A Year-in-Review

Today: Bosun Tijani’s first year as Nigeria’s tech minister                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 September 25, 2024 | [Read Online]( In partnership with [moniepoint logo] [Lire en Français]( [اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية]( Happy salary day! ☀️ Here’s an exciting opportunity for crypto innovators! Quidax in partnership with TC Battlefield has launched an exclusive award category to celebrate the most promising and innovative crypto startup in Africa. If you’re solving big problems with cryptocurrency, you stand a chance to win the $15,000 grand prize and other exciting rewards. Applications close next week so [apply quickly](! [today's edition image] - [Bosun Tijani’s first year as Nigeria’s tech minister](#Story1) - [Meta’s legal issues in Kenya take a new turn](#Story2) - [Musk meets Ramaphosa as Starlink’s SA licence stalls](#Story3) - [Nigeria’s central bank shocks analysts by raising interest rates](#Story4) - [The World Wide Web3](#Story5) - [Events](#Story6) Features Bosun Tijani’s first year as Nigeria’s tech minister [Bosun Tijani](Image Source: Adaeze Chukwu/TechCabal. The office of Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, looks pretty much like that of any fashion-forward startup. A sleek waiting area with a conference table smack in the middle, a whiteboard off to the left, and well-dressed employees converging in groups of two and three with MacBooks in hand. Not to worry, this isn’t about Bosun Tijani’s physical office. Instead, we’re here to speak to him about his experience of government having been named minister a little over a year ago. Side note: getting on the very busy schedule of a minister is no small feat. Being one of the most prominent ministers in President Tinubu’s cabinet means two things for Bosun Tijani: high expectations and a lot of scrutiny. It has made it challenging to properly understand his first year in office. How did Nigeria’s tech insider fare in his first year and is there an objective way to help thousands of people arrive at their own conclusions? That’s a question we thought about a lot in June and this week, it has become a living, breathing thing. For the next two weeks, we’re publishing the most exhaustive examination of a minister ever undertaken by a Nigerian publication. On Tuesday, we published the introductory letter from our editor-in-chief, a primer that helps you understand our thinking. By 10 am, we’ll also publish an article on the minister’s goal for bringing high-speed internet to all Nigerians and how that’s faring. Sounds interesting? [Start reading here](. //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/u001.3gD7PSbuofKNJf4aviiyABEwLaotY-cnTvL9XkLJeecz8HFi5aIcJRlOHNPACAGtlq5KbbmzlzCpN5GuBGOUoSMHEQdMvCCErcPqfkCTamFwmPBPRGfG4ulbr8juR8yK25_sp-QTTdGwPDUQVWyqjxDT_r1f-3TryEsnM6G1CAx6uCywJitOOtgYPXQkgrshg7hRcJGCY7IHOosylMbk0zly4ClWelv4wJA7KWQKkGotWYxMlEYm7oR71WOd9usxWo-pdMx0B_z6oKHjPRZRYvNCz_HXdvi6yXJIPbScQvr_ERy0Dk7lgZ2ykT9Po0GtGhtGLTTgpKMuDUIEmsdn36zXCzuivi0gPiGFsAgm__43mC_QBiGZfqFgxrDZJD38/4a2/hOiJdP0oSLKzfM042pedJA/h7/h001.glNl6upUn4okmGvc6VA4Osb-8XLgjUJCsA39eddfZvY Read Moniepoint’s Case Study on Funding Women [Moniepoint image]( After losing their mother, Azeezat and her siblings struggled to keep Olaiya Foods afloat. Now, with Moniepoint, they’re transforming Nigeria’s local buka scene. [Click here for a deep dive]( into how Moniepoint is helping her and other women entrepreneurs overcome their funding challenges. Big Tech Meta’s legal issues in East Africa take a new turn Trouble memeImage source: Zikoko memes Meta’s legal challenges in East Africa are far from over. On Tuesday, the social media giant was [taken to court in a new lawsuit]( filed by advocate Mercy Mutemi. Mutemi’s case argues that Facebook can be held accountable in Kenya for its role in promoting harmful content in a two-year conflict in Ethiopia, where over 600,000 people lost their lives in a wave of violence against civilians. Mutemi claims that the platform's algorithm prioritised and amplified provocative and dangerous posts that made it easier for police forces to target alleged dissidents. Abrham Meareg, the son of a university professor murdered after being targeted by online hate speech on Facebook, and Fisseha Tekle, an Amnesty International employee who reported harassment on the same social media platform, want Facebook held liable for its role during the conflict. On September 20, a Kenyan supreme court ruled in favour of two cases that involved 187 former Facebook content moderators who claim that they were unjustly terminated by Sama, a third-party service provider hired by Meta. The ex-workers, represented by Mutemi, are [seeking $1.6 billion]( in compensation. The ruling sets a precedent that could strengthen the current case against Meta in Ethiopia. Meta’s alleged failure to fix rogue algorithmic recommendations on its platform has led to deadly consequences in East Africa. Lawsuits and pressure from human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Katiba Institution, are compelling Meta for accountability and change. //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/u001.3gD7PSbuofKNJf4aviiyABEwLaotY-cnTvL9XkLJeecz8HFi5aIcJRlOHNPACAGtlq5KbbmzlzCpN5GuBGOUoSMHEQdMvCCErcPqfkCTamGENiBnMw13k66-yrDlLxWUdt-gSOhId5c8mK_CAvK-UkN9bttI-oOjTEjrPKxjJwTk53gZFGQ_XhWLMjsbC01yHGoI364ZAJHf4CLkNJGGmi5-qo01qRZXE0vfgY-cERuMCrhdQ90oXcUekY2TF5OrQWoUuqLYv5Ve27QajSoXC96iOjInrrxADcJQVMSHOk1YXvltTiL6wi3w-VO2UJRCMnRGHqSyp-66HSQi-Xqtw9dMvJDJZmNedf_p2sclwM1pL1BsL6cbkvhs3FYwfOnBSjkAsNBKIM_6JvcgHadIAkSdaF7Gb6cLvr1PsYPPqBkDKcp33_vZpgUCLaXYrOty/4a2/hOiJdP0oSLKzfM042pedJA/h14/h001.P8XtvcfrKijivOknE4r3sNRJUWDpsWgUQ4xkDK1nmkI Issue USD and Euro accounts with Fincra [Fincra image]( Whether you run an online marketplace, a remittance fintech, a payroll, a freelance platform or a cross-border payment app, Fincra’s multicurrency account API allows you to instantly create accounts in USD and EUR for customers without the stress of setting up a local account. [Get started today](. Internet Elon Musk meets South Africa’s Ramaphosa as Starlink licence stalls [Musk meets President Ramaphosa at UNGA79]Image Source: MyBroadBand A week after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed Elon Musk’s SpaceX was [in talks with the South African government]( about securing a licence for Starlink, the pair met again yesterday at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York. In a brief press engagement after the closed-door meeting, Ramaphosa said it was a “good meeting,” offering a sliver of hope to South Africans waiting for Starlink’s low-earth orbit internet service. Despite launching in neighbouring countries including Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Starlink is yet to be available in South Africa. In early September, after Starlink launched in Zimbabwe, Musk posted on X, stating that the service was waiting for licence approval from South Africa’s regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). However, in a later media engagement, ICASA chairman Mothibi Ramusi confirmed that Starlink had not yet submitted any application. Starlink’s licensing troubles in South Africa and Elon Musk’s courting of President Ramaphosa bear semblance to how the service got licences in Zimbabwe and Botswana. In both countries, the licensing process had dragged on for more than a year as regulators pushed back with stringent requirements for the service. However, following Starlink executives' engagement with President Emerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, the service was swiftly given licensing and subsequently launched in both countries. Since ICASA is seemingly not budging on its requirements, Musk will be hoping to work the same magic with President Ramaphosa to bring Starlink to Africa’s most industrialised economy. //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/u001.3gD7PSbuofKNJf4aviiyABEwLaotY-cnTvL9XkLJeecz8HFi5aIcJRlOHNPACAGtlq5KbbmzlzCpN5GuBGOUoSMHEQdMvCCErcPqfkCTamGENiBnMw13k66-yrDlLxWUsz56UDX_MBvJjP6xYANSuq91O-fkdtYC8uzCnsPHX-2-7BZtMMYVADagmF0sFI3oGaMJi80LXJfvwN557vgGPTRJQCayhGAyGsL8GY-qtz9ns5xQ8pmI6My03QiNVCrixNSFq8B4G1V2IgFlXjFkK9XgTUkN71LmfyF01JY-AcaRmCbSQujylMrElKRbREUEuCwMNtcpf6hRG_mKX-_535mnYrZtvubDVjt2Jgoq7DLyT_PRGPV4wae15TecVm0pL5xWN3FLLjMZHHSUfWxVlg/4a2/hOiJdP0oSLKzfM042pedJA/h20/h001.kGnwpmsMwh5oHHvQHoTC2KE4GrrLq6h8sqyL1cGjReo Introducing Pay with Pocket on Paystack Checkout [Paystack image]( Paystack merchants in Nigeria can now accept payments from PocketApp’s 2 million+ customers. [Learn more →]( Economy Nigeria’s central bank shocks analysts by raising interest rates [Nigeria's Central Bank chief Yemi Cardoso]Image Source: Channels Television On Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) surprised economists by raising interest rates by 50 basis points to 27.25%. Many economists had predicted the bank would hold rates, after inflation [eased for the second consecutive month in August](. However, the Central Bank governor, Yemi Cardoso argued that core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, continued to quicken. Choosing to raise the rates—the fifth consecutive rate hike as the tightening cycle continues—was true to Carodoso’s stance that the Bank had returned to orthodox monetary policies. While many believe that raising rates has had very little impact on inflation, Cardoso pointed out that it is an important course of action given the money supply which hit a peak in May 2024. Higher interest rates also make borrowing more expensive, reducing the amount of money in circulation. When spending decreases across the board, prices stabilise, slowing inflation. In addition to raising interest rates, the CBN also increased the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for commercial banks by 500 basis points, pushing it from 45% to 50%. This means that banks now have to hold half of all customer deposits as reserves. Merchant banks faced a smaller adjustment, with their CRR rising by 200 basis points to 16%, up from 14%. //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/u001.3gD7PSbuofKNJf4aviiyABEwLaotY-cnTvL9XkLJeecz8HFi5aIcJRlOHNPACAGtlq5KbbmzlzCpN5GuBGOUoSMHEQdMvCCErcPqfkCTamGENiBnMw13k66-yrDlLxWUsz56UDX_MBvJjP6xYANSuq91O-fkdtYC8uzCnsPHX-2-7BZtMMYVADagmF0sFI3oGaMJi80LXJfvwN557vgGPTRJQCayhGAyGsL8GY-qtz9ns5xQ8pmI6My03QiNVCrixNSFq8B4G1V2IgFlXjFkK9XgTUkN71LmfyF01JY-AcaRmCbSQujylMrElKRbREUEWADa2JsAHaiyXe2D1jg1i8I9twcHpeeqBanCw4et9nt3FKoFsExyD1xJq_mndXRf6i7VyLcE6P6BRCWx-eo5fA/4a2/hOiJdP0oSLKzfM042pedJA/h26/h001.jRBRbYld-c90Gl7lmy7p64gu423Bchm935SvTeHmkeQ CRYPTO TRACKER The World Wide Web3 Source: [CoinMarketCap logo] Coin Name Current Value Day Month Bitcoin $64,218 + 1.70% + 0.29% Ether $2,628 - 0.03% - 4.46% AI Companions $0.12 - 8.42% + 599.41% Solana $151.22 + 3.42% - 5.91% * Data as of 06:20 AM WAT, September 25, 2024. //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/u001.3gD7PSbuofKNJf4aviiyABEwLaotY-cnTvL9XkLJeecz8HFi5aIcJRlOHNPACAGtlq5KbbmzlzCpN5GuBGOUoSMHEQdMvCCErcPqfkCTamGENiBnMw13k66-yrDlLxWUsz56UDX_MBvJjP6xYANSuq91O-fkdtYC8uzCnsPHX-2-7BZtMMYVADagmF0sFI3oGaMJi80LXJfvwN557vgGPTRJQCayhGAyGsL8GY-qtz9ns5xQ8pmI6My03QiNVCrixNSFq8B4G1V2IgFlXjFkK9XgTUkN71LmfyF01JY-AcaRmCbSQujylMrElKRbREUEX3hlUr_Fkam3kNwJpV64OlhYi6agGPEJsOg2Y8gSjs8OuMCRJYLFuQbhikYViu5qrfi3n3IvEkoolLFuoTJAkw/4a2/hOiJdP0oSLKzfM042pedJA/h29/h001.Y3G7OMCP4FdkHFHVEUMzUSbhE7u83FigtN3uEw88bB8 Events - GITEX GLOBAL 2024, marking its 44th edition, stands as the world's most established and iconic large-scale tech exhibition. For over four decades, it has been the premier gateway for tech creators, investors, and enthusiasts to collaborate. This year, the event scales new heights, spanning across two mega venues - Dubai World Trade Centre & Dubai Harbour. It offers an unprecedented 40+ halls of exhibition space, showcasing tech giants and innovative startups in fields like AI, Cybersecurity, Mobility, Sustainable Tech, and more. Prepare for five exhilarating days filled with conferences, live-action workshops, matched concierge networking, and business partnerships. Discover the latest and unseen tech innovations that continue to shape our world. [Find out more here](. - Catalysing Conversations by Endeavor Nigeria, which brings together Nigeria’s most exciting high-impact entrepreneurs, influential business leaders, and forward-thinking policymakers for inspiration, learning, and networking, is one of the highlights of the Endeavor events calendar. With a projected attendance of 500 curated in-person guests and over 500 virtual audience members, this event promises to be a remarkable gathering of innovation and collaboration. [Register here](. - Step into the Future with AWS Community Day West Africa 2024! Are you ready to be part of the revolution shaping the next era of tech? Join the trailblazers, visionaries, and innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. This is your chance to connect, learn, and ignite your passion alongside the brightest minds in the industry. Don’t just witness the future—be a part of it on September 27th & 28th. [Register today](. Issue virtual USD cards for you and your customers [Kora image]( Do you want to issue virtual USD cards for your customers and business expenses? Use Kora’s APIs to issue cards, customise your card program, and set your customers' funding limit to your risk level. Get started [here](. [in other news image] - [Elon Musk’s Starlink shakes up competition in Africa]( - [An incomplete guide to Elon Musk's feuds]( - [Singapore’s gig workers worry new benefits could mean lower pay]( - [Marques Brownlee says ‘I hear you’ after fans criticize his new wallpaper app]( Written by: Muktar Oladunmade, Kenn Abuya, Ganiu Oloruntade and Ephraim Modise Edited by: Olumuyiwa Olowogboyega & Timi Odueso Want more of TechCabal? Sign up for our insightful newsletters on the business and economy of tech in Africa. - [The Next Wave](: futuristic analysis of the business of tech in Africa. - [Entering Tech](: tech career insights and opportunities in your inbox every Wednesday at 10 AM WAT. - [TC Scoops](: breaking news from TechCabal P:S If you’re often missing TC Daily in your inbox, check your Promotions folder and move any edition of TC Daily from “Promotions” to your “Main” or “Primary” folder and TC Daily will always come to you. 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