Showmax battles Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for African viewers
This article was contributed to TechCabal by Conrad Onyango via bird story agency. The battle for streaming in Africa is turning into a three-horse race as key players ramp up investment in local content, tap top talent and enhance viewer experiences. Market data from Digital TV Research puts Netflix in the lead with a projected 7.4 million subscribers, followed by MultiChoice-owned Showmax with 4.4 million subscribers and Amazon Prime Video with 3.14 million viewers. By 2029, the research firm projects, Africa will add 10 million new subscribers. That will push Video on demand subscriptions to 18 million, highlighting the growing popularity of streaming services on the continent. “The subscription video on demand (SVOD) sector in anglophone Africa is evolving into a battle between Netflix and local player Showmax,” said Digital TV Research Principal Analyst, Simon Murray. While Netflix is nearly doubling its subscriber base, Showmax will be more than tripling from a low-base, indicating a faster growth, driven by rich local content and sports rights, as well as the introduction of NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures and HBO content. By the end of 2021, Netflix had an Africa subscriber base of 2.6 million. The streaming giant is seen adding 3.4 million from the end of 2023 while Showmax, which had 861,000 subscribers at the end of 2021, will add nearly 3 million more to its 2023 figures. However, the potential African market remains huge. “Despite this fast growth, SVOD penetration will remain low, with only 7.7% of TV households paying for at least one subscription by 2029,” according to Digital TV Research. Showmax’s parent company, MultiChoice Group, recently launched DStv stream, a revamped version of the DStv App that enhances the personal viewing experience for its huge subscriber base – particularly, sports fanatics. Among the new features is the ability of subscribers to change soundtracks for live sports commentary to local languages, based on the location of the viewer. Sports fans also have dedicated league and tournament pages. “From the initial launch of the first decoder to pioneering digital satellite TV and now with DStv Stream, what drives innovation for us, is providing our customers with the content they love, in the way that’s best for them,” said MultiChoice Kenya Head of Marketing, Ronald Baraka. After cutting down its monthly subscription plan fees for some countries in Africa, Netflix has also embarked on aggressive local content development to attract more subscribers. In financial year 2023, MultiChoice announced its local content accounted for 50% of general entertainment spend, surpassing its target and highlighting its aggressive local content drive. The group’s local content library boasts of over 76,000 hours, with an annual production rise of 9%. In July, it debuted ‘Supa Team 4’, the first original African animation series for kids to appear on the streaming platform. Netflix’s ‘made in Africa’ offering includes movies, dramas, animations, TV show , documentaries and originals, featuring actors mostly from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and exclusively targeting African audiences. Amazon Prime Video also has its eyes on boosting its library of local originals and acquisitions, after the streaming platform hired former MultiChoice Executive, Gideon Khobane. Khobane who has previously served as SuperSport International Chief Executive Officer and M-Net Director, was appointed Director of Prime Video Africa in July to oversee growth of the originals, acquisitions and product division. Currently, Amazon Prime Video is particularly active in South Africa and Nigeria. It recently premiered two local comedy and drama originals – Last One Laughing, with versions for Nigeria and South Africa, and Gangs Of Lagos. Local acquisitions include Brotherhood and King Of Thieves. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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Ethiopia edges closer to adopting digital IDs
With a population of 120 million, Ethiopia has chosen a firm to produce new digital IDs, also known as Fayda. Ethiopia has taken steps towards adopting digital IDs after it picked Madras Security Printers Private Limited as its partner for printing the documents. The company presented a bid worth $300,000 and is set to produce 1 million digital IDs, also known as Fayda. The firm is set to produce pre-customised cards as part of the contract. These digital identity documents will include biometric information, which will authenticate Ethiopians to access various public services and verify their identity when opening new bank accounts. According to Biometric Update, another data storage contract for the digital ID system is being considered. Tech5’s biometric engine and digital ID issuance software were tested during the trial phase. This complies with a digital identity law requiring well-organised personal data to be accessible to relying parties and securely stored in a designated firm’s database. Background In 2022, the National Identity Program (NDIP) launched the enrollment process for the Fayda ID, which serves as Ethiopia’s foundational identification document for identity verification. The NDIP has registered a little over 1.4 million Ethiopians for the Fayda ID. The Kebele ID, primarily used to identify a person’s place of residence, is currently the most widely adopted type of identification, with ID4D estimating its popularity among adults to be between 90% and 95%. It is used alongside other functional identification documents, such as driver’s licences, and international passports, to verify one’s identity. Read more: Tanzania ignores digital IDs as East Africa pushes for wider adoption Ethiopia passes digital identity law In March 2023, Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million, passed the Digital Identity Proclamation Bill into law. Ethiopia joins the growing list of African nations transitioning to a digital identification system, including Kenya and Uganda. Ethiopia’s digital ID legislation is set to help the country establish a robust system for citizen registration. The bill covers various crucial aspects, including registration procedures, authentication services, the institutional framework, data security, privacy protection, and legal consequences for breaches. This move will likely modernise Ethiopia’s ID system and is expected to promote inclusivity. No access to banking services without digital IDs The National Bank of Ethiopia, alongside the National Identity Program, announced plans to use the national digital ID, Fayda, for all transactions. In 2017, approximately 34.83% of Ethiopia’s adult population (under 24 million people) had bank accounts. The initiative will compel bank customers to use the Fayda ID for onboarding. The National Bank of Ethiopia, the nation’s central bank, reiterated this plan to use Fayda as the primary ID for banking operations. Kenya to launch digital IDs this month Kenya is also set to adopt a digital identity for its citizens. Some details have been revealed about its upcoming digital ID system. For instance, the launch set to go live this month will use the unique personal identifiers (UPI) system that includes advanced security features such as iris and facial biometrics and fingerprint identification, similar to the existing identity documents. The new IDs will replace the failed Huduma Namba launched by the previous administration in 2018. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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Steps to easily calculate your 2024 UNISA fees online
As education costs continue to rise across universities in Africa, it’s essential for students to have a clear understanding of their financial obligations. For students or potential students of the University of South Africa (UNISA), calculating fees can be a crucial aspect of their academic journey. Fortunately, UNISA provides an easy-to-use online tool to help students determine their fees. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of calculating UNISA fees online in a simple and straightforward manner. 1. Go to the UNISA website Start by opening your preferred web browser and navigating to the official UNISA website. Ensure that you are using a secure and updated browser to protect your personal information. 2. Log in if you’re registered If you’re already a UNISA student, log in to your student portal using your username and password. If you’re not registered, move on to the next step. 3. Navigate to the “my UNISA study fees quotation” tab On the MyUNISA website, look for the “my UNISA study fees quotation” section. You’ll find it here. Click on it to proceed. 4. Select the academic year and qualification Choose the academic year for which you want to calculate fees. You’ll also need to specify your qualification level, such as undergraduate, postgraduate, or diploma. 5. Enter your modules Now, select the specific modules or courses you plan to enrol in for the selected academic year. This is a crucial step, as different modules have different fees. On average, a student enrols in 4 to 6 courses annually, with each course costing between R1,815.00 and R7,550.00 (please note that these amounts may be revised). 6. Calculate your UNISA fees After selecting your modules, the system will calculate your fees based on your choices. You’ll see a breakdown of tuition fees, exam fees, and other charges related to your selected modules. 7. Review your fees Take a moment to review the calculated fees. Ensure that all the information is accurate, including your chosen modules and qualification. Final thoughts on calculating UNISA fees Calculating UNISA fees online is an easy process that can help you plan your academic finances effectively. By following these steps, you can ensure that you have a clear understanding of your financial inclinations while pursuing your education at UNISA. Remember to check the UNISA website for any updates or changes to the fee calculation process, as procedures may evolve over time.
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily-Sama strikes out in AI
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy Friday! Social media influencers have mastered turning attention and credibility to currency. Here’s how to become Twitter famous in two months. In today’s edition Sama to hire 2,100 Kenyans for AI work Nestcoin raises $1.9 million Kenya considers digital sandboxes Google requires AI disclosure in political ads The World Wide Web3 Event: The Moonshot Conference Opportunities AI Sama to hire 2,100 Kenyans for AI work Image source: TechCabal New business, new hires. Sama, a startup that trains data for AI algorithms, will employ 2,100 Kenyans in the next two weeks, according to Kenya’s trade cabinet secretary, Moses Kuria. The first batch of 600 employees has already started working, while an additional 1,500 will be hired in the following weeks. This will increase Sama’s headcount from 3,400 to 5,500, with a leadership team that is entirely Kenyan. The new hires will work in Sama’s computer vision artificial intelligence (AI) arm and will be tasked with labelling images and videos for machine learning algorithms. ICYMI: Sama was formerly involved in content moderation services for Meta in Kenya. The company discontinued it to focus on computer vision AI work in March after it fired 184 content moderators, who have since sued the company for unfair dismissal. However, the company added that it left that line of business as a strategic business decision and not in relation to the ongoing case. Zoom out: Sama’s new move signifies a promising future for AI development in Kenya, with the potential to influence the global AI landscape. Get a working card from Moniepoint With the Moniepoint personal banking app, you get reliable payments every time and a card that always works. Enjoy seamless payments powered by the infrastructure that 1.5 million businesses trust. Download the app. Funding Nestcoin raises $1.9 million Image source: TechCabal Nigerian web3 startup, Nestcoin, has raised $1.9 million in a strategic round. The startup will use the funds to support the growth of its Onboard product. This round of funding was led by Hashed Emergent. Alter Global, Magic Fund, CMT Digital, and 4DX Ventures are among the existing investors that took part. Adaverse and Base Ecosystem Fund also participated in this round. ICYMI: Nestcoin, which was launched in 2021 to build, invest, and operate web3 and non-custodial products for customers lost a significant portion of its $6.45 million pre-seed investment in the FTX collapse last year. The startup laid off some employees as a result of this. The company recently announced that it had pivoted to Onboard, a secure self-custody wallet for managing digital assets with no middlemen. Before this pivot, Nestcoin was home to a number of web3/crypto products Breach, a media platform; Brunch, a cryptocurrency-based group messaging tool; and Metaverse Magma (MVM), a gaming DAO. MVM operates independently after being spun off. Nestcoin also invested in over 13 African crypto and Web3 products including the now-defunct Lazerpay. Policy Kenya considers digital sandboxes Image source: TechCabal Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) is addressing the regulatory challenges of emerging technologies. How? The CA has suggested establishing regulatory sandboxes to oversee new technologies like digital currencies. A regulatory sandbox is used to assess technological services under supervision before they are fully integrated into the regulatory framework to ensure compliance and assess potential risks. This new suggestion comes as WorldCoin, owned by Tools for Humanity, recently faced scrutiny for collecting sensitive biometric information from Kenyan citizens in exchange for a token worth Ksh7,000 ($50). This has raised concerns about data privacy and compliance with existing laws. Initially registered as a data processor in Kenya, WorldCoin’s activities were called into question when it became apparent that their license did not grant authority to collect personal data. What now? WorldCoin has since halted its activities in Kenya, leaving questions about the fate of the collected biometric data. Unlock new opportunities for your business Unlock new opportunities for your business with Vesicash! Seamlessly expand into emerging markets using our secure, all-in-one and cost-effective payment infrastructure. Contact Vesicash via our website www.vesicash.com or reach out to our dedicated team at info@vesicash.com AI Google requires AI disclosure in political ads Image source: Giphy Google is updating its political content policy to include a new mandate. The search giant announced on Wednesday that all verified election advertisers are to tell people if their ads use artificial intelligence (AI) in campaign content. The requirements: Starting mid-November, election advertisers must tell people if their ads use artificial intelligence (AI) to create images, videos, or audio that look real. This disclosure must be clear and obvious, and it must be placed where people are likely to see it. This policy will apply to all ads that are created or manipulated using AI, including ads that appear on Google’s search engine, YouTube, and other platforms. However, ads that use AI to create images, videos, or audio that are not important to the claims made in the ad do not have to disclose that they use AI. This includes editing techniques such as image resizing, cropping, colour or brightening corrections, defect correction and background edits that do not create realistic depictions of actual events. Zoom out: Google’s interest in developing AI policies has expanded to its other platforms, including YouTube, which recently unveiled its guiding principles for AI collaboration with the music industry.” Crypto Tracker The World Wide Web3 Source: Coin Name Current Value Day Month Bitcoin $25,866 + 0.74% – 10.98% Ether $1,635 + 0.25% – 10.14% BNB $215 – 0.06% – 10.92% Cardano $0.25 + 0.06% – 11.71% * Data as of 21:22 PM WAT, September 7, 2023. Elevate your business with One Liquidity’s seamless integration. Choose from 10+ services to craft a custom solution. Join Obiex, Wewire, and others in providing trading, liquidity & compliance services. Start now with zero upfront fees. One integration. One solution. One Liquidity. Events The Moonshot Conference Early bird tickets are still selling out fast for Moonshot by TechCabal! If you’re an international fan
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A Nigerian influencer’s guide to becoming Twitter famous in two months
The demand for influencers in the marketing industry has steadily increased, driving a lot more people into building a career in influencing. On social media, attention is currency. In 2018, when Edmund Oris, a medical student, tweeted about football that went viral, he quickly realized that the kind of outsized attention he got was monetizable. “I’ve tweeted daily since then, and Twitter is now my full-time job,” Oris told TechCabal. In the five years since his tweet first went viral, Oris has worked with Coca-Cola, Guinness and even Tiwa Savage; he also has 69,000 followers, significantly improving from the 2,000 followers he had in 2018. What’s often missing in “how-to stories” is how much rigour is needed. Oris says that being an influencer requires more planning than most people believe; every influencer must find their niche, that small area of focus where they can show expertise and build a loyal band of listeners. Such loyalty means influencers can recommend brands or products to their audience within their niche and encourage buying decisions. Per Twitter’s marketing team, about 49% of users rely on recommendations from influencers on the platform. In the third quarter of 2022, Jumia spent $57.4 million on marketing; 60-70% was on influencer marketing. But influencers aren’t the only players in the value chain. Big companies work directly with agencies to manage the influencer marketing process, which involves contacting and negotiating with influencers. Influencers’ fees vary depending on their impressions, followers, and negotiating skills. According to Oris, negotiation skills are the most critical tool for influencers. “Sometimes you can earn even more than another influencer with more followers if you know how to sell your brand. If you don’t, you’ll likely be shortchanged by the agencies,” he shared over a call with TechCabal. Twitter influencers typically earn less than influencers on other platforms as they mainly tweet or repost already-designed content, unlike Instagram or TikTok, where influencers have to create this content from scratch—often shooting videos or taking product photos. While the global average cost of an influencer tweet is about $1,643 for a mid-tier influencer (50K-200k followers), the amount for Nigerian influencers is much less. In Nigeria, mid-tier influencers typically get offered about ₦50,000 ($66) for a tweet. This amount can go up as high as ₦500,000 ($656) for global brands. Average cost of post per platform. Image credit: IZEA Brand promotion is not the only way to make money as a Twitter influencer. Having an audience means that you can convert them to podcast listeners, YouTube viewers, or even people who buy your course, like Oris. He uses Twitter to promote his courses and e-books targeted at new influencers. His course, How to Grow Like a GOAT, promises one million impressions in 30 days. It costs ₦50,000 ($66), and he’s sold over 300 copies. Community is critical for visibility on Twitter. The platform revolves around conversations and the most important trick for aspiring influencers is to be plugged into the right ones. According to Oris, The route to your first one million impressions is engaging in relevant conversations within your niche community. Create a list with about 100 influencers in your niche and engage with them constantly. Constant engagement increases your visibility and depending on the value of replies you leave, can translate into followers,” Oris said. Beyond helping you gain visibility, constantly engaging with people doing well in your niche gives you a blueprint for the content that performs well. 53% of Twitter users prefer relevant and informative content, compared to 24% who want trendy content. There’s a science to content on various platforms, and just as reels have become critical to growth on Instagram, informative content keeps Twitter going. Users who share knowledge and information or opinions that spark conversation do better on the app. Building a following on Twitter requires some degree of luck and a lot of experimenting. According to Victoria Gwaza, a Twitter influencer, one helpful tool for influencers is to be willing to experiment with different platforms and types of content. Many factors affect how well your tweets do, including the time posted, the day posted, and other conversations happening on the timeline. Sometimes, your message works better with images or videos attached. Other times, texts alone work best. “If you’ve tried everything and it doesn’t work, maybe consider another platform. Twitter is not the only place to be an influencer,” she said. While Oris has over 60K followers on Twitter, he has less than 1K followers on Instagram. He shared that he hasn’t been able to grow much of an audience there as it requires a lot of photos and videos, which are just not his forte. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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2023 latest steps for online PSiRA renewal
The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) understands that in today’s digital age convenience and efficiency are key. That is why the agency has made significant strides in simplifying the renewal process for security professionals. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps of carrying out your PSIRA renewal online. What’s needed for PSiRA renewal online booking? The prerequisites for scheduling PSiRA renewal online are as follows: Old PSiRA certificate Certified ID copy The fees are as follows R40.00 for certificate renewal. R60.00 for card renewal. In order to stay compliant with PSiRA regulations, both individuals and businesses must engage in certificate renewal at the relevant PSiRA regional offices. The renewal procedure differs depending on the category, with security personnel needing to renew their certificates every 24 months, while businesses must renew theirs annually. Adhering to these renewal deadlines is crucial to uphold the validity of certificates and to continue operating within the security industry in alignment with PSiRA’s guidelines. Now let’s move to the online processes. 1. Prepare your documents Before you dive into the online renewal process, ensure you have all the necessary documents on hand. These typically include a certified copy of your ID, proof of payment, and any supporting documents relevant to your specific category or level of registration. 2. Visit the PSIRA website Open your web browser and head over to the official PSIRA website (www.psira.co.za). Once on the homepage, look for the “Online Services” section. Click on it to proceed. 3. Create or log in to your account If you already have an account, simply log in using your credentials. If not, you’ll need to create one. Follow the instructions provided to set up your account. Ensure that you use a secure password and keep your login details confidential. 4. Select “Renewal” After logging in, navigate to the “Renewal” option. Here, you will find all the necessary information and forms for renewing your PSIRA certification. 5. Fill out the PSiRA renewal form Carefully fill out the online renewal form. Be sure to provide accurate information, including your personal details, certification level, and any additional documents required. 6. Upload supporting documents Scan or take clear photos of your supporting documents and upload them to the system as instructed. Ensure that the documents meet the specified requirements for clarity and certification. 7. Pay the renewal fee Once you’ve completed the form and uploaded your documents, you’ll need to make the renewal payment. PSiRA accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, EFT, and bank deposits. Follow the prompts to complete your payment securely. 8. Review and submit Before finalising your renewal, take a moment to review all the information you’ve provided. Double-check that everything is accurate and up to date. Once satisfied, submit your renewal application. After submitting your renewal, you will receive a confirmation email from PSiRA. This email will contain important details regarding your renewal status and the expected waiting time for processing. 9. Collect your new PSiRA certificate upon renewal Once your renewal is approved, you will receive a notification. Then you can go ahead to get your renewed PS-RA certificate. Final thoughts on PSiRA renewal Renewing your PSIRA certificate renewal online is an easy and efficient process that saves you time and effort. By following these steps, you can ensure your security career stays on track without the hassle of traditional paperwork and queues. Learn how to check your PSiRA with your ID here.
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What are the building blocks for a successful MVNO operation in Nigeria?
This article is the second part of a guest submission by Ernest Akinlola, an MVNO expert and the Managing Director of Bboxx. Read the first part here. Whilst MVNOs are now proliferated around the world, each jurisdiction is governed by specific regulations and the success of an MVNO will depend on how well it can navigate its specific environment. The requirements for operating a successful MVNO business are fairly universal across regions, but the unique dynamics of each nation will necessitate different approaches to applying strategy. The growth in MNVOS Following Virgin Mobile’s introduction and enormous success, other MNOs saw the potential of the MVNO business model, and a new industry was created. To ride this new wave, One 2 One/T-Mobile, O2, Vodafone, and Orange all introduced MVNO offerings. Currently, the UK has over 24 successful mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), each with a unique business model that makes use of its own inherent strengths in its specific industry sectors, such as utilities, diaspora, retail, broadcasting, etc. You can see from the figure that MNOs had such a strong belief in the MVNO concept that they not only hosted 3rd party brands but also built their own fully owned MVNOs as flanker or fighter brands. Today, MNO flanker brands make up over 25% of MVNO’s in the UK. Utilizing unique techniques, many of these well-known branded MVNOs have achieved incredible success, frequently ranking higher in customer perception than the real host MNO on which they operate their service. On the One2One network, Virgin Mobile frequently took first place for the best network, and Tesco Mobile recently won the Most Reliable Network category at the Trusted Reviews Awards 2022 last year. Such is the efficiency of a successfully executed MVNO approach that O2, the host MNO of Tesco Mobile, placed 7th while providing the actual network! Tesco Mobile also took 1st place in a number of other categories, including Customer Care and Net Promoter Score (NPS). Tesco Plc converted every customer touch point by utilizing its strong supermarket retail network and gas stations. Lycamobile is arguably the most recognised MVNO in the world and evolved out of Lycatel Calling Cards which focused on the diaspora customer segment in the UK. The pivot from the protracted process of using a calling card to make international calls to a sim card was a game changer. Sim cards were sold through 1000’s of mom-and-pop shops, leveraging the existing and long-established distribution channels of the calling cards. As COO, I was responsible for rolling out the MVNO concept to an additional 7 countries across Europe, utilising the same capabilities of distribution and installed base of customers. Lycamobile is now active in 60 countries. All these successful MVNOs utilised 3 common catalysts for growth: (i) an installed customer base (ii) an established distribution channel (iii) a differentiated proposition. How can nascent Nigerian MVNOs emulate this success? The MVNOs above were launched over an 18-year period with a maximum of 4 a year. This afforded them the opportunity to take learnings from previous incumbents prior to launching new propositions. 18-year timeline to launch 24 MNVOs. Nigeria’s MVNOs will tread a different path and will all materialise within the same time frame, similar to the launch of PSBs. This implies there will be a glut of product offerings in the market, all seeking to gain market share. MVNOs will not have the luxury to study the traction of their competitors, understand their capabilities, identify opportunities in the market, and then refine their strategies prior to launching. Nigerian MVNOs will have to double down on their service differentiation from the onset, be crystal clear on strategy, and invest in resources to execute. Pre-Launch Steps for Nigerian MVNOs Business Plan A business plan is a fundamental requirement for any business start-up and it should be no different for an MVNO. In the case of Nigerian MVNOs, it’s important to tailor the business plan in line with the capabilities of the licence acquired. Wholesale agreement The wholesale agreement governs the commercial relationship between the MNO and the MVNO. These types of partnerships only work if the wholesale agreement works. A badly negotiated contract can undermine the whole business model and prove to be an existential threat for the MVNO. MVNO /MNO relationships do turn sour so the importance of a robust agreement cannot be underestimated. There are 8 essential elements that form the basis of a successful wholesale agreement. Technical partner Also crucially important is the selection of the right technical partner to support the MVNO operations. There are several key criteria that MVNOs must use to assess the capabilities of the technical partner. Stakeholder- Relationship Management Both the MVNO and MNO must appreciate the nuances that will emerge in this new relationship and adopt all the 6 proven strategies to ensure that there is commercial congruence at all times. Business Case The business case needs to factor in all the key assumptions an MNO business case would adopt with the appropriate modifications specific to the MVNO. For example, whilst it is logical to assume that the MNO bears all the capex of hosting the MVNO, it is incorrect to assume that the MVNO will not incur any capex at all. There are at least 5 scenarios where an MVNO will have to incur a capex outlay. Market Niche As mentioned above the Nigerian MVNOs will launch into a mature telecoms market, with established MNOs and at the same time as other MVNO launches. So it stands to reason that building traction and scale is not going to be without challenges. The segmentation strategies adopted by the MVNO will need to be forensic and clearly thought through using proven methodologies. Distribution Channels Establishing a distribution channel from scratch is expensive and time-consuming. So the MVNO needs to critically assess other routes to market, leveraging its own network of contacts. Brand Choosing which brand to launch with is one of the most difficult considerations. Does the MVNO build a brand from scratch
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Kenya’s ICT regulator suggests revamping existing laws amid WorldCoin controversy
Local ICT authorities lacked legal backing to manage the operations of WorldCoin. Now, the Communications Authority (CA) wants regulatory sandboxes to police new technology. Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has suggested establishing regulatory sandboxes to oversee new technologies like digital currencies. The Authority’s suggestion comes amid scrutiny of WorldCoin’s approval to collect biometric information from Kenyans. Tools for Humanity, which owns WorldCoin, collected critical biometric information by offering a token worth KES 7,000 ($50). “There is a need to develop an appropriate overarching legal framework for regulation on new and emerging technologies, including digital platforms, social media, and Over-the-Top services,” said Ezra Chiloba, CA’s director-general. The limitations of the existing laws were showcased last month when it emerged that WorldCoin had been registered as a data processor in Kenya. The licence allowed Tools for Humanity to onboard Kenyans onto its system using iris scanning machines. When it became apparent that these activities were not fully compliant with data privacy laws, Kenya’s ICT ministry, among other agencies, argued that WorldCoin’s licence did not grant any authority to collect personal data. “The licence does not in any manner endorse an entity’s compliance with the Data Protection Act or its subsidiary regulations, nor is it a valid license for an organisation to operate In Kenya,” Eliud Owalo, Kenya’s ICT cabinet secretary, argued. The Kenyan parliament also criticised data commissioner Immaculate Kassait over the WorldCoin controversy, accusing her of failing Kenyans. The WorldCoin iris-data collection activity raised concerns about data privacy and government involvement in digital identities. Kassait defended her office, arguing it issued an order to stop WorldCoin’s operations. In what can be seen as a failure to execute the mandate of the office of that data protection commissioner, Kassait said that she was not aware that Worlcoin was breaking privacy laws and only received that information after public outcry. WorldCoin has halted its activities in Kenya. It is also unclear what will happen to the already collected biometric data, although Owalo promised to explain it to parliament a few weeks ago. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
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A tech group is empowering deaf kids in northern Nigeria
This article was contributed to TechCabal by Victor Eyike via bird story agency. When Amina Isa walked into her classroom to mingle with her new classmates after relocating to a new town, she found herself completely isolated. Born with a hearing impediment and unable to speak, Isa communicated using sign language. No-one in the class of 40 knew what she was saying. Of the 25.5 million Nigerians living with disabilities, according to the United Nations, some 9.5 million are deaf. In many rural and isolated communities across Africa, families, governments, even religious institutions continue to contribute to deaf marginalisation through negligence, lack of support, exclusion, and discrimination. Isa had relocated to the town with her parents and hoped to find a school with suitable learning conditions. Despite promises, it soon became clear to the young student that the school had no facilities at all, to help her overcome her disability. Experiences like Isa’s is why Wuni Bitrus and Pantong Dashwet set about building a suitable medium of learning for persons with hearing disabilities, in their local community in Jos, Plateau State, in 2017. The pair started Deaf Technology Foundation to provide digital skills training, in programming and robotics, for deaf children aged 5-12 years. “Persons with hearing disabilities are heavily neglected. Especially in Northern Nigeria. We came up with this idea to teach programming to deaf kids in northern Nigeria. We reached out to families with such cases and the response was overwhelming,” Bitrus explained of their early endeavour. The founders started small with just a computer on which they used to teach 10-20 students the basics of computer programming. Today, the group has successfully empowered over 1600 deaf children with programming skills. The students are coached on functioning in a digital and information-driven world, applying digital and ICT skills and successful living in a rapidly-changing and transforming society. Beneficiaries are able to develop their own tools. Students Mercy Grimah and Mercy Kure developed an automatic hand-sanitising dispenser thanks to their robotics training, while other outcomes have included animation, healthcare applications, games, autonomous robots and smart homes gadgets. “I have been able to develop some amazing projects with robotics. It’s amazing what they are doing for deaf kids. Most of us don’t have funds to sponsor our education. They have taught us to excel in programming competitions and added value to us in the labor space,” Grimah said, using sign language. Taught to be articulate when signing, the students also get to engage in extra curricular activities such as basketball and other sports, in addition to their programming training. Bitrus and Dashwet also organise the annual “Week of Code” event at a special needs school in Plateau State. During the week, students are introduced to programming and internet technology (IT) and given the opportunity to learn and collaborate with students from other schools. “Our vision is to build an ecosystem of software developers ages 9 -12, empowering them to lead productive lives. The mission is to catch them young and empower them with the tools and skills to participate in the digital economy,” Bitrus explained. The operation has grown faster than expected. “Lack of funding is always a major problem we encounter. We have a huge volume of students but lack computers and other technical accessories to aid their learning,” Bitrus said. The duo’s organisation is not slowing down, however. They have managed to recruit volunteer teachers who mentor the students in programming and robotics. Next, they hope to get other NGOs on board and expand to other states in Nigeria with a mission to create an inclusive learning environment that gives deaf students equal access to quality education. That includes providing interpreters, captioning and other visual aids and fostering a culture of respect and understanding in the classroom, to reduce discrimination and encourage inclusion. These are key requirements for learning establishments. But for now Bitrus and Dashwet are taking things one step at a time, hoping to ensure that in the future, learners like Isa don’t experience the kind of trauma she did, on her first day of school. Have you got your tickets to TechCabal’s Moonshot Conference? Click here to do so now!
Read MoreSama’s AI business will hire 2,100 Kenyans after exiting content moderation
Sama no longer offers content moderation services to its clients. However, it has since picked up computer vision and AI work and looks forward to hiring more locals amid a wrongful termination case with Meta moderators. Kenya’s trade cabinet secretary (CS) Moses Kuria, has revealed that Sama will hire 2,100 Kenyans in the next two weeks. The new hires will work in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, focusing on computer vision artificial intelligence (AI). They will work on various projects, including labeling images and videos for machine learning algorithms. According to Kuria, this development has been motivated by Kenya’s plan to create 1 million BPO jobs, a goal Sama has pursued since entering the Kenyan market in 2015. The first batch of 600 employees has already started working, while an additional 1,500 will be hired in the following weeks. This will increase Sama’s headcount from 3,400 to 5,500, with a leadership team that is entirely Kenyan. In a media meeting last Friday, Evelyn Njiiri, legal counsel at Sama, hinted at the Kenya government’s plan to work with the company, citing the need for public-private partnerships. “We also need to partner with the government, maybe in the universities, to teach computer vision AI if such an opportunity to do so. And there are so many other companies which are teaching AI from the basics. We are at the very bottom of the supply, but the whole supply chain will need to be moved after the end. We also need to be more proactive as opposed to being reactive,” Njiiri said. “The government is keen to turn Kenya into a digital economy by creating a conducive operating environment for the private sector. We congratulate Sama for their commitment to nurturing Kenyan youths on the AI Value chain,” State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy principal secretary (PS) John Kipchumba Tanui said. Sama is now focusing on computer vision AI work after discontinuing content moderation. According to Sama’s legal representative, who spoke to the media last week at Sama’s Nairobi offices, content moderation accounted for only 3% of the company’s work. Sama had also fired 184 content moderators, who have since sued the company for unfair dismissal. The case, last heard in court at the beginning of June 2023, is ongoing. It did find Meta responsible since the moderators performed Meta’s work. However, the judge presiding over the case mentioned that Sama was just an agent. At the same time, Sama argued otherwise, saying that Meta was its client and did not have the legal authority to act on Meta’s behalf, adding that it did not have work for the dismissed moderators. “We exited content moderation to focus on computer vision. When you know what you are good at, you would want to focus on that,” Sama said. The company added that it left that line of business as a strategic business decision, not to mitigate the fallout from the ongoing case. Sama primarily employs young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The male and female headcount is also nearly evenly split, reflecting the practices of other companies like Safaricom. This topic has garnered widespread attention on the web, with local political and youth leader Brain Mutiga emphasising the importance of providing such opportunities to the underprivileged. “It will be good if sons and daughters of the poor get the priority. We cannot always have children of our leaders who have unlimited opportunities still benefiting from such offers in the name of ‘Kenyan youth,’” Mutiga said on X.
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