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Plentywaka, Nigerian mobility startup Raises $1.2m Seed Funding, Acquires Ghana’s Stabus

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Plentywaka, a Nigerian mobility startup has raised a $1.2 million seed round, after successfully ending the Techstars Toronto Accelerator Program in July 2021.


L-R: CMO Stabus, Nicholas Boampong, Admin Stabus, Christabel Lamptey, CEO Stabus, Isidore Kpotufe, CEO Plentywaka Onyeka Akumah, VP Customer Engagement Plentywaka Shaibu John, President Plentywaka Johnny Ena, VP Products Development Afolabi Oluseyi

The startup also announced it has fully acquired Ghana’s mobility startup Stabus, a step it said would further Plentywaka’s ambition of building the largest shared mobility platform on the African continent, starting with West Africa.

Stabus was launched in 2019 by its Co-founder, Isidore Kpotufe who shared that the startup has moved over 100,000 people within Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

Their services include daily bus-stop to bus-stop transportation as well as providing staff bus solutions for multinationals like MTN Ghana and GB Foods.

Following up on this acquisition, Stabus will now be known as Plentywaka Ghana with the mobility platform offering a range of low-cost and premium vehicles which includes cars, mini-vans, and buses for public transportation.

Isidore Kpotufe will become the Country Manager of Plentywaka Ghana and will be joined by the current team of Stabus.

The Xchange, a Toronto-based fund, led this seed round, while Techstars followed on their previous investment in Plentywaka to participate in the round as well.

Other investors include SOSV, the most active VC globally in the angel/seed deal type, and ShockVentures, a VC from the United States.

Nigerian investment firms who participated in the round include Argentil Capital Partners and ODBA & Co Ventures, an early-stage investor in Kuda Bank.

A couple of angel investors from Canada, the US, and Africa also participated in the seed round to give Plentywaka the much-needed boost to continue its impressive growth.

Plentywaka’s Co-Founder & CEO, Onyeka Akumah said, “Plentywaka’s acquisition of Stabus is a firm statement about our commitment to grow and build the largest shared mobility startup in Africa, one country at a time.

“Isidore is a brilliant entrepreneur and we are excited about having him and his team execute our plans for the Ghanaian market as Plentywaka Ghana’s operations commence on the 16th of September in Accra.

“In addition to our work in Ghana, we are also really happy about the progress we’ve made in Nigeria as well to scale our Dailywaka service that provides bus-stop to bus-stop transportation service for thousands of commuters.

“Today, we have moved close to half a million people and that’s a credit to the effort of my team, our heroes (a term used to describe Plentywaka drivers), and our investors who continue to believe and support our growth with their investments.

“With our Travelwaka service, we have been able to cater for interstate travelers across 21 cities in Nigeria and we are looking to expand to more cities as new bus partners sign up with us.”

Todd Finch, Founder and Managing Partner of The Xchange, the lead investor in the seed round said, “The Xchange is on a mission to fuel purpose-driven founders with the capital and resources they need to realize the world-changing potential of their ideas.

“Given Onyeka’s proven track record, his team’s undeniable thirst for making an impact, and Plentywaka’s impressive growth, we knew this was an opportunity we wanted to invest in.”

With over 25 years of experience in building innovative technology startups, Todd Finch shared that “the Xchange is excited to help Plentywaka accelerate and scale their impact.

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“We are excited to support Onyeka and the team with the resources they need to realize the full potential of their vision to change the African transport ecosystem.

“We have been most impressed with Plentywaka’s human-centred approach, putting the drivers as the heroes of the story while creating an exceptional passenger experience. We are committed to supporting the vision of Plentywaka, its founders, and its journey for many years to come.”

Sunil Sharma, Managing Director of Techstars Toronto said, “We are incredibly excited by our investment in Plentywaka. Techstars is a huge believer in the future of Africa and a proud supporter of African entrepreneurs. Onyeka is a two-time Techstars founder which deepens this relationship further.”

Despite suspending its operations for 5 months in 2020 as a result of the global pandemic, Plentywaka has still been able to get 960 vehicles registered on its platform and help its riders commute more than 480,000 times in less than 2 years.

Akumah said expanding into Ghana is just the beginning for the team as it aligns with its Pan-African expansion plan.

He added that Plentywaka is going to replicate its model across 6 other African countries within the next 2 years and will be looking for the right kind of investors and partners to join the  ‘black and yellow’ movement to provide the best-in-class transportation service connecting cities and communities with technology across Africa.

 


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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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Huawei Cloud Named Carrier Hybrid Cloud Leader in Sub-Saharan Africa

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On November 11, during the AfricaCom event, GlobalData unveiled its latest industry white paper, “Unleashing the Potential of Carrier-Grade Hybrid Cloud in Sub-Saharan Africa 2025”, highlighting key insights into the region’s evolving hybrid cloud landscape.

Huawei Cloud Named Carrier Hybrid Cloud Leader in Sub-Saharan Africa

Based on comprehensive research across 13 Sub-Saharan countries and interviews with 25 leading telecom carriers, the report named Huawei Cloud as the Carrier Hybrid Cloud Leader in Sub-Saharan Africa, recognizing its leadership in technological innovation and solid market performance.

 

Huawei Cloud Ranked No.1 in Sub-Saharan Carrier Hybrid Cloud

Based on GlobalData’s research, assessing both technology leadership and market performance metrics, Huawei Cloud secured the top position among carrier-grade hybrid cloud vendors in the region.

Microsoft was positioned second and also recognized as a Leader, followed by AWS and Google as Dominant players. VMware and Oracle were considered Challengers.

Competitive Landscape: Carrier Grade Hybrid Cloud Sub Saharan Africa Region 2025

From a Market Performance perspective, Huawei Cloud achieved the highest rating for expanding market presence, supported by its extensive solution offerings and deep telco expertise. The study evaluated vendors against three key metrics: Market Presence, Market Differentiation, and Telco Expertise. Huawei demonstrated a stronger market push than its competitors, with Microsoft ranked second, followed by Google, AWS, VMware, and Oracle.

Market Performance: Carrier Grade Hybrid Cloud Sub Saharan Region 2025

In terms of Technology Leadership, Huawei Cloud achieved the number one aggregate score across seven major categories: Strategic Partnership, Performance and Reliability, Full Stack Infrastructure, Platform and Control, Professional Services, Big Data and Warehouse, and Artificial Intelligence. Huawei Cloud outperformed competitors in Strategic Partnership, Platform and Control, Professional Services, and Big Data & Warehouse, demonstrating a coherent and comprehensive capability across its carrier hybrid cloud portfolio.

Technology Benchmarking: Sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook for Carrier Hybrid Cloud in Africa

As Africa’s telecom industry accelerates digital transformation, hybrid cloud is becoming the cornerstone for innovation. With rapid growth in mobile data, expanding fiber networks, and rising adoption of AI and fintech services, carrier-grade hybrid cloud will empower carriers to deliver secure, intelligent, and scalable services that drive the continent’s next wave of digital growth. Huawei Cloud is committed to supporting this evolution, providing leading hybrid cloud solutions and deep telco expertise to help carriers succeed in the region.

Click the link to view the full report.(LINK)

 


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FG Launches Galaxy Backbone’s 1Gov ECM Platform, Marks Major Milestone in Nigeria’s Digital Transformation Journey

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The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), has officially launched the 1Gov Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Platform, developed and powered by Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB). The launch marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward building a digitally-driven, efficient, and knowledge-based public service.

The Go-Live ceremony, held at the Head of Service Conference Hall, Abuja, brought together senior government officials, including Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Special Duties, the management of Galaxy Backbone Limited, partners, and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s public sector digital ecosystem.

Delivering her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, described the launch as a defining moment in the transformation of Nigeria’s civil service. She noted that the deployment of the GBB 1Gov ECM represents the fulfilment of a major commitment under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) aimed at driving efficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision-making across the service.

Mrs. Walson-Jack highlighted the progress made over the past year and seven months, including the creation of 59,344 official email accounts, comprehensive data cleansing and harmonization processes, and the successful migration from the previous Laserfiche ECMS to Galaxy Backbone’s sovereign 1Gov Cloud ECM platform. She emphasized that no Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) will need to restart the process, as the OHCSF has fully transitioned to the locally hosted platform.

In outlining the rationale behind the migration, she identified four key pillars underpinning the initiative:

  • National Sovereignty of Digital Infrastructure: Strengthening Nigeria’s ownership and control over its data and digital systems through a government-owned platform managed by GBB.
  • National Interoperability: Eliminating silos by enabling seamless collaboration and information sharing across MDAs through a unified platform.
  • Scale Advantage: Promoting uniform record management and operational standards across government institutions.
  • Faster and Inclusive Adoption: Enabling swift onboarding, electronic workflows, and e-signature adoption to accelerate the government’s transition to digital processes.

During a live demonstration of the 1Gov ECM platform, Mr. Ayodeji Bakare, 1Gov ECM Project Lead, reaffirmed GBB’s commitment to powering the Federal Government’s digital transformation goals. He revealed that over 893 staff members have already been enrolled and are actively using key features such as GovMail, document management, and workflow automation tools that enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Representing the Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Mr. Sani Ibrahim, commended the OHCSF for its visionary leadership and collaboration. He stated that the deployment of the 1Gov ECM brings Nigeria significantly closer to achieving a fully paperless government by December 31, 2025, emphasizing that the Galaxy Backbone 1Government Cloud remains central to the nation’s digital transformation agenda.

He further highlighted that GBB has already deployed its 1Government Cloud solution across several ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, among others. This, he noted, reflects GBB’s unwavering commitment to supporting all MDAs in their digitalisation journey, ensuring that Nigeria achieves its national digital transformation and sustainability goals.

The event concluded with renewed commitments from government leaders, partners, and MDAs to continue working collaboratively with Galaxy Backbone in advancing the modernization of Nigeria’s public service through the deployment of secure, innovative, and sustainable digital systems.


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ALTON Seeks Clear Rules to Strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Economy

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Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has urged lawmakers to provide unambiguous regulatory guidance in the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, 2025, emphasising that clarity and structured collaboration are essential to drive investor confidence and sustainable growth in the country’s digital sector.

ALTON Seeks Clear Rules to Strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Economy

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, presented the association’s position during the Joint National Assembly Committee hearing on the Bill, commending legislators for their efforts to modernise Nigeria’s digital landscape and establish a legal framework for emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Representing all licensed telecom network and infrastructure operators in Nigeria, ALTON acknowledged the transformative potential of the Bill but highlighted concerns about overlapping mandates, institutional independence, and the need for coordinated regulatory action.

“The  (NCC) should retain its statutory oversight of telecommunications networks and infrastructure, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) should lead on digital policy and e-governance,” Adebayo said, while noting, “Ensuring that these agencies operate within clearly defined roles will prevent duplication, enhance efficiency, and foster investor trust.”

The association warned that regulatory ambiguity between NITDA and NCC could slow implementation, disrupt service delivery, and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.

ALTON recommended a deliberate separation of policy guidance and technical regulation, citing international best practices from the United Kingdom, India, and the European Union, where such structures have successfully balanced accountability with innovation.

The association also called for a review of Section 82 of the Bill, which grants ministerial directive powers, arguing that safeguarding regulatory independence is critical for maintaining investor confidence and ensuring transparent governance.

To further strengthen inter-agency collaboration, the association proposed the creation of a National Digital Cooperation and Interoperability Framework

The framework would formalise joint action among NITDA, NCC, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), providing a structured platform for coordination and policy alignment.

“Embedding structured collaboration within the Bill is essential to avoid policy fragmentation and improve coordination across government institutions,” Adebayo noted.

ALTON reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation while emphasising that the success of the Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill depends on establishing clear jurisdictional boundaries, ensuring institutional independence, and promoting effective regulatory cooperation.

“Our goal is a sustainable digital economy driven by innovation, accountability, and investor trust,” Adebayo added, stressing that clarity and collaboration are the pillars that will define Nigeria’s digital future.

 

 

 

 

 


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