Connect with us

News

12 African Start-ups Emerged for Flapmax AI Innovation

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Flapmax has selected 12 startups for the second cohort of its FAST Accelerator start-up programme, which was formed in collaboration with Microsoft.

Starting in October, the FAST Accelerator’s cohort of 12 startups will embark on a five-week comprehensive acceleration programme in Silicon Valley, California.

The programme received over 1,200 applications from 35 African countries in Africa. Applicants represented a diverse range of cloud-based products and services that serve businesses across Africa, and which use AI to promote innovation, improve efficiency, and address crucial challenges in their respective fields.

The top performers in the 2023 cohort, and those that will travel to Silicon Valley, are: Zeeh Africa, Sumundi, Cotrust Equity, Trucki, Orange VFX, 10mg Pharma, Wallx, Moosbu, KCG Aquatec Fish Farming, Aibanc, Zendawa Africa, and Greenbii.

The cohort will collaborate closely with Intel and Microsoft on co-innovation projects, as well as receive sales and marketing assistance and go-to-market enablement to increase their audience reach.

Flapmax will also help the start-ups to apply optimised large language models, as well as scale and fine-tune these models on Microsoft Azure and Intel platforms.

Dr. Dave Ojika, founder and CEO, Flapmax, said: “Our goal is to use AI as a catalyst to enable startups and marginalised entrepreneurs to rapidly and sustainably develop their businesses and create new job opportunities.”

“Microsoft believes that African start-ups and SMEs are well-positioned to become a bedrock for the African digital economy, with relevant solutions to local societal and economic challenges,” said Mame-Fatou Gueye, SME programme manager, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office.

“Participation in the FAST Accelerator programme will help these entrepreneurs capture growth opportunities and expand their market reach,” she added.


Kindly share this post

Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

News

SEC Probes Ponzi Scheme Linked to FF Tiffany

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Securities and Exchange Commission has revealed plans to commence investigation into the activities of an entity operating under FF Tiffany, allegedly running a fraudulent investment scheme that has defrauded citizens.

A statement by the SEC on Tuesday in Abuja said preliminary information revealed that the scheme, which promised investors unusually high and unrealistic returns, had resulted in the loss of several billions of naira.

The SEC said it viewed the activity as a threat to investor confidence and the overall integrity of the financial system.

The commission assured the public that it was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies to bring everyone involved in the unlawful operation to justice.

According to SEC, those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the Investment and Securities Act and regulatory provisions.

SEC reiterated its earlier warnings to the general public to desist from engaging in Ponzi or unregistered investment schemes that promised guaranteed or exaggerated returns.

“These schemes are not registered with the SEC and do not offer investor protection under the law.

“The commission is currently investigating 79 schemes and will make a statement on its findings at the conclusion of the investigation,” the SEC said.

The commission encouraged investors to conduct due diligence and verify the registration status of any investment firm or product by visiting the SEC website or contacting the commission directly through official channels.

SEC said it remained committed to its mandate of protecting investors, ensuring fair practices, and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

US Launches ‘Window on America’ @ Ogun Tech Hub

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Ogun Tech Hub in Abeokuta, Nigeria received a significant step towards increasing digital access and empowering young people as US Embassy in Nigeria launched the ‘Window on America’ facility.

The newly opened centre will offer free high-speed internet, computer access, and targeted programs to help young Nigerians build essential skills in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

In a post on X (previously Twitter), the US Embassy described the hub as a modern ICT and resource centre meant to promote digital inclusion and provide youths with skills.

“Hello Abeokuta! We’re thrilled to announce the opening of the Ogun Tech Hub Window on America. This dynamic space offers free high-speed internet, computers, and programs to help young people gain tech, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills,” the Embassy wrote.

The facility was established in collaboration with the Ogun State and GFA Technologies, a software solutions provider for startups and SMEs.

The Embassy said the facility is part of its wider network of 29 American hubs across Nigeria, designed to empower youth and broaden access to global knowledge and opportunities.

Speaking during the launch, Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun urged young people to use the ICT industry for self-sufficiency and competitiveness globally.

He lauded the program as a public-private cooperation that connects Nigerian youngsters with global innovations.

The governor said: “The Ogun Tech Hub serves as a collaborative space for technologists, startups, and social entrepreneurs to develop tech-driven solutions for societal challenges. The partnership is aimed at positioning Ogun State as a leading tech hub in Africa, supporting creative problem-solving and commercial innovation.”

With the ‘Window on America’ program fully operational, Ogun State is well-positioned to boost youth empowerment and digital literacy.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

TikTok Removes Over 3.6m Videos in Nigeria, Citing Safety Priorities

Published

on

Kindly share this post

In a demonstration of its ongoing commitment to user safety, TikTok removed more than 3.6 million videos from the platform in Nigeria between January and March 2025, a 50% increase in removals over the previous quarter, for violating its Community Guidelines.
These figures were revealed in TikTok’s Q1 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, underscoring the platform’s priority of creating a safe, respectful and trustworthy digital environment.
With a proactive detection rate of 98.4%, which is content removed before it was reported to TikTok and 92.1% of videos removed within 24 hours, the report reflects TikTok’s continued investment in innovation, advanced technology, and expert moderation teams to improve enforcement systems that detect and remove harmful content before it reaches audiences.
With millions of positive, educational and entertaining videos uploaded on TikTok every day, TikTok is continually strengthening its ability to identify and remove content that goes against its Community Guidelines. The latest removals report represents a small fraction of the total number of videos posted by the Nigerian community quarterly; highlighting that the platform has more positive and empowering content.
In March 2025, TikTok also removed 129 accounts in West Africa tied to covert operations.
TikTok LIVE
While TikTok LIVE enables creators and viewers to connect, create and build communities together, in real-time, the platform has intensified its LIVE Monetization Guidelines, making it clearer how some content is not eligible for monetization.
LIVE content enforcement also remained a top priority. In the first quarter of 2025, TikTok banned 42 196 LIVE rooms and interrupted 48 156 streams in Nigeria that were found to violate the platform’s community guidelines.
A global system for localised protection
Globally, more than 211 million videos were removed in Q1 2025, up from 153 million in the previous quarter, with over 184 million removed through automation. The platform’s global proactive detection rate reached 99%, demonstrating continued improvements in identifying and removing harmful content quickly and effectively.
Despite these high-volume interventions, harmful content still represents a very small portion of what users post. Globally, less than 1% of content uploaded to TikTok is found to violate its community guidelines, a testament to its continued prioritisation of proactive safeguards.
Bringing resources to Nigeria’s community, together
In June, TikTok Africa hosted its “My Kind of TikTok Digital Well-being Summit” bringing together experts, NGOs, creators, media and industry leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, to collectively explore, tackle, and improve the state of digital wellbeing both on and beyond the platform.
Part of a suite of announcements made at the Summit and building on a successful pilot in Europe, TikTok is expanding in-app helpline resources to Nigeria, in partnership with Cece Yara, a child-centered non-profit organisation prioritising youth safety and support. This means that in the coming weeks, young users in Nigeria will have access to local helplines in-app that provide expert support when reporting content related to suicide, self-harm, hate, and harassment.
Collaborating with experts, TikTok has also announced Nigeria’s Dr Olawale Ogunlana (Doctor Wales) as a TikTok Digital Well-being ambassador, part of a diverse group of verified healthcare professionals from the WHO Fides Network.
Alongside these efforts and commitment to safety, TikTok encourages community participation through user reporting and education. As part of its ongoing #SaferTogether campaign, the platform advocates for a more collaborative approach to creating a respectful online environment.
The Q1 2025 report reflects TikTok’s deepening efforts to safeguard its Nigerian user base, strengthen enforcement systems, and remain transparent about the measures being taken to uphold platform integrity.

Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending