The African Development Bank (AfDB) is betting big on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for delivering Africa’s ambitious Agenda 2063.

With hands-on training in tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, the Bank believes the results could redefine how the continent plans, measures, and delivers its development goals.

Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office, the AfDB has provided technical and financial support to the 5th annual training workshop for African Union member states, focusing on the use of AI to track and implement the second ten-year plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.

The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was co-organised by the African Union Commission and the African Capacity Building Foundation.

Participants from across the continent rolled up their sleeves for hands-on training with emerging AI platforms like Ailyse, Google AI Studio, and Perplexity.

The goal of Africa’s multilateral development finance institution is to turn complex development data into actionable insights that can drive smarter decisions, faster interventions, and more accountable governance.

AbibuTamu, lead programme co-ordinator at the AfDB, said AI was now an indispensable tool for Africa’s future.

“These tools are not only revolutionizing how data is collected, analysed, and reported, they are also enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,” Tamu told delegates.

Agenda 2063, dubbed “The Africa We Want,” is the African Union’s 50-year blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable development. The second 10-year plan prioritises industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable livelihoods.

With AI now in the mix, African policymakers can track progress in real-time, spot bottlenecks before they choke projects, and reallocate resources where they are needed most.

The AfDB’s backing underscores a broader strategy of boosting both human and institutional capacity that propels African states to harness the digital revolution.

Beyond technical skills, the Lusaka workshop doubled as a peer-learning platform, with countries sharing real-world success stories on integrating AI into national planning and reporting.

“If Agenda 2063 is Africa’s long-term roadmap, this AI training is about upgrading the continent’s GPS that ensures leaders not only know the destination, but also have the intelligence to navigate every twist and turn on the way,” said Tamu.

A surge in cryptocurrency fraud has prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to strengthen its monitoring measures.

The regulator has partnered with blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis to improve its ability to detect and disrupt illicit activity.

This move follows growing concerns about the security of Nigeria’s expanding digital asset market.

At a joint webinar themed “Combating Scams with Blockchain Intelligence,” Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director-general, SEC,  stressed the need for coordinated action.

He said transparency in crypto transactions should be the foundation of enforcement in the sector.

Agama warned that without collaboration, fraudulent activity could grow more dangerous in the future.

The SEC plans to use blockchain’s permanent transaction records to trace and monitor illicit movements of funds. This will include identifying wallet clusters, tracking fund transfers, and analysing transaction histories on networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Agama said these measures would help the commission detect scams earlier and respond faster.

The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report provided data that reinforced the urgency of the SEC’s initiative.

According to the report, illicit crypto addresses received $178 billion worldwide over the last five years.

The highest volume was recorded in 2022, with $54.3 billion, followed by $46.1 billion in 2023 and $40.9 billion in 2024.

Agama said these figures showed the scale of the problem and the need for advanced analytics in enforcement work.

He also noted that Nigeria must improve its technical capacity to match the sophistication of modern financial crimes.

The partnership with Chainalysis is expected to help bridge this capability gap.

The SEC is working under the framework provided by the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, which took effect in April.

Agama described the law as a key step toward establishing clear rules for the digital asset market.

It also enables cooperation between Nigerian regulators and international partners without discouraging innovation.

He called for active collaboration between regulators, technology providers, and industry players to address fraud before it escalates. “

With all the various tools at our disposal, we must brace up for the challenges ahead,” Agama said.

He added that the collective goal should be to stop criminal activity at its source.

The SEC’s collaboration with Chainalysis is positioned as a strategic move to safeguard investors and improve market integrity.

It reflects an effort to place Nigeria among regional leaders in regulated digital finance.

By integrating blockchain analytics into its operations, the commission aims to create a safer environment for crypto transactions in the country.

Technology Company, Globacom, has announced significant reductions in its International Direct Dialing (IDD) rates, making international calls more affordable for its existing and new customers across Nigeria.

Effective August 10, the new rates began applying to over 15 popular international destinations, including United States which will has moved to ₦30 per minute, down from ₦35, United Kingdom is now N350 from ₦400, while India also moved down to ₦40 from N45.

The rates for China, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon however recorded major reduction moving to N75, N300 and ₦700 respectively.

The reduction was also extended to African countries including Benin Republic which goes for ₦650 per minute, Niger Republic ₦750, Ghana ₦500, and Togo ₦650. United Arab Emirates also moved from ₦450 to ₦325, Germany to ₦550, Côte d’Ivoire ₦700, Libya ₦700, while calls to Malawi is now N1,100 from ₦1,200.

Glo aims to provide more value for its customers through these revised rates, encouraging them to make Glo their preferred network for international calls. New IDD bundles will also be introduced, offering frequent international callers even more attractive deals.

Globacom, which remained optimistic that frequent international callers will benefit immensely from the reductions in IDD bundles, enjoined customers to take advantage of the new rates to stay connected with friends and business associates across the globe.