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Microsoft: Getting behind AI growth in Africa

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By Amrote Abdella, Regional Director, Microsoft 4Afrika,

 

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) dominated discussions at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos–with delegates touching on everything from ethics to democratization and workforce re-skilling.

 

While AI is primed to be the driving force of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, its widespread acceptance and adoption among businesses is still in early stages. The year 2018 was an important onein shifting current perceptions around AI, demonstrating it as atechnology that is here to augment human capabilities, not replace them, and to benefit the speed and scale of any organization, large or small.

 

These conversations have carried weight. In just four years, the number of global organizations deploying AI has increased by 270 percent.

 

In Africa, the momentum is similar,and continues to grow asaccess to high quality broadbandand cloud computing improves.Organizations are recognizingAI’s ability to help with some of the continent’s most pervasive problems, from reducing poverty to improving healthcare and enhancing crop yields to feed a growing population.

 

Microsoft, through initiatives such as 4Afrika, has its sights set on making AI available to everyone on the continent, in line with our global mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. We are partnering with forward-thinking policy makers, innovative startups, technology partners, civil society groups and stakeholders to promote the growth of a vibrant AI ecosystem in Africa – one that enables inclusive growth and providesa clear and trusted path to digital transformation.

 

Promoting innovation with AI

 

Many of our local partners, including SMEs and startups, have already begun their AI journeys. Nigerian startup, MyMusic, has experimented with chatbots to help users discover new local music.And fintech startup, MoVAS Group, who we first met in 2016, is now building AI into their credit-scoring algorithms, enabling more unbanked farmers and small business owners to access loans the first time.

 

In the finance industry, 66 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is listed as unbanked. The proliferation of mobile banking across the continent has increased financial inclusion, andAI powered intelligent applications are now taking this further. AI can capture and crunchlarge volumes of non-traditional data, such as mobile wallet transactions, thatenable service providers to make automated loan decisions to new customers, with no previous financial track records,in seconds.

 

Across the Middle East and Africa, a projected $28.3 million will be spent on developing AI solutions in the financial sector – and organisations are ramping up efforts to ensure young developers are well equipped for the task. At the recent AI Bootcamp, hosted by Data Science Nigeria andsponsored by Microsoft, for example, local developers were upskilled in using deep learning concepts to drive financial inclusion.

 

Developing this kind of AI capacity in Africa is essential, not only to ensure our 200 million-strong youth population is equipped for jobs of the future, but also toensurelocal AI systems themselves are unbiased and inclusive.

 

 

 

Developing the right skills and data sets

 

Without the skills to build homegrown applications, organizations are likely to import machine-learning algorithms developed elsewhere, which are trained on biased data sets that lack local context. This could have severe consequences in industries like healthcare.

 

What Africa needs is a richer pool of local data, coupled with AI applications that are built by skilled local teams with diverse demographic, gender, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. To achieve this, outdated processes need to be digitised, education systems need to adapt quickly, and digital literacy programmes need to be more far-reaching.

 

Local organisations are making good headway. The Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) in South Africa recently collaborated with Microsoft to build a first-for-Africa technology platform on Azure, which is enhancing the storage and processing of African genomic datasets. With this data and computing power, the CPGR is running more ground-breaking biomedical research in local disease development and prevention.

 

In Malawi, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) hasopened a Microsoft AppFactory at the Dzaleka camp, which is bringing skills in coding and data analytics to young refugees and asylum seekers. Applications that have already been created include Smart Mapokezi, which manages schedules for the allocation of food at the refugee camps.

 

Policies for an AI-enabled future

 

As AI opens up new frontiers for economic and social transformation, policy makers will need to ensure that this new data-driven ecosystemis governed by a strong code of ethics. We need to ensure that ethical AI systems are reliable, secure, private, transparent, accountable and beneficial to all.

 

Across Africa, Microsoft is supporting government bodies in developing necessary policy frameworks.Initiatives such asthe Microsoft Policy Innovation Centre at Strathmore University in Kenya are providing forums to discuss policy issues surrounding the digital transformation of industries and countries. Together with Access Partnership, we also recently commissioned a white paper on the implications of AI in Africa, which will be presented to South African Government delegates in March, during an event dedicated to addressing AI policy advancements.

 

Putting humans at the center

 

Through Microsoft’s various programs, from skills development initiatives to growing the startup ecosystem, we are working to help make an AI-enabled future in Africa a reality. In every AI endeavor, our goal is to augment and amplify human ingenuity, accelerate economic and social prosperity. African innovators revolutionized the way mobile technology is used, and we look forward to seeing what they’ll do next with AI.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. 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

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Shareholders of MTN Nigeria Okay N152Bn Fintech Restructuring

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Shareholders of MTN Nigeria have approved a major restructuring of the company’s digital financial services arm, clearing the way for a N152.06 billion transaction that will see the telecom giant relinquish majority control of its fintech subsidiaries.

Shareholders of MTN Nigeria Okay N152Bn Fintech Restructuring

The approval, granted at the company’s Annual General Meeting on April 30, endorses Resolution 9, which transfers a 60 per cent stake in MoMo Payment Service Bank Limited and Y’ello Digital Financial Services Limited to MTN Group Fintech B.V.

Under the arrangement, the group’s fintech arm will inject fresh capital into the businesses while also acquiring shares from MTN Nigeria through a hybrid structure combining primary and secondary investments.

Following the transaction, both parties will consolidate their interests into a newly created holding company to be registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, a move designed to streamline oversight and position the fintech operations for future investment.

The restructuring marks a significant shift in MTN Nigeria’s strategy, effectively transferring a larger share of the financial and operational responsibility for the fintech business to the parent company, while allowing the local entity to refocus on its core telecommunications operations.

Industry observers say the move aligns with the broader “Ambition 2030” roadmap of the MTN Group, which prioritises scaling digital and financial services across its markets.

The company acknowledged that its fintech subsidiaries are currently loss-making, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of building digital payment platforms.

By reducing its direct exposure, MTN Nigeria is expected to free up resources to strengthen its connectivity infrastructure, while the fintech arm gains the financial backing required to accelerate expansion.

The planned holding company structure is also expected to enhance investment flexibility, enabling the business to attract strategic partners and scale operations in areas such as rural penetration, merchant acquisition and digital payments.


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Guinness Nigeria Celebrates 76 Years of Brewing Greatness

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Guinness Nigeria Plc is set to mark 76 years of operations on April 29, a milestone for one of the country’s most enduring corporate institutions and widely regarded as Nigeria’s foremost total beverage alcohol business.

Established in 1950 and with its first brewery commissioned in Ikeja in 1962, Guinness Nigeria holds a distinct place in industrial history as the first Guinness brewery built outside Ireland and the United Kingdom. What began as an imported stout has evolved into a deeply rooted local enterprise, growing alongside the country through decades of change, expansion, and reinvention.

From its early years to its listing on the Nigerian Exchange in 1965, the company steadily expanded its footprint, building a nationwide network of brewing and distribution operations, alongside a diversified portfolio that reflects both heritage and shifting consumer tastes.

Guinness Stout remains its most iconic brand, long associated with depth and character, while Malta Guinness has become a household staple across generations. Complementing these are spirits and contemporary offerings including  Orijin, Gordon’s, Don Royale and Smirnoff, each firmly embedded within Nigeria’s evolving consumer culture.

Today, Nigeria ranks among the most important markets for Guinness globally, underscoring a relationship that extends well beyond consumption into culture, identity, and shared moments of celebration.

This connection has been reinforced by a long-standing commitment to social impact. As far back as 1962, the company established the Guinness Eye Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, setting a precedent for healthcare interventions that continues today with a second eye centre in Onitsha. Its Water of Life initiative continues to deliver clean water to underserved communities, while sustained campaigns around responsible drinking and road safety reflect an ongoing commitment to societal well-being.

These efforts have shaped Guinness Nigeria’s identity, not just as a manufacturer, but as an active and consistent partner in the development of its host communities.

This interplay between enterprise and impact has been central to the company’s longevity, enabling it to remain both relevant and trusted, even as it evolves.

The 76th anniversary comes at a moment of renewed financial strength and transformation, following a return to profitability and the restoration of shareholder payouts after an extended period of consolidation.

Managing Director and CEO, Girish Sharma, described the milestone as the result of decades of deliberate choices. “In Nigeria, Guinness is part of the national story. The progress we have made reflects discipline, continuity, and a commitment to remaining a business that Nigerians trust, while growing in step with the communities around us,” he said.

Looking ahead, the company’s ambition is captured in its ‘Build for More’ agenda to become Nigeria’s premier and most celebrated total beverage alcohol company by the end of the decade. With a modernised portfolio, a strengthened balance sheet, and a sharper understanding of evolving consumer needs, that ambition is already in motion.

The mission, however, remains simple: to help Nigerians celebrate life, every day, everywhere.


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Glo Commends Nigerian Workers on May Day

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Digital solutions powerhouse, Globacom, has paid tribute to Nigerian workers, whose steadfast industry and enduring commitment continue to propel NIgeria’s march towards development.

As the world observes the 2026 International Workers’ Day, the company acknowledged the indispensable role of labour as the unseen engine that keeps the machinery of national advancement in measured, purposeful motion.

Globacom, in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, appreciated the role of labour in oiling Nigeria’s wheel of development and also affirmed their importance in the progress of the country.

Glo urged employees across both public and private sectors to remain resolute in their pursuit of excellence, emphasizing that the collective discipline of the workforce is central to realizing Nigeria’s aspirations for sustainable growth and prosperity.

“We encourage all workers not to relent in their noble task of advancing the nation through conscientious service and professional dedication,” the statement affirmed.

The International Workers’ Day, commemorated annually on 1 May, celebrates the dignity of labour and the enduring significance of workers in shaping the fortunes of societies across the world.

 

 


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