Nigeria needs to train more math olympiad talent if it wants to take AI seriously
Every Thursday, Delve into AI will provide nuanced insights on how the continent’s AI trajectory is shaping up. In this column, we examine how AI influences culture, policy, businesses, and vice versa. Read to get smarter about the people, projects, and questions shaping Africa’s AI future. Yes, Africa needs more computing power, but building the future of AI in Nigeria and the continent means more investment in math talent. Two weeks ago, when OpenAI announced that its latest AI model had won a gold medal at the International Maths Olympiad (IMO), the most prestigious global maths competition for secondary school students, it sparked a more profound curiosity in Wale Akinfaderin, a Nigerian AI researcher at Amazon. “Where are Nigeria’s own IMO stars today?” That question led Akinfaderin down an interesting rabbit hole. Shortly, his questions became a passion project of mapping the trajectories of former Nigerian participants from 2006 to 2021 at the International Mathematics Olympiad. “I wanted to put the report together; the idea for me is to shine light on stories that are usually untold,” Akinfaderin told TechCabal in an interview. After reading his report, I sought to ask an even deeper question: “Is there a pipeline of math olympiad alumni from Nigeria currently doing interesting things in AI?” The short answer is yes. After speaking with some of these IMO alumni, a deeper conclusion became clear. We talk a lot about AI infrastructure, regulations, and ethics. But foundational talent at the core of AI research, mathematical competency, is still overlooked. If Africa wants to shape its AI future, not just adopt one built elsewhere, we need to cultivate talent beyond coding skills across languages. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe A true brain drain Williams Okeke represented Nigeria at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 2017 and 2018. He also took part in the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad in 2016 and 2017, where he won a gold medal. His success at these competitions opened doors to a university scholarship in Russia, where he studied pure mathematics before pursuing graduate studies in Mathematics and Computer Science at another Russian university. Today, he works as an engineer optimising large language models at Huawei, a Chinese tech firm playing a leading role in the China AI race. “At the Olympiad, you’re often stuck on a single problem for hours, with no guarantee that you’ll solve it,” Okeke said. “ That mental resilience, sitting with ambiguity and thinking deeply, that’s what AI research work demands today. AI is still very experimental.” Mmesomachi Nwachukwu was also a participant at the IMO on four different occasions: from 2014 to 2018, until he was about to begin his tertiary education. He won silver medals at the Pan African Maths Olympiad. Like Okeke, he received a full scholarship to study mathematics at a Russian university, then went on to bag a master’s in Mathematics and Computer Science at Skoltech, an institution founded in collaboration with MIT. He has been working as a researcher at an AI lab in Moscow and hopes to begin his doctorate studies in AI-related research. “If I’m to make a serious breakthrough in my AI research,” Nwachukwu said, “it’s probably going to be the name of Russia.” Olympiad-level mathematics is one of the underrated assets in global AI talent pipelines. Students who train for these competitions eventually go on to do meaningful
Read MoreChowdeck hits 1,000 daily orders in Ghana in three months, a feat that took thrice longer in Nigeria
Chowdeck, a YC-backed Nigerian on-demand delivery platform, has surpassed 1,000 orders in a single day in Ghana, just three months after launching operations in Accra, a milestone that took 11 months to reach back home. “I see this achievement as more than just a number. It is proof that the vision propelling Chowdeck transcends borders,” CEO Femi Aluko said in a LinkedIn post on Thursday. Founded in October 2021, Chowdeck has emerged as a formidable player in Nigeria’s competitive $1 billion food delivery market, which is projected to grow to $2.4 billion by 2032, according to IMARC. The startup has served over 1 million users and employs about 20,000 riders across 11 Nigerian cities. Its expansion into Ghana, announced in May 2025, marks the first step in a broader pan-African strategy. The Chowdeck team celebrating the milestone in Ghana. Image source: Femi Aluko/LinkedIn Chowdeck’s Ghanaian operations, covering neighbourhoods like Osu, Cantonments, and East Legon, kicked off with a rider training program and a customer rewards scheme to drive adoption. Riders have been incentivised by “Rider Games,” a performance-based incentive system offering cash bonuses and access to loans up to GHC 1,000. Customers benefit from a referral program granting GHS10 discounts on initial orders and a tiered “ChowScore” loyalty system, which offers free deliveries and exclusive discounts. These initiatives have helped with market penetration. In Ghana, competition from established players like Bolt Food tests Chowdeck’s adaptability. The company’s strategic hire of Henry Whyte, its Ghana country lead and former Bolt Ghana operations manager, will help strengthen its position in a highly competitive market. With over ₦30 billion ($19 million) in deliveries in Nigeria and a growing vendor base, including a woman-led business achieving ₦2.3 billion ($1.5 million) in revenue, Chowdeck continues to show it may be able to put up a good fight for market share in Ghana. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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Digital lending isn’t about pretty screens, it’s about trust
In African fintech, digital lending is often framed as a tech problem that sleek interfaces, fast APIs, and machine learning can easily solve. But anyone who’s spent time building these systems on the ground knows otherwise. At its core, digital lending is not about beautiful UI or complex scoring models. It’s about building trust in high-stress moments, and using design, logic, and infrastructure to reassure people in financial distress. Speed isn’t just UX, it’s psychology When users apply for loans, they’re not just clicking buttons; they’re often under pressure, uncertain, and anxious. In these moments, every second counts. A common misconception is that people expect instant approval. In reality, what they need is clarity and timely feedback. Simple status messages like “We’re reviewing your info” or “You’re on track” can reduce anxiety significantly. This isn’t just good UX, it’s a psychological safety net that improves trust, reduces drop-offs, and ultimately leads to better user retention. KYC should feel seamless, not painful Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements are critical for regulatory compliance, but they don’t have to ruin the user journey. In many African countries, identity verification is a hurdle, yet it’s also an opportunity. By integrating with local identity databases, using optical character recognition (OCR) to extract ID details, and auto-filling wherever possible, fintechs can dramatically improve completion rates. A good KYC flow should feel invisible to the user while doing all the heavy lifting in the background. Risk lives in the form design Form fields aren’t just user inputs; they’re data points that feed into credit decision engines. Every dropdown, input, or checkbox can improve a credit model’s predictive power or introduce noise. Smart product teams understand this and design forms in collaboration with risk and data teams. The goal is to collect data that’s clean, relevant, and structured in a way that serves the scoring logic. When UX and underwriting are aligned, decisions become faster and more accurate. Rejection is part of lending (so design for it) Too many digital lenders treat rejection as a dead-end. A flat “You’re not eligible” message sends users away confused and discouraged. In reality, rejection flows are an opportunity to build long-term trust. Designing empathetic rejection messages offering reasons, alternative options, or steps to become eligible can improve re-engagement rates and build credibility. Users are more likely to return when they feel respected and informed, even after a “no.” Field testing > Office testing A product that works well in a Lagos office might fail in a market in Ota or Kisumu. Real-world testing is not optional; it’s essential. In practice, this means usability testing with actual users: traders, transport workers, and small business owners. Feedback from these sessions often reveals insights missed during internal reviews, confusing language, unclear buttons, or form formats that break cultural expectations. The best lending products listen early and iterate fast based on real user behavior. Lending isn’t about screens (it’s about people) Behind every loan application is a story, someone trying to keep their business afloat, pay for school fees, or deal with an emergency. Digital lending products that succeed treat these moments with empathy and urgency, not just efficiency. In Africa’s fast-growing fintech ecosystem, the winners won’t be the flashiest apps; they’ll be the ones that earn and keep the user’s trust. That trust is built not just with credit limits and disbursement speeds, but with clarity, respect, and a design philosophy grounded in real human need. _______ Williams Adeyemi is a credit risk expert, credit risk consultant, and founder of Pivox Technology Limited, a credit infrastructure startup helping digital lenders launch and scale. With over five years of experience, he has built loan origination systems, decision engines, and underwriting models. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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“Access to internet should be a basic human right”: Minister Salima Bah on Sierra Leone’s tech ambition
When I spoke to Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Bah, last February, the ministry she led was less than a year old, and the country’s ambitions, though bold, were still largely on paper. “We are willing to learn how others have done it; we aren’t inventing the wheel,” she said at the time. Eighteen months on, the country has walked the talk. In that time, the government has invested more than $132 million directly into technology and innovation, covering policy, infrastructure, and funding projects like the Universal Access Development Fund. The IMF forecasts report internet users have risen from 1.84 million in early 2023 to around 2.32 million in 2025. In June, the country unveiled West Africa’s first open-access 5G standalone network. But for Bah, infrastructure is just the foundation. “You can’t talk about technology or innovation if your infrastructure isn’t there,” she told me in our latest conversation. “But you can’t just say you’re setting up and use that as an excuse not to deliver. So we’ve been simultaneously rolling out and implementing initiatives.” Still, the government’s tech ambition goes beyond infrastructure and digital service delivery. It’s underpinned by a broader vision: to position Sierra Leone as a regional hub for innovation. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What has changed since we last spoke? What has the journey been like for you personally? A lot has definitely changed. I don’t know if it was clear in the first interview, but I was coming into a brand-new ministry. Some parts of the ministry existed in terms of communication, but technology and innovation were added to the mandate. And there were no structures in place within the institution to handle that. So a lot of work went into setting up the institution, developing strategies, roadmaps, and putting humans in place to lead the work. It’s not the sexiest part of the job. It’s not what people talk about, but it’s critical. Because without that, as they say, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. That’s been really critical for us. But you can’t just say you’re setting up and use that as an excuse not to deliver. So we’ve been simultaneously rolling out and implementing initiatives. Since then, we’ve hosted two annual tech summits. They’ve been critical because, for a long time, the government wasn’t part of creating a platform for the ecosystem. It was largely private sector-led. We wanted to create a big platform to bring everyone together and have strategic conversations about the ecosystem and push the government’s agenda. We just concluded the second one a few months ago. And we could already see the progress both in the ecosystem and the nature of conversations. In communication, too, we’ve seen massive growth. For example, the launch of the Open Access 5G network. And when we talk about digital government, how government can leverage tech to deliver on the national development agenda, we’ve also seen significant progress across sectors. Let’s talk about infrastructure, that’s the bedrock of enabling an ecosystem. What are some of the challenges and opportunities in expanding fibre connectivity? You can’t talk about tech or innovation if your infrastructure is not there. For a long time, that’s what the government focused on. That’s why the ministry was only called the Ministry of Communication. The focus was on expanding infrastructure. Since 2018, we’ve seen an over 75% increase in fibre backbone penetration and international bandwidth capacity. We’ve also improved resilience and redundancy by interconnecting with neighbouring countries like Guinea. We negotiated emergency bandwidth capacity allocation as part of that. In rural areas, the number of mobile sites has almost doubled since 2018. Huge government interest and investment have gone into that. But the biggest challenge is financing. Infrastructure is cost-intensive. The government has put in financing, and so has the private sector and development partners. One lesson we learned from 2018 till now is the importance of creating an enabling environment for private sector participation. No government alone can do this. One of the most significant partnerships we had was the decoupling and privatisation of the undersea fibre cable. It used to be managed by a government vehicle called the Sierra Leone Cable Limited, SALCAB. But managing and maintaining it was a challenge. The government took a hard decision to privatise it, an unpopular move at the time. But now, we’ve been vindicated. The private partner introduced professional standards, and the government now sees returns on the cable. They’ve expanded the capacity from 90Gbps to over 500Gbps, increased the redundancy ring, built a metro network in Freetown, expanded into fintech, and launched OneMobile, a data-only mobile network on an open-access 5G infrastructure, the first in West Africa. We’ve also been able to sustain three mobile operators, now even a fourth. For a population of 8 million, that’s a big deal. Other countries with similar or larger populations have only one or two operators. I think that’s a testament to the government policies when it comes to the private sector. What is the government’s thinking behind its support for the tech ecosystem? What metrics are you using to measure impact? At the last summit, the president did a fireside chat where he talked about this. People always ask why we’re pushing tech so much when we have so many other problems. He told a personal story, how, during his first term as a minister, he had to go back to school, and that’s when he first touched a computer. His classmates were finishing tasks in 10 minutes; it took him three hours. And he traced that back to the disadvantage of coming from a country where opportunities like that weren’t available for everybody. That lesson stuck with him: that if we want to develop as a nation, people must have access to technology. We have to invest in technology and innovation, because that’s the only way that we get to do that. If you continuously become consumers, you’re just consuming
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How one telecom operator keeps users connected along Third Mainland
On a typical weekday morning, thousands of commuters crawl across Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge, Nigeria’s busiest and longest bridge, stretching 11.8 kilometers across the Lagos Lagoon. Beneath the noise of engines and the buzz of city life lies a quiet but powerful network—one that keeps phone calls clear, internet speeds stable, and mobile services uninterrupted even in traffic gridlocks. At the heart of it is a sophisticated web of telecom engineering designed to connect millions in motion. “We have some sites that are providing coverage on the bridge,” Yahaya Ibrahim, Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, told TechCabal. “But because of the heavy traffic and the length of the bridge, we deployed a special solution in July 2025—a dedicated network designed just to cover the bridge.” This “special solution” involves a series of small but powerful distributed antenna systems (DAS) mounted across key intervals along the Third Mainland Bridge. These antennas, integrated into the larger MTN network, are strategically placed on either side of the bridge and around the median where utility ducts run. Hidden within these ducts are electrical lines and fibre optic cables—critical components that keep the bridge digitally alive. Connecting a city on the move The Third Mainland Bridge is widely recognised as the busiest roadway in Nigeria. According to recent traffic surveys and government data, between 117,000 and 133,000 vehicles travel across the bridge daily. This immense traffic volume underscores the bridge’s strategic importance as a link between Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island, serving a steady stream of commuters, primarily in light vehicles, headed to work, markets, or business districts. Given this level of usage, even minor maintenance or temporary closures on the bridge can cause significant disruptions to the city’s traffic flow and overall mobility. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Maintaining reliable telecom coverage on such a critical route presents unique engineering challenges. In most urban areas, fibre optic cables are installed underground. However, that approach isn’t practical on long-span bridges like the Third Mainland Bridge. Boring beneath large water bodies is not only technically complex but also extremely costly. Moreover, the bridge’s dense concrete structure limits space for underground routing. To overcome these challenges, telecom engineers turn to specialised above-ground installation techniques. On the Third Mainland Bridge, fibre optic cables are typically laid through protective conduits—such as fiberglass or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes—mounted securely along the bridge’s underside or attached to its side beams. Fiberglass is often preferred due to its resistance to corrosion, ability to withstand temperature fluctuations, and strength in harsh marine environments, making it particularly suited for coastal infrastructure like this. “Right in the middle of the bridge, you’ll find all the electrical systems and fibre cables running through the utility ducts,” explained Ibrahim.“These cables provide power to the antennas and transmit data for the users on the move.” To accommodate the natural movements of the bridge, caused by heat expansion, traffic vibrations, and environmental factors, engineers install flexible joints and leave extra slack in the cables. This ensures that even as the structure shifts slightly over time, the delicate glass fibres inside the cable remain intact. Maintaining a seamless signal The success of this complex setup is evident in daily experience. As drivers move across the bridge or along expressways in Lagos, their mobile phones perform continuous “handovers”—shifting from one cell tower to another without losing connection. The process
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MTN MoMo joins South Africa’s rent-to-own smartphone market
MTN MoMo South Africa has launched a rent-to-own smartphone service that allows customers to own a 4G or 5G smartphone, from as little as R10 a day, with no credit checks or paperwork required. The move places the telecom alongside the growing group of fintech-telecom hybrids, such as Vodacom Easy2Own, Pepkor FoneYam, M-Kopa, Rentoza, and Teljoy, also offering rent-to-own models. FoneYam alone has helped over 1.5 million active customers acquire smartphones. The total value of the rent-to-own segment—including smartphones and other electronics—was estimated at around R5.4 billion ($296 million) for 2024. This number is expected to keep growing annually, at about 5.7%. The launch phase features 4G-enabled Samsung A05, A06, A16, and A26 smartphones, with more brands set to be introduced in August. The A05 and A06 are entry-level to lower mid-range models, focusing on affordability, while the A16 and A26 provide more advanced features such as higher refresh rates, improved cameras, and 5G support. Customers can access the service on the MTN MoMo App and select the Handset rent-to-own option to apply, paying a small upfront deposit.. Flexible repayment plans—spanning three to twelve months—are available, and once the final installment is completed, the device becomes theirs to own. “Smartphones are gateways to opportunity, education, and financial inclusion,” said Kagiso Mothibi, CEO, Fintech SA at MTN South Africa. “ By enabling rent-to-own through the MTN MoMo App, we’re placing that gateway into more hands than ever before.” This new offering follows MTN’s announcement of a R300 million (nearly $17 million) investment to upgrade its network infrastructure across Gauteng. It also complements the recent rollouts of Smartphone For All, a 4G smartphone offering for as little as R99 to over 1.2 million prepaid users, helping them transition away from outdated 2G and 3G devices, and Shesh@ 5G SIM delivery for home internet. Tandi Kuper, CEO of Airvantage, noted that, “Together with MTN, we are using data science and fintech to democratise access to smartphones. It’s technology with purpose, at scale.” Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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MTN invests $377 million to monetise network, lease infrastructure to competitors
MTN Nigeria is ramping up infrastructure investment to turn its network into a platform for other operators, betting that monetising access will unlock new growth beyond retail subscriptions. In the first half of 2025, MTN’s capital expenditure (excluding leases) jumped 288.4% year-on-year to ₦565.7 billion ($377.13 million at ₦1500), as the company accelerated deployment of 4G sites, expanded fibre rollout, and built out passive infrastructure. The strategy is clear: invest heavily in infrastructure, then lease it out to competitors, particularly mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), seeking a foothold in Nigeria’s rapidly growing telecom market. By monetising assets like its 24,300 tower sites, extensive fibre network, and growing backend systems, MTN Nigeria is positioning itself as the landlord of Nigerian telecoms. Instead of competing solely in retail, the telecom giant is tapping into wholesale revenue by leasing infrastructure to MVNOs and other mobile network operators (MNOs). This approach allows MTN Nigeria to earn from the competition it enables, without the cost of acquiring subscribers. Building for others to ride “In line with the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria and deeper market inclusion, we have begun onboarding mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) onto our network,” Toriola said. MVNOs typically operate with leaner business models, zeroing in on niche and underserved segments, such as youth markets, rural communities, or industry-specific verticals. Their offerings often include value-added services like content streaming, microloans, or enterprise bundles. Rather than building physical infrastructure, MVNOs lease network capacity from established operators like MTN Nigeria, allowing them to enter the market more quickly and at lower cost. This arrangement expands the user base on MTN’s infrastructure without adding the overhead of direct customer service. It boosts data traffic, increases network utilisation, and generates wholesale revenue, while MTN sidesteps the high cost of subscriber acquisition. One such player is London-based MVNO Lebara, which is set to launch in Nigeria in Q3 2025 using MTN’s network as its foundation. The numbers behind the bet MTN’s H1 2025 performance reflects strong momentum. Service revenue surged 54.6% year-on-year to ₦2.36 trillion ($1.57 billion), driven by a 6.7% increase in total subscribers (now 84.7 million) and an 11.8% jump in active data users (51 million). Data revenue soared 69.2%, thanks to rising prices and an explosive 46.4% growth in data traffic. Voice revenue also gained 40.3%. Infrastructure growth was central to those gains. The company added over 2,300 sites, expanded 4G coverage to 82.4%, and extended fibre into more cities and towns. Smartphone penetration has climbed to 60.7%, further boosting data demand. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) rose an impressive 119.5% to ₦1.2 trillion ($800 million), with margins up to 50.6%. Most importantly, MTN reversed its previous year’s loss, posting a ₦414.9 billion ($276.6 million) profit after tax in H1 2025. A key driver of that performance? Smart capital deployment. Capex intensity hit 23.8%, as MTN poured funds into network upgrades, fibre-to-the-home rollout, new data centres, and digital backend systems. It also renegotiated lease deals with IHS Towers and American Tower Corporation (ATC), which together manage over 16,900 of its tower sites. With additional agreements, ATC’s share may soon rise to 26%. Despite the massive spend, MTN generated a positive free cash flow of ₦409.8 billion ($273.2 million), up 18%. Toriola says capex will moderate in H2, aligning with full-year goals while supporting continued cash flow recovery. Why this matters For the average Nigerian, MTN’s infrastructure expansion means better coverage, faster internet, and more reliable service, especially as the company improves power backup and network resilience in the face of national grid issues. For competitors, especially MVNOs and smaller ISPs, it means access to a premium network without the sunk costs. For the telecom industry as a whole, it signals a shift toward shared infrastructure, open networks, and diversified revenue models. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Chipper Cash sets up shop in Zambia
In partnership with Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Wazzup! One of the most interesting things I saw yesterday was that a Nigerian scientist, Temidayo Oniosun, is sending Egusi (melon seeds) to space. He says he is on a mission to “assess its suitability for nutritional and functional applications in long-term human space exploration.” I am rooting for him. In other news, ChatGPT does not want you cheating on your essays anymore. OpenAI has launched a new study mode for ChatGPT that “helps you work through problems step by step instead of just getting an answer,” according to an OpenAI blog post. The tool gives you guidance rather than serving up complete essays or answers, amid rising AI misuse at universities. PS: If you care about your finances, then you should be attending Zikoko’s Naira Life conference. The conference will bring together finance experts, industry leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs who will share their journeys and offer actionable strategies to make your financial dreams a reality. It’s happening on August 8 at the Jewel Aeida, Lekki. Get tickets here to secure a spot. – Faith Chipper Cash expands to Zambia Takealot takes on logistics with new business unit Lipa Later tried to secure $5 million loan in April South Africa and China buddy up for AI research World Wide Web 3 Events Fintech Chipper Cash brings global money transfers to Zambia in partnership with Western Union and Zoona Chipper Cash cofounders Ham Serunjogi and Maijid Moujaled/Image Source: Chipper Cash, c.2021 Chipper Cash has launched international money transfers in Zambia through a new integration with Western Union and Zoona Transactions Zambia Limited. The co-branded service, now available in the Chipper Cash app, allows Zambians to send and receive money in over 200 countries and territories, via mobile wallets, cash pickup, and soon, bank deposits. This launch builds on Chipper Cash’s 2022 acquisition of Zoona, a Zambian payments platform, and leverages Western Union’s global remittance rail. Together, the trio brings financial services to the fingertips of millions, targeting users long excluded from traditional banking. The service lets customers fund their digital wallet at local agents, mobile networks, or banks, then send money globally with a few taps. Here’s why it matters: Zambia, with over 20 million people and fast-rising smartphone adoption, presents a ripe market for mobile-first financial solutions. The shift from cash to digital is accelerating, and partnerships like this one help bridge the gap between legacy remittance systems and the mobile economy. This move is part of a broader fintech trend: global-local collaborations that blend trust, reach, and user-centric tech. For Chipper Cash—which already serves 5 million users across Africa—it marks a strategic play to deepen its cross-border capabilities and embed more tightly into Zambia’s evolving digital finance ecosystem. Paying 2% or more on every transaction adds up fast. For businesses in e-commerce, logistics, travel, fintech, and more, every naira counts. Fincra helps you save more with 1% NGN fees capped at ₦300. Ideal for high-value or high-volume transactions. Get started for free with just your email address! Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Logistics South Africa’s Takealot takes on logistics with new business unit Image Source: Takealot South African retail giant, Takealot Group, is turning its logistics arm into a new business unit called Takealot Fulfillment Solutions (TFS). TFS wants to strategically support the rising wave of digital commerce
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Benin’s ambition and Morocco’s maturity are driving the next wave of Francophone African innovation
30th July 2025 Lire en Français Welcome to The Next Wave: Francophone Africa, a twice-monthly newsletter on insider analysis about Francophone Africa’s tech ecosystem. Each edition is bilingual: you’ll find the English version immediately following the French. Bonjour, Bienvenue dans la troisième édition de la newsletter The Next Wave Francophone Africa, où nous partageons les meilleures analyses et informations exclusives sur l’écosystème technologique de la région. Cette newsletter bimensuelle vous donne rendez-vous pour la prochaine édition le 12 août. Inscrivez-vous ici pour être le premier informé. Dans notre précédente édition, nous avons exploré comment l’Algérie et le Cameroun se positionnent. comme les prochains hubs de l’innovation en Afrique. L’édition d’aujourd’hui surfe sur la même vague : un écosystème qui se proclame “prochaine grande chose” du continent, et un autre qui cherche à prouver qu’il a déjà dépassé le stade de simple promesse. Entrons dans le vif du numéro d’aujourd’hui. Bénin : Une puissance d’innovation allégée Bénin : Une puissance d’innovation allégée Secteurs clés : Les jeunes pousses émergentes se concentrent sur les solutions de paiement numérique, les services bancaires mobiles et l’edtech pour élargir l’accès (en particulier dans les zones rurales). D’autres domaines incluent une agriculture connectée (applications reliant agriculteurs et marchés) et la logistique mobile. Au centre de l’écosystème, l’API-An (Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations) joue un rôle moteur : incubation, guichet unique pour startups, promotion active de l’entrepreneuriat. Divers hubs d’innovation numérique, soutenus par l’API-An et le Ministère du Développement du Numérique, accélèrent les startups en TIC, formation et accompagnement. À l’image de Singapour ou du Rwanda, le Bénin se prépare à boxer dans une catégorie supérieure : Gouvernance native digitale ● Plus de 560 services publics ont été numérisés, du registre du commerce aux licences et déclarations fiscales. Les frictions qui ralentissent les startups ailleurs ? Éliminées. Grâce à la plateforme Beninnovation, les fondateurs peuvent créer et gérer leur entreprise sans jamais mettre les pieds dans un bureau gouvernemental. Réformes politiques concrètes ● L’API-An n’est pas une agence de façade : elle pilote incubateurs, pipelines de financement, appui à l’export, et gère la loi “Startup Label” qui offre exonérations fiscales, réductions de droits de douane et procédures simplifiées aux jeunes entreprises. Infrastructures phares ● Sèmè City, le quartier d’innovation du Bénin, héberge incubateur, laboratoires tech et centres de R&D avec des partenaires comme la Sorbonne et l’African School of Economics. Un Digital Transformation Center cofinancé avec l’Allemagne s’y investit dans la civic-tech et l’entrepreneuriat. Traction réelle des startups Exemples de solutions développées localement : ● Kea Medicals : digitalisation des hôpitaux et pharmacies ● Ze’xpress : logistique locale & paiements mobiles intégrés ● PreciAgri : lien direct entre petits agriculteurs et marchés ● Exportunity : accès des PME aux corridors d’échanges régionaux Maturité du mobile money ● Plus de comptes de mobile money que d’adultes : 1,104 pour 1,000. Plus de 75% du PIB transite par mobile, mettant le Bénin dans le top continental. Talents sans barrières ● Des initiatives comme École 229 forment les jeunes au code et outils numériques sans exiger de diplôme, financées par Blolab et d’autres. Stratégie IA et avenir ● Lancement en 2023 d’une stratégie nationale IA déjà opérationnelle : ○ Chatbot juridique entraîné sur les lois béninoises ○ Collecte de données nationales en fon et autres langues locales ○ Gouvernance IA et partenariats régionaux en cours Appétit pour le capital ● L’écosystème est sous-financé aux stades avancés mais l’intérêt monte. Par exemple, Spiro a levé 50M$ en série B pour déployer sa mobilité électrique au Bénin et en Afrique de l’Ouest. Le label “startup” officiel, décerné en mai à 15 PME de secteurs variés, offre exonérations fiscales, accompagnement, et visibilité sur trois ans — une avancée majeure pour l’innovation béninoise (Décret n° 2023-095 du 22 mars 2023). Résilience Internet ● Selon un rapport de mars 2025, le Bénin (+6 pts à 39%) et le Sénégal (+10 pts à 36%) affichent la plus forte progression africaine en résilience Internet, renforçant l’accès aux services éducatifs, de santé et économiques. En résumé : Le Bénin devient un des environnements startups les plus organisés et pragmatiques d’Afrique de l’Ouest : mobilisation gouvernementale authentique, systèmes digital-first, culture tech naissante. L’écosystème est jeune, le capital reste limité, mais pour les bâtisseurs en quête de stabilité et de réactivité, le Bénin est de moins en moins contournable. Le Maroc, business tout court — à Casablanca, Rabat, Fès, Marrakech ou Tanger Ici, l’écosystème ne débute plus : il accélère. Le Maroc affiche l’écosystème le plus mature et capitalisé de la zone francophone. Force du VC institutionnel ● Digital Fund et UM6P Ventures investissent plusieurs dizaines de millions dans les startups santé, agro, industrie, avec une montée prévue de 7M$ à 50M$ pour UM6P. ● CDG Invest via 212 Founders, Innov Invest (Banque Mondiale), etc., couvrent le pré-seed/seed. Événements, IA & transformation ● Conférences IA à Rabat, engagement des ministères et agences. L’axe : IA, données, numérisation = piliers centraux de la stratégie économique. ● DeepLeaf (vainqueur de GITEX Africa), pionniers agritech IA, ambitionnent l’expansion hors du continent. Momentum du financement 2024 ● 94,96M$ levés par les startups marocaines (contre 33,26M$ en 2023 ; ×3). ● #6 africain pour le montant levé (aux côtés du Ghana, Tanzanie). ● TravelTech (53%), Fintech (# de deals), Agritech, DeepTech (10%). ● 65% des fonds captés par 3 startups : risque de concentration. ● Peu d’investisseurs Series A+, seulement 4 exits majeurs en 3 ans vs. 20+ en Égypte. ● Sous-financement flagrant des fondatrices. Alignement public-privé ● “Morocco Digital 2030” : 24M$ pour créer 1,000 startups d’ici 2026, 3,000 en 2030 ; label startup, simplification administrative. ● Morocco Fintech Center, consortium de 15 banques, guichet unique fintech. Soft power & ouverture mondiale ● Allier la tradition (montagnes, surf, culture) à la tech séduit investisseurs/talents mondiaux. Casablanca Finance City héberge 240+ entreprises multinationales, pôle financier #1 en Afrique. ● Technoparks à Rabat, Tanger, Benguerir (Green Energy Park) : labs deeptech & renouvelables. Taux de pénétration Internet 74%, fort déploiement fibre/5G. Croissance
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The Grace Hopper Effect: A conference set this U.S immigrant on a quest to close the gender gap in African tech
In September 2017, Gabriella Uwadiegwu stepped into the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, and saw the future. The hall, packed with 25,000 women attending that year’s Grace Hopper Celebration, pulsed with life. The Grace Hopper Celebration, launched in June 1994, is one of the world’s largest gatherings of women technologists. The air buzzed with possibility: Melinda Gates, among other prominent women, took to the stage to champion the transformative impact of women in innovation. Recruiters from big tech companies like Google and Amazon flashed polished smiles and interview forms. And a group of women from She++ spoke of a world where tech belonged to everyone. It was thrilling and overwhelming. “Imagine going to a Beyoncé concert and you’ve never attended a concert before,” Uwadiegwu said. She’d grown up in Lagos, a city where dreams were big but often out of reach. At 18, she immigrated to the U.S., landing at a Manhattan community college, where she studied computer science. She recalls feeling like an outsider at first. “We were four or five women, maybe two or three Black,” she recalled. Her classroom was a microcosm of the STEM world. Women occupy only 25% of tech roles, according to a 2023 Forbes report. Black women hold only 2% of tech roles in the U.S.. Particularly for immigrants, language hurdles, cultural disconnects, lack of a network, and financial strain complicate access even further. Uwadiegwu was adapting to a world where the odds were stacked against her, until that serendipitous attendance at the Grace Hopper Conference changed everything. At the event, the 20-something Nigerian immigrant was among a few Black women in the crowd —more than she’d ever seen in her Manhattan classrooms. Before she knew it, she was interviewing with Square, chatting with Google and Amazon recruiters, and accepting invitations to tour tech facilities of prestigious universities like Stanford. The scale of it all was dizzying—opportunity wasn’t just an abstract idea here; it was tangible, a currency passed from hand to hand. Yet, as she stood in that hall, a realisation sank in: back in Nigeria, women like her were locked out of this orbit, not for lack of talent, but for lack of access. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe The Grace Hopper epiphany: Access levels the playing ground Uwadiegwu didn’t secure an internship at her first Grace Hopper conference. But she got an opportunity to tour Stanford University, where she saw disorienting ambition among the students. “I’m meeting a Stanford freshman, and she’s programming electric leggings, and it feels so unreal.” She recalls feeling a pang of regret for not taking her SATs seriously—due to a lack of preparation, she tells me, she had failed the exam thrice before scoring just enough to attend her community college. “But just being around [the Stanford students], I could feel the ambition too.” Yet, amidst the dizzying displays of privilege and cutting-edge research, she began to notice something fundamental. “They weren’t much different from me,” she mused. The chasm, she realised, wasn’t in innate ability but in “placement of opportunity.” Stanford, she observed, simply offered “access to a vast amount of things.” It’s a crucible where the air itself seems to crackle with intelligence, compelling everyone to rise to the occasion. “You’re around very smart, ambitious people. So you can’t slack,” she explained. With the weight of her newfound understanding, Uwadiegwu decided to
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