News
InsomniaQ Spotlights African Creativity in Lagos
Quickteller successfully hosted the maiden edition of InsomniaQ recently in Lagos, delivering a 12-hour non-stop celebration of African music, culture, and creativity.
A statement from the firm on Sunday stated that the event attracted a diverse audience of music lovers, culture enthusiasts, and festive diaspora returnees, marking a strong debut for what organisers described as a potential signature December event.
InsomniaQ featured a dynamic mix of live performances and DJ sets, showcasing Africa’s rich musical diversity and creative depth. From soulful sounds to high-energy performances, the festival offered a thoughtfully curated journey designed to follow the natural rhythm of its audience’s circadian cycle, sustaining energy, connection, and excitement throughout the night.
Beyond the performances, InsomniaQ emerged as a platform for shared cultural expression, creating space for celebration, discovery, and community. The experience reinforced Lagos’ position as the heartbeat of Africa’s December entertainment season and highlighted the growing appetite for premium, culturally grounded experiences.
Commenting on the success of the event, the Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications, Interswitch Group, Cherry Eromosele, described InsomniaQ as an organic extension of Quickteller’s place in everyday moments of connection, culture, and celebration.
“InsomniaQ was created as a space to celebrate African creativity in its full expression, the music, the energy, and the people who make our culture so powerful.
“Seeing that vision come to life, with thousands of people connecting through sound, movement, and shared experience, has been truly rewarding. This debut edition reinforces our belief in creating platforms that bring people together and spotlights the richness of African talent in meaningful ways,” Eromosele said.
The success of InsomniaQ, according to the organisers, reflects a broader commitment within the Interswitch ecosystem to support experiences that extend beyond transactions into everyday life. By championing platforms that blend culture, innovation, and community, Interswitch continues to shape how people connect, celebrate, and experience Africa’s evolving creative economy.
With its strong debut, InsomniaQ has set the tone for future editions and established itself as a new fixture in Africa’s December calendar, celebrating culture, driving connection, and creating memorable experiences.
EFCC
The African Development Bank Group last week approved an investment of €6.5 million in the Saviu II fund in order to support technology start-ups through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising, mainly in French-speaking Central and West Africa.
The Bank will invest €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission, under the Boost Africa Programme.
This participation of the Bank Group will enable the Saviu II fund to give priority to companies with a strong technological or digital component.
Saviu II, the second investment vehicle of Saviu Partners, plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in about 20 technology or technology-oriented business-to-business start-ups in the seed phase or carrying out first institutional fundraising.
The Saviu II venture capital fund aims to make at least 60% of its commitments in the French-speaking countries of West and Central Africa: Côte d ‘Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The fund can also co-invest in promising technology companies in East Africa that have a strong team and business model, and whose strategy includes entering the market in French-speaking West African countries and establishing a strong presence there.
In addition, the fund will devote a dedicated envelope to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity investments, usually in co-investment with studios, incubators or other ecosystem partners.
Nigerian Government has signed a $1.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) via the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to fund an alumina refinery, national geoscience mapping, and a strategic investment vehicle for mining growth.
Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, said the refinery will process one million tonnes of bauxite yearly using a modern Bayer process, powered by an on-site gas-fired cogeneration plant.
Minister Dele Alake called it a transformative milestone boosting GDP, aligning with reforms that improve investment climate, regulations, and licensing to attract private capital. He directed agencies to fast-track permits.
The 20-year project at 95% utilization eyes 19 million tonnes total output, $1.2 billion annual GDP addition, $25 billion economic impact, and $8 billion forex earnings, per feasibility studies.
SMDF Executive Secretary Fatima Shinkafi termed it the agency’s biggest funding deal, supporting value-addition policy.
The partnership extends to geoscience mapping for mineral data, de-risking exploration, and a joint vehicle for mining assets.
Permanent Secretary Engr. Farouk Yabo praised the reforms. Shinkafi signed for government; AFC’s Franklin Edochie for the corporation, witnessed by AFC CEO Samaila Zubairu.
Tomori positioned it as Nigeria’s largest private mining investment and FDI magnet.
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