February 2026

News In Brief, Tech

Nigeria, Ericsson Launch Four-Month Hackathon to Strengthen Digital Skills

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The Federal Government of Nigeria and Ericsson will launch a four month innovation hackathon aimed at strengthening digital skills among young Nigerians, as part of efforts to deepen the country’s technology capacity The programme, known as the Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon, will be unveiled at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, according to a statement from the Office of the Vice President. The initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding between both parties focused on digital upskilling. The hackathon will run for four months and combine hands on mentoring with an eight week acceleration phase. Participants will work across priority technologies including 5G, Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and sustainable digital solutions. Organisers said teams will develop ideas in areas such as digital inclusion, smart cities, agritech and sustainability. Majda Lahlou Kassi, Head of Ericsson West Africa, said the partnership reflects Ericsson’s long term interest in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. She noted that talent development and policy engagement remain central to addressing connectivity gaps and supporting inclusive growth. In addition, Ericsson will roll out its Educate programme targeted at policymakers and regulators in the information and communications technology sector. The training will focus on emerging technologies shaping industries and public services. The programme is open to university students, startups and young innovators across Nigeria. Applications are scheduled to run from February 11 to March 10, 2026. The initiative adds to broader efforts by public and private stakeholders to position Nigeria as a regional hub for next generation technology development.

News In Brief, venture capital

Terra Industries Secures $22 Million Follow On Round to Expand Autonomous Security Systems

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Terra Industries, a Nigerian defence technology startup, has raised an additional $22 million in funding, extending its earlier $11.8 million round and bringing total funding in the round to $34 million. The follow on investment was led by Lux Capital, with participation from 8VC, Nova Global, Silent Ventures, Belief Capital, Tofino Capital and Resilience17 Capital, founded by Flutterwave Chief Executive Officer Olugbenga Agboola. The round closed less than a month after the company announced its initial raise. Terra said the new capital will support expanded manufacturing, wider deployments across Nigeria and other African countries, and the hiring of senior engineering and business leaders in Africa, London and San Francisco. Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, Terra builds autonomous drones, sentry towers and unmanned ground vehicles connected through its proprietary software platform, ArtemisOS. The system enables real time monitoring and coordinated response across land, air and maritime environments. The company said it currently secures infrastructure assets valued at about $11 billion and holds contracts worth tens of millions of dollars across multiple African markets. Africa accounts for roughly 30 percent of global critical mineral reserves and invests about $100 billion annually in infrastructure. However, much of that infrastructure sits in remote or volatile regions. Terra positions its locally manufactured systems as an alternative to imported security technologies that can be costly to maintain and exposed to supply chain risks. The funding reflects continued investor interest in African hardware and software ventures addressing security alongside industrial growth.

Startups

Kenya’s WapiPay Unveils Remittance Credit Tool to Broaden Household Access to Loans

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Kenyan fintech startup WapiPay has launched a credit scoring product designed to help banks and savings cooperatives factor diaspora remittances into lending decisions, as the country records rising inflows from citizens abroad. The company, founded in 2019 by brothers Eddie and Paul Ndichu, began as a cross border payments and foreign exchange provider linking Africa and Asia. It is now introducing its Remittance Credit Scorecard to financial institutions through a single API integration. The tool analyses transaction patterns and converts remittance histories into a credit rating that lenders can embed in their loan systems. Kenya received more than $5 billion in remittances in 2025, according to official data, making it one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange. However, much of that income has traditionally been excluded from formal credit assessments. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that about 80 percent of remittance inflows go toward immediate household needs, while roughly 20 percent supports savings or investment. WapiPay said its model focuses on positive financial behaviour, including consistency and stability of transfers, rather than relying mainly on defaults or missed payments. The company believes this approach could expand credit access to households that depend on regular support from relatives abroad. Kenyan lenders continue to face elevated default risks linked to income volatility and informal employment. In that context, remittance backed scoring offers an alternative data layer that could strengthen risk assessment while supporting financial inclusion. The move reflects a broader trend among African fintech firms seeking to turn cross border payment data into tools for domestic credit growth.

News In Brief

Payaza Secures Uganda License to Deepen East Africa Payments Push

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Payaza has obtained a Payment System Operator license in Uganda, strengthening its regulatory footprint as it builds a multi country payments network across Africa. The approval allows the company to operate directly within Uganda’s financial system under local supervision. It can now process local and international transactions, integrate card networks and mobile wallets, and offer settlement services in line with national compliance standards. For merchants, this means a single integration that supports global card payments alongside dominant local channels such as MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money. The license also permits multi currency settlement, helping businesses manage foreign exchange exposure and reduce operational friction when trading across borders. Founded to address fragmentation in African payments, Payaza has positioned itself as infrastructure rather than a simple gateway. By securing regulatory approvals market by market, the company is moving away from indirect partnerships toward licensed operations within each jurisdiction. Uganda represents a strategic entry point into East Africa, where mobile money drives everyday commerce. A licensed presence allows Payaza to align its technology with wallet led consumer behaviour while offering international merchants a compliant route into the market. The move reflects a broader shift in African fintech, where scale increasingly depends on regulatory depth as much as product innovation. As cross border trade grows under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, licensed payment infrastructure is becoming central to how businesses expand regionally. Category: Startups, Africa FocusTags: Payaza, Fintech

News In Brief, venture capital

Delta40 Closes $20 Million Fund to Build Early-Stage Startups Across Africa

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Delta40 has closed a $20 million fund to invest in and co build early stage startups across Africa, backing a model that combines seed capital with hands on operational support. Founded in 2021 by Lyndsay Holley Handler, the firm operates as both investor and co founder. It writes initial cheques of between $100,000 and $500,000, then works closely with founding teams on product development, commercial strategy and governance. The new capital will allow Delta40 to expand its studio activities in Kenya and Nigeria while increasing follow on capacity for its portfolio. More than half of the fund comes from commercial investors, according to the firm, reflecting growing appetite for structured early stage exposure despite tighter funding conditions across the continent. In total, 54 investors from 13 countries participated, including development finance institutions such as FMO and the Soros Economic Development Fund, alongside foundations, family offices and 25 startup founders. Fourteen backers are Africa based. Delta40 focuses on energy and mobility, agriculture and food systems, and financial technology, with plans to integrate artificial intelligence tools across its companies. It has backed 16 startups to date, including logistics platform Lori and solar fintech company SunFi. The raise signals a shift toward more involved early stage investing in Africa, where capital alone often does not address execution gaps. As funding becomes more selective, venture builders that combine local presence with institutional backing may play a larger role in shaping the next generation of African companies.

News In Brief, Startups

Payd Partners With Noah to Enable Stablecoin Payouts for African Freelancers

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Kenyan fintech, Payd, has partnered with UK based payments infrastructure provider Noah to allow its users receive international payments through stablecoins. The partnership will initially serve more than 30,000 Payd users across Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal. Through the integration, users can create virtual US dollar and euro accounts within the Payd app. These accounts include US routing numbers and European IBANs, enabling employers in the United States and Europe to send payments via ACH or SEPA transfers. Noah converts incoming funds into stablecoins such as USDC or USDT and settles them into users’ Payd wallets in real time. Users can hold the digital dollar balances, spend online or withdraw to local mobile money platforms including M Pesa, Wave and Orange Money. Payd said the integration replaces traditional correspondent banking processes that often involve multiple intermediaries and longer settlement times. According to industry estimates cited by the company, freelancers working for foreign clients can lose up to 10 percent of income to fees, foreign exchange spreads and intermediary bank charges. Noah provides backend services including virtual account issuance, compliant collection rails and stablecoin settlement through application programming interfaces. The company announced a similar Africa focused integration with fintech NALA in January. Payd operates as a financial platform for African professionals earning in foreign currencies. The company said the new feature is available within its app as part of its cross border payment offering.

News In Brief, Tech

Jumia Narrows Footprint as Algeria Exit Sharpens Profit Focus

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Jumia has formally ended its operations in Algeria, continuing a steady pullback from markets where scale has proved limited and profitability harder to achieve. The decision, disclosed in the company’s 2025 full-year report, reflects a broader effort to concentrate resources in markets with stronger growth prospects, particularly Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco. Algeria accounted for about 2 percent of Jumia’s gross merchandise value in 2025, making it a relatively small contributor to group performance. Founded in 2012 by Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara, Jumia built its early reputation on rapid geographic expansion across Africa. In recent years, however, management has shifted toward operational discipline, cost control and clearer paths to profitability. The company expects to record one-time exit costs related to employee severance and other wind-down expenses. It said the changes to its geographic footprint are intended to improve efficiency and allow management to focus capital on core markets. The move comes as competition intensifies across African eCommerce, with global platforms such as Temu and Shein expanding their cross-border presence. In response, Jumia has strengthened its sourcing capabilities, including opening an office in Yiwu, China, to enhance procurement and price competitiveness. Jumia has reiterated its target of reaching adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the fourth quarter of 2026 and achieving full-year profitability in 2027. For 2026, it expects gross merchandise value growth of between 27 and 32 percent, alongside a narrower adjusted EBITDA loss. The Algeria exit signals a company prioritising sustainability over reach, reflecting a maturing phase for Africa’s eCommerce sector.

News In Brief

Nigeria, ITU Strengthen Coordination on Digital Economy Plans

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Nigeria is tightening coordination with the International Telecommunication Union as it works to deepen its digital transformation agenda and expand access to affordable and secure connectivity. The National Information Technology Development Agency and the International Telecommunication Union recently held these talks to review areas of cooperation that can support universal and meaningful digital access across the country. The engagement was led by Dr Dimie Shively Warowie on behalf of the NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa. During the meeting, the ITU acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in regulatory coordination, noting the country’s attainment of G5 level collaborative regulation. It also commended the policy direction under Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister, Bosun Tijani, citing steady reforms within the sector. Beyond recognition, the ITU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria with technical assistance, cybersecurity tools and advisory support for initiatives that promote inclusive connectivity. This includes backing for digital transformation centres and programmes aimed at improving access in underserved communities. Speaking on behalf of NITDA’s leadership, Dr Warowie outlined the agency’s current priorities, which include digital skills development, stronger cybersecurity capacity, support for innovation and digital entrepreneurship, and closer alignment of regulatory frameworks and technical standards. Both organisations agreed to focus next steps on practical areas such as digital literacy, school connectivity, cybersecurity capacity building and regulatory alignment. Taken together, the discussions signal a shared intent to move from policy alignment to implementation, as Nigeria works to build a more resilient, inclusive and competitive digital economy within the African context.

News In Brief

Liberia Regulator Gives Starcell 90 Days to Resolve Licence Breaches

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Liberia’s telecommunications regulator has suspended the operating licence of Starcell International Liberia, giving the company a limited window to address regulatory and financial shortcomings that have stalled its market entry. The action was taken by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, which said the suspension covers Starcell’s Universal Telecommunications Operating Licence and spectrum authorisation. The decision took effect from February 9, 2026, and will remain in place for 90 days, ending on May 10. Starcell was issued its licence in May 2020 but has yet to commence full telecommunications operations in the country. According to the regulator, the company breached multiple licence conditions, including its failure to respond within the statutory timeframe to a notice of proposed licence revocation issued in September 2025. The authority also cited delays in launching services several years after licence approval, outstanding financial obligations to the Government of Liberia, and continued non-compliance with sector regulations and applicable laws. During the suspension period, Starcell is required to begin telecommunications operations, settle all outstanding payments through the regulator, and bring its activities into full regulatory compliance. The LTA described the measure as corrective, noting that it provides the operator with an opportunity to regularise its position rather than face immediate market exit. However, the regulator warned that failure to resolve the cited issues within the suspension period will result in permanent revocation of Starcell’s operating licence and spectrum rights.

News In Brief

AGOA Extension Gives Kenya’s Digital Export Sector Short-Term Relief

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The United States has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act to December 31, 2026, offering temporary certainty for African exporters, including Kenya, as Washington moves toward tighter oversight of trade and digital services. The renewal takes retroactive effect from September 30, 2025, preventing any lapse in duty free access for eligible exports. For Kenya, the extension eases immediate pressure on sectors linked to export processing zones, where officials and industry groups had warned that more than 66,000 direct jobs and hundreds of thousands of livelihoods were at risk if the agreement expired. This reprieve comes after concerns grew late last year when President Trump signalled a tougher trade stance as part of broader tariff reforms. Beyond traditional exports such as textiles, tea, and horticulture, Kenya has spent years positioning itself as a regional hub for digital services. Its technology ecosystem supports activities ranging from business process outsourcing and call centre operations to software development and AI data labelling for global clients. Recent data from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that ICT export earnings slipped to KES 208.1 million in November 2025 from KES 227.0 million in October, while ICT imports rose over the same period, widening the trade gap. The figures highlight how sensitive digital trade has become to shifts in global policy. Industry groups say the AGOA extension helps stabilise export planning. Kenya Association of Manufacturers said the United States remains one of Kenya’s largest trading partners, accounting for about 9 percent of external trade. Kenya’s exports to the US reached $788.6 million in 2025, compared with imports of $930.8 million. While the renewal keeps Kenya within the preference programme, it also signals a narrower window. US officials have framed the short extension as time to push for more reciprocal market access and stricter eligibility. For Kenyan exporters, the focus now shifts to navigating tighter digital trade rules while using the extra time to diversify markets and strengthen regional trade links.