Author: ITPulse

Despite a challenging economic environment, Nigerian startups secured approximately $410 million in funding in 2024, underscoring the resilience and growth potential of the nation’s tech ecosystem. The figure was disclosed by Ms. Elma Andah, Acting Lead, Strategy, Research and Analytics at the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), during a context-setting presentation titled “Operationalising the Incentive Provisions of the Nigerian Startup Act.” Speaking on the landscape of local innovation, Andah noted that Nigeria’s startup ecosystem continues to demonstrate significant potential, currently boasting over 3,000 startups alongside several globally recognized technology companies. Detailing the structural mechanisms designed to sustain this momentum,…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has emphasized that Nigeria must rapidly transition from policy design to operational delivery if the country is to remain competitive in the global innovation race. NITDA made the call during the NSA Incentives Activation Co-Creation Session held in Abuja, which was organized by NITDA’s subsidiary, the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), as part of a broader drive to foster cross-sector collaboration and translate the framework of the Nigerian Startup Act (NSA) into practical benefits for local entrepreneurs and investors. Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, the National…

PalmPay, a multinational fintech company providing digital financial services across emerging markets, was honored to participate in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum (AEMF 2026), held on July 29-30, 2026, in Abuja. At the forum, Chika Nwosu, Managing Director, PalmPay Nigeria, shared his perspective on the need for greater investment in interoperable payment infrastructure to support Africa’s next phase of economic transformation. The forum brought together policymakers, regulators, development institutions, and private sector leaders to examine how stronger regional collaboration, digital innovation, and coordinated financial systems can deepen economic integration across the continent. Speaking on the…

Mastercard and TeamApt, a subsidiary of Moniepoint Inc. and a leading financial infrastructure provider, have announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen digital payment capabilities for businesses and financial institutions across Africa. Under the agreement, TeamApt will operate directly on Mastercard’s global payments network as a non-bank acquirer, enhancing its ability to onboard credible, licensed entities and deliver seamless payment acceptance, transaction processing, and acquiring services. The partnership will significantly expand card acceptance infrastructure, enabling more merchants to process Mastercard transactions across in-store, online, and mobile channels. By integrating TeamApt’s switching infrastructure with Mastercard’s global network, the collaboration facilitates secure, high-volume…

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched a full-scale forensic investigation into the University of Lagos (Unilag), Lotus Bank, and Hackerbella Ltd following public complaints alleging that students’ personal data was used to open bank accounts without their consent or a lawful basis. The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, directed the commission’s enforcement team to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the circumstances surrounding the collection, sharing, and overall processing of the affected students’ personal information. The probe will scrutinize the specific roles and regulatory responsibilities played by the university, the non-interest bank,…

Nigeria is taking decisive steps to position itself as West Africa’s premier digital gateway, initiating a cross-border connectivity partnership with Burkina Faso that aims to cut the landlocked nation’s internet costs by up to 50%. The strategic milestone follows high-level bilateral talks in Ouagadougou between Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Burkina Faso’s Minister for Digital Transition, Posts and Communication, H.E. Dr. Aminata Zerbo-Sabané. At the center of the engagement is Project BRIDGE, Nigeria’s flagship broadband infrastructure project designed to deploy 90,000 kilometers of open-access fiber-optic cable nationwide and extend terrestrial connectivity to neighboring…

The Anambra State Government will prioritize artificial intelligence (AI)-driven public infrastructure, capacity development and smart governance as key pillars of Governor Charles Soludo’s second-term administration. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), made this disclosure today during a virtual interactive session with Lagos-based technology journalists. According to Agbata, the agency will build on the state’s established digital foundation, scaling existing initiatives while introducing emerging technologies to drive administrative efficiency and public service delivery across the state. Unveiling the agency’s strategic roadmap, Agbata revealed that Anambra has already begun deploying…

African payment gateway and digital commerce leader Interswitch is set to lead discussions on the innovations needed to build Africa’s next digital economy at this year’s Moonshot Conference, hosted by TechCabal. Interswitch will do so in the capacity of being the event’s Platinum Sponsor for the third consecutive year. The conference will take place from October 28–29, 2026, at the National Theatre in Lagos, under the theme: “Courage & Conviction – Building for a New World.” As the Platinum Sponsor, Interswitch will anchor the Big Tech and Enterprise Stage, gathering influential tech leaders to examine enterprise technology, digital infrastructure, and…

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, health systems have historically been structured around acute episodic care—treating sudden illnesses and emergencies such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions as they arise. But to address this structural mismatch, digital health platform Medlitics is leveraging artificial intelligence, remote monitoring, and offline-first technology to transition African healthcare from reactive crisis management to proactive prevention. In an exclusive interview with ITPulse, Michael Fasere, founder of Medlitics, breaks down how the startup is solving infrastructure constraints, preventing clinician burnout, and deploying “human-in-the-loop” AI to safeguard patient health across urban centers and low-resource communities. What specific gap or personal experience…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that over 5,000 fibre optic cuts occurred across the country in the first half of 2026 as a direct result of road construction, excavation, and related civil engineering works. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed this on August 11, 2026, during a high-level stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre-optic cables held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), located within the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja. Addressing attendees, Dr. Maida called on road construction companies, civil contractors, engineers, and relevant…