JAMB clarifies biometric rule after UTME hijab dispute
Nigeria’s university admissions body has said its biometric rules—not religion—are behind a viral dispute over a candidate’s hijab during registration for the country’s most important entrance exam into tertiary institutions. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which administers the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for millions of candidates annually, said requests for candidates to adjust their hijabs or other head coverings during registration are strictly a technical requirement for biometric photo capture, not a religious restriction. This clarification follows a viral social media video, alleging that a candidate at a JAMB registration centre at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southern Nigeria, was asked to remove her hijab before her photograph could be taken to complete her registration. According to the claim, the candidate was also asked to confirm in writing that she declined to fully comply with the ear-visibility guideline. The episode highlights the tension with implementing biometric identity systems in a deeply cultural and religious clime like Nigeria, where inconsistent enforcement or weak communication can quickly spark controversy. In a statement on Saturday, JAMB said its registration process aligns with global biometric standards used for passports and visas, which require certain facial features—including the ears—to be visible to ensure accurate facial recognition. “This requirement is purely technical and is intended to ensure that proper facial recognition and identification do not require the candidate to remove her hijab,” the examination body said. JAMB said candidates are not required to remove their hijabs, and that the guideline exists solely to meet the technical demands of biometric registration. In 2024, the examination body said it had no policy prohibiting candidates from wearing religious attire, following a similar controversy involving a hijab-wearing candidate.
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Digital Nomads: China trained him. Kenya is where he’s building EV systems
In 2008, Damilola Ogunleye argued with his dad about his decision to study abroad instead of enrolling at a university in Nigeria. He was 16. China, he insisted, was where he needed to be. His older brother had just relocated there from Bells University, a private Nigerian institution, and the photographs he sent home—clean campuses, wide boulevards, gleaming train stations—unsettled Ogunleye’s assumptions. “I remember seeing my brother’s pictures from China during the [2008] Beijing Olympics,” Ogunleye told me. “Back then, all we knew was kung fu and crowded markets. Then, suddenly, you’re seeing this country on TV, hosting the Olympics, building massive infrastructure. My brother would send photos, and I’d think, ‘Is this really China?’ I told my dad that I wanted to see this world for myself.” He won the argument. His father ran the numbers: at the time, tuition in China was comparable to what he was already paying at a private university in Nigeria. The naira held far more value then, with an exchange rate of ₦16 to ¥1 in February 2008 compared to ₦194 to ¥1 in February 2026. Ogunleye packed his bags for China that same year. He studied aircraft manufacturing at Shenyang Aerospace University for four years. He later earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and automation from Northeastern University, a public university in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, completing it in 2014. On paper, the plan was clear: follow the aeronautical path, perhaps even become a pilot, like his brother. But after six years of study, Ogunleye did not pursue an aviation career. Instead, he veered toward the automotive industry and would eventually become an advocate for electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Africa. The journey to China and finding love in the auto market When Ogunleye arrived in China in 2008, the Asian nation was not yet the technological powerhouse it is today. “China then was ambitious, but not as polished as now,” he recalled. “You could see the hunger. You could see the drive. It wasn’t yet this seamless digital society people talk about today, but the foundations were there.” Ogunleye in China as a student. Image Source: Damilola Ogunleye Ogunleye in China as a student. Image Source: Damilola Ogunleye After six years of engineering training, Ogunleye had developed what he described as a systems-oriented mindset. But it was the internships that changed the course of his life. In 2014, he secured an internship with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), the global car manufacturing company, in its technical support division. It was his first deep immersion into the automotive ecosystem. “That was where the movement started,” he said. “Today I could be at BMW for a project. Next week I’d be in another city, maybe at Mercedes-Benz in Beijing, or Volkswagen in Changchun, or Shanghai. I was constantly in factories, constantly on trains and planes. I think, naturally, I’m actually just that kind of person who loves to be on the move. I do not really enjoy routines.” Ogunleye’s early days working at BMW and Suzhou Dech Automation. Image Source: Damilola Ogunleye The exposure broadened his appetite. He later worked at Suzhou Dech Automation, a technology consulting firm in China, picking up computer-aided design (CAD) skills for mechanical manufacturing. His first full-time role out of school placed him at the intersection of robotics, automation, and automotive production lines. In those years, Ogunleye travelled across industrial China, supporting projects for car manufacturers and understanding how partnerships are built in the auto engineering industry. Ogunleye in China. He says he has been to over 40 cities in the Asian country. Image Source: Damilola Ogunleye “I started discovering I was good at more than engineering,” he said. “I enjoyed talking to clients. I enjoyed negotiating. I enjoyed building relationships. That partnership side of me started to grow.” The seeds of his current career—engineering, cross-border movement, partnerships—were already planted. Coming home: OPay, Viajio, and the Malta leap In 2018, ten years after leaving Nigeria, Ogunleye returned home. “Coming back at 26 was surreal,” he said. “I left as a teenager. I came back as an engineer with global experience. But I knew I had to build something here. I needed to build contacts. I needed to build relevance. Tech was picking up; I saw the trend and started taking extra courses online on Udemy and Coursera. I was taking different courses that were geared towards tech.” Image Source: Damilola Ogunleye Before his return to Nigeria, Ogunleye was trying to become familiar with the tech space despite his engineering background. Image Source: Damilola Ogunleye By 2019, he joined OPay as a Senior Product Manager at a critical moment. The startup was pivoting aggressively into fintech, using ride-hailing as a user acquisition strategy. “We were building while running,” Ogunleye said. “The idea was simple: people didn’t trust digital banking yet. So you give them something they use daily—transport. They download the app to call a bike. Over time, they trust the wallet.” He helped expand operations into multiple cities, including Abeokuta, Enugu, Jos, and Kano, often arriving before launch to conduct preliminary research. “We’d enter a city, set up the office, recruit, onboard riders, hit our target, then move to the next one. It was intense. It taught me scale.” In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic rewired the global tech ecosystem, Ogunleye left to launch his own startup, Viajio, a geo-travel documentation and experience platform. “We wanted to aggregate travel curators in Nigeria,” he explained. “You know those ‘three days in Ibadan’ or ‘two days in Ondo Hills’ packages? We wanted to give them a digital storefront. Users could curate their own travel experiences and book directly. We’d take a small commission.” Viajio evolved to include curated events and corporate experiences. He ran it for nearly three years before capital constraints forced a shutdown. Around this time, a friend introduced him to Malta’s digital nomad visa. In 2022, Ogunleye applied, and within months, he relocated. Europe wasn’t new to him—he had travelled across the continent since 2018—but Malta offered
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Tecno Camon 50 Pro vs Camon 50: Which offers better value?
Table of contents Tecno Camon 50 Pro Tecno Camon 50 Tecno Camon 50 Pro vs Camon 50 On February 18, 2026, Tecno Mobile, the premium sub-brand of Transsion Holdings, quietly announced the Tecno Camon 50 and Tecno Camon 50 Pro. This silent launch comes before the official global showcase at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona from March 2 to March 5, 2026. The phones were first put on pre-order in Kenya and Nigeria, underscoring Tecno’s mobile-first focus in the African market. The Camon 50 series follows the Camon 40 lineup from the previous year. The name still means “Camera Monitor,” but this time Tecno added a new “Swan-inspired Elegance” design and a T1 imaging enhancement chip. The brand is pushing hard to close the gap between mid-range pricing and flagship features, such as a periscope telephoto lens and military-grade durability certification. The early February release helps Tecno capitalise on first-quarter market momentum before other brands launch their spring devices. By starting in African markets, Tecno is speaking directly to you and your needs, especially if you deal with an inconsistent power supply or enjoy mobile gaming. Both models offer a 144Hz AMOLED display and a large 6500mAh battery built for heavy daily use. Tecno Camon 50 Pro The Tecno Camon 50 Pro is the premium 4G model in this series. It is built for you if you enjoy strong zoom, smooth performance, and a sleek design. It features a 43.5° slightly curved screen that reduces bezels and feels comfortable in your hand. Display 6.78-inch ProXDR Eye-care AMOLED panel 1.5K resolution is defined as pixels 144Hz refresh rate 2800Hz touch sampling rate Tecno T1 Chip handles real-time upscaling MediaTek Helio G200 Ultimate generates a native GPU resolution of The T1 Chip helps you enjoy 1.5K clarity without the heavy battery drain that usually comes with running a 1.5K display directly from the GPU. Processor and memory MediaTek Helio G200 Ultimate, 6nm octa-core chipset Two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz Six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz Mali-G57 MC2 GPU clocked at 1.1 GHz 8GB or 12GB LPDDR4X RAM Extended RAM up to 16GB or 20GB 256GB UFS 2.2 storage This setup delivers smooth multitasking and ample storage for high-resolution photos and videos. Camera system 50MP 3x Professional Telephoto Camera 70mm focal length f/2.4 aperture Up to 60x AI SuperZoom 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C main sensor 1/1.56-inch sensor size Optical Image Stabilisation with a closed-loop motor 8MP ultra-wide camera 112° field of view f/2.2 aperture 32MP front camera Universal Tone software Pill-shaped cutout with Upgraded Dynamic Port You get strong zoom for portraits called Golden Portraits, steady night shots, wide landscape photos, and selfies with accurate skin tones. Durability and battery IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings IP69K supports 100-bar high-pressure water jets and 80°C boiling water IP68 allows 30 minutes under 2 meters of water MIL-STD-810 certified Passed 22,000 micro-drop tests Passed 25kg soft extrusion tests 6500mAh 5-Year Durability Battery Retains over 80% capacity after 1,800 charge cycles 45W wired Super Charge Safe charging up to 45°C Frozen Cooling Pro system 12-layer stacked cooling structure 1453 of ultra-crystal graphite 12314 total cooling area This means your phone is protected from dust, water, pressure, and everyday drops while still delivering long battery life. Market price and availability As of February 2026: Kenya: KES 38,999 to KES 44,000 Around $340 to $341 Nigeria: ₦420,000 to ₦495,000 Available colours: Moonshadow Black, Nebula Titanium, Malachite Green, Fir Green, Lavender Mist, and Ethereal Blue. Tecno Camon 50 The Tecno Camon 50 is the value-focused model in this series. It keeps most of the same core hardware as the Pro version, but offers a flat-screen design and a lower price. Design and display Lightweight straight screen with a flat frame 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR Eye-care panel 1.5K resolution upscaled by the T1 chip 144Hz refresh rate 2800Hz touch sampling rate Centred hole-punch cutout for the 32MP selfie camera The flat frame helps you avoid accidental edge touches, especially during gaming. It also makes it easier for you to use standard tempered glass protectors. Performance and storage MediaTek Helio G200 Ultimate processor Antutu score of 504,612 8GB RAM 128GB or 256GB internal storage No microSD expansion slot You get the same processor as the Pro model, so daily performance stays consistent. Camera system Dual rear camera setup 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C main sensor Optical Image Stabilisation 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera Super-Zoom FlashSnap software You still get strong night photos and stable shots. The 3x periscope telephoto lens is not included, but digital zoom works well at lower levels. AI and smart features One-Tap AI Key on the left side AI LightMaster 2.0 AI MindHub Ella AI assistant YouTube Video AI Notes All-Scenario Noise Reduction 2.0 These tools help you edit photos, manage tasks, summarise videos, and improve call clarity. Battery and durability 6500mAh 5-year durability battery 45W Super Charge IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings MIL-STD-810 certification 1789.76 graphite cooling area 13828.11 total cooling area TÜV SÜD A+ Fluency rating for 60 months You get the same water- and dust-resistance as the Pro model, along with strong cooling for long gaming sessions. Connectivity and extras Kilometre-Level Freelink antenna iPhone One-tap Drop Offline Find My Phone 50GB free Tecno Cloud storage for three years These features help you stay connected, transfer files, and store your data. Market price and availability Kenya: KES 34,999 to KES 37,500 Around $271 to $290 Nigeria: ₦285,000 to ₦360,000 Available colours: Moonlight Black, Nebula Titanium, Malachite Green, Fir Green, Lavender Mist, and Cream Mint. Tecno Camon 50 Pro vs Camon 50 Both phones run on the Helio G200 Ultimate processor and use the same 6500mAh battery. Your experience depends on the design and camera flexibility. Final thoughts The Tecno Camon 50 series brings strong durability, smart AI features, and solid performance into the mid-range segment. Buy the Tecno Camon 50 Pro if: You need optical zoom for portraits, sports, or nature shots. The 3x periscope lens is its key feature. You prefer a premium look. The curved display and
Read MoreWe paid for UTME forms despite JAMB saying it’s free for the blind — Candidates
As registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Nigeria’s entrance exam into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, continues across Nigeria, the process has not been exactly smooth, especially for visually-impaired candidates, for whom the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says registration is free. Interviews with affected candidates suggest that implementation at some centres tells a different story. Apart from paying for the ‘free’ form, these candidates complain that there were several technical difficulties during their registration. Mapping the UTME Reality for Blind Candidates JAMB policy dictates free registration, but geography dictates the reality. Click a red marker on the schematic map below to view ground reports across Nigeria. Lagos (Abule Egba) Lagos (Oshodi) Edo State Enugu (Emene) Select a location on the map to view the candidate’s registration experience. Staff Attitude: ${getMapBadgeDark(data.attitude, data.attitudeColor)} Study Materials: ${getMapBadgeDark(data.materials, ‘#EA2D2E’)}
Read MoreNigeria’s busiest airports to get MTN-backed free Wi-Fi
Travellers passing through Nigeria’s major international airports will now enjoy one hour of free high-speed internet, following a new partnership between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and MTN Nigeria, the country’s biggest telco. The service, which began quietly in December, is already live at Terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2 in Lagos and at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, a FAAN spokesperson told TechCabal. Travellers can connect without entering a password. “It has been on since December; what we did today was a formal launch of the initiative,” the spokesperson said. FAAN said the service will soon expand to Port Harcourt International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, and the new temporary terminal at MMIA. Providing free high-speed internet at Nigeria’s busiest airports is a long-overdue change in how the country treats digital infrastructure in public spaces. Earlier efforts to offer reliable airport Wi-Fi were inconsistent, poorly funded, or derailed by maintenance challenges. A notable example was the partnership between Globacom and FAAN to deploy Wi-Fi across 22 airports, which collapsed in 2015. Travellers were often left with costly roaming options or unreliable connections. “In today’s connected world, access to reliable internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” said FAAN Managing Director/Chief Executive, Olubunmi Kuku. “We are pleased to offer this value-added service to our passengers, making their travel experience easier and more productive.” The move is part of a broader push to bring Nigeria’s airports in line with global expectations, where fast, reliable Wi-Fi has become a standard passenger amenity. The IATA 2025 Global Passenger Survey shows how essential connectivity has become: 78% of travellers now expect to use their smartphones for every step of the airport journey, from booking and digital identification to baggage tracking. “Airports are gateways to nations, and by providing free, high-speed Wi-Fi at our major international airports, we are enhancing convenience for travellers,” MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said.
Read MoreFrom Egypt to Gabon: 33 African countries that have imposed social media bans
Table of contents Algeria Benin Burundi Cameroon Chad Comoros Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mozambique Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia & Somaliland South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Togo Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Africa has 54 countries, or 55 if you count the member states of the African Union. At some point, about 34 of them have imposed a social media ban or a full internet shutdown that disrupted social media access. As internet access expanded across the continent, social media became central to business, public debate, and political action. It also became a powerful tool for organising protests, exposing misconduct, and challenging those in power. In response, many governments turned to social media bans and internet shutdowns to control information and limit mobilisation. The modern wave of shutdowns gained global attention during the 2011 Arab Spring, when Egypt cut internet access to disrupt protests. Since then, at least 30 African countries have enforced some type of restriction. According to a 2024 report by Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition, 21 shutdowns were recorded across 15 countries in 2024 alone. Governments often introduce these bans during elections, protests, or conflict. They usually cite misinformation or national security. Human rights groups argue that the goal is often to control information and limit scrutiny. The impact is heavy. Economies lose billions of dollars in trade and investment. People lose access to services and communication, and trust in institutions declines. Regional courts such as the ECOWAS Court of Justice have ruled that shutdowns violate freedom of expression. As of February 2026, several countries still maintain active or repeated bans. Here are the 33 African countries that have banned social media at some point. 33 African countries that have banned social media 1. Algeria Algeria has repeatedly restricted social media, mainly during national secondary school exams and at key political moments. When the ban was put in place: Since at least 2016, the government has cut access to Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp for several hours each day during the baccalaureate exams. In June 2019, access was cut at 2:15 p.m. WAT to stop leaked exam papers from spreading. In September 2020, during protests against the administration, network data showed major internet disruptions that pushed much of the country offline for several hours after social media apps were restricted. Why it was put in place: For exams, the goal was to protect academic integrity and stop leaks. For protests, the government said it was preventing “misleading information” and protecting the “sanctity of national institutions”. Outcome of the ban: Exam shutdowns were temporary and lifted once testing ended. Political restrictions weakened the coordination of the “Hirak” protest movement. Repeated disruptions have slowed digital commerce growth, prompting many users to turn to VPNs. Other details: According to the 2024 report by Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition, at least 10 exam-related shutdowns occurred across the Middle East and North Africa in one year. 2. Benin Benin enforced a major social media and internet blackout during its 2019 parliamentary elections. When the ban was put in place: On April 28, 2019, access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber was blocked around midnight. At 12:00 p.m. (noon) WAT, a full internet cutoff followed and lasted about 15 hours. Why it was put in place: The election was highly tense, with opposition parties barred from contesting. Authorities said the shutdown was needed for the “preservation of peace and social tranquillity.”. Outcome of the ban: Journalists, human rights defenders, and election observers could not report on polling issues or the use of force against protesters. The democratic process was heavily affected. When it was lifted: Internet access returned on the morning of April 29, 2019, after polls closed. Partial disruptions happened again on May 1, 2019, during violent clashes over the results. Other details: This event marked a shift in Benin’s democratic reputation, placing it among African countries that use digital restrictions during elections. 3. Burundi Burundi restricted social media during its general elections and later protests. When the ban was put in place: On May 20, 2020, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube were blocked throughout the morning of the election. In 2024, the country faced more internet disruptions during protests. Why it was put in place: The government said it wanted to maintain public order and stop the spread of “misinformation” during the first transfer of power in 15 years after President Pierre Nkurunziza’s long rule. Outcome of the ban: Opposition groups and civil society could not monitor the election process in real time. When it was lifted: Access was restored shortly after the election results were announced. Other details: Even after the ban ended, the media space remained highly restrictive. 4. Cameroon Cameroon carried out one of the longest shutdowns in Africa. When the ban was put in place: In January 2017, the government shut down the internet in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions for 93 days after protests by lawyers and teachers. Why it was put in place: Authorities sought to disrupt coordination among the Anglophone Consortium and the “Ghost Town” strikes, which called for secession or federalism. Outcome of the ban: Businesses in “Silicon Mountain” in Buea suffered, distance learners lost access, and the 20% Anglophone minority felt more isolated. According to a digital advocacy group, Advocacy Assembly, the shutdown cost about $2.5 million. When it was lifted: Internet access returned on April 20, 2017, after global pressure and the #BringBackOurInternet campaign. Other details: Later in 2017, WhatsApp and Facebook were throttled again for over 150 days during new protests. As of September 2025, separatists still use social media, while the government describes it as a “new form of terrorism” and keeps strong digital controls. 5. Chad Chad has enforced some of the longest social media bans on the continent. When the ban was put in place: In March 2018, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube were blocked
Read MoreJennifer Adebisi on why the “SaaS or nothing” mindset is failing Africa’s food-tech sector
There is a question Jennifer Adebisi has answered more times than she can count. It comes from investors, mostly, and it goes something like this: Are you building a tech company or a food company? The answer, she will tell you, is both. But that answer, she has learned, is the problem. “Food tech is too operational for Software as a Service (SaaS) investors,” she says. “But it is too tech-driven for traditional hospitality capital.” Adebisi sits in the gap between them, building something that does not fit neatly into either world. This is not a small problem. It shapes everything: how she raises money, how she is valued, how fast she can grow. And it is a problem, she argues, that reveals something broken about how Nigeria’s tech ecosystem thinks about consumer businesses. From Uli to the professional kitchen Adebisi came to technology through food, not the other way around. She grew up partly with her grandmother in Uli, Anambra State, in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, who farmed her own food and cooked everything from scratch. That early life shaped a deep belief in food as something beyond fuel for the body. “Food is nourishment, food is medicine, food is comfort,” she says. “Nothing is more personal.” In 2017, Adebisi graduated from Red Dish Chronicles Culinary School, a culinary school in Lagos and Abuja, and then moved to a Head Chef position at Sabor Lagos, a casual restaurant in the heart of Lagos, the following year. During her time as a head chef, competitors attempted to poach her, she says: “They’d come to me and ask if I knew someone who was as good as me, and I got an idea, to create a service to link people looking for chefs and the chefs themselves. Uche and I called it Prime Chef.” Prime Chef didn’t get off the ground at that stage due to problems surrounding the technical side of launching, but that was Adebisi’s first foray into technology. In 2021, Adebisi became Chief Culinary Officer and co-founder at FoodCourt, a YC-backed food tech startup, handling operations and quality control on the food end of the business. The operations side of that business exposed her, for the first time, to what technology could actually do. Not as a glamorous thing, but as a practical one. “Yes, you can build a nice app,” she says. “But the app is just the front. The real work exists in the operations. That is where your money lives.” Adebisi and her business partner, Uche Banye, left FoodCourt in July 2023. When they cofounded Happy Belly in September 2023, they brought that conviction with them. They were, by their own description, non-technical founders. They had no engineering background. But they knew exactly what they needed the technology to do because they had spent years inside the operations that the technology was supposed to serve. Happy Belly is a customer-facing app; a proprietary kitchen management system called Kina; a logistics app for riders; a vendor management network; a dark kitchen; and, soon, a WhatsApp ordering channel. Adebisi says she built each piece out of necessity because the technology tools available in the market did not solve the actual problems she was facing. “There is hardly any part of our operation that we do not have in hand,” she says. The funding gap nobody names When Adebisi pitches Happy Belly to investors, she runs into a version of the same wall from different directions. SaaS investors look at her unit economics and see capital expenditure: dark kitchens, equipment, riders, and packaging. They compare her to global food delivery platforms and ask why her growth does not look like DoorDash. “Local infrastructure costs are not being priced into their expectations,” she says. Traditional hospitality investors, on the other hand, do not quite follow the technology story. They understand restaurants. They do not understand why a food business needs to build its own kitchen operating system, or what the long-term value of proprietary logistics software looks like. “We are an unofficial infrastructure company,” Adebisi says. “It is real estate intensive, people intensive, capital intensive. Investors who typically fund SaaS are not looking for capex. And traditional investors do not get the tech story.” Happy Belly falls between both categories, and Adebisi has to construct a hybrid explanation of her valuation every time she enters a room. She is not the only one in this position. The problem, she argues, points to something the ecosystem has not fully worked out: how to evaluate and fund businesses that are genuinely hybrid, businesses that are neither pure software nor pure brick-and-mortar, but the increasingly common thing in between. Consumer tech in emerging markets looks different from consumer tech in San Francisco. The metrics, the timelines, the infrastructure costs, the risk profile, all of it is different. But Adebisi thinks that the frameworks investors use have not caught up. “You are just the chef.” There is a version of this misunderstanding that is more personal. Adebisi has sat in rooms and been told, in one form or another, that operations is not the real work of a tech company. That the engineers and product managers are the ones building something. That the people running the kitchen, managing the vendors, and designing the systems that keep food moving across a city are, at best, support functions. “Someone said to me, ‘You are just the chef,’” she recalls. “And it was my operational insight that was helping us optimise every section of the business, down to what technology should be built and what features we needed to improve operations.” Her argument is direct: in consumer tech, especially food, the money is in the operations. It is in inventory management, waste reduction, vendor relationships, and margin control. It is important to know that the type of rice you use for a menu item affects your volume and profitability. It is in having a system that tells you in real time how many orders
Read MoreNigeria’s crypto startups say SEC’s ₦2bn capital rule is a “disproportionate burden”
Nigerian crypto startup operators have said the increased minimum capital requirements, introduced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 16, will place a “disproportionate burden” on early-stage startups. In a position paper submitted to the SEC, the Stakeholders in Blockchain Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), an advocacy group comprising startups such as Dantown, Roqqu, and Breet, asked the SEC to review and refine the hiked capital thresholds for virtual asset companies. The increased capital requirements require Digital Asset Exchanges (DAXs) and Digital Asset Custodians to maintain a minimum of ₦2 billion ($1.4 million) in their operating coffers, up from ₦500 million ($351,000). Other categories of digital asset operators were also assigned higher thresholds under the revised framework. “While we recognise the policy’s intent to strengthen market integrity, investor protection, and systemic resilience, we respectfully submit that the current framework requires refinement to balance regulatory rigour with innovation sustainability,” the group said in the paper signed by its president, Barr. Mela Claude Ake. SiBAN said that while the SEC’s tougher capital rules are intended to strengthen oversight and protect investors, the blanket ₦2 billion ($1.4 million) threshold risks squeezing out early-stage blockchain startups that lack deep funding but pose far lower systemic risk for larger, well-funded companies. This could narrow Nigeria’s virtual assets market to only a few players who can afford the cost of operating well-oiled, compliant businesses. At the centre of its proposal is an alternative capital threshold system. The association recommends a tiered model with three levels: an “Innovation Track” requiring between ₦50 million ($37,300) and ₦200 million ($149,200) for startups and pilot-stage platforms; a “Growth Track” of ₦200 million–₦500 million ($149,200–$351,000) for expanding operators; and an “Institutional Track” of ₦500 million ($351,000) and above for established platforms subject to full regulatory supervision. The group says this structure would align capital obligations more closely with operational scale and risk exposure. SiBAN is also requesting an extended implementation timeline through 2028, proposing 12 months for tiered classification and transition planning, followed by an additional 18 months for capital formation and structural compliance. Under the current framework, affected entities are required to meet revised capital thresholds by June 30, 2027. It also proposed the creation of a Digital Asset Regulatory Working Group, a monitoring, review, and consultation body, comprising SEC officials, SiBAN representatives, independent subject matter experts, and other regulators, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The aim would be to “ensure continuous feedback loops, rapid problem-solving, and adaptive policy refinement” as the market evolves. The paper also outlines alternative compliance pathways for smaller innovators and startups that may not immediately meet standalone capital requirements. These include mergers and acquisitions (M&As) for smaller players to explore and meet the capital requirements; accelerator and incubator partnerships that allow startups to operate under the regulatory cover of licenced firms; white-label arrangements that let technology providers offer backend services without holding customer funds; and venture studio models that centralise compliance and governance standards across multiple startups. SiBAN maintains that higher capital requirements could strengthen governance and encourage integration with traditional finance through venture capital engagement and strategic partnerships. However, it warns that without structural refinements, the thresholds may favour well-capitalised incumbents and foreign exchanges over domestic startups. The SEC director general, Dr Emomotimi Agama, told CNBC’s Closing Bell in a January 16 interview that it raised capital requirements to strengthen resilience and ensure firms operating in the capital market and Nigeria’s newly legalised digital asset sector have adequate financial buffers to protect investors. The regulator now faces the task of balancing that objective with concerns from industry participants about market entry barriers in a sector that remains in active development.
Read MoreNigeria to conduct “thorough assessment” of MTN’s $2.2 billion IHS deal
Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy will review MTN Group’s proposed $2.2 billion acquisition of IHS Towers, a landmark deal that would hand Africa’s largest mobile operator full control of one of the continent’s most extensive tower portfolios. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Minister Bosun Tijani said the Ministry would undertake a “thorough assessment” of the transaction in collaboration with relevant regulators, citing the strategic importance of telecoms infrastructure to national security, financial services, and economic growth. “Our objective is clear: to ensure that any market consolidation or structural changes protect consumers, safeguard investments, and preserve the long-term sustainability of the sector,” he said. The ministry’s intervention underscores how sensitive infrastructure consolidation has become in Nigeria’s fragile but recovering telecoms market. After years of currency volatility, rising tower lease costs, and debt pressures that strained operators and tower companies alike, regulators are now balancing investor confidence with competition, consumer protection, and national interest. Earlier on Tuesday, MTN confirmed it had agreed to acquire all outstanding shares in IHS that it does not already own at $8.50 per share, valuing the company at approximately $6.2 billion. MTN currently owns about 24.7% of IHS and intends to increase its stake to 100% through a cash merger that would take the tower company private. The transaction would consolidate control of nearly 29,000 telecom towers across Africa, tightening MTN’s grip on the physical infrastructure that underpins its network operations in Nigeria, its largest market. MTN said it plans to fund the $2.2 billion acquisition using roughly $1.1 billion in cash on IHS’s balance sheet, alongside available liquidity and new debt at the group level. The deal marks one of the most consequential infrastructure shifts in Nigeria’s telecoms sector in over a decade. For years, operators spun off tower assets to firms like IHS to reduce capital expenditure and focus on customer growth. Reversing that model signals a strategic rethink as profitability pressures reshape the industry. IHS Towers provides services for other telecom operators, including Airtel, the second-largest mobile network operator in Nigeria. A successful acquisition would not only hand over the tower company’s assets, but it would also give MTN an advantage over its competitors in the Nigerian market. MTN already takes 52% share of the market in Nigeria, with Airtel trailing at 33.94% share of the market. MTN has also entered into infrastructure-sharing deals that allow competitors like Airtel and T2 Mobile ride on its infrastructure in areas where they are unable to reach customers. Over the past two years, Nigeria’s telecom operators have faced mounting financial pressure from naira devaluation and dollar-denominated tower lease obligations. MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa both reported steep foreign exchange losses in 2023 before returning to improved profitability in recent results, aided by tariff adjustments and cost restructuring. For IHS, Nigeria remains its largest market, but one weighed down by currency headwinds and high power costs. Any acquisition would therefore represent not just a corporate buyout, but a structural shift in how telecom infrastructure is financed, owned, and managed in Africa’s biggest telecoms economy.
Read MoreMTN moves to take full control of IHS Towers in $2.2 billion deal
MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator, is moving to take full ownership of IHS Towers in a $2.2 billion deal that would consolidate control of nearly 29,000 telecom towers across Africa and mark a major strategic shift for the continent’s largest mobile network operator. IHS Towers accepted an offer of $8.50 per share in a transaction that would increase MTN’s stake to 100% and result in IHS being taken private, MTN noted in a statement on Tuesday shared with TechCabal. The proposed deal is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, as well as the delisting of IHS from the New York Stock Exchange. MTN owns approximately 24.7% of IHS and intends to acquire all outstanding shares it does not already hold through a cash merger. The deal values the IHS at approximately $6.2 billion, the company said in a separate statement. The proposed acquisition marks a notable reversal of MTN’s earlier infrastructure strategy. Like many telecom operators over the past decade, MTN had separated its tower assets to unlock capital and reduce capital intensity. Now, the group is seeking to reintegrate those assets, internalising tower lease margins it currently pays to IHS and capturing future third-party revenue growth directly. Shares of IHS dropped to $8.16 on Tuesday evening, February 17, 2026, after the announcement was made. The $8.50 per share offer in the MTN deal represents a 9.7% premium to IHS’s 30-day volume-weighted average price as of 4 February 2026, the last trading day before MTN released its cautionary announcement. For shareholders, the transaction provides an opportunity to make profits at a premium, particularly at a time when global tower valuations have faced pressure from higher interest rates and currency volatility in emerging markets. The deal follows IHS’s announced disposals of its Latin American assets earlier in February 2026. Upon completion of those transactions, MTN intends to acquire 100% of IHS’s remaining business, primarily focused on Africa. IHS is one of the world’s largest independent tower companies, with nearly 29,000 high-quality towers serving multiple mobile network operators in five key MTN markets. “This proposed transaction is a pivotal step in further strengthening MTN Group’s strategic and financial position for a future where digital infrastructure will become ever more essential to Africa’s growth and development,” said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita. He described the deal as a “unique opportunity” to buy back MTN’s towers and strengthen its ability to partner with governments across its markets. MTN plans to fund the $2.2 billion acquisition using approximately $1.1 billion in cash on IHS’s balance sheet, alongside available liquidity and debt at the group level. The company stated that no new equity issuance would be required, although the funding structure, it noted, may lead to a short-term increase in leverage. MTN expects the transaction to be earnings-positive to both net income and cash flow. Long-term IHS shareholder Wendel has provided a letter of support, committing to vote in favour of the transaction, and will receive full liquidity upon closing. With Wendel’s backing and MTN’s own voting rights, around 40% of the required two-thirds shareholder approval has effectively been secured. “The proposed transaction deepens our long-standing partnership with MTN as it combines Africa’s largest mobile network operator with one of its largest digital infrastructure platforms and underscores the strong connection between IHS Towers and the African continent,” IHS Chairman and CEO, Sam Dawish, said. If approved, the transaction would create the largest integrated tower platform in Africa under MTN’s control. Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include IHS’ valuation based on the deal.
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