This teacher-turned-Tiktoker is simplifying tech in Yoruba
Learning tech skills in indigenous languages can potentially increase access to digital education. Olalekan Adeeko, a teacher-turned-TikToker is making this happen. In September 2022, armed with his camera, Olalekan Adeeko recorded a humble introduction video where he shared his idea to teach tech in his native language—Yoruba. To his surprise, about three hours after posting the video on TikTok, he got several “We can’t wait” comments. At that point, he knew there was no going back. Before then, he had quit his teaching job to focus on TedPrime Hub, an ed-tech firm he co-founded in 2017. Having worked as a secondary school teacher for 15 years and professionally trained as a data analyst, Adeeko had one question on his mind: what could he do differently? The answer came: teach tech in Yoruba. Nigeria’s lingua franca, English, is the medium of instruction for digital education. Online learning platforms and resources are predominantly available in English, even though Nigeria has over 500 languages. And according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), receiving education in one’s native tongue can improve learning, learning outcomes, and socio-emotional development—in line with Adeeko’s cause. Globally, about 47 million people speak Yoruba as their mother tongue, while millions of others speak it as a second language. “I saw the need to democratise tech. A lot of people see tech as elitist or a field for the people that must have gone to the university and that it isn’t what anybody can actually relate with,” Adeeko told TechCabal over a call. He noted that the language barrier has made digital literacy difficult for many. Over the next few months, he would post over 300 videos on his TikTok page, garnering over 15,000 followers and counting. His one-minute videos teach uncommon tricks on using Microsoft productivity tools such as converting text to a table on Word, creating a barcode in Excel, or merging shapes on PowerPoint. As Adeeko’s TikTok page grew, so did his community. Posting an average of two videos every day, he now runs a YouTube channel—Anything Data—with over 3,600 subscribers and a Facebook page with over 33,000 followers. “The feedback has been what is keeping me going. People often tell me ‘I’ve been taught this many times but now that I am hearing it in Yoruba, I could actually learn easier’. It has been an amazing experience for me,” a visibly excited Adeeko said. Finding purpose The initial idea for the first-class computer science education graduate was to focus mainly on data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) which he says are his forte. But the comments he received for his first set of videos led him to equally prioritise Microsoft productivity tools. And since Adeeko is a Microsoft-certified trainer himself, the work was a piece of cake. According to him, his videos on Microsoft Excel get the most feedback. “So I want to believe a lot of people are struggling with Excel, maybe for their work or whatever they do,” he said. Adeeko believes people watch his videos because he is a good teacher. He isn’t wrong: he has won several laurels in recognition of his work in the teaching profession including the notable 2020 African Union Continental Teacher Prize. “In my videos, I tend to use different scenarios to drive home my point. I use humour as well because I don’t want the videos to be boring. This makes it fun for people to listen to me,” he said. Making a difference Teaching tech tips and tricks isn’t novel as tons of YouTube channels do this already. But Adeeko says what makes his content different is the medium of instruction. “I think the reason why a lot of people love what I do is that I do it in Yoruba, not because of those things that I teach because they can actually go on YouTube and watch different videos. But because my content is in Yoruba, people who understand the language can relate more and comprehend easier,” he said. He, however, admitted that finding the exact Yoruba words for certain technical terms can be difficult. As a result, he uses both English and Yoruba in his videos. “When I started, I wanted to speak Yoruba all through my videos, but I was struggling to translate certain words. So I decided to use the regular Yoruba and the English words for certain terms for the sake of my audience,” Adeeko shared. Adeeko, who has now earned the moniker “Yoruba tech guy”, says he is frequently contacted by his followers to answer further questions about what he teaches. This, according to him, is his driving force. Speaking about reaching a wider audience, he says he is open to partnerships but in the meantime, he recently created his personal website where he collated all his videos. “I’ve been able to put all the links [to my videos] in an Excel or PDF sheet for anybody to just download, and then you can easily see the topic, click on the link and watch,” Adeeko said. He adds that while he isn’t sure that Nigeria has a plan to promote digital education in indigenous languages, he hopes that the government will consider it in the near future.
Read MoreInsights from Marc Tshibasu on the future of tech startups in Kinshasa
Noel K. Tshiani is the founder of Congo Business Network. In this exclusive interview for TechCabal, he discusses with Marc Tshibasu, head of Orange Digital Centre in Kinshasa, and they touch on the major needs of startups in Kinshasa and how the tech ecosystem is evolving in the country. With a rich background in sales, marketing, and talent development, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table as he shares insights on revolutionising innovation and fostering technology advances in the Democratic Republic of Congo. What is Orange Digital Centre aiming to achieve in Kinshasa, and what are its priorities for this year? Orange Digital Center’s mission is to promote innovation, enhance employability with high-value-added skills, and foster entrepreneurship among the youth. We bring together all the support programmes for young people and entrepreneurship in one location, which are free and open to all. These programmes encompass training, startup support, acceleration, and investment opportunities. Our focus on the integration of academic training with employment or entrepreneurship ensures that we generate a critical mass of competent and qualified entrepreneurs and young individuals who are ready to tackle the challenges of the digital economy. Additionally, we aim to extend our programmes to rural areas to reduce the digital divide and create a regional ecosystem. Orange Digital Centre 2.0 is built on four key pillars: 1. Scaling up: Strengthening activities and expanding the reach to a larger number of beneficiaries, particularly in the regions and provinces, through the establishment of Orange Digital Centre Clubs. 2. Women leadership: Implementing a program designed to provide priority access to individuals excluded from the digital world and to encourage women to become digital entrepreneurs. 3. Entrepreneurship development in priority sectors: Focusing on energy, environment, agritech, health tech, manufacturing, education, greentech, fintech, trade, and human mobility, aligned with the country’s priorities. 4. Strengthening impact: Establishing strategic partnerships with key players in the priority sectors. How do you envision the tech and startup ecosystem evolving in Kinshasa in 2023 and 2024? In my opinion, if efforts invested in training, support, and structuring of startups continue with unwavering commitment and with continuous monitoring of their progress, we can expect the emergence of Congolese unicorns by 2025. This achievement is feasible and attainable through synergy among various stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, incubators, support organizations, investors, and the government. What do you consider the main challenges currently facing startups in the country? What is the primary need of the startup ecosystem in Kinshasa today? Is it fundraising, skills development, or government support? And what role can Orange Digital Centre play in addressing these needs? The three aspects mentioned are pivotal in establishing the foundations of a flourishing ecosystem, especially now that legal instruments such as the startup act and the law on the digital sector have been put in place. There is no better time to be an entrepreneur in the DRC than now. If I were to prioritise them, skills development and startup support would be the foremost areas. Presently, there is a genuine need to acquire entrepreneurial and managerial skills, as well as a need to foster a mindset change. This is why support organisations, such as incubators and innovation hubs, play a vital role in providing training, mentoring, and helping to structure startups. Their assistance is crucial in enabling startups to transition from the project phase to accelerating their growth and preparing them for fundraising, which ultimately paves the way for the emergence of intermediate-sized startups and, potentially, unicorns in the DRC. The second priority is collaborating with investors to address the funding needs of startups. The expectations, access criteria, and available funding amounts are currently very high, making it challenging for the majority of entrepreneurs to secure funding easily. I advocate for the establishment of intermediate levels of funding that are better suited for testing the absorptive capacity and ensuring the successful execution of funded startups. This approach would also stimulate their continuous growth. We cannot expect to have unicorns if we haven’t had sufficient time to mentor, support, and mature projects to ensure genuine scalability. Otherwise, it would be a leap into the unknown. Government support is also crucial, as fostering national entrepreneurship is a key driver for boosting the DRC’s economic development. Although legal frameworks have been put in place, it is essential for the government to continue supporting the Congolese entrepreneurial ecosystem as defined in the enacted laws. If the promised support measures are effectively implemented, they will generate a stimulating effect, fostering more entrepreneurial initiatives and attracting greater investment. This is already evident in certain African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. The DRC has a significant role to play as a key player, given the potential of its market. I believe that all the necessary elements are in place to achieve this ambition. What role should the government play in assisting startups’ growth and promoting the digital sector in the country? What are the greatest opportunities for collaboration between the government, startups, and the private sector at large? As mentioned earlier, the government should act as a facilitator to ensure the realisation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the promised support measures within a short timeframe. The government should also strengthen its partnerships with private entities to create cohesive programs with impactful outcomes for the ecosystem. For example, collaborations like the deployment of Orange Digital Centers in all provinces through a public-private partnership between the government and Orange Group, or the Ishango Startups Center project in collaboration with the National Agency for the Development of Entrepreneurship in the Congo and the national Ministry of Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, there are numerous opportunities for collaboration in the digital and entrepreneurial sectors. It’s worth noting that the DRC’s population has surpassed 100 million, providing a substantial domestic market for Congolese entrepreneurs. All the mentioned stakeholders should work together to promote the adoption of digital technologies across various sectors, including agriculture, health, education, commerce, and energy. This collaboration would create a favourable environment for startup development and attract investment
Read MoreExclusive: Uber increases base fare in Nigeria to ₦1,200
Uber has adjusted its base fares. The ride-hailing company says the adjustment was due to the fuel subsidy removal. TechCabal can exclusively report that Uber has increased its base fares. In an official communication from Uber to its drivers seen by TechCabal, the company adjusted the minimum fare on Uber X from ₦850 to ₦1200. This price adjustment means customers will now pay N25 per minute. Part of the statement to drivers read, “We are confident that these changes will have a positive impact on your earnings opportunity, and we will continue to work on initiatives which help in making Uber the app of choice for you while maintaining an affordable service for riders.” Tope Akinwumi, Uber’s Country Manager for Nigeria told TechCabal in an email, “Following an in-depth review of the current fuel subsidy removal, Uber updated fares on the 3rd and 9th June on the app to reflect existing economic conditions. We believe these changes have helped better support drivers in increasing their earning opportunities. Furthermore, we lowered the service fee in February 2022 from 25% to 20% to help enable better-earning opportunities for drivers.” He added that the fare increases are designed to help drivers cover the recent increase in fuel costs, not the entire fuel cost. An official of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) confirmed the fare increment. Comrade Idris Shonuga, a national trustee of the union, told TechCabal, “Yes. We are aware. But we are still consulting because the new prices do not reflect the drivers’ demands. So we are still consulting.” A driver on Uber who spoke to TechCabal also confirmed the new fares. According to him, “The new fares are not 100% okay, but at least they have made some adjustments, so we would go out to work. The rest now is for us to regulate our cars and think about how to conserve fuel.” This move by Uber is a significant concession because base fares are a bone of contention between drivers and ride-hailing companies. Last week, drivers asked that Uber and Bolt should increase base fares by 200%. The new ask was in response to the removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria, which led to an increase in the price of fuel from around N169 to N490 per litre. The midweek protest by the AUATWON saw the drivers ask ride-hailing companies to also reduce their commission. The same week, Uber’s rival Bolt offered drivers a daily bonus of N6,000, amongst other incentives. But the drivers who spoke to TechCabal kicked against the bonus, which had several conditions.
Read MoreTelkom profits plunge by more than 76%, company blames loadshedding
According to Telkom’s annual results, the company’s profits are down by 76.6%, and the company blames loadshedding among other factors. South Africa’s third largest mobile network operator by subscriber base, Telkom, has recorded a 76.6% dip in headline earning per share (HEPS)—from 575.3 cents to 134.6 cents—according to its annual financial results released this morning. HEPS is the main profit measure used in South African capital markets, and refers to a company’s income from operations, trading, and investments only, and excludes one-time charges, write-downs, cost-cutting. . According to the company, the significant dip in profitability is a result of a tough operating environment caused by inflationary pressures and South Africa’s lingering power issues. “Significant market changes and economic factors, including accelerated loadshedding, low economic growth and a high interest rate environment, coupled with fast-evolving technologies, have had an adverse effect on the group [‘s profitability],” the company said in a statement. According to Telkom’s Q3 results for the period ending December 2022, the company incurred over R150 million in additional costs to tackle loadshedding. Some of the loadshedding-induced costs that South African telcos have incurred include installing solar panels, batteries, and deals with independent power producers. Elsewhere on the company’s financials, revenue was up marginally by 0.9%, while EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) margin, which measures a company’s operating profit as a percentage of its revenue, was at 22.1%, and customer base was up by 7.8% to 18.3 million subscribers.
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Safaricom gets $257 million
In patnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Good morning TC Daily has a new look! Quite a number of things have changed, including the overall layout of the newsletter, language options, content tags and share buttons. The most exciting change, though, is the referral system. You asked us to incentivise sharing the newsletter and it’s here! Starting today, everyone who signs up with your unique link will bring you one step closer to winning cool gifts. You can read more about the changes here. In today’s edition Tango denies all allegations Safaricom receives $257 million from IFC E-hailing drivers strike in Nigeria TC Insights: Fraud risks in Africa’s virtual cards The World Wide Web3 Event: The Moonshot Conference Opportunities Crime Tingo denies all allegations Days after a report by US investigative firm Hindenburg Research accused it of fraud and misrepresentation, Tingo Group is denying all allegations. ICYMI: Last Tuesday, the research accused Tingo and its CEO Dozy Mmuobosi of several fraudulent activities including lying about creating Nigeria’s first payments app, falsification of a PhD degree from a Malaysian university, and photoshopping its logo for TingoPay on other POS devices. Dozy Mmuobuosi, CEO of Tingo Hindenburg also alleged that Tingo’s claim of generating $128 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2023 via its telecoms business is false. Another claim, that its agritech business Tingo DMCC was on track to deliver over $1.34 billion in 9 months, was also reported false. The company’s share prices dropped by 55% within hours of publication of the story. What’s more, Hindenburg published the report a day before Tingo was set to hold a shareholder meeting. The aftermath: Last Friday, Tingo responded, denying all allegations made by Hindenburg. The company, in one press release, refuted all the claims, calling them misleading and libellous. In a second statement, it announced that it would undergo independent research with transnational law firm White & Case LLP at the helm of its investigation. The company also noted that the Hindenburg team made no attempt to verify the claims it made, and that the report was an attempt to “damage its reputation maliciously”, at the expense of shareholders. While Tingo Group is yet to refute the claims with any hard proof, the group states that it will do so in “due course”. Moniepoint ranked 2nd fastest-growing African company Moniepoint is Africa’s second-fastest growing company, as shown in FTs latest report. We also processed 1 billion transactions worth $43 billion in Q1 alone. Read all about it here. Funding Safaricom receives $257 million for Ethiopian expansion Safaricom’s expansion into Ethiopia is getting a major boost. Last week, the International Food Court International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced that it would invest Ksh21.8 billion ($156.9 million) in Safaricom, in exchange for 7.25% of the company’s equity. IFC will also loan Safaricom a further Ksh13.9 billion ($100 million). Safaricom in Ethiopia: In May 2021, Safaricom won a bid to become the first external—and second overall—telecoms company in Ethiopia. Prior to Safaricom, state-owned telecoms Ethio Telecom had a monopoly of Ethiopia’s telecoms market, with 54 million subscribers. Image source: Peter Ndegwa/LinkedIn In 2021, Ethio Telecom sold part of a 40% stake to Safaricom for $850 million. By October 2022, Safaricom launched in the country, acquiring 2.8 million subscribers by March 2023. Seven months later, in April, it announced that it had paid another $150 million to obtain a mobile money licence in Ethiopia. With it, Safaricom will launch M-Pesa to compete with the Telebirr service presently offered by Ethio Telecom. The company’s launch of M-Pesa partly drives the IFC’s investment. Per Kenyan publication The Standard, Safaricom will use the investment to drive 4G and 5G functionality across rural and urban areas in Ethiopia. Zoom out: While Safaricom has spent a lot on its expansion into Ethiopia, it has seen significant interest in its business including a Ksh69.5 billion ($500 million) loan which has not been finalised. The company also recently bought M-Pesa Holding Company Limited (MPHCL), the company that manages all M-Pesa deposits, to Safaricom from Vodafone for $1. The acquisition also means Safaricom has €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) in customer funds, which it could invest in short-term securities. Mobility E-hailing drivers strike in Nigeria Image source: TechCabal Ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria are bumping fists heads with their companies. What’s up? Fuel prices are! In his inaugural speech, Nigeria’s new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, announced the removal of fuel subsidies. Subsequently, the cost of fuel skyrocketed to over ₦600 ($1.60) per litre from ₦185 ($0.40) Days later, logistics companies announced that customers should expect a 20–50% increase in delivery prices. Bolt, for example, increased its base fare from ₦650 ($1.4) to ₦800 ($1.7). Uber increased its from ₦700. ($1.5) to ₦800 ($1.7) while LagRide instituted a 16.6% increase. It’s not enough: For the drivers, though, these price increases don’t reflect the economic realities on ground. Per the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), if the price of fuel has tripled, so should fares. Last week, the association asked all ride-hailing companies to institute a 200% increase with ₦2,000 ($4.3) as the new base fare, a position which corporations like Uber and Bolt, in rejecting the notion, said would reduce demand for their services and cost the drivers even more. The drivers , last week, embarked on a nationwide strike until the fares are increased. Alongside the 200% increase in base fares, the drivers also asked for Bolt to reduce its commission fees from 20% to 10%. While it looks like the corporations will not budge on the situation, Bolt, on Friday, offered its drivers an incentive—a ₦6,000 daily bonus if they complete 7–9 trips, accept 90% of orders, and work at least seven hours per day. The drivers, who are unimpressed with the offer, responded, asking Bolt to instead organise a roundtable with the drivers—or their reps—and hear their terms. This week, though, the drivers returned to work despite their needs being unmet. Experience
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TC Daily has a new look. Here’s what’s different
It’s been almost three years since we redesigned TechCabal Daily, our primary newsletter, to excite our audience by making it more readable and informative. Since December 2020, when TC Daily relaunched, we’ve grown in vision, size and quality. The newsletter now has over 150,000 subscribers—about 10x the number we had in December 2020—a more robust team, and a renewed focus on bringing Africa’s most important tech news to everyone’s inboxes by 7 am WAT every weekday. Why is it changing? Since 2020, the team—led by senior editor Timi Odueso—has added a number of new features and functionalities which were not part of the original design. We’ve added Crypto Market—which is now changing, more on this further on—to provide daily crypto updates, share buttons to help readers share the newsletter with their friends, anchor buttons, language options, and of course ads. We’ve also received some critical feedback from users, some of whom don’t like our memes—sorry guys, memes are here to stay. All-in-all, we’ve redesigned TC Daily to create a seamless experience for our readers, clients and ourselves. Or we could say we redesigned to fit “present macroeconomic conditions and realities”. What’s changing? Our growth, design and tech teams—led by Stephanie Alozie, Osaz Ehiabhi, Tuntamilore Tawak, and Dare Tunmise—have been hard at work for the past couple months. Here’s what you can expect with the new TC Daily: First, we’re changing platforms from MailerLite to Beehiiv. Beehiiv offers us a lot more flexibility and features that fit in with our overall goals. We can track our audience better with it, and run more tests. Like a wedding gown—or a nascent Kenyan startup with significant funding—TC Daily is now mostly white . We’ve reduced most of the blood-orange #F23204 colour that ran through the padding and most of the newsletter. Our overall design is minimalistic and fluid. Over the past three months, we’ve been testing out language options for our Francophone audience and it’s been a huge success with over 40% of clicks attributed to the “Read this in French” button. In the new update, we’re adding an Arabic language option for our North African readers too. So TC Daily will be offered in three languages. Share buttons are moving from the bottom of the newsletter to the very top. In the old design, we weren’t making great use of the real estate on the top of the newsletter, but we’ve now optimised the top for functionality. We received feedback from users who said they didn’t get enough prompts to share the newsletter and now, they will. Each edition—and each news blurb—will start off with a small “Share this edition” prompt. Share buttons and prompts We’ve also added [content] tags to each of the news blurbs. Every news will be identified by whichever sector it belongs to: fintech, cybercrime, global news, etc. We’re only working with content now, but we may add location tags in the future. If you haven’t noticed, “Crypto Market” has now morphed into “The World Wide Web3”. We launched Crypto Market last year, at a time when the crypto world was falling, to help our readers keep up with price trends, spikes and dips. This year though, we have a renewed focus on covering the Web3 space on the continent. We’ll achieve that with “WWW3”—no affiliation with WW1, or WW2. The segment will still cover crypto price changes—including a new 30-day change feature—but you can expect to see more Web3 content and analysis. The World Wide Web3 on TC Daily We’ve heard feedback about the anchor buttons and how users should be able to click on the news titles in the lede and get linked to the news. The good news is that this feature works for Apple and Yahoo Mail. The bad is that we haven’t found a workaround for Gmail—web and mobile—users. Google is a tough nut to crack, but we’ll get there. On Ads, we’re taking off the “partner content” tags from our ads. Ads will now have a red outline while our everyday ads will have black outlines. Ads on TC Daily Penultimately, we are adding at least two new interactive content styles in H2 2023 but we can’t leak the news yet. What we can say is that we’re looking to engage our readers and the tech community more. And one more thing : Our referral programme is back! Last year, we launched V1 of our referral programme to incentivise our readers to share the newsletter. We got hundreds of sign ups within weeks but the system had a few bugs. We’re happy to announce that we’ve squashed the bugs and now have a more functional referral programme which we’ve tested within the team, and outside of it. Most of this is thanks to Beehiiv which has an in-built referral programme that’s easily customisable (no, this is not an advert, we just really like fun, cool, no-code tools). What this means is that all of our subscribers can now refer family and friends to TC Daily and win. The premise is simple: if you love TC Daily, tell someone about it, and we’ll give you something in return*. And don’t worry, the gifts will be items you can actually use, like Showmax subscriptions or mobile money. Image source: Aderemi Adesida/TechCabal For now, only subscribers domiciled in Nigeria can redeem their rewards but we’re working to extend to readers in other African countries. (Other terms and conditions here). Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find a unified rewards system that works cross-borders so it’s been a bit difficult to find a system that works across countries like Kenya, South Africa or Uganda where most of our users live. Netflix doesn’t offer gift cards and neither does Jumia. We are, however, still searching for options. If you have an idea of how we can make this work, please let us know at newsletter@techcabal.com. We’re super excited for everyone to try out and read TC Daily, and not just because we make money from it
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Africa’s data problem is an aversion for learning
Cet article est aussi disponible en français <!– In partnership with –> <!— –> More and better data is good, but not enough. The why and what happens after are equally, if not more important. Last week, my colleague at TC Insights, the research arm of TechCabal, penned this brilliant read discussing how a lack of data in Africa might impact the prospects for African startups. Writing about data availability and accessibility pushes a lot of the right buttons and some of our readers wrote back with insightful comments. Victor Mosengo, a data scientist complained about the hurdles facing anyone who attempts to close the data gap: For example, in a jurisdiction where trade administration is a regional function, a company/org seeking to utilise trade data will now need to either: Seek permission to be a data processor only in the administrative units they have engaged Lobby the national government to kick off a process of data custodianship, which then opens a debate of regional autonomy, and after all this, then hope the national government can allow them to be a data processed Rely on surveys and desktop research; most fall back on this as the most practical approach. As someone who dabbles in market intelligence beyond desktop research, I fully understand Mosengo’s point. Navigating all of this complexity makes research expensive and laborious, especially if you seek to build representative intelligence. With some capital and political savvy, you could find a workaround. But you would not have solved the data problem. Because getting data is still on the lower rung of the bigger problem, which is creating fit-for-purpose solutions. The bigger problem lies in what happens after you have data. Unless this “huge gap is fulfilled, collecting and gathering a mountain of data will yield no benefit or result,” Naushad Kermalli, a Dubai-based banking and capital markets consultant wrote to us in a response to last week’s essay. Here’s one manifestation of this problem. Partner Content: This Wealth Management Startup, Twinku is helping Nigerians Organize, Plan, Manage their Financial life Better How many people live in Lagos? In the previous week, I followed (as I’m sure some of you will have) the debate, if you could call it that, about how many people live in Lagos. Everything from the staid rational to the weirdest extrapolations has been offered by experts and online trolls. The debate about the population of Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre inspires wild responses because of what happens after this data point is established. Why exactly do you need this data as a government? Why does Business X need this data? Why does Organisation Y need this data? Unfortunately, the answer and primary use of data points like this in Nigeria (and a handful of other African countries) is political and the business lobby is largely uninterested. If Lagos has more people than Kaduna (a northern Nigerian state), then it gets more political representation and, ostensibly, more capital resources from the national government. If Nigeria has more people than Egypt, Nigerian diplomats can use the phrase “most-populated African nation”, even though it means nothing and carries little significance, geopolitically speaking. Because this is the central aim for collecting basic foundational data, the incentive to be accurate may not be a priority. One effect of this is often that the data collected is not extensive enough. How could it be if the main (unstated) aim is political bragging rights? And this is only about basic foundational data. Data relating to market opportunity, like income levels and how they change over time in response to, or to cause, economic shifts also suffers from the challenge of what happens after. The answer a lot of the time is nothing. This dislocation between data and policy or decisions is a symptom of another problem. This problem is that we do not appear to care much for learning as a core activity for social progress. Partner Message VivaTech is only a few days away! It’s not too late to book a pass and meet Africa’s leading innovators at Europe’ biggest Startup and Business event. Get tickets now The learning problem Learning means the ability to modify behaviour, acquire skills and develop preferences based on new knowledge. It is an inbuilt human function. Literally! Your skin, eyes, ears, nose and tongue are foundational learning tools built into our sense of being and human function. Learning is also a great discomfort. Who hasn’t stubbed a toe, suffered an indigestion or struggled with some maths? Learning is the why we collect data—to acquire skills and develop preferences. If we have a data problem in Africa, it is because we have a failure of systemic learning. At the higher academic levels, how much learning happens relative to Africa’s societal ambitions? Do we even have enough social ambition as a collective? In business, the story is not much different. In everyday life, learning often happens organically. In business you will often have to seek it out intentionally. Partner Message In 5 minutes, you can get your health insurance, motor insurance, and life insurance on the P2Vest app. Available on Google Play & App Store. Get InsuranceParasol Learning is found in translation We focus so much on the problem of collecting data and very little on the easily solvable problem of translating what we already know into structures that can be used. Granted a lot of the time, what is already known is only known by a few people/organisations who are often physically and mentally divorced from the challenges that they could help solve. Very often it is basic data that is essentially useless because it cannot form a narrative that is coherent enough for public policy or private enterprise. The World Bank says Statistical Performace Indicator (SPI) scores are “strongly correlated with several leading development indicators, such as GDP per capita and indicators of human capital or government effectiveness.” This means that the extent to which a country collects and uses data will show in development
Read MoreKenya to fix FM transmission limitations with new technology
Digital sound broadcasting (DSB) is a better technology than FM and has many advantages. However, it is unavailable to most Africans but is accessible in South Africa and Tunisia. Kenya’s ICT regulator, the communications authority (CA), has announced plans to pilot digital sound broadcasting (DSB) anytime from September 2023. DSB is a technology that uses digital signals to transmit audio content. It is a more efficient use of spectrum than traditional analog broadcasting. According to the regulator, which hosted a media workshop highlighting its mandate and plans for the ICT industry, DSB will be useful in tackling the issue of limited FM broadcasting frequencies. This is important because sound broadcasting is a key source of information, education, and entertainment in Kenya. 98% of homes in the country have access to devices that receive sound broadcasts, with nearly 200 licensed broadcast services. However, frequency allocations for FM are close to saturation, meaning there is no more room to add new FM stations. Therefore, DSB provides an opportunity to introduce new sound broadcasting services in these areas. FM is also an older technology and is marred by several issues. As said, FM broadcasting airwaves are becoming saturated, leading to increased interference and poor signal quality. The lack of capacity for new services is also a problem. With so many stations already on the air, there is no room for adding new ones. The difficulty of innovating and offering new and unique services is another problem, not to mention the relatively poor audio quality of FM broadcasting. Kenya has already developed a framework for digital sound broadcasting to pave the way for the launch. The regulator mentioned that it is getting a budget to purchase all the necessary equipment for DSB pilot tests. Consumers will also be asked to purchase new receivers capable of processing DSB signals. However, the regulator will not phase out FM signals because they are still important to Kenyans who prefer consuming news and entertainment on their transistor radios. DSB receivers are also capable of processing FM signals as well. Digital audio broadcasting (DAB), the most widely used type of digital sound broadcasting, is being tested in Tunisia and South Africa. Tunisia, for instance, began using the technology in 2008. In 2010, it installed additional transmitters, covering 25% of the population. In 2019, four more transmitters were added, covering 51% of the population. In 2020, coverage increased to 71%. The North African country aims to have 98% coverage by the end of the year. Sudan has also expressed interest in deploying digital sound broadcasting to its people. It remains to be seen how Kenyans will respond to the new technology because they will want to use their FM receivers for longer. The regulator has also not mentioned how it plans to sensitize the government to avail DSB receivers. The cost of rolling out the service could also be high, which is one reason it has taken so long to launch it. Lastly, some digital sound broadcasts will be premium services, meaning they will attract additional costs to consumers who are used to FM, which is free.
Read MoreMeta appeals Kenyan Court ruling that calls it the “principal employer” of content moderators
A June 2 court ruling found that Meta is the principal employer of 184 content moderators. While Meta appeals the ruling, Sama, its former content partner, is caught in the middle. Earlier this month, an Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled in favour of 184 moderators fired by Sama, Meta’s content reviewer in Kenya. The 184 moderators also told the court that when Meta moved its content moderation contract to another firm called Majorel, the social media giant asked Majorel not to hire any moderator who had worked with Sama. The court blocked the firing of the moderators and mandated Sama and Meta to extend their contracts until the final determination of the suit. Meta will now appeal the ruling. Part of its argument is that the moderators are not Meta’s employees. It will also argue that the court’s demand that it extend contracts of the 184 moderators amounts to the court writing a new contract on its behalf. While Meta appeals, it remains to be seen what work Sama will provide the moderators with. Sama, which the court described as an “agent for Meta,” told TechCabal that the ruling was confusing. The content reviewer laid off the moderators in January 2023 after its contract with Meta had expired. Concerns over the disturbing content reviewers often had to watch prompted the company not to seek a renewal of the contract. The June ruling now means that despite having no existing contract with Meta, it must keep the moderators employed. The Ruling also acknowledges that the work of content moderation is inherently hazardous. #FacebookContentModerators pic.twitter.com/Gy0n2lHBWT — Mercy Sumbi (@MercyMutemi) June 5, 2023 The company told TechCabal via email, “The recent ruling from June 2 is confusing and, in many cases, contradictory. Sama fully exited the content moderation business earlier this year and did not have work to give the moderators. We care deeply about the health and emotional well-being of our team. We invested in creating a working environment that supported our content moderators’ needs.” The buck stops with Meta Sama’s position is straightforward. Without a contract to review content for Meta, it has no work for the moderators. Instead, the court ruling places responsibility on Meta’s shoulders as it determined that Meta is the “primary employer of the moderators. And because Meta moved the content moderation contract to another company, the Court “found that the job of content moderation is available” and that “the applicants will continue working upon the prevailing or better terms in the interim.” While Meta appeals, it remains to be seen what work Sama will provide the moderators with.
Read MoreRide-hailing drivers in Nigeria resume work despite unmet demands
Ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria return to work after last week’s strike. They’ll take small wins from their protest, such as reinstating some drivers whose profiles were deleted from ride-hailing platforms. After a midweek protest across Nigeria last week, ride-hailing drivers return to work today. Today’s resumption will happen despite drivers saying ride-hailing companies have not met their demands. According to two key members of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), continuing the strike was unreasonable because many drivers need daily income to survive. The Union’s general secretary, Ibrahim Ayoade, told TechCabal, “The decision is for our members to return to work today. They can seek tips from riders if the ride doesn’t favor them. ” An insufficient silver lining? Last week, Bolt offered the drivers a daily bonus of N6,000, amongst other incentives. But the drivers kicked against the bonus, which had several conditions; many drivers TechCabal spoke to called the bonus insufficient. Yet, the striker scored a critical point: a reinstatement of drivers’ profiles who were deleted from Bolt’s platform. The National treasurer for the Union, Comrade Jolaiya Moses, told TechCabal, “We gave (ride-hailing platforms) an ultimatum for the review of accounts blocked arbitrarily. They unblocked some profiles, and we started seeing testimonials from different drivers. Part of our demands is that these things should not be done unilaterally. They won’t be the only ones to review. Let’s check everything together to see which is genuine and immaterial. There are so many unjustified blocking, suspension and sanctions of drivers by app companies.” Unmet demands The demands of the Union, a 200% increase in fares, remains unmet; instead, Bolt and Uber increased fares by 30-40%. It is an acknowledgment of Nigeria’s market reality. Any steep increase will undoubtedly lead to a dropoff in demand. Yet, the Union remains optimistic. National treasurer Moses is hinging his hopes on the promised engagement between the Union and the ride-hailing companies, which occurred last Friday in Lagos and Abuja. Another impasse during those engagements will likely lead to another strike. According to Moses, “We plan that going forward, we will use a window of seven days to analyze all the immediate responses we have been able to get. While we are analyzing that, we expect that some of the app companies that promised to do something within the next seven days would have done those things and gotten back to us for further discussion on those demands. It is not over yet until our demands are met. Most of our demands currently are not met. They have however done some things in the interim— like unblocking drivers profiles.” Bolt is careful to increase prices as it tries to navigate rider sentiments to get a cost-effective approach. Moses acknowledges this fact but states that drivers suffer from the fuel situation. “Currently, we are driving with it to see the profitability. I can tell you that all the feedback we got is negative. It is eating into our profits. We are actually selling below the cost price, and definitely we have to embark on the strike if nothing is done about it within the next seven days,” he explained. Chairman of the media and publicity committee of the Union, Comrade Jossy Olawale, hinted that there may be another strike on June 16 if their demands are still not met.
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