General News
Catalytic Africa Goes Live at 2021 AfriLabs Annual Gathering

AfriLabs, in collaboration with African Business Angels Network (ABAN), has officially launched Catalytic Africa, a co-matching fund designed for African startups, at the AfriLabs Annual Gathering held on Thursday, October 28th, 2021.

Catalytic Africa is an investment tool that aims to increase the pool of capital available to promising African growth-stage entrepreneurs, support the startup ecosystem, and increase the visibility of impact to institutional funders.
This co-matching investment is designed to fund African startups with innovative digital solutions and measurable impact, increase the investments made by angel investors in African start-ups, present reliable ecosystem data and insights to impact reporting for all stakeholders and ultimately strengthen African angel networks and innovation hubs.
The requirement for startups to access this matching funding is to be a part of the Hubs from AfriLabs and Angel investors from ABAN. The maximum financing from Catalytic Africa is €60,000 per transaction.
“If the business angel invests an amount less or equal to €10,000, then the matching fund will double the amount of funding the startup receives from the angel investors. If the business angel invests more than €10,000, then the matching fund will triple the amount of funding the startup receives from the angel investors.
“We have been working extremely hard to make this come to life and today, we are happy to launch Catalytic Africa, the game changer that will support startups across the continent. This will help hubs within our network attract startups because Catalytic Africa serves as an incentive and has the ability to offer matching funds for their startups.
“We have designed this matching fund to offer value and sustainability to all stakeholders which also greatly benefits institutional funders and the government in tracking the impact of their funds’ long term. The platform also hosts a range of toolkits that help strengthen the capacity of hubs and angel groups.” said Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs.
Also commenting, Tomi Davies, President African Business Angels Network (ABAN) said, “We look forward to growing the African business space by helping businesses find the matching funds and access opportunities that will truly impact the continent. We as ABAN aim to position Catalytic Africa as the continent’s leading startup matching fund because ‘Now is the time to invest in Africa.”
“The goal of Catalytic Africa is to support the tech ecosystem and we have made it as simple as possible without compromising on high quality standard. I also use this opportunity to extend our deepest appreciation to Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for trusting us with 1.5M euros to start the Catalytic Africa funds. We look forward to encouraging and stimulating nascent angel networks and propel the growth of the African tech ecosystem”, added Rebecca Enonchong, Board Chair, AfriLabs.
This is an open opportunity for African startups, hubs, Angel investors and angel networks to register fully throughout November in anticipation of the launch of matching fund applications in December 2021.
General News
NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has denied reports that the federal government has introduced a new tax on vehicles.

The clarification follows the circulation of a viral message online claiming that all vehicle owners would be required to start paying a new tax from July 1, 2026.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NRS said the information in the message is false and did not come from the agency or any official government institution.Nigeria Travel Guides
According to Dare Adekanmbi, spokesperson for the NRS, the viral message was designed to mislead the public. He explained that it was made to look genuine by using official government logos and formatting.
The message reportedly instructed owners of private, commercial, and corporate vehicles to pay an unspecified fee either online or through approved banks and agencies. It also included a website that was wrongly presented as an official government platform.
Adekanmbi stressed that the website mentioned is not connected to the government and warned Nigerians not to make any payments based on such information.
He said the NRS has not introduced any new vehicle tax and that any official policy or tax change would be properly announced through verified government channels.
The agency urged citizens to ignore the fake message and avoid falling victim to possible fraud. It also advised Nigerians to always confirm such information through trusted and official sources before taking any action.
The NRS further encouraged the public to follow its official communication platforms to stay informed about genuine tax policies, updates, and government directives.
General News
NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

National Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed that piracy remains a major threat to the nation’s creative economy, vowing to intensify its nationwide crackdown on illicit networks to protect intellectual property.

Pic credit…soundcloud.com
Dr. John Asein, director-general of the NCC, disclosed this in a statement to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day.
The commission noted that piracy remains a major threat, undermining legitimate enterprise and eroding the economic value of creative works.
Asein lamented that inadequate distribution systems and limited access to books also constrain the growth of readership.
He described the event as an important occasion, which showcased the enduring value of books as foundations of knowledge, instruments of cultural preservation, and drivers of national development.
He described the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Read Books, Respect Copyright,’ as a call on Nigerians to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, while recognising that respect for copyright is essential to sustaining creativity and rewarding authors.
The commission noted that Nigeria’s book industry has evolved significantly, from the post-independence emergence of indigenous publishing to today’s digitally driven ecosystem.
“Nigerian authors continue to gain global recognition, while publishers are expanding capacity. However, challenges persist,” he said.
The commission commended the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, describing it as a bold step toward repositioning intellectual property as a driver of economic transformation.
The policy, according to him, provides a roadmap for revamping the book sector for the benefit of authors and publishers, and is accessible at ippolicy.ng.
The NCC also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive access through the Marrakesh Treaty, as reflected in the Copyright Act, 2022, enabling accessible formats such as Braille and audio texts.
It urged Nigerians to respect copyright and purchase books only from authorised sources.
General News
Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

Fusewall Holdings, founded by Azeez Amida, has announced the acquisition of a 100 percent equity stake in Coloplus Worldwide Service Limited, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure space.

Fusewall Holdings
The deal marks a significant milestone in Fusewall’s broader strategy to build an integrated and future-ready platform across key sectors, particularly within the country’s fast-evolving digital economy.
The transaction was led by Amida, whose role in structuring and executing the deal was described as pivotal. According to the company, his leadership helped align stakeholders and navigate complex negotiations to ensure a successful close while positioning the business for long-term growth.
A spokesperson for Fusewall Holdings said the acquisition represents “a deliberate step forward” in the company’s expansion strategy, noting that the focus remains on building platforms that combine operational efficiency, resilience, and scale.
Coloplus brings a substantial operational footprint to the deal, including access to about 900 partner locations and roughly 20 owned sites. This combination of reach and infrastructure control is expected to give Fusewall a strategic advantage as it scales operations nationwide.
Fusewall said it plans to deploy capital, strengthen governance structures, and enhance operational execution as part of the integration process. The move is expected to improve service delivery, boost infrastructure reliability, and support expansion into underserved and high-demand areas.
The acquisition also aligns with the company’s broader ambition to help bridge Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure gap by expanding connectivity, improving network resilience, and advancing digital inclusion.
Fusewall Holdings said the deal reflects its commitment to disciplined execution and long-term value creation as it continues to grow its footprint in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
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