E-Business
The Rising Stars: 7 Unicorns Shaking the African Continent
The African continent has been experiencing a surge in the number of startups that are making waves across various industries. These startups, popularly referred to as unicorns, are companies that have achieved a valuation of over $1 billion. In this article, we will be taking a look at seven of these unicorns that are shaking up the African continent and disrupting traditional business models.
Flutterwave:
Founder(s): Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Olugbenga Agboola
Contributions: Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech startup, has revolutionized digital payments in Africa. Founded in 2016, Flutterwave provides a seamless platform that enables businesses and individuals to send and receive money across Africa and internationally. The founders’ visionary approach has helped drive financial inclusion by creating accessible payment solutions, boosting e-commerce, and fostering economic growth in the African market. Their innovative efforts have made Flutterwave one of Africa’s most prominent unicorns, valued at over $1 billion.
Maser:
Founder(s): Prateek Suri
Contributions: Prateek Suri’s vision is critical in its attaining unicorn status. His vision for Maser is to democratize access to quality and affordable consumer electronics across the world. Known for his strategic acumen and innovative thinking, Suri has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible. His relentless pursuit of excellence has cemented Maser’s position as a trailblazer in the industry, disrupting traditional norms and setting new benchmarks for success. Maser Group emerges to be 7th unicorn for making 1 Billion USD Revenue under Suri’s Leadership.
Jumia:
Founder(s): Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara
Contributions: Jumia, often referred to as the “Amazon of Africa,” was founded in 2012 and has since become one of the continent’s most successful e-commerce platforms. Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication have transformed the retail landscape in Africa, providing a convenient and reliable online marketplace for customers across the continent. Jumia’s remarkable growth has not only empowered local businesses but also accelerated the adoption of e-commerce, facilitating economic opportunities and job creation.
Andela:
Founder(s): Jeremy Johnson, Christina Sass, Ian Carnevale, and Brice Nkengsa
Contributions: Andela, established in 2014, has emerged as a trailblazing company in the African tech scene. Its founders recognized the immense talent pool in Africa and built a platform that connects African software developers with global companies seeking remote engineering teams. By providing world-class training and mentorship, Andela has played a pivotal role in nurturing a thriving tech ecosystem in Africa. The founders’ commitment to fostering local talent has not only created thousands of high-quality jobs but also elevated Africa’s reputation as a hub for software development.
Paystack:
Founder(s): Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi
Contributions: Paystack, founded in 2015, has reimagined online payments in Africa, empowering businesses of all sizes to accept payments seamlessly. Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi’s groundbreaking initiative has revolutionized the fintech sector, facilitating secure transactions and driving digital entrepreneurship. By addressing the challenges associated with payments in Africa, Paystack has catalyzed economic growth and enabled numerous startups to flourish, propelling the continent’s digital transformation.
Interswitch:
Founder(s): Mitchell Elegbe
Contributions: Mitchell Elegbe founded Interswitch in 2002, envisioning a future where digital payments would redefine Africa’s economic landscape. Interswitch has become a key player in the financial technology space, offering a range of payment solutions and infrastructure that have modernized banking and commerce in Africa. Elegbe’s visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of innovation have played a vital role in expanding financial inclusion and driving economic development across the continent.
Cellulant:
Founder(s): Ken Njoroge and Bolaji Akinboro
Contributions: Ken Njoroge and Bolaji Akinboro co-founded Cellulant in 2004, recognizing the potential of mobile technology to transform Africa’s agricultural and financial sectors. Cellulant’s innovative mobile payments platform has revolutionized how farmers, businesses, and consumers interact, driving financial inclusion and fostering growth. Njoroge and Akinboro’s commitment to leveraging technology for social impact has earned Cellulant recognition as one of Africa’s leading fintech unicorns.
Conclusion:
The rise of these seven African unicorns exemplifies the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship sweeping across the African subcontinent. Through their visionary leadership and transformative solutions, the founders have not only built successful companies but also catalyzed economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement. These unicorns have demonstrated the potential and power of African innovation on a global stage, reshaping perceptions and establishing Africa as a vibrant market ripe with opportunities. As these remarkable success stories continue to unfold, Africa’s future looks brighter than ever, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and paving the way for prosperity and progress.
Nigeria needs some 480,000 data protection officers (DPOs), to develop, implement, and oversee organizations’ data privacy strategy to ensure compliance with laws like the GDPR and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
Currently only about 10,000 individuals possess the necessary certification highlighting a major skills gap, according Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Olatunji spoke on Monday at the second edition of its Data Protection Officers training and certification programme in Abuja and Lagos.
He said that the NDPC has domesticated the certification of data protection officers (DPOs) to address the widening gap in certified DPOs, despite steady growth in the number of trained professionals over the past three years.
“At the moment, we have about 10,000 certified DPOs to work in that space. The gap of about 480,000 still exists,” he said.
The shortfall reflects rising demand for data privacy skills as more businesses, government agencies and digital platforms process personal data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
Olatunji said the number of certified DPOs has grown from fewer than 1,000 three years ago to over 10,000, while more than 27,000 professionals now operate within Nigeria’s wider data protection ecosystem.
He said the commission is scaling up training and certification efforts to close the gap and position Nigeria as a leading source of data protection talent in Africa.
“Our goal is to make Nigeria the go-to country when it comes to sourcing qualified data protection officers in Africa,” he said, adding that the certification meets global standards.
The NDPC said expanding the talent pool could also support job creation and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Tolu Fadipe, head of research and development at the commission, said data protection is becoming critical as the country moves deeper into digital systems and emerging technologies.
“As we move towards a digital economy, data becomes central and protecting that data is essential,” she said.
Adeola Sopade, lead trainer, said participants in the programme would be trained on global best practices, including data protection principles, compliance requirements and handling user data requests.
The training also includes practical exposure and internships with organisations to improve job readiness.
Participants said the programme offers opportunities for young Nigerians to build careers in technology and prepare for emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.
Federal government has inaugurated the Electronic Pharmacy Regulation Platform (E-Pharmacy) to enhance the safety of online healthcare services.
Pic credit….healthreporters.info
The platform, championed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), is designed to regulate digital pharmaceutical services and improve public health outcomes.
Inaugurating the platform, Prof. Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the initiative signified Nigeria’s commitment to building a world-class regulatory environment.
Pate noted that pharmacy regulation had faced significant challenges for over three decades but expressed optimism that the new platform would strengthen oversight and accountability.
He said the initiative would enable evidence-based monitoring of pharmaceutical practices while supporting innovation and investment in the health sector.
“This launch is a testament to our collective commitment to advancing technology in the service of health, safety and human dignity.
“It is a decisive step to ensure that pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria aligns with national and global health priorities, reflecting the realities of the 21st century.
“It enables the country to adopt evidence-based approaches to monitoring and protecting public health while supporting innovation and investment,” he said.
The minister added that the platform would help establish a safe, accessible and well-regulated national e-pharmacy ecosystem driven by digital technology.
Earlier, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed, registrar/chief executive officer of PCN, said the need to regulate online pharmacy operations became more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ahmed said the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools and e-commerce in healthcare, exposing longstanding inefficiencies in pharmaceutical supply chains, particularly in Africa and Nigeria.
“This has led to the increasing adoption of digitised distribution of essential medicines through cost-effective and technology-enabled models.
“For decades, PCN has regulated pharmacy education, training, practice and business in Nigeria. However, as the world shifts towards digital solutions, access to medicines has evolved.
“The Electronic Pharmacy Regulations 2026 provide a comprehensive legal and technical framework for the registration, licensing, operation and oversight of digital pharmaceutical services,” he said.
He added that the framework would ensure that ethical standards and patient safety are not compromised in the delivery of online pharmaceutical services.
Olugbenga Agboola, CEO, Flutterwave, has announced plans to establish Anambra State as the company’s hub for Nigeria’s South East, leveraging a fresh banking license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to boost local fintech and businesses.
Flutterwave
Agboola made the disclosure yesterday in Awka during a meeting with Anambra tech community leaders, hosted alongside Dr. Stanley Uzochukwu, CEO, Stanel Group and proprietor, Delborough Hotel.
He highlighted Flutterwave’s status as Africa’s leading payment system, born in Nigeria, with infrastructure powering companies nationwide.
“We want Anambra to be our hub for the entire South East,” Agboola said. “We’ll deploy our systems, fees, infrastructure, and POS terminals to every small business and large firm here, making our services the top consumer choice.”
Agboola pledged a massive impact program for Anambra entrepreneurs to foster global platforms from the state, enabled by the new license for faster growth.
For a decade, Flutterwave has facilitated payments, but now aims to empower South East businesses through partnerships, POS access, loans, and value for SMEs.
“We’re partnering on a huge impact program launching soon—impacting the tech community with technology, financing, and lending to create more millionaires from this city,” he added.
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