides several useful trading tools and social trading features.
    • Security: Ensures the safety and security of client funds and personal information.

    Pros and Cons:

    • Pros: High payouts, a wide array of assets, and social trading options.
    • Cons: The platform might seem overwhelming to absolute beginners due to its extensive features.

    Comparing Platforms: Which Suits You Best?

    Obviously, the are way more platforms than those mentioned above. To wrap up, here are some guidelines you can follow when choosing a trading platform: 

    1. Regulatory Compliance

    Ensure the platform adheres to the regulatory standards of the jurisdictions it operates in. This compliance is crucial for your security and the legitimacy of your trading activities.

    2. Asset Diversity

    Look for platforms that offer a wide range of assets. More options mean more opportunities to trade in different market conditions.

    3. Trading Tools and Features

    Evaluate the tools and features available for conducting market analysis, executing trades, and managing risk. Advanced charting tools, indicators, and risk management features are important for effective trading.

    4. User Interface and Experience

    The platform should be user-friendly and intuitive. A good user interface is especially important if you’re a beginner.

    5. Fees and Payouts

    Compare the fee structures, including any hidden fees or charges. Also, consider the payout percentages as they will directly affect your profitability.

    6. Customer Support and Resources

    Good customer support can be crucial, especially in resolving trading issues. Additionally, check for the availability of educational resources and training materials.

    7. Demo Account Availability

    Platforms offering demo accounts allow you to practice and get a feel for the platform without risking real money.

    8. Reviews and Community Feedback

    Look for reviews and feedback from other traders. Community forums and independent review sites can provide valuable insights into the platform’s reliability and performance.

  • Future-Proofing SMEs: PayCover by Octamile – Beyond Traditional Insurance

    In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and business, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often find themselves navigating a labyrinth of risks and uncertainties. Recognizing the urgent need for a more resilient safety net, Octamile, a pioneering force in the Insurtech arena, in partnership with AZA Insurance Brokers, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution: PayCover.

    The Dawn of a New Era in Business Insurance

    PayCover is not just a platform; it’s a lifeline designed to fortify the backbone of our economy – the small and medium-sized enterprises. This AI-powered platform promises more than just insurance; it offers a new paradigm of business resilience and sustainability, ensuring that SMBs aren’t just surviving but thriving.

    What Makes PayCover Stand Out?

    • Digital Insurance Wallet: Say goodbye to scattered policies and hello to streamlined, centralized control. PayCover’s digital insurance wallet offers unprecedented visibility and management over your insurance policies, all in one place.
    • AI-Optimized Coverage: Why pay for coverage you don’t need? With PayCover, AI technology crafts personalized insurance solutions, ensuring you get the exact coverage your business requires, eliminating overpayment and underprotection.
    • Automated Processes: Leveraging cutting-edge technology, PayCover simplifies and automates policy renewals and claims management, liberating business owners to focus on what truly matters—growth.
    • Flexible Payment Options: PayCover understands the pulse of SMBs. The platform offers flexible payment solutions, addressing typical cash flow constraints and enabling businesses to stay insured without financial strain.

    A Vision for the Future

    Gbenro Dara, the Co-founder and CEO of Octamile, articulates the mission behind PayCover as “a pivotal advancement in making advanced risk management tools accessible to SMBs. This vision is about dismantling the barriers to comprehensive insurance solutions, thereby not only safeguarding businesses from unexpected risks but also empowering them to invest confidently in their future”

    An Invitation to Resilience and Growth

    Octamile and AZA Insurance Brokers are extending a hand to all businesses, industry leaders, and tech innovators to explore the transformative potential of PayCover. This is more than an invitation to try a new product; it’s a call to join a movement towards creating a more resilient, sustainable, and empowered business community.

    In a world where change is the only constant, PayCover stands as a testament to innovation and security. It’s a bridge to a future where small and medium-sized businesses can navigate the tides of risk with confidence and certainty.

    Join the Revolution

    The launch of PayCover marks a significant milestone in the journey of business protection. We invite you to be part of this revolutionary journey, to redefine the future of business insurance, and to secure the future of your enterprise.

    Discover how PayCover can transform your insurance experience and contribute to your business’s resilience and growth. Visit Paycover.Africa today to embark on a journey toward security and success.

    Welcome to the future of business insurance. Welcome to PayCover.

  • Branching Out: Oradian Leverages Nigerian Roots to Enable Regional Expansions for FinTechs.

    The bustling streets of Lagos, hold a role model for innovation: Oradian, a core banking platform provider on a mission to empower financial institutions to expand their reach. Unlike competitors who parachute in from afar, Oradian has chosen to establish a local presence, digging deep roots to truly understand the Nigerian financial landscape. This commitment signifies a core belief – that true partnership thrives on shared ground. 

    Imagine navigating the complexities of a new regulatory landscape without a local guide. Oradian’s team in Lagos speaks the language, both literally and figuratively. They understand the intricacies of Nigerian financial regulations, ensuring their solutions meet all legal and data protection requirements. Also, having a local team on the ground translates to faster response times for support and maintenance. No more waiting for emails across time zones – a quick phone call or visit to the Lagos office keeps operations running smoothly. 

    But the advantages extend far beyond technical expertise. A team in tune with Nigerian business practices and cultural nuances can tailor solutions to better fit specific customer needs.  We are talking of a banking platform that seamlessly integrates with local payment systems or accommodates unique loan structures preferred by Nigerian consumers. This cultural understanding fosters trust and collaboration, reducing risks associated with outsourcing critical software services. 

    Local expertise also allows Oradian adapt its platform to unique market trends and customer requirements. Perhaps a surge in mobile banking adoption necessitates a more robust mobile app solution – Oradian’s local team is on the pulse of these trends, ensuring their platform remains relevant and competitive.

    Oradian’s commitment goes beyond simply serving the domestic market. The company’s strategic location positions them as a launchpad for ambitious financial institutions seeking to expand across sub-Saharan Africa. The established infrastructure in Nigeria – a local team, technical expertise, and existing partnerships – provides a solid foundation for supporting regional growth. It’s like having a trusted advisor already set up in the new market, ready to navigate the unfamiliar terrain.

    Statistics reveal a stark difference between core banking software providers with a physical presence in Nigeria and those operating remotely. Most of the market is served by companies from afar, potentially missing the intricacies of the local environment. 

    This distance can lead to frustrating delays in resolving issues due to time zone differences, impacting operational efficiency. We’d like you to imagine a critical system outage occurring during Nigerian business hours, but the support team is unreachable until the next morning due to a time zone difference. Such delays can cripple operations and damage customer trust.

    Communication barriers and cultural differences can further complicate collaboration. Remote providers might struggle to tailor solutions to the specific needs of Nigerian institutions.  Imagine a banking platform designed for a Western market, failing to accommodate the nuances of banking practices prevalent in Nigeria. Oradian’s local presence eliminates these communication gaps, ensuring a smooth and collaborative development process. 

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    This is where Oradian’s local presence shines. 

    Laurin Hainy, CEO of FairMoney Nigeria, highlights the value: “We partnered with Oradian to leverage their existing infrastructure and trusted system performance to scale our solutions to new markets.” Similarly, Tiernan Kennedy, CEO and founder of Umba (Nigeria and Kenya), emphasizes the importance of a strong local partner: “Oradian is both a strong technology and experienced business partner, giving us the confidence to scale and deliver innovation across Nigeria and Kenya.”

    With over a decade of experience serving diverse markets, Oradian is a trusted partner for financial institutions seeking to grow in emerging economies like sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Their cloud-native core banking software offers the agility and scalability needed to adapt to evolving needs and seize market opportunities quickly. Integration with the fintech ecosystem streamlines operations and fosters innovation, while data-driven decision making empowers institutions to gain valuable insights into customer behavior and market trends. 

    But Oradian understands that software is just one piece of the puzzle. The company prioritises building long-term partnerships through a transparent subscription-based pricing model. Also, their unwavering commitment to local support and training empowers Nigerian financial institutions to unlock their full potential. In other words, there is a team of experts readily available to train staff and answer questions, ensuring a smooth transition to the new platform and maximising its capabilities.

    By partnering with Oradian, financial institutions gain access to a one-stop shop for regional expansion. Oradian’s local expertise guides them through navigating regulatory environments, cultural nuances, and business practices in new markets. 

    This comprehensive support system significantly reduces risk and accelerates time-to-market for ambitious institutions looking to expand their footprint across sub-Saharan Africa.  Imagine the competitive edge gained by being able to launch operations in a new market quickly and efficiently, with a trusted partner by your side every step of the way.

    Ready to unlock the potential of your financial institution and reach new heights? Contact Oradian today and learn more about how their solutions can address your specific needs. 

    Together, you can cultivate a thriving financial ecosystem that empowers both your institution and the communities it serves.

    Contact Oradian here to learn more about the company’s solutions and how they can solve your specific needs.

  • Minister of State for Health Taps Bode Pedro, Idris Alubankudi, Others Into 20-Man Digitalization Committee. Seeks To Drive Health Innovation Further in the Country.

    L-R: Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate (CON) presenting the certificate of inauguration to Founder/CEO of Casava Insurance, Bode Pedro at the National Health Digitalization Committee  (NHDC) Inuaguration in Abuja on Friday 15th March, 2024.

    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable transformation in the innovation landscape of the global healthcare industry. Much emphasis has been placed on the role of innovation, a youthful demographic, and infrastructural progress as drivers of this evolution, and experts have predicted that the global surge in investment in the sector will extend to Africa, with the Nigerian market standing out as particularly attractive. 

    As part of plans to bring said innovation to the healthcare sector in Nigeria, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has assembled a team of experts for the National Health Digitalization Committee (NHDC) to provide governance, strategic leadership, oversight, technical expertise and national coordination for the digitalization of Nigeria’s healthcare sector. 

    The esteemed team includes Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Digital Economy, Idris Alubankudi Saliu; Founder and CEO of Casava Insurance, Bode Pedro; and Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Commissioner for Health and Human Services in Ekiti State; and a renowned Global Health Leader with almost two decades of experience in health financing and system reforms.

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    The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa(fifth left) flanked by members of National Health Digitalization Committee, at the inauguration in Abuja.

    Also on the team are physician and passionate advocate for health equity and leadership known for transformative work in preventive healthcare through Magna Carta Health, Dr Lolade Adeyemi; and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina, among others. The committee will also receive technical support from executives at McKinsey Nigeria, and senior specialist at the World Bank Group, Marelize Gorgens. 

    The appointment holds significant merit, given the wealth of experience and expertise these selected members bring to the committee, which promises to be a robust platform to propel the health sector towards groundbreaking innovation. Bode Pedro stands out on the team as a seasoned tech entrepreneur, venture builder, and investor, boasting a remarkable track record spanning two decades. As the founder and CEO of Casava Insurance – Nigeria’s first fully digital insurance company – Pedro is at the forefront of transforming the insurance and health landscapes. Notably, in 2022, Casava achieved a milestone by securing a groundbreaking $4 million venture funding, marking the largest pre-seed raise for an insurtech in Africa. 

    Announcing the news on their social media pages, the Casava team conveyed enthusiasm regarding their founder’s appointment to the NHDC. “We are confident that Bode’s contributions to NHDC’s initiatives will bring about tangible and positive transformations for our nation and its people,” the post read.

     “This appointment affirms Bode’s unwavering dedication to leveraging technology and innovation to grow Nigeria’s health and insurance sector and thus improve the healthcare experience of every Nigerian,” the statement continued. 

    The inauguration, held on Friday, March 15th, builds on the government’s promise to digitalise the health sector to achieve better outcomes, which the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, made in 2023. In his words, “Digitalising the health system will help facilitate accurate data to improve activities in the sector.”

  • Defense startup Terrahaptix unveils Archer, an autonomous reconnaissance drone

    The battlefield has changed. Security threats across Africa are evolving at machine speed. How we solve the critical security crisis needs to change too. One company, Terrahaptix, understands this exceptionally well.

    Terrahaptix, a Nigerian defense startup, announced Archer, an autonomous drone with multi-mission capabilities including aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, counter intrusion, and signals intelligence. 

    Founded just 6 months ago, Terrahaptix designs and manufactures autonomous systems for core industries. The company has made a lot of strides since launching including the acquisition of a 15,000 sq-ft UAV factory in Abuja and the development of Artemis, an AI command and control software that powers autonomy in its family of systems. 

    The Archer is a modular, multi-domain UAV that is controlled entirely on the Artemis AI software and requires minimal operator training. It provides real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities that give the operators enough information to make the right decisions. The all-electric powertrain provides up to 3 hours flight time with multispectral sensors such as 4k daytime, infrared, thermal, and LiDar. 

    One major feature of the Archer is Intelligent Teaming. Basically, one operator is able to command and control large teams of autonomous Archers from a single ground control station. Groups of Archers collaborate to achieve missions objectives that are impossible to achieve via a single unit. This swarming capability also enhances advanced data collection that would be impossible with a single airframe.

    “Archer gives our customers a quiet, rugged, long-range system to complete complex operations in harsh environments”, says Nathan Nwachuku, Executive Chairman at Terrahaptix. “Archer represents a significant leap forward for aerial intelligence in Africa. We will continue to develop autonomous systems to solve the critical security crisis in Africa.” 

    Terrahaptix has so far been quiet about details on sales numbers and fundraising, but the company teases that a few major contract announcements are on the horizon. The company says its next step is the official launch of its Abuja UAV factory, set to begin production in April/May.

  • MySub.io – The Subscription Sharing Platform Reducing Inequality

    In our increasingly digital world, access to online information, entertainment, and software tools has become essential. However, the rising costs of digital subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, and Microsoft 365 create barriers, widening the global inequality gap. But a Lagos-based startup has an ingenious solution.

    Meet MySub.io – the innovative platform empowering users to collectively access and share subscription costs for their favorite digital services. By pooling resources through seamless expense splitting, MySub reduces the individual financial burden, making premium content and tools more affordable and accessible to all.

    The Problem MySub Solves:

    Managing shared digital subscription costs is a major pain point. Lack of effective tools leads to tedious manual tracking, payment coordination issues, confused billing, and even strained relationships among co-subscribers. MySub eliminates these frustrations with its specialized subscription sharing solution.

    “Our mission is to democratize access to the world’s digital content and tools through collaborative cost-sharing,” explains Obodugo Raphael, CEO and co-founder of MySub. “No one should be shut out from educational resources, entertainment, or productivity tools simply because they can’t afford the full subscription price alone.”

    How It Works:

    MySub’s platform allows users to easily create shared subscription groups for any digital service like Netflix, Masterclass, Adobe Creative Cloud and more. Members can conveniently contribute their portion of the cost through the app. MySub’s technology automatically divides the total subscription fee, charges users their share plus a 15% service fee, and handles all payment processing seamlessly.

    For example, a group of five friends using MySub to share a $10/month Netflix subscription would each pay only $2.25 monthly – a fraction of the full $10 price. MySub collects the total $11.25 (subscription cost + service fee) from the group’s pooled contributions.

    The startup has gained rapid traction since launch in January 2023, growing to over 50,000 users across 10 countries and facilitating over $60,000 in annualized subscription revenue sharing in just over a year. Metrics include:

    • 50,052 total users
    • 31% month-over-month user growth
    • $5,000 monthly recurring revenue
    • 95% user satisfaction rate

    “Before MySub, the solutions for sharing subscription costs were clunky and caused constant frustration,” said Zacchaeus Bolaji, the startup’s CTO and co-founder. “Our platform makes it effortless to collectively access your favorite services at a discount while avoiding all the headaches of self-managed payment splitting.”

    More Than Just Streaming 

    While the consumer entertainment subscription market is an obvious use case, MySub’s potential extends far beyond video streaming. The platform allows affordable group access to eLearning courses, productivity software, cloud storage, premium content publishers, and more.

    “Digital subscription sharing has the power to uplift economic and educational opportunities in underserved regions by democratizing access to knowledge and tools,” explained Nelson Izah, MySub’s Business & Growth Lead. “We’re fostering digital skill development, employment readiness, and entrepreneurship – especially for youths across Africa.”

    By allowing users worldwide to pool their resources through MySub, the startup is tackling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 10 of reducing inequalities within and between countries. Facilitating collaborative subscription access is just the start of MySub’s grander vision.

    A Passionate, Mission-Driven Team 

    Behind MySub’s innovative solution is a diverse team united by their passion for empowering underserved communities through technology access and economic opportunities.

    Co-founders Elina Glubert (COO), Obodugo Raphael (CEO), and Zacchaeus Bolaji (CTO) meticulously combined their complementary skills in business operations, engineering, design, and product strategy honed from their Computer Science studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and early career trajectories.

    Their enduring friendship stemming from a shared drive to create social impact formed the foundation and trust to bring their vision of MySub to life. Now, their well-rounded team spans expertise in engineering, business, marketing, and customer experience – all dedicated to MySub’s mission.

    What’s Next 

    MySub is poised for rapid expansion and user growth. The team will be doubling their engineering staff, launching localized mobile apps, focusing more on scaling up marketing and investing in enhanced subscription discovery and recommendation features.

    Their longer-term roadmap aims to support subscription bundling across multiple services, enabling highly affordable access to customized “subscription packs” tailored to each user’s interests.

    By championing collaborative consumption over individual ownership of digital access, MySub is pioneering an innovative model that reduces inequalities through the power of the sharing economy. As Raphael stated, “We envision a world where no individual is priced out of the invaluable knowledge, skills, and enrichment that digital subscriptions provide – because collectively, access becomes attainable for all.”

    The digital subscription economy is ripe for disruption, and MySub is leading the charge. This African startup is one to watch as a driving force in making the internet’s premium content and tools universally affordable and accessible worldwide.

  • Best Forex Trading Apps in Nigeria

    Forex trading is unregulated in Nigeria so to access the market you must only download a tier-1 regulated forex trading platform to trade online for low risk.

    Before you choose a forex app, you should test many apps to see which works for you. Check if they are from a trusted broker, is the spread lowest & so on.

    Our Picks for Best Forex Trading Apps in Nigeria in 2024

    Comparison of Best Forex Trading Apps in Nigeria

    💼 Forex app🎨 App settings🔋 Starting deposit 💨 Leverage🎭 Copy trading Regulation & legal
    Exness AppBest app overallQuick trading, Inbuilt MT5 terminal, TradingView charts, Disable screenshot$10UnlimitedNoFCA UK, CMA Kenya, FSCA South Africa
    Octafx AppBest forex app for androidDefault trading app can be changed to MT4, or MT5N30,0001:500NoMISA, Mwali 
    HFM AppBest forex app for beginnersQuick trading, custom order entry$51:2000YesFCA UK, CMA Kenya, FSCA South Africa
    XM AppBest forex app for copy tradingCustom order entry, default page, Theme, Notifications$51:1000YesCySEC Cyprus, FSC Belize
    FXTM AppBest for trading Naira pairsNilN80, 0001:2000YesFCA UK, CMA Kenya, FSCA South Africa, FSC Mauritius
    FxPro cTraderBest forex app for iPhone Notification, Custom order entry, Quick trade, Time zone, Show balance panel$1001:200NoFCA UK, FSCA South Africa
    AvaTradeGOBest Indicators for forex tradingDynamic trade size, One-click trading, Account deletion, AvaProtect$1001:400NoASIC Australia, FSCA South Africa, FSA Japan, ISA Israel 

    We tested popular forex trading apps in Nigeria. Here’s the review of these apps:

    #1. Exness Trade App – Best Forex Trading App in Nigeria

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🎧Live chat
    🖩 Calculator 
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    🔄 Screen rotation
    🔒 Touch ID
    🔒 2FA
    📈 Inbuilt MT5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 
    🐂 Live market sentiment 
    💨 Quick trading
    🎨 Custom order entry 
    📈 Detachable charts
    📖 Education
    💨 One click trading
    💨 Copy trading

    The Exness app is a mobile forex trading platform provided by Exness SC LTD a legal forex broker licensed in Seychelles, Kenya, South Africa, & the United Kingdom.

    Quick Tour- Exness App

    a) Download Exness app & open an account

    The Exness app is available on Android & iOS phones so you can download it from Apple store or Google playstore where it has already been downloaded 10 million times.

    You can open an account on the Exness app and upload all your documents by snapping with the phone camera & sending the photos to Exness for approval.

    b) Funding your Exness account from the app

    You can open a real account or a demo account on the Exness app. The demo account is meant for practicing and any cash you see there is not real.

    After your real account has been opened, you can make the Exness minimum deposit of $10 right from the app. You click on deposit & select your preferred payment method. 

    Naira base currency trading accounts are supported so you can deposit & withdraw in Naira. 

    c) Choosing an instrument to trade

    The Exness app is used for trading CFDs on Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, & Crypto All Exness instruments can be traded with leverage up to 1:2000

    To help you choose, The Exness app provides news & research on market moving instruments, and an economic calendar to keep you aware of upcoming financial market events. 

    d) Opening a buy or sell order

    When you have decided on the instrument to trade, you must open an order. On the Exness app you can open either a Market Order or a Pending Order.

    The Exness app shows you live market sentiment information meaning the percentage of traders who are buying and selling the instrument in question.

    When you click the buy/sell button you the Exness Quick Trading feature automatically inputs the minimum trade volume and asks you to reconfirm your order.

    However, since quick trading does not ask you to set stop loss, you can ignore the quick trading prompt and clock on ‘order settings’ so you can input your desired Quantity, Stop Loss & Take Profit limits.

    As you input the quantity of the instrument you want to trade, you can choose if you want your order displayed in amounts or in terms of number of lots.  

    e) Monitoring you trades and close out when necessary 

    The Exness app provides powerful charts which you can use to monitor your trade performance. Tradingview charts have been built in so you can switch to them when you need to.

    An inbuilt MT5 terminal comes standard with the Exness app, and you can switch to it without having to download the MT5 terminal to your phone. 

    If you set a stop loss or take profit you will be closed out automatically, but you can also do it manually. A comprehensive history of each trade is available on the Exness app.

    Pros & cons

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    Inbuilt MT5 terminalNo night mode
    TradingView charts and indicators No copy trading 
    Strong app security No in-app education 
    Advanced trading tools
    Demo account
    Low trading cost 

    Visit Exness to register with email for a demo account or live account to use the app

    #2. Octafx App – Best Forex Trading App for Android

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🎧Live chat
    🖩 calculator
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    📖 Education
    🔒 Touch ID
    🔒 2FA
    🎨 Custom order entry
    💨 One-click trading
    💨 Copy trading
    🔄 Screen rotation
    📈 Inbuilt MT4/5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 
    📈 Detachable charts
    🐂 Live market sentiment 
    💨 Quick trading

    The Octafx trading app is owned by Octa Markets who are regulated & licensed by the Mwali International Services Authority (MISA).

    Quick Tour- Octafx Trading App

    a) Octafx trading app download & account opening 

    Download the Octafx trading app on Apple store or Google playstore where it already has over 10 million downloads. 

    Once on the app, you can open a demo account where you can practice risk free with virtual money. A real MT4 Account is automatically created for you once you register on the app.

    Other accounts you can open on the app are an MT5 Account and an OctaTrader Account; and all the accounts work on the Octafx trading app.

    b) Funding your Octafx account from the app

    To fund any of your Octafx Accounts click on the deposit button & choose your preferred deposit method.

    The Octafx minimum deposit in Nigeria is N30, 000 or $25. Octafx does not support Naira base currency accounts so your naira deposit will be converted (at a fee) to US Dollar which is the only base currency they offer.

    c) Choosing an instrument to trade

    You can trade Forex, Indices, Stocks, & commodities as CFDs on the Octafx trading app.

    Octafx has provided resources such as an economic calendar, & news (called space feed on the app) to help you get decided. 

    Unfortunately, the Octafx app does not have live market sentiment information.

    d) Opening a buy or sell order

    Octafx lets you open a Market or Pending Order. Click on buy/sell and input the parameters such as Stop Loss & Take Profit. 

    As you input your order, the quantity is shown in both lots and monetary equivalent. If you enable one-click trading on the Octafx app, once you click on buy/sell your order is sent to the market without you inputting stop loss or take profit. 

    e) Monitoring you trades and close out when necessary 

    You can monitor your trades on the OctafX charts and adjust Stop Loss & Take Profit as necessary. When you close out you can view a detailed history of your trades. 

    Pros & cons

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    Demo accountNo copy trading. Octafx copy trading works by downloading a different app called OctaCopy from google playstore or apple store
    Good trading tools & research No in-app education 
    Easy setup process No live market sentiment 
    In-app education
    Low trading cost
    Deposit bonus 
    Notifies you when market is open/closed

    Visit Octafx to register with email for a demo account or live account to use the app

    #3. HFM App – Best Forex Trading App for Beginners 

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🎧Live chat
    🖩 Calculator 
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    🔄 Screen rotation
    🔒 Touch ID
    💨 Copy trading
    📖 Education
    💨 Quick trading
    🎨 Custom order entry 
    ✖ Detachable charts 
    💨 One click trading
    🔒 2FA
    📈 Inbuilt MT5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 
    🐂 Live market sentiment 

    The HFM App is the mobile trading platform of HF Markets formerly called Hotforex. HF Markets are regulated in South Africa, Kenya, United Arab Emirate, & United Kingdom. 

    Quick Tour- HFM App 

    a) HFM trading app download & account opening 

    The HFM App works on iOS and android phones and is available on Apple store and Google playstore (1 million+ downloads so far)

    All HF Markets trading accounts (Cent, Premium, Pro, Pro Plus, & Zero) now work on the HFM app. There is also a demo account for you to learn how to trade with fake cash.

    When you download the HFM app you can submit your account opening documents for approval by snapping pictures of them.

    b) Funding your HF Markets Account from the app

    The minimum deposit for HF Markets in Nigeria is $5 so to fund your account you login to the app, click on the menu icon and then click on deposit. You then choose your preferred deposit method. 

    Some of the banks you can deposit with are GTB, Zenith, Access, First Bank, & Fidelity. HF Markets offers naira base currency accounts so you can deposit/withdraw in local currency without paying currency conversion fees. 

    c) Choosing an instrument to trade

    On the HFM app you can trade CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds, & ETFs with up to 1:2000 leverage.

    The HFM app has a favorites list so you can arrange your instruments of interest there for easy monitoring.

    Detachable charts mean you can view a mini-image of the charts from the instrument menu so you know if the trend is upward or downward before selecting an instrument. 

    d) Opening a buy or sell order

    Before you open an order the HFM app has calculators to help you calculate your order size, margin requirement etc. You can open a Market Order or a Pending Order. 

    For Market Orders, you can activate Quick Trading in the trade settings menu so you can quickly send in an order without inputting stop loss (you can edit it later and include stop loss).

    Still on Market Orders, when you disable Quick Trading, you are required to input Stop Loss & take Profit before sending your order in. 

    The HFM app displays your orders in amount, lots, or units so you get a clear idea of what quantity of an instrument you are buying or selling.

    The HFM app also has built-in copy trading so you can copy trades or be copied by others.

    e) Monitoring you trades and close out when necessary 

    You can monitor your trades on the charts that have technical indicators and are fully customizable.  

    Pros & cons

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    Strong app security No live market sentiment 
    Copy tradingDoes not notify you when market is closed 
    Advanced trading tools
    Demo account
    Good graphics & display quality 

    Visit HF Markets to register with email for a demo account or live account to use the app

    #4. XM Trading Point App – Best Forex Trading App for Copy Trading 

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🎧Live chat
    🖩 Calculator 
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    🔄 Screen rotation
    🔒 Touch ID
    💨 Copy trading
    📖 Education
    🎨 Custom order entry 
    💨 One click trading
    🐂 Live market sentiment 
    💨 Quick trading
    ✖ Detachable charts 
    🔒 2FA
    📈 Inbuilt MT5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 

    XM Global LTD own the XM Trading Point mobile app & they are a regulated forex broker with licenses issued in Belize (FSC), & Cyprus (CySEC). 

    Quick Tour- XM App

    a) XM trading app download & account opening 

    The XM trading app is compatible with iOS & android devices including tablets. Downloads on google playstore are over 5 million. 

    You can create a demo account for practice or a live account from the XM trading app.

    b) Funding your XM Account from the app

    Click on the menu icon to reveal the deposit button from where you can fund your account. XM brokers’ minimum deposit is $5 on all their account types.

    Copy trading is also available on the XM trading app with minimum deposit determined by the Strategy Manager you intend to copy. 

    c) Choosing an instrument to trade

    You can trade CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Indices, & Commodities with up to 1:1000 leverage. You can add instruments to your watch list on the app.

    The markets insight button is located above your watch list panel & clicking it gives you up to date market news to help you decide what to trade.

    Live sentiment on the XM app is only available for major instruments and can be found when you click on research. 

    d) Opening a buy or sell order

    When you click buy/sell buttons, your order is displayed in lots & amount, and you can set your Stop Loss & Take Profit accordingly. 

    e) Monitoring you trades and close out when necessary 

    You can monitor your trades using the charts available and from the chart menu you can activate one-click trading. There’s also an option to show all open positions and show ask line on the charts. 

    The XM trading app charts have a lot of indicators and drawing tools which are useful for technical analysis. 

    Pros & cons

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    Copy trading from the XM appApp loading speed
    Trading bonusLive market sentiment is only available for major instruments 
    Advanced charting tools  
    Notifies you when market is closed
    Easy to use with a simple design

    Visit XM to register with email for a demo account or live account to use the app

    #5. FXTM App – Best Forex Trading App for Naira Pairs

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🎧Live chat
    🖩 Calculator 
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    🔄 Screen rotation
    🔒 Touch ID
    💨 Copy trading
    🎨 Custom order entry 
    💨 Quick trading
    ✖ Detachable charts 
    🔒 2FA
    📈 Inbuilt MT5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 
    💨 One click trading
    🐂 Live market sentiment 
    📖 Education

    FXTM means Forextime and the owners of the app are called Forextime LTD regulated forex brokers with licenses from Cyprus, South Africa, & Kenya. 

    Quick Tour- FXTM App

    a) FXTM trading app download & account opening 

    The FXTM app is available for download on the Apple store and Google playstore. 

    From the MyFXTM document center you can upload pictures of your documents and open your live trading account. You can also open an FXTM demo account for risk-free practice.

    b) Funding your FXTM Account from the app

    The FXTM minimum deposit is N80, 000 and you need to deposit this to open either the Advantage or Advantage Plus Accounts. The FXTM Micro Account has been discontinued. 

    From the FXTM app you can fund your account using any of the available deposit methods. FXTM offers Naira base currency accounts, and this helps you avoid currency conversion fees on naira transactions. 

    c) Choosing an instrument to trade

    You can trade CFD instruments on Forex, Commodities, Indices, metals, & Crypto and leverage is up to 1:2000.

    On the FXTM app you can trade CFDs on USD/NGN and EUR/NGN thus giving you exposure to the Nigerian market. 

    d) Opening a buy or sell order

    You can open Market or Pending Orders & order entry is customizable.

    The FXTM app also has copy trading (FXTM Invest) where you can copy more experienced traders or have people copy from you. 

    e) Monitoring you trades and close out when necessary 

    Pros & cons

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    You can trade forex pairs involving the naira. Trading tools are not great 
    Copy tradingNo education
    Easy app setup
    Good app security 

    Visit FXTM to register with email for a demo account or live account to use the app

    #6. AvaTradeGO – App with Best Indicators for Forex Trading 

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🎧Live chat
    🖩 Calculator 
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    🔄 Screen rotation
    🔒 Touch ID
    🔒 2FA
    🐂 Live market sentiment 
    🎨 Custom order entry 
    📈 Detachable charts
    📖 Education
    💨 One click trading
    💨 Copy trading
    💨 Quick trading
    📈 Inbuilt MT5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 

    AvaTradeGO is a forex trading app for android and iOS phones brought to you by Ava trade Markets regulated in the British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Israel, Australia, & Japan.

    You can open an account on the app with a $100 minimum deposit and trade CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, FX Options, Bonds, ETFs, & Crypto with 1:400 leverage. 

    A unique feature of the app is the AvaProtect feature which, when subscribed to, reimburses you for losses made on Forex & Gold trades. 

    The AvaTrade app also offers more than 50+ technical indicators such as Bollinger Bands, Relative Strength Index (RSI), MACD, Pivot Points, Parabolic SAR, etc. 

    Newly introduced features are News & Signals from trading central.

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    AvaProtect subscription too for reimbursement on losses recorded during trading  No copy trading
    Multiple Indicators for Forex Trading
    Account deletion button
    Live market sentiment tool
    Dynamic trade size mode 
    Excellent graphics 
    Excellent in-app education
    Economic calendar is powered by AI

    Visit AvaTrade to register with email for a demo account or live account to use the app

    #7. FxPro cTrader Mobile App – Best Forex Trading App for iPhone

    🛒 Favorites list
    🔢 Demo account
    🖩 Calculator 
    📅 Economic calendar
    📰 News
    🔄 Screen rotation
    🔒 Touch ID
    🔒 2FA
    🐂 Live market sentiment 
    🎨 Custom order entry 
    📈 Detachable charts
    💨 One click trading
    💨 Quick trading
    💨 Copy trading
    📈 Inbuilt MT5 terminal
    📈 Inbuilt TradingView terminal 
    📖 Education
    🎧Live chat

    FxPro is a thoroughly regulated forex broker with licenses from the FCA United Kingdom, & FSCA South Africa. FxPro minimum deposit is $100 for your first deposit. 

    The FxPro cTrader mobile app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Stores. 

    FxPro cTrader stands out with its excellent display and button layout, as well as detailed order management. The app lets you customize a lot of functions to suit your needs.

    An example of excellent order management on cTrader is you can customize your order size display for each asset class. You also get more control when setting price alerts for different events.

    You can access News & Analysis by clicking on the Blotter Button. FxPro cTrader also has copy trading easily accessible by the click of a button.

    The charts on FxPro cTrader are excellent with very good graphics better than seen on most apps, & there are lots of technical indicators which are categorized for easy search. 

    FxPro cTrader charts are also fully customizable with options for vibration & drawing tools.

    👍 Pros👎 Cons
    Live Market Sentiment ToolNo in-app education
    Copy TradingNo Live Chat
    Excellent charting (fully customizable)
    Research & News
    Excellent graphics 
    Account Delete Button
    Excellent Order Management (you can customize almost everything on the app)
    Detailed Transaction History with Net P&L
    Fxpro cTrader App is very stable on iPhones

    Visit FxPro to register with email & download the FxPro cTrader App

    How to download forex trading app

    • Visit the brokers website
    • Click on trading platforms
    • Click on the app to download

    Sometimes when you click on the app icon, you get redirected to the google play store or apple store and that’s fine. 

    The idea is to ensure you are downloading the right app, so you visit the broker’s website first instead of going straight to the online store.

    How to forex trade on phone

    You need to decide what currency pair you want to trade. On most forex apps there’s market insight/news, economic calendar, live market sentiment, and other tools to give your information that will guide your choice.

    You need to decide if to buy or sell. If you think the asset price will rise, then you buy. However, if you think prices will fall you could sell instead (short selling). 

    Either way (buy or sell) you stand a chance of making a profit if you are right and making a loss if wrong. 

    Frequently Asked Questions – Best Forex Trading Apps Nigeria 

    Which app is best for forex trading?

    The Exness Trade App is the best forex trading app in Nigeria because of its technology and low trading cost. 

    What is the best copy trading app in Nigeria?

    XM Trading Point App, FXTM, & HFM App are good picks for copy trading. 

    Which forex app supports Naira trading accounts?

    The Exness App, HFM App, & FXTM App all offer naira base currency thus allowing you trade using Naira instead of dollar

    Which forex app has quick deposit & withdrawals?

    HF Markets and Exness apps offer the quickest deposit & withdrawal times because they support Naira base currency accounts.

    Which forex app has the lowest spread?

    To find out the lowest spread forex broker app, we compare average spreads of the EUR/USD forex pair for standard (spread-only) accounts because the EUR/USD is the most widely traded pair in the world.

    Exness, AvaTrade, & Octafx have the lowest spreads. 

    📱Trading app💵 EUR/USD average spread
    AvaTrade app0.9 pips
    Octafx app0.9 pips
    Exness app1.0 pips
    FxPro app1.26 pips
    HFM app1.6 pips
    XM app1.6 pips
    FXTM app2.1 pips

    Which forex app has the lowest minimum deposit?

    HFM App, and XM App have the lowest minimum deposit of $5 (around N7,500)

    What is one-click trading?

    When you activate one-click trading at your own risk, you can click on the buy/sell button just once and your order gets sent to the market. 

    You are not required to input stop loss or take profit, order size is 0.01 units by default (you can change this), and you are not prompted to reconfirm your buy/sell decision.

    You can always return to edit your order and input stop loss take profit. One-click trading is for speedy market entry before prices change.

    What is quick trading?

    When you activate quick trading, clicking the buy/sell button will not require you to input stop loss & take profit, order size is set to the minimum allowable by default (but you can change this), but you will be required to reconfirm your buy/sell decision. 

    Remember, you can always return to edit your order and input stop loss/take profit. The essence of quick trading is to enter the market fast.

    Reconfirmation is the major difference between one-click trading & quick trading. Forex apps like the Exness app have quick trading.

  • MEET CIRCO – THE SOCIAL MEDIA APP LAUNCHING EXCLUSIVE USERNAME RESERVATIONS & GLAMOURIZING AFRICAN CONTENT & CREATORS

     A social media sensation has emerged in the form of an app called Circo. It is positioned as a trailblazer in social networking and video sharing of African content. Circo is set to place a significant spotlight on African content and creators. As the grand launch approaches, an exclusive invitation is being extended to all social media enthusiasts. Secure your unique username now and be part of the excitement as Circo unveils something extraordinary in just a few weeks!

     What sets Circo apart? It’s created by Africans, for Africans!

     The platform is rewriting the rules of the creator economy in Africa. Circo is set to offer diverse content to suit anyone’s taste. It is a perfect blend of social networking and video sharing where creators now have a seamless opportunity to turn their influence into a significant milestone, revolutionizing how creativity is valued and rewarded on the continent.

     Solafunmi Sosanya, CEO of Circo Africa, sums it up, “Circo isn’t just another app for entertainment; it’s a commitment to uplift African creators and showcase the diverse narratives of our continent. Reserve your username on this fantastic platform we’re crafting daily!”

    [ad]

    Key Features of Circo:

    – Focus on African creators.

    – Diverse, edgy, and electrifying content for every audience.

    – A groundbreaking approach to the creator economy, empowering influencers to monetize their influence effortlessly.

     Secure Your Spot in the Circo Movement – Reserve your username here  https://www.circo.africa .

     Connect with Circo: Instagram/Linkedin/X/Threads/TikTok @circo.africa.

     For media inquiries, contact@circo.africa

    Reserve your username now and be part of the hottest revolution spotlighting Africa!

    Author: Debola Ajayi 

  • Enabling SMEs to thrive: Dun & Bradstreet expands the scope of D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal with launch of new variants

    LAGOS, NIGERIA

    Dun & Bradstreet’s flagship product for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal, has expanded in Nigeria to incorporate two new variants. The D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal empowers small and medium businesses to boost their visibility and enhance their credibility in the eyes of future customers and important business partners.

    Over 90% of the Fortune 500 companies, leading Nigerian companies, regional governments, and organizations of all shapes and sizes utilize Dun & Bradstreet’s data to find new business opportunities and manage risks. The D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal enables SMEs to stand out in Dun & Bradstreet’s database. 

    A gateway to access over 540 million businesses, D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal Premium and VIP extensions provide organizations with an avenue to attract global prospects, increase business opportunities, and gain an edge in the competitive arena. Additionally, it grants a badge of authenticity to companies, validating their credibility to potential clients.

    With the incorporation of new variants, companies now have the opportunity to select the option that suits their specific needs.

    The VIP and Premium options enable organizations to include management profiles, linkage information, up to 10 verified on-site pictures, customer testimonials, and audited documentation on their profiles. By including specific business information on D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal profiles, companies will be able to better apprise customers about their functions, resulting in a targeted clientele.

    By displaying a dedicated seal on company collaterals, businesses can effectively increase their visibility and attract more business through the D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal.

    Talking about the D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal, Womo Diriyai, Country Head, Dun & Bradstreet Nigeria said that “for a long time, small and medium-sized businesses of Nigeria have taken advantage of the solution to increase domestic and global recognition. This motivated Dun & Bradstreet to introduce and incorporate the new extensions. 

    “The new variants permit companies to add more business information to their portals and secure targeted leads. In the ever-evolving business landscape of Nigeria, companies of all sizes require an edge over others to enhance business. The D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal provides that advantage to them.

    “With the addition of new variants, organizations can select from a diverse pool of D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal options and make a selection based on their need.

    “I am hopeful that new variants will attract an extraordinary response from the companies in Nigeria.”

    Find out more about D-U-N-S RegisteredTM Seal and other products on our website: www.dnbsame.com.

    About Dun & Bradstreet:

    Dun & Bradstreet data and insights help improve business performance. Over 90% of the Fortune 500, and companies of all sizes around the world, rely on Dun & Bradstreet to help grow and protect their businesses. The market-leading solutions for data and insights are a critical factor to drive revenue acceleration, manage risk, lower cost and business transformation. Global businesses of all sizes rely on D&B’s data, insights & analytics. 

    If you are interested in learning more about how Dun & Bradstreet South Asia Middle East and Africa can help your company, contact us today. 

  • When Speed Meets Tech: Infinix Redefines Fast Charging with the brand-new NOTE 40 Series

    Introducing the World to its All-Round FastCharge 2.0 and HyperSpeed Lab for the first time

     Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, is thrilled to announce the latest addition to its product lineup: the NOTE 40 Series. This remarkable series comprises the NOTE 40, NOTE 40 Pro, NOTE 40 Pro 5G, and the most advanced model, the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G. By setting a new benchmark for fast charging, Infinix showcases its All-Round HyperSpeed Lab to unveil these groundbreaking products at the F1 Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, igniting the exhilaration that emerges when speed and technology converge.

    The NOTE 40 Series represents a significant advancement in Infinix’s All-Round FastCharge 2.0 technology, introducing innovations such as 100W Multi-Speed FastCharge, Wireless MagCharge, and a self-developed chip that supports multi-function charging modes. Additionally, the series features a vibrant and responsive 3D curved 120Hz AMOLED display and a robust 108MP super-zoom camera system with OIS support. Infinix has also incorporated AI enhancements like Active Halo AI lighting and partnered with Sound by JBL, ensuring an unparalleled level of performance and efficiency. 

    7

    “The Infinix NOTE 40 Series represents a significant advancement in charging technology, transforming the power experience. With our proprietary Cheetah X1 chip at its core, All-Round FastCharge has entered a new era, offering features like multi-speed charging and extreme temperature charging. We’ve also introduced the innovative MagCharge accessory kit, providing a seamless charging ecosystem for users. These advancements unlock the full potential of the NOTE 40 Series, enabling users to stay powered up all day, in any scenario, and in any weather, ” Weiqi Nie, Product Director at Infinix.

    Industry-Leading Charging Capabilities

    The NOTE 40 Series introduces All-Round FastCharge 2.0 technology, powered by Infinix’s first self-developed Cheetah X1 chip. This chip integrates high-precision power detection, secure voltage detection, and versatile scene support, ensuring exceptional charging efficiency and diverse capabilities. The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G supports 100W Multi-Speed FastCharge, reaching 50% in just 8 minutes in hyper mode. It also offers low-temp mode and smart mode for tailored charging. The series boasts high-density batteries, enduring 1,600 full cycles while retaining 80% energy.  Wireless charging is upgraded to 20W Wireless Magcharge, surpassing its class.

    The lineup includes the Infinix MagKit for a convenient magnetic charging experience, including the phone case MagCase, magnetic charging pad MagPad, and magnetic power bank MagPower. Extreme-Temp Tech ensures reliable charging down to -20 °C, ideal for snowy environments. Bypass Charging 2.0 filters current to supply power directly to the motherboard during intense gaming session or watching videos, preventing overheating. Reverse charging allows sharing power with other devices wired or wirelessly at speeds up to 10W. PD3.0 protocol support enables charging laptops with the phone’s charger, eliminating the need for multiple chargers.

    Sleek Urban Aesthetics

    The Pro Series is inspired by cityscape aesthetics, featuring a stunning 55° curved display enhanced with durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass for an elegant and sturdy feel. The NOTE 40 boasts a flat display with an ultra-narrow bezel using the unibody MDA(metal device antenna) design, which hides the antenna into the frame. The 120Hz AMOLED display offers a 1080P resolution and a peak brightness of 1300 nits, ensuring enhanced visibility in all lighting conditions. TÜV Rheinland certification for anti-blue light eye protection and a high PWM Dimming rate of 2160Hz provides a flicker-free experience, enhancing visual comfort.

    Infinix’s new ‘Active Halo’ feature is another standout, merging AI and design. It brings the NOTE 40 Series to life with lifelike light pulsations on the phone’s camera module. The light display changes based on various activities such as receiving calls, and notifications, playing games or music, charging the device, or using the voice assistant, Folax. 

    5

    Take Your Photos and Videos to New Heights

    The NOTE 40 Series offers enhanced camera functionality for mobile photographers and social media content creators. It features advanced in-sensor zoom technology, utilizing its impressive 108MP main camera to capture long-distance moments with 3x Lossless Superzoom, maintaining image clarity and details. The Pro series includes Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology, reducing camera shake for sharper and more stable shots.

    Users can simultaneously record from the 32 MP front and rear cameras, capturing events or interviews from different perspectives using Dual Video mode.  They can also leverage editing features like Vlog Clipper to create engaging vlog content for social media. The NOTE 40 Series is a valuable tool for creative enthusiasts looking to enhance their mobile photography and storytelling abilities.

    Mobile Gaming at a Higher Level

    The NOTE 40 Series introduces the Dimensity 7020 and Helio G99 Ultimate chipset, utilizing cutting-edge 6nm processes for energy efficiency and high performance. These chipsets are enhanced by AI features on XOS 14, including Folax, Ask AI, and AI wallpaper generator, enhancing creativity and productivity.

    For mobile gamers, up to 24GB of extended RAM improves multi-tasking, while the vacuum chamber cooling system reduces temperatures by up to 7°C. XBOOST Frame Rate Control optimizes performance for popular MOBA and FPS games, providing a premium gaming experience at peak frame rates. Additionally, the NOTE 40 Series features dual stereo speakers fine-tuned by JBL engineers for immersive sound quality, enhancing the gaming experience. 

    Pricing and Availability

    The NOTE 40 Series will be globally available starting Tuesday, March 19th, in Vintage Green, Obsidian Black, and Titan Gold colorways. Infinix and DesignWorks, a BMW group company, are collaborating on a special Racing Edition, available by midyear. 

    Prices start at $199 for the NOTE 40, $259 for the NOTE 40 Pro, $289 for the NOTE 40 Pro 5G, and $309 for the premium NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G. All models have Infinix XOS 14 installed, with the Pro series supporting two years of Android OS upgrades.

    In addition, Infinix has launched several compatible IOT products, including a GaN 68W Fast Charger, wireless charging MagPad, MagPower, and MagCase accessories (forming the MagKit), XBuds 3 WE earphones, and XWatch 3 WE smartwatch. These products offer All-Round FastCharge technology to meet users’ needs. With the NOTE 40 Series launch, Infinix has introduced a range of ecological chain products, enabling people to enjoy a vibrant life anytime, anywhere. 

    *The availability of the Active Halo feature varies across devices and colors, please refer to the official website for specific information.

    *The availability of Android system upgrades may vary across devices and regions due to diverse regulatory constraints.

    Media Contacts:

    Infinix Global PR – Global.PR@infinixmobility.com

    About Infinix:

    Infinix Mobility is a rapidly emerging technology brand that designs, manufactures and markets an expanding portfolio of smart devices worldwide under the Infinix brand, which was founded in 2013. Targeting today’s youth with first in class technology, Infinix creates trendy, powerful and attainably priced smart devices that bring the latest technology on the market to users around the world at a time when they need it at a price that they want it.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

  • Xiaomi’s 2024 Innovation Wave: Introducing the Redmi Note 13 Series and Redmi A3

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    In the dynamic landscape of technology, Xiaomi continues to break barriers, bringing innovation within everyone’s reach. As we embark on 2024, Xiaomi unveils two game-changing smartphones – the Redmi Note 13 Series and the Redmi A3. If you’re contemplating a phone upgrade, these devices are your ticket to a world of cutting-edge features and style.

    Redmi Note 13 Series: Capturing the Essence of Iconic Photography

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    1. Ultra-Clear 200MP Camera with OIS

    At the heart of the Redmi Note 13 Series is its ultra-clear 200MP camera, armed with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This groundbreaking camera setup ensures that every shot is not just a photo but a masterpiece, capturing details with unparalleled clarity.

    2. 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED Curved Display

    Immerse yourself in a visual extravaganza with the Redmi Note 13’s 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED curved display. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or simply enjoying multimedia content, the display’s clarity and responsiveness elevate your viewing experience to new heights.

    3. Immersive Viewing with Ultra-Thin Bezels

    The Redmi Note 13 Series takes bezel design to the next level, offering an immersive viewing experience with ultra-thin bezels. The phone ensures that your focus remains on the content, providing a sleek and modern aesthetic.

    4. MediaTek Helio 7200-Ultra

    Powering the Redmi Note 13 Series is the MediaTek Helio 7200-Ultra processor, ensuring seamless performance and multitasking capabilities. Experience swift app launches, smooth navigation, and efficient multitasking without compromising on battery life.

    5. 120W HyperCharge with 5000mAh Battery

    Never be tethered to a charging cable again. The Redmi Note 13 Series features a 120W HyperCharge capability paired with a robust 5000mAh battery, providing extended usage without compromising on charging speed.

    6. IP68 Dust and Water Resistance

    Your Redmi Note 13 is built to withstand the elements with its IP68 dust and water resistance. Feel confident using your device in various environments without worrying about potential damage.

    Redmi A3: Style Meets Innovation

    A3 Arrival KV landscape

    1. Centered Large Circle Camera Deco

    The Redmi A3 embraces a sleek design with a centered large circle camera deco, adding a touch of sophistication to its aesthetic appeal.

    2. Stylish Glass And Leather-textural Back Design

    Crafted for those who appreciate style, the Redmi A3 boasts a stylish glass back design. The combination of elegance and durability ensures a device that stands out in the crowd.

    3. Smooth 6.71” 90Hz Immersive Display

    The Redmi A3 features a smooth and expansive 6.71” display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Enjoy an immersive visual experience with vibrant colors and smooth transitions.

    4. AI Dual Camera System

    Capture moments with precision using the Redmi A3’s AI dual camera system. Advanced artificial intelligence ensures that every photo is a work of art.

    5. Massive 5000mAh Battery

    Equipped with a massive 5000mAh battery, the Redmi A3 ensures long-lasting power, keeping you connected throughout the day.

    6. Secure Fingerprint and Face Unlock

    Prioritizing user security, the Redmi A3 features both fingerprint and face unlock features, providing convenient yet secure authentication methods.

    7. 8.3mm Ultra-Thin Body, Lighter to Hold

    Despite its powerful features, the Redmi A3 maintains an ultra-thin 8.3mm body, ensuring a lightweight and comfortable feel in your hands.

    Dive into Innovation with Redmi: Unleash the Power, Unleash the Style!

    Whether you opt for the groundbreaking Redmi Note 13 Series with its iconic photography capabilities or the stylish Redmi A3, Xiaomi promises to exceed your expectations. Dive into a world of innovation, where Redmi invites you to unleash the power and style in your hands. Redmi – where every device is a testament to Xiaomi’s commitment to bringing innovation to everyone.

    Explore the Redmi Note 13 Series and Redmi A3 at authorized retailers like FINET, RAYA, 3CHUB, SLOT, POINTEK, FINE BROTHER, and CALLUS MILLER. For the convenience of online shopping, make your purchase on Jumia at https://www.jumia.com.ng/mlp-xiaomi-store/.

  • Securing the Future: The Imperative of Cybersecurity in the Cloud Age for the Defense Industry

    In an era where technology is rapidly evolving, the defense industry finds itself at a pivotal crossroads, increasingly reliant on cloud computing to power its operations. This shift promises greater efficiency, flexibility, and scalability, but it also brings forth a host of cybersecurity challenges that cannot be ignored. In this article, we delve into the crucial role of cybersecurity in safeguarding the future of the defense cloud cyber security industry amidst the rise of cloud technology.

    Understanding the Threat Landscape

    The defense sector operates in a uniquely hostile digital environment, where the adversaries are not only numerous but also highly motivated. From nation-state actors seeking to steal classified information to cybercriminals aiming to disrupt critical infrastructure, the threats facing defense systems are multifaceted and ever-evolving. The consequences of a successful cyber attack on defense networks and assets can be catastrophic, compromising national security and undermining military readiness.

    Benefits and Risks of Cloud Adoption

    The adoption of cloud technology in the defense industry offers a myriad of benefits that cannot be overlooked. Firstly, cloud computing facilitates enhanced collaboration and information sharing among defense agencies and stakeholders. By centralizing data storage and streamlining communication channels, cloud platforms enable real-time access to critical information, fostering agility and responsiveness in decision-making processes. The scalability of cloud infrastructure allows defense organizations to rapidly scale resources up or down in response to evolving mission requirements, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.

    However, alongside these benefits come inherent risks that demand careful consideration. One of the primary concerns is the potential for data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. As defense organizations entrust their data to third-party cloud service providers, they must grapple with the challenge of ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data in a shared environment. Reliance on cloud technology introduces new attack vectors and vulnerabilities that malicious actors may exploit to compromise defense systems and infrastructure. From misconfigurations and insider threats to sophisticated cyber attacks, the threat landscape in the cloud age is complex and constantly evolving, requiring robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks effectively.

    Balancing the advantages of cloud adoption with the imperative of cybersecurity requires a proactive and holistic approach. Defense organizations must prioritize risk management and resilience by implementing stringent security controls, such as encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection systems, to protect data at rest and in transit. 

    Regular security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments are essential for identifying and addressing potential weaknesses in cloud infrastructure. 

    Key Cybersecurity Considerations in the Cloud Era

    In the cloud age, cybersecurity must be woven into the fabric of defense operations from the outset. This includes implementing robust encryption and data protection measures, implementing strict identity and access controls, continuously monitoring for suspicious activity, and having well-defined incident response and recovery protocols in place. By adopting a proactive and holistic approach to cybersecurity, defense organizations can better defend against emerging threats and mitigate the impact of cyber attacks.

    Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

    Compliance with cybersecurity regulations and standards is non-negotiable for defense organizations operating in the cloud. Adherence to frameworks such as NIST SP 800-171 and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is essential to ensure the protection of sensitive information and maintain the trust of stakeholders. Compliance not only reduces the risk of costly breaches but also demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding national security interests.

    The Role of Collaboration and Innovation

    Addressing the cybersecurity challenges of the cloud age requires collaboration between government agencies, defense contractors, and cybersecurity experts. By sharing threat intelligence, best practices, and lessons learned, stakeholders can collectively strengthen the resilience of defense systems and infrastructure. Furthermore, embracing innovation in cybersecurity technologies and approaches is essential to stay ahead of evolving threats and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly digitized battlefield.

    Case Studies and Best Practices

    Examining real-world examples of successful cybersecurity initiatives within the defense industry can provide valuable insights into effective risk management strategies. From the implementation of secure cloud architectures to the deployment of advanced threat detection capabilities, there are myriad ways in which defense organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture. By studying these case studies and adopting best practices, defense organizations can better protect their critical assets and fulfill their mission objectives.

    Conclusion

    As the defense industry embraces the transformative power of cloud technology, cybersecurity emerges as a mission-critical priority. By understanding the evolving threat landscape, balancing the benefits and risks of cloud adoption, and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, defense organizations can secure their future in the digital age. Collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to compliance are essential ingredients in this ongoing effort to safeguard national security interests and defend against emerging cyber threats.

  • African Diaspora Network (ADN) Announces Pivotal Partnership with Prosper Africa to Strengthen Economic Ties Between Africa and the USA

    Prosper Africa and ADN collaboration will debut at the upcoming African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS24)

    SILICON VALLEY, Calif., March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — African Diaspora Network (ADN) announces a pivotal partnership with Prosper Africa, dedicated to bolstering strategic and economic relations between the U.S. and Africa.

    The partnership capitalizes on ADN’s global platform to disseminate vital trade and investment tools to businesses, enhancing their ability to navigate complex market landscapes and invest early in emerging opportunities. Prosper Africa and ADN share the goal of fostering economic growth and prosperity in Africa and beyond.

    According to Ms. British A. Robinson; Coordinator for Prosper Africa, “America – alone among major powers in the world – has a large and active diaspora community who trace their roots to the continent. Prosper Africa is reducing the risks and raising the returns on investing in Africa, and partnerships, like this with the African Diaspora Network, are exciting because they serve to do just that.”

    “The Prosper Africa and ADN collaboration aims to elevate awareness of available tools and resources for businesses seeking to navigate U.S. and African markets effectively. By leveraging the collective expertise and networks of both entities, the partnership seeks to facilitate increased trade, investment, and entrepreneurial endeavors between the two regions,” says Almaz Negash, CEO and Founder of the African Diaspora Network.

    The inaugural appearance of the Prosper Africa and ADN partnership will happen at ADN’s prestigious 9th annual African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS24), scheduled from March 20-22, 2024, at the Hayes Mansion in San Jose, CA, USA. This flagship event brings together leaders and entrepreneurs from around the world to explore innovative solutions and strategies for addressing pressing global challenges, with a particular focus on climate change.

    This year’s ADIS theme, “Activate With Africa: Climate Change, Connections, And Action,” underscores the urgent need to collaboratively address climate change. Despite its low contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, Africa remains the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts. ADIS24 aims to bring together change-makers, innovators, and advocates to explore sustainable solutions and create a prosperous and green future for the continent.

    “ADIS is where the DNA of ADN comes to life. We aim to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, collaboration, and investment by bringing together Africans, African diasporans, and friends of Africa. I can think of no better place to ideate and harness the knowledge and resources of our community than our annual Silicon Valley event,” said Josh Ghiam, Founder and Managing Partner, Ignite Venture Studio; Board Chairman, African Diaspora Network.

    ADIS24 will feature keynotes and panel discussions from speakers such as Dr. Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, USAID; Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Executive Director, President Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement; Mr. C.D. Glin, President of PepsiCo Foundation; Ms. Mimi Alemayehou, Investor in Emerging Markets, Climate & Board Director; Ham Serunjogi, Co-founder & CEO, Chipper Cash; Ali Dialo, Managing Director at LG NOVA Prime Fund & Aurion Capital; among others. A full list of speakers and sessions can be found here. ADN will also be announcing its new five-year strategic plan at ADIS24. The new strategic plan will serve as ADN’s roadmap to catalyze transformative change and collaboratively craft solutions that uplift global diaspora communities.

    ADIS24 is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Sanofi, United States African Development Foundation, Prosper Africa, Pfizer, Invest Barbados, Hugh Stuart Center Charitable Trust, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, EY, Global Fund for Women, IFAD, Skoll, Mastercard Foundation, Center for African Studies, YALI Africa, Myriad USA, Millenium Challenge Corporation, Ashinaga USA, Africa to Silicon Valley, Nigeria Philanthropy Office, LG Nova, and USA for IOM.

    Over nine years, ADIS has successfully cultivated an innovative spirit within the African community, attracting participants from 89 countries. The conference offers a unique platform to inform and inspire attendees, facilitate engagement with a diverse group of professionals and organizations dedicated to mobilizing resources and expertise to address challenges in Africa.

    For additional information about ADIS24 registration, speakers, and agenda, please visit https://africandiasporanetwork.org/programs/adis24/. For media inquiries please email Damilola at damilola@baobab-consulting.net

    About African Diaspora Network: 
    African Diaspora Network (ADN) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization. Our mission is to harness and engage the intellectual, financial, philanthropic, and entrepreneurial capacity of Africans and friends of Africa in support of economic and social development across Africa. Since 2010, the African Diaspora Network has energized collaboration among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and African Diasporans to uplift its local community for the benefit of Africa. ADN is dedicated to providing virtual and physical forums to accelerate access to resources that foster partnership, knowledge sharing, and advance investment opportunities.

    Media Contact
    Omolayo Oyudo, African Diaspora Network, +1 207-544-7511, omolayo@africandiasporanetwork.orgwww.africandiasporanetwork.org 

    Damilola Aina, +2348088609242, damilola@baobab-consulting.net 

  • 3 Easy Ways To Buy Gift Cards In Nigeria: A Comprehensive Guide

    Have you ever found yourself desperately searching for a place to buy gift cards in Nigeria, only to come up empty-handed or frustrated with the lack of options? I know that struggle all too well. As a proper Nigerian, I have found the best and most convenient ways to buy gift cards for my personal use and side hustle.

    After countless hours of research and trial and error, I’m excited to share with you the three easy methods that have worked like a charm for me Trust me, I’ve tried various ways, and these are the ones that have proven to be reliable, hassle-free, and cost-effective.

    3 Easy Ways To Buy Gift Cards In Nigeria In 2024

    Now, let’s get to the main point – after exploring various options for buying gift cards in Nigeria, I’ve found that the three most reliable and convenient methods are purchasing from Cardtonic, directly from the brand’s official websites, and through online marketplaces.

    1. Buying Gift Cards on Cardtonic

    You shouldn’t be shocked to see Cardtonic at the top of my list! The reason is simple – Cardtonic is hands down the best gift card trading platform in Nigeria and Ghana.

    They’ve even recently introduced three new features: you can now pay bills, buy gadgets, or get a virtual dollar card right on their platform. But that’s not what you’re here for, right? Let’s get back to our gift card talk.

    Cardtonic makes it super easy to sell or buy gift cards at affordable rates. And one of the things I absolutely love about them is that they offer the best rates in the market. 

    You know what that means, right? Better rates translate to more savings when buying gift cards or getting top Naira for the cards you sell. You can now see why Cardtonic is my #1 pick.

    2. Buying Gift Cards from the Brand’s Official Websites:

    There are brands like Amazon or Apple that sell their own gift cards directly on their websites at a better price, and it seems really easy to just get them there. 

    But you know how it is in Nigeria – our debit cards don’t really work seamlessly on international websites, and you’d need a foreign payment method like a virtual dollar card to make purchases from Amazon, even for their gift cards.

    Although you can get a virtual dollar card from Cardtonic and use it on Amazon to buy the Amazon gift card, why go through all that stress? Because to me, it isn’t worth it when there is a simpler option: just buy the gift card directly from Cardtonic’s platform and save yourself the hassle.

    3. Buying Gift Cards from Online Marketplace:

    This is another method that I’ve tried, and I believe you could give it a shot, too. The major challenge with online marketplaces is the potential for running into scammers, so you have to be really careful. The marketplaces I explored were Facebook, OLX, and Jiji, although there are several others out there.

    One thing I liked about online marketplaces is the ability to negotiate prices directly with sellers. If your negotiation skills are on point, you might be able to score gift cards at cheaper rates than retail.

    However, the risk of getting scammed is very real, so you have to be extremely cautious and only deal with reputable, well-reviewed sellers. Thoroughly vet every seller before making payment to avoid getting ripped off.

    How To Buy Gift Cards On Cardtonic In 5 Minutes

    The next question on your mind might be – how can you actually buy gift cards from Cardtonic? It’s quite simple. 

    All you have to do is download the Cardtonic app, register, open the app, click on “Buy Gift Card,” select the gift card type, unit, and quantity, and then proceed to payment to have your gift card code sent to your email.

    1. Download the Cardtonic app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and register.

    2. Open the Cardtonic app and click “Buy Gift Cards”.

    3. On the gift card country page, select the country you want to buy from, e.g., Nigeria.

    4. Choose the gift card brand you want, e.g., Macy’s, Xbox Live Gold, etc.

    5. Select the Card unit and quantity

    6. Click “Proceed” to checkout.

    7. Review your transaction summary and terms of purchase, then click “Submit Purchase.”

    That’s it! Just refresh your email, and you’ll receive the gift card details shortly. 

    Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Gift Cards Online

    1. What Types Of Gift Cards Are Most Popular In Nigeria? 

    Nigeria’s most popular gift cards include Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Steam, Sephora, and retail gift cards like Shoprite and Jumia.

    2. What Gift Card Works Everywhere? 

    While no single gift card is accepted universally, Visa and Mastercard prepaid gift cards can be used anywhere those payment networks are accepted.

    3. Can I Use Gift Cards To Make International Purchases?

    Yes, many popular gift card brands like Amazon, iTunes, and Steam can be used to make international purchases on their respective platforms.

    4. How Can I Check The Balance Or Remaining Value On A Gift Card? 

    Most gift card brands provide a website or toll-free number where you can check your balance by entering the card number and security code.

    5. What Is The Safest Way To Buy Gift Cards In Nigeria? 

    The safest option is to purchase directly from reputable platforms like Cardtonic or the official brand websites to avoid falling victim to scams in online marketplaces.

    Conclusion

    Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes, and I know how daunting it can be to find reliable sources for buying gift cards in Nigeria. But with the three methods I’ve outlined, you’ll be well on your way to hassle-free gift card purchases. 

    Whether you choose to go through Cardtonic, official brand websites, or online marketplaces, each option has its advantages, and I’m confident you’ll find the one that works best for you.

    Remember, these recommendations come from someone who’s been there, done that, and learned from experience. So, feel free to dive in and explore these options. Happy gift card shopping!

  • Why Your Nigerian Business Needs Local Cloud Hosting: The Layer3cloud Advantage

    In today’s digital landscape, having a reliable and efficient online presence is crucial for any business. Cloud hosting offers a scalable and cost-effective solution, but with so many providers available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. For Nigerian businesses, opting for a local cloud hosting service like Layer3Cloud offers several distinct advantages over international alternatives. 

    Reduced Latency and Improved Performance

    “Distance matters,” emphasizes David Ita, Layer3’s Head of Strategy and Business Development. “By hosting your data and applications within Nigeria, you minimize the physical distance between your users and your resources. This translates to significantly faster loading times, smoother user experiences, and ultimately, higher customer satisfaction.” 

    Enhanced Data Security and Compliance

    Data privacy and security are paramount concerns for businesses of all sizes. When choosing a local cloud provider, you gain greater control over where your data resides and who has access to it. Layer3 Cloud adheres to strict Nigerian data protection regulations, providing peace of mind knowing your sensitive information is safeguarded. 

    Direct, Local Support: 

    Navigating the complexities of cloud technology can be challenging. With a local provider like Layer3Cloud, you benefit from readily available support from experts who understand the unique needs of businesses in Nigeria. They offer 24/7 assistance in your time zone, eliminating communication barriers and ensuring prompt resolution to any issues. 

    Cost-Effectiveness and Flexibility: 

    International cloud services often incur additional charges due to currency fluctuations and data transfer fees. Choosing a local provider like Layer3cloud eliminates these concerns and offers transparent, competitive pricing tailored to the Nigerian market. Additionally, their flexible plans and scalability options allow you to pay only for the resources you need, optimizing your cloud spend. 

    Supporting the Local Economy: 

    Choosing a local cloud provider like Layer3cloud isn’t just good for your business; it’s good for the Nigerian economy. 

    You contribute to job creation, skills development, and the overall growth of the local tech ecosystem. By supporting homegrown solutions, you foster innovation and empower local businesses to compete on a global scale. 

    Beyond the benefits outlined above, choosing Layer3cloud specifically offers: 

    • Multiple data centers across Nigeria: Ensuring redundancy and disaster recovery. 
    • Advanced security features: Firewalls, intrusion detection, and data encryption as well as multiple security certifications such as PCI-DSS, ISO 27001 and ISO 27017. 
    • Wide range of cloud services: Virtual servers, storage, backup, PaaS, and disaster recovery solutions. 
    • Commitment to sustainability: Utilizing energy-efficient data centers with a focus on green practices. 

    In conclusion, for Nigerian businesses seeking a reliable, secure, and cost-effective cloud hosting solution, choosing a local provider like Layer3cloud offers clear advantages. From improved performance and enhanced data security to direct support and economic benefits, their services are tailored to empower your business to thrive in the digital age. 

    Start your journey with Layer3cloud today and experience the power of local cloud hosting!

  • Sustainability in Action: Hope Spring Charity’s Approach to Clean Water Sustainability

    Agege based clean water advocacy charity, Hope Spring water has a rather unique approach to helping communities with severe clean water challenges to overcome them.  In partnership with their UK based partners such as Hope Spring charity ecards and social enterprise, digital greeting cards company called Ozami. 

    [ad]

    Water is life. It serves as our life source, providing us with energy and being an indispensable resource. However, for a number of Nigerians, even the step of getting clean water becomes a challenge for them. Communities across the country are forced to deal with contaminated water, limited infrastructure, and unsanitary facilities. The consequences are dire: water-borne infections as cholera and typhoid rapidly spread, taking lives and weakening the socio-economic well-being of the community.

    In Nigeria where about 60 million people are devoid of clean water, this call for urgent actions is imperative. Water scarcity does not only affect health and hygiene, but is related to livelihoods, education, and well-being as well. Women and children sometimes spend hours each day fetching water for their household needs, which most times is very dangerous. Sadly, the water may not even be safe for consumption.

    Explanation of the charity’s mission to provide clean water access to communities in need. 

    At the heart of Hope Spring Charity’s mission lies a simple yet profound idea: access to clean water is a fundamental human right. With this strong conviction that this is their primary duty, the organisation has been tirelessly working to provide sustainable water solutions to communities across Nigeria. By building boreholes, their initiatives have touched the lives of thousands, bringing about tangible and sustainable transformation.

    [ad]

    One of the most innovative programs spearheaded by Hope Spring Charity is their eCard initiative. Hopespring eCards serve as a bridge between individuals who want to make a difference and those in need of clean water. Just by choosing to send an Hope Spring eCard to celebrate loved ones on birthdays, festive seasons and other special occasions, one can contribute to a water project  Through these virtual cards, individuals are able to donate directly to the water projects of their choosing which allows them to make the process of giving more personal and impactful. Additionally, it’s a testament to the organisation’s adaptability and willingness to embrace technology for the greater good.

    Overview of Hope Spring Charity’s commitment to implementing environmentally friendly and long-lasting water projects.

    Hope Spring Charity focuses on long-lasting and environmentally friendly projects to address water scarcity in Nigeria. Through implementing the borehole drilling technology the organisation avoids ecological disturbance yet taps the safe water sources. More instructive than that, Hope Spring invests in community participation and capacitation to guarantee permanency. From planning to maintenance levels, communities play an active role in management of their water sources. Capacity building efforts that include training programs and educational outreach help local people to acquire knowledge and ability to handle water infrastructure resources efficiently.

    Monitoring and evaluation systems evaluate project performance and longevity, which serves as a source of guidance for enhancement efforts. The fact that Hope Spring works on practical and environmentally friendly actions and solutions that favour empowerment of the community, shows the organisation’s commitment to the long-lasting change in the fight against the water shortage.

    Hope Spring’s partnership with Ifako community to find a sustainable solution to their water crisis

    Hope Spring has just completed their second clean water project this year. They worked with the CDA (community development association) of Ifako Ijaye in Lagos state to find a sustainable solution to the lack of clean water in their community. In partnership with Lagos Island based record company Mavin Records, Hope Spring dug a borehole that is over 100 metre deep in the rocky terrain, to bring the clean drinking water the community desperately needs to the surface. The water is fed into a 1,500 litre tank, which then uses gravity to dispense the water in several tags. 

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    Partnership with the local community is key to a sustainable solution.

    Gone are the days when a charity decided on the solution to the problem of a community they do not know well. These days, partnership with a community to find a lasting solution to their water challenges is the way forward. Partnership is what drives Hope Spring’s success. Rather than prescribing solutions from the outside, this charity has always been working in partnership with local communities to determine needs, use community resources, and build sustainable answers. The participatory approach guarantees that projects are deeply engraved within the society and be managed carefully, thus leading to greater and long-term ownership.

    The support that meets Hope Spring from grassroot organisations, corporate partners and beyond has a transcontinental network that spans across countries. Partnerships with UK based entities like Ozami and Hope Spring Charity eCards amplify the charity’s impact, providing vital resources and expertise to fuel its mission.  Hence, together, the partners form an alliance wherein they jointly pledge to create a world where clean water is no longer a privilege, but a right for everyone.

    Be part of the solution to Nigerian clean water challenges

    The journey to water security is far from over, but with the provision of each borehole, each tap installed, a life is transformed, Hope Spring Charity approaches closer to the realisation of its vision. Nevertheless, this cannot be done alone. As individuals, as communities, as global citizens, we all play a part in the war against water poverty.

    Whether it comes from donations, volunteering or efforts directed towards advocacy, every contribution is valuable. By donating to Hope Spring Charity, we stand in solidarity with the millions of Nigerians who need access to clean water. Together, we can turn the tide against  water scarcity, ushering in a future where every person, regardless of their circumstances, can quench their thirst for life’s most essential resource: potable water.

  • Simba Solar Launches Talegent Series To Solar Power Nigerian Homes

    L-R: LR: Marketing Manager, Oluwatosin Odiagbe, Profit Center Head Simba Solar, Debdeep Mukherjee, Profit Center Head Retail, Adebimpe Adebisi, Business Head, Sandipan Bhattacharya, Profit Center Head Service, Pramod KC, B2B Sales Manager, Oyindamola Omolaja, and Profit Center Head Genus, Sandeep Sharma all of Simba Group during the presentation of Talegent series to the media at the company’s headquarters in Lagos recently

    Simba Group, a leader in renewable energy, has unveiled the Simba Solar ‘Talegent’ Series of solutions. This latest offering is designed to simplify the switch to solar energy for homes across Nigeria.

    The Talegent series brings to the market advanced technology, featuring specialized solar inverters equipped with MPPT Charge Controllers and versatile battery combinations, including the more advanced Lithium Ion. The Talegent range of products meets various home energy needs and stands out as a unique solution in the market.

    L-R: Profit Center Head Service, Pramod KC, Profit Center Head Retail, Adebimpe Adebisi, Head Business, Sandipan Bhattacharya, , Profit Center Head Simba Solar, Debdeep Mukherjee,  B2B Sales Manager, Oyindamola Omolaja, and Profit Center Head Genus, Sandeep Sharma all of Simba Group during the presentation of Talegent series to the media at the company’s headquarters in Lagos recently

    Speaking at an event organized to launch the product, Sandipan Bhattacharya, Business Head of Simba Group’s Power Division, championed this new energy solution, stating, “The Talegent Series marks a milestone in Simba Solar’s journey towards sustainable and efficient home energy use. At a time when energy costs are rising, solar solutions provide home users with a unique opportunity to enjoy regular power supply and reduce costs. However, these solutions can be quite complex and confusing. We at Simba Solar want to simplify the selection process for our customers.”

    He was joined by Adebimpe Adebisi, Head of Retail at Simba, who added, “Talegent embodies Simba Solar’s commitment to ‘Going Solar Made Simple’. Designed with user convenience in mind, these systems are user-friendly and quick to set up, making the transition to solar energy easy for our customers. We are committed to guiding them through every step of the process.”

    Simba Solar’s Talegent Solutions will be introduced through the company’s authorized retail network, providing flexible options to accommodate different energy needs and financial considerations.

  • Apply for the USPF Changemaker Challenge 2023/2024

    Are you ready to revolutionize the world with your innovative ideas? Look no further! The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) is calling on all budding changemakers to join hands in shaping the future of Nigeria’s ICT landscape. 

    Embark on an electrifying journey with us as we ignite creativity, foster entrepreneurship, and fuel job creation through groundbreaking ICT solutions. 

    The USPF is committed to surmounting barriers and ensuring that affordable telecommunications services permeate every part of our nation. Join us in delving into the realm of innovative ICT solutions and entrepreneurship development, and let’s pave the way for a future brimming with possibilities.

    The theme of the USPF Changemaker Challenge 2023 is Think. Build. Innovate: Accelerating Socioeconomic Development through ICT. 

    Are you innovating around Fintech, AI, Security, Ed-Tech, E-Health, AR/VR, Agrotech, Cloud Computing, Internet Connectivity, or any other tech-driven field? Then gear up for the Changemaker Challenge! This 3-days hackathon/code fest is your chance to tackle real-world problems head-on and transform your ideas into reality.

    Save the Dates:

    • North Region: Sokoto, April 25th – 27th, 2024 
    • South Region: Lagos, May 9th – 11th, 2024

    Application Deadline: 14th April, 2024 

     What’s in it for You? 

    • 1st Prize: N2.5 million, 2nd Prize: N1.5 million; & 3rd Prize: N1 Million; plus, different consolation prizes.
    • Networking opportunities with like-minded innovators.
    • Mentorship from seasoned industry experts.
    • Sprint incubation program to supercharge your Startup journey.

    Ready to unleash your potential? Don’t miss out on this life-changing opportunity! 

    Apply online now at www.uspfchangemaker2023.ng and kickstart your journey towards success!

  • Empowering Women: Altinvest’s Call to Embrace the Gold Standard for Timeless Financial Growth #WomenThatAltinvest

    In recent years, a powerful narrative has quietly woven its way through the corridors of influence across developed nations. It’s a tale of resilience, determination, and the unwavering spirit of women breaking barriers in the world of finance and investments.

    Not too long ago, until the 19th century, women were restricted from owning properties, let alone investing and growing wealth. The idea of a woman having her own money or making financial decisions was far from commonplace, relying instead on fathers, husbands, or brothers to handle their financial matters. Today, however, the story has taken a different turn.

    From becoming fund managers to holding key roles in finance within large institutions, women are leaving their mark and fostering inclusion in the traditionally male-dominated world of finance. Notably, they are excelling as investors, often outperforming men in managing portfolios and making savvy investment decisions, as reported by the Financial Times.

    In their formative years, women frequently lacked female investment role models, and the investment industry primarily focused on men as the typical investor stereotype. This has led to a necessity to reshape traditional perceptions by reinforcing women’s inclusion in the sector, among brands and financial institutions.

    One brand consistently creating an inclusive environment for women in investing is Altinvest, an investment platform focusing on ethical and impact-focused investment opportunities geared towards inclusion, growth, and development.

    Through its recent campaign, #WomenThatAltinvest, in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2024, Altinvest encourages women to engage in alternative investing beyond traditional stocks and bonds. The campaign aims to denounce the perception that investing is solely a male-dominated endeavor, proving that women possess the knowledge, skills, and resources to succeed in various investment strategies.

    Altinvest encourages women to embrace the gold standard, recognizing gold’s reputation as a timeless asset. The investment app through its Women’s campaign is urging women not only to consider adorning themselves with gold but consider it as a valuable investment. Altinvest encourages women to make gold investments their preferred choice, emphasizing the benefits of owning gold investments through its digital platform.

    Gold-linked investment on Altinvest does not necessitate substantial initial capital, as investors can purchase gold in grams. One gold coin equals 50 grams and can be acquired in its entirety, providing individuals with the flexibility to start with as little as 1 gram and gradually expand their investment portfolio from there.

    Encouraging women’s inclusion in investing is not just a smart move; it is empowering. Women who invest understand the value of security and independence, which is why Altinvest is leading this charge for the financial inclusion of women. Through initiatives like #WomenThatAltinvest, Altinvest is not just advocating for change but actively enabling it, ensuring that women have equal access to opportunities in the world of finance and investments.
    Start your investment journey HERE with Altinvest now and join the movement of empowered women investors with #WomenThatAltinvest! Download the app on Google Play store and iOS App store to be part of a community that’s reshaping the future of finance.