After investing £1 billion in Africa in 2024, BII’s Africa head explains the sectors driving its biggest bets
Since 2020, the British International Investment (BII) has significantly expanded its Africa portfolio. In 2021, the development finance institution (DFI) invested about £2.2 billion ($2.9 billion) in African businesses, exceeding a pledge made at the 2020 UK-Africa Investment Summit. Going forward, BII set a strategy to commit £1.5–2 billion ($2–2.6 billion) annually from 2022 to 2026, with Africa as a core focus. That focus has allowed BII’s annual commitments to Africa to explode, despite global headwinds. In 2023, £725 million ($970 million) was invested in Africa (about 55% of BII’s total that year) before surging to £1.09 billion ($1.45 billion) in 2024, nearly a 40% increase year-on-year. This period coincides with Chris Chijiutomi, a British-Nigerian with two decades of experience in investing across Europe, Asia, and Africa, becoming the managing director and head of Africa for BII. Now, Africa comprises roughly 60% of BII’s new investments by value in recent years, showing the continent’s priority in BII’s portfolio. BII has also steadily expanded its exposure to early-stage ventures and technology startups in Africa, positioning venture capital as a core instrument of its development mandate. As a limited partner, it has anchored several Africa-focused funds, including TLcom Capital’s TIDE Africa Funds I and II, Sawari Ventures in North Africa, and Novastar Ventures in East and West Africa. Alongside fund investments, BII has selectively deployed capital directly into startups like mPharma, to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains, and equity investments in TradeDepot, Moniepoint, and Egypt’s Paymob. It has also backed off-grid energy companies such as M-KOPA and Lumos. For this week’s Ask an Investor, I spoke with Chijiutomi to understand the firm’s increased focus on Africa, the sectors that he’s willing to invest in, BII’s sudden profitability jump, how the firm picks its startups and funds, and the sector that has provided the most returns. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Is there any sector where you think your views have changed the most since you became BII’s Head of Africa? When I started this role, I would say renewable energy—especially decentralised renewable energy—was fairly nascent. The solar panels were relatively quite expensive, including the battery, and the uptake was also quite limited. Therefore, the technical and commercial viability was still quite nascent. But if I look at where I am now, and I remember driving from the airport to our office here, I could see a lot of solar panels on people’s rooftops. I could see solar panels on the streetlights. So I think, for me, what we call decentralised renewable energy—DRE—has been one area that has seen an absolute increase in uptake. That’s obviously also a function of the gap that exists in a country like Nigeria in terms of electricity access. That’s one key area. And what have we been doing in this space? We invested this year in a $7.5 million facility for a company called Odyssey Energy Solutions, which is a company that’s specifically focused on energy access with renewables. We provided a facility last year—$30 million—to InfraCredit, and InfraCredit is supporting a lot of renewable energy developers in Nigeria. That’s one area that jumps out at me in terms of a key sector that has evolved. The other one—probably more broad—is the whole venture capital space, the VC space, where people are using technology to develop solutions for their day-to-day problems in markets like Nigeria and broader West Africa. So those two areas, I would probably say, were areas where I’ve seen the most change since I took on the Head of Africa role. Get The Best African Tech Newsletters In Your Inbox Select your country Nigeria Ghana Kenya South Africa Egypt Morocco Tunisia Algeria Libya Sudan Ethiopia Somalia Djibouti Eritrea Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Central African Republic Chad Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Príncipe Angola Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia Lesotho Eswatini Mozambique Madagascar Mauritius Seychelles Comoros Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau Senegal The Gambia Guinea Sierra Leone Liberia Côte d’Ivoire Burkina Faso Mali Niger Benin Togo Other Select your gender Male Female Others TC Daily TC Events TC Scoop Subscribe What do you think is spurring this change? On DRE, it’s just the fact that no country can develop without energy infrastructure. The challenge we have in Africa—and especially Sub-Saharan Africa—is the lack of energy access. A country like Nigeria, with over 200 million people—at least that’s the last count—has less than 6,000 megawatts of electricity on the grid. Then, when you think about the rural and the peri-urban areas, a lot of them lack access to electricity. Just that failure is what’s led people to think about alternative solutions, and I think that’s where the DRE solutions come into play. I think on the VC side, with the uptake of the internet and the uptake of telecoms, that has really driven a lot of smart young Africans to think about how to use technology to solve their day-to-day problems—be it things related to payment systems, things related to logistics, or even things related to farming and climate-related data. I think all of this is all about problems that are preventing the continent from developing and growing. Those are the reasons why I think the uptake really has kind of moved onto that next level. Since you became Head of BII for Africa, what has been your Africa tech strategy? Has it evolved from before you took on the role, or have you maintained the same strategy at BII? I would say it’s evolved. Prior to me taking on the Head of Africa role, we’ve been investing in the venture capital space and also the private equity space, and the two kinds of interlink. I think since I’ve taken on the role, a big focus of mine has been: How can we find local African entrepreneurs to back? How can we make sure we go deeper in this area and we look for the right type of managers to basically give them our capital and the responsibility
Read MoreIndia’s Fynd launches in South Africa with luxury retailer Surtee Group
Fynd, a Mumbai-headquartered AI-powered unified commerce platform backed by Reliance Retail Ventures, has launched in South Africa and onboarded Surtee Group, one of the country’s most prominent luxury fashion retailers with 94 boutiques, as its first strategic partner. The launch comes as South Africa’s online retail market targets a new era of growth and maturity. E-commerce sales are projected to reach nearly $7 billion in 2025, representing approximately 10% of national retail sales. The figure shows that the region presents a fertile ground for tech-enabled retail growth and makes it a strategic entry point into the continent. “South Africa is an exciting addition to our global footprint,” said Ronak Modi, Fynd’s Chief Business Officer. “The market is digitally ambitious, brand-forward, and ready for intelligent commerce infrastructure. Our goal is to help local retailers unify siloed systems, personalise engagement, and accelerate fulfilment without adding complexity.” Through its partnership with Surtee Group, Fynd will deploy its unified commerce stack, including digital storefronts, order management systems, tools for managing clientele, and warehouse management systems, to connect online and offline operations. This will enable real-time inventory keeping, ship-from-store fulfilment services, faster order processing, and more personalised in-store customer engagement, which can improve margins for luxury brands. The South African launch is the latest step in Fynd’s global expansion strategy. In September, the company launched its operations in Dubai and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, establishing a regional headquarters in the Middle East. In November, it established operations in the UK through partnerships with Bridgehead and Incrementum, companies that help startups scale. Fynd, which already supports 20,000 stores globally, provides an end-to-end commerce stack that unifies in-store, online, and logistics operations on a single platform, making the purchase journey easier for consumers. “Consumers expect seamless, personalised experiences across every channel, and retailers need agile, intelligent infrastructure to keep up,” Modi added. “Our platform is built to unify disconnected systems, speed up fulfilment, and elevate customer engagement; all without adding operational complexity.” Get The Best African Tech Newsletters In Your Inbox Select your country Nigeria Ghana Kenya South Africa Egypt Morocco Tunisia Algeria Libya Sudan Ethiopia Somalia Djibouti Eritrea Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Central African Republic Chad Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Príncipe Angola Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia Lesotho Eswatini Mozambique Madagascar Mauritius Seychelles Comoros Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau Senegal The Gambia Guinea Sierra Leone Liberia Côte d’Ivoire Burkina Faso Mali Niger Benin Togo Other Select your gender Male Female Others TC Daily TC Events TC Scoop Subscribe
Read MoreAfrica wants to make its own games. Building them is still the hard part
If you wanted to understand the passion it truly takes to build a game in Africa, you only needed to witness the morning of MaliyoCon25, the inaugural gaming conference hosted by Maliyo Games, the game developer behind Safari City, Whot King, and Disney’s Iwájú: Rising Chef. The rain poured down heavily on Thursday morning, December 11, and the notorious Lagos traffic that might typically cripple an event. But that chaos only seemed to fuel the resolve of the attendees, as the room sat full. Nothing was going to hold back the people building Africa’s gaming future. The room was packed with game developers, founders, creators, and executives, including Hugo Obi, founder of Maliyo Games; Mathias Nørvig, CEO of SYBO Games, the studio behind Subway Surfers; Bukola Akinagbe, founder of Kucheza Games; and representatives from SuperCell, all drawn together by a shared belief that African-made games can stand confidently on the global stage. MaliyoCon25 was a checkpoint to evaluate how far the industry has come and to confront the hard truths of what must be done to develop the gaming ecosystem in Nigeria and across the continent. Navigating a “stop-start” ecosystem Amidst the applause, the conversation shifted to the reality of what it actually takes to run a studio in Africa. While the global gaming industry might face its own headwinds, the African context introduces a layer of friction that requires a unique kind of fortitude. Christopher Adomako, the Lead Product Manager at Maliyo, described the development lifecycle here as a start-stop process. “I don’t think I’ve ever worked on a project where we’ve started something, gone from brainstorming to game design, and everything just went straight to the hands of players. It has definitely been stop-start,” he said.” Whether it is battling poor internet connectivity or power outages, Adomako described the workflow as one that is rarely smooth. Creators must know exactly when to pause and when to resume, turning game development into a test of patience as much as skill. This environment demands a specific temperament from founders. Echoing a sentiment introduced by Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, global social impact lead at SuperCell, about the necessity of grit, Hugo Obi reinforced that to survive here: “You have got to be scrappy.” There is no room for waiting for perfect conditions or ample resources. Obi spoke openly about the structural issues that sit behind the work, the absence of industry data, weak monetisation systems on the continent, the pressure to train talent from scratch, and the constant battle to build while simultaneously keeping the lights on. “The challenge that we have is that all of the data that we have is third-party; it is somebody else’s data,” he said. “Nothing we do is easy. The funding is not easy, the production is not easy, the personnel management is not easy.” Talent remains the beating heart of this conversation. There are brilliant creatives across the continent, but developing them into production-ready professionals takes time. Data from the 2024 Africa Games Industry Report reveals that roughly 63% of local game developers have less than five years of experience in the industry. Reflecting on the early days of the industry, Obi shared his realisation about the attrition rate in the African gaming space. “Everyone I started with was gone,” he said. “ People had put years into this thing… at some point, I was the last man standing.” The ecosystem was trapped in a cycle where ambition wasn’t matching output because there was no pipeline to produce skilled developers. This realisation birthed Game Up Africa, a training programme for people interested in developing games. Get The Best African Tech Newsletters In Your Inbox Select your country Nigeria Ghana Kenya South Africa Egypt Morocco Tunisia Algeria Libya Sudan Ethiopia Somalia Djibouti Eritrea Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Central African Republic Chad Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Príncipe Angola Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia Lesotho Eswatini Mozambique Madagascar Mauritius Seychelles Comoros Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau Senegal The Gambia Guinea Sierra Leone Liberia Côte d’Ivoire Burkina Faso Mali Niger Benin Togo Other Select your gender Male Female Others TC Daily TC Events TC Scoop Subscribe There also lies the challenge of the audience. Obi noted that African creators are building for a market that is still forming its identity, with spending power that fluctuates and user behaviour that global benchmarks don’t capture. Layered on these challenges is the struggle for funding. While third-party data suggests the African gaming market is generating significant value, with revenue of about $7 billion in 2024 across the Middle East and Africa, capital flows to studios remain restricted. According to data from the 2025 African Game Developer Survey, only 3% of game studios have ever received government funding, underscoring how limited funding flows are for early-stage creators. Some exceptions highlight what is possible, as South African game developer Carry1st raised a $27 million round in 2023. This reality, where only a small fraction of developers secure meaningful investment, reinforces that fundraising is a persistent pain point in the game development industry. The future of game development in Africa MaliyoCon25 also made it clear that Africa’s game development is already taking shape, regardless of the difficulties. With programmes like Game Up Africa feeding talent into studios, partnerships forming across borders, including interest from institutions like Arizona State University, and creators gaining confidence in telling African stories. One of the recurring themes was that Africa’s strength will come from building with the continent’s own identity and structural realities in mind, rather than replicating what exists elsewhere. “I want us to be a net producer, as opposed to a net consumer of games. Nothing else matters. As long as Africa is not producing the games that Africans are playing… this needs to be done,” Obi declared, going so far as to call local game production “a matter of national security.”
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We asked 22 Nigerian tech workers what they want for Christmas. Here’s the list.
Let’s be honest: the life of a Nigerian tech worker is a grind. You’re building world-class products while juggling unreliable power, slow internet, and endless requests. When those tight deadlines hit and the lights go out, a standard gift basket just won’t cut it. After a year spent coding, scaling, and surviving, the reward needs to be more than a simple break. It should be a strategic investment in comfort, productivity, and, frankly, survival. The holidays are finally here, and instead of guessing, we went straight to the source. We spoke to 22 Nigerian tech workers, including product designers, software engineers, data professionals, and founders. We asked them what they really want this season. Here is the ultimate TechCabal-approved holiday gift guide. The sanctuary of sound: audio & noise cancellation For those whose work demands intense concentration, the gift of silence is arguably one of the greatest luxuries. The ability to create a personal auditory bubble is non-negotiable for anyone in deep work. This desire for peace is widely shared. Software engineer Frank Owobu and Robotic Process Automation Developer Emediong Usanga both listed noise-cancelling headsets as top items on their wish lists, demonstrating that the ability to hear oneself think simply is a high-impact daily luxury. Bukola Abati, a product intern at Big Cabal Media, puts the premium on headphones, specifically the AirPod Max, because the “noise cancellation is just perfect for taking courses, zoning out when you’re deep in documentation or research. And yes, music.” Source: Unsplash Ergonomic items Hours spent at a keyboard demand an investment in the body. The small, thoughtful items that make a workstation less punishing are treats that pay dividends in productivity and health. Software engineer Biliqis Onikoyi requested a “Thumb sock to protect my thumbs,” a micro-comfort for a highly strained body part among many tech professionals. Similarly, Martins Adegboyega, a web designer, listed a full suite of supportive items: anti-glare glasses, ergonomic chairs, and an ergonomic mouse. Source: Unsplash Stephen Akinola, a full-stack software engineer, listed the LiberNovo Omni Dynamic Ergonomic chair and Sihoo Doro C300 pro, noting it “will help me be more comfortable while working, hence higher productivity.” Gadgets Tech professionals are also constantly looking for devices that bridge work and life, allowing for instant creation and consumption without the heft of a laptop. This is why the Apple iPad Pro is a highly coveted item. Chioma Nwandiko, a product designer, wants an iPad Pro, “because I hate having to carry my laptop [around].” Software engineer Pelumi Shonowo says he wants a portable monitor, a multi-port dongle, and a power bank. Mayo Obadofin, a project manager, specifically requested the M5 11-inch model, stating she needs “one device that can handle everything like planning my life, ignoring my life, watching things, journaling, and pretending I’m an artistic prodigy.” Source: Unsplash For capturing life’s moments without being anchored to a phone, the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 Smart Glasses are a perfect treat. Obadofin requested these as well, saying, “I want to live in the moment and record stuff without looking like I’m livestreaming 24/7. With these glasses, I won’t miss anything good.” Intellectual fortifications: Subscriptions and learning The true luxury for a tech worker is time and access to knowledge. Gifts that fuel continuous learning and provide shortcuts to productivity are an investment in their future. Access to quality education is a top priority. Omeiza Owuda, a software engineer, wants an annual educational subscription to master in-demand skills such as System Design and Machine Learning. The gift of powerful software is also essential. Senior product manager Chioma Nwandiko and software engineer Frank Owobu both asked for “a year’s worth of subscription for my apps,” including OpenAI, Netflix, Canva, Google LLM, and YT music. Source: Unsplash Tobi Omole, Head of Build & Deploy at Xown Solutions, looked even further afield, requesting a Harvard Business School Online course for management, showing that investing in formal high-value training is an ultimate gift. Software engineer Biliqis Onikoyi wants a whiteboard and marker “to help track daily goals in a more efficient way” and draw maps around ideas. Escape: play, hobbies, and rest The tech workers we spoke to know that the best productivity hack is a total break. The classic gaming console remains a popular choice. Product designer RoseMary Emenike and Frontend Engineer Allwell Onen both listed a PS5 and gaming accessories. Onen also wants an electric bicycle “only because it’s cool stuff to have.” Source: Unsplash For a hobby that takes them far away from the desk, mobile and full-stack engineer Femi Adeniji wants a DJI camera drone, adding, “I’ve been quite fascinated with how they work.” Ultimately, the most profound wish for many is pure rest. Product marketer Iyanu Hunye wished for “a car, lots of money, and a dollar-paying job,” and software developer intern Priscilla Fadayini needs: “a vacation trip to clear my head. That way I’ll be well rested and more productive afterwards.” Former HR manager at software quality partner company Assurdly, Ola-Thomas Gabriella, who used to curate Christmas gifts for tech employees, suggests massage/spa gift cards, routers/MiFi, and snacks as essentials for Christmas packages. This wishlist proves that the best gift isn’t necessarily the most expensive one, but one that directly addresses a pain point. The underlying value of the gift item remains the same, and it is an acknowledgement of the demanding year for tech professionals. So, as you begin or wrap up your shopping, remember to get something that shows you see and appreciate the continuous hustle that comes with working in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.
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12 tech gadgets to gift your loved ones this Christmas
As the holidays approach, finding a gift that balances utility with thoughtfulness can be a challenge. We’ve curated a mix of tech essentials for every type of person in your life, from music lovers and gamers to frequent travelers and productivity enthusiasts. With this list, we’ve kept your spirits of gift selection high and the stress levels sourcing low. So, here are 12 tech gadgets gifts you can buy for your loved ones that can make the Christmas season one to remember. 1. Apple AirPods Pro 3 The AirPods Pro 3 are the gold standard for Apple users. With powerful Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), improved adaptive audio, and richer bass, they make commutes and workouts immersive. The new IP57 rating means they are dust and water-resistant, while the built-in heart-rate sensor adds a wellness dimension to the audio experience. Best for: iPhone users, fitness enthusiasts, and commuters. Price: ₦582,660 ($400) Where to buy: Apple Store, Jumia, authorised retailers. Image Source: Apple. 2. Anker PowerCore Slim power bank (26,800mAh) This is the ultimate utility gift, with enough capacity to charge most smartphones 5 to 6 times. The Anker PowerCore ensures your recipient is never stranded with a dead battery. It supports fast charging and features multiple USB ports to handle a phone, tablet, and earbuds simultaneously, all while remaining compact enough for a backpack. Best for: Travelers, heavy phone users, and students. Price: ₦182,750 ($124) Where to buy: Jumia, Amazon, and Anker store. Image Source: Jumia. 3. JBL Go 4 Bluetooth speaker Small but punchy, the JBL Go 4 is the ideal “grab-and-go” speaker. It fits easily in a pocket but delivers surprisingly clear vocals and bass. With an IP67 waterproof/dustproof rating and a 7-hour battery life (extendable with Playtime Boost), it is built for outdoor adventures, beach days, or casual listening at home. Best for: Students, beach-goers, and outdoor lovers. Price: ₦71,000 ($48) Where to buy: JBL Store and Jumia. Image Source: JBL 4. Sony SRS‑XB100 wireless speaker For those who want a richer sound in a small package, the SRS-XB100 uses a Sound Diffusion Processor to spread audio further. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 and includes a built-in mic for hands-free calling. It’s a versatile upgrade for a dorm room, home office, or small outdoor gathering. Best for: Remote workers and students who need a mic/speaker combo. Price: ₦75,000 ($51) Where to buy: Sony, Jumia, and Amazon. Image Source: SONY 5. 3-in-1 Wireless charging dock Get rid of cable clutter with a station that powers a smartphone, earbuds, and smartwatch simultaneously. This dock brings order to a nightstand or desk, allowing the user to simply drop their devices and go. It is a simple luxury that saves time and reduces the hassle of finding multiple adapters. Best for: Organised professionals and tech minimalists. Price: ₦30,449 ($21) Where to buy: Jumia, Temu, and gadget retailers. Image Source: Jumia 6. Ergonomic wireless mouse An ergonomic mouse is a health investment for anyone glued to a computer. Designed to reduce wrist strain and improve precision, it makes long hours of writing, designing, or gaming significantly more comfortable. The wireless functionality allows for a cleaner desk setup or the flexibility to work from a couch. Best for: Remote workers, writers, and designers. Price: ₦15,000 ($10) – ₦55,000 ($37) Where to buy: Jumia and Ikeja Computer Village, Lagos. Image Source: Temu 7. Oraimo BoomPop 2 over‑ear headphones The BoomPop 2 balances affordability with performance. Featuring 40mm drivers and “HavyBass” tuning, these headphones deliver a dynamic audio profile. Practical features like Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) for clear calls and a massive 60-hour battery life make them a reliable daily driver for work and play. Best for: Commuters, students, and bass lovers on a budget. Price: ₦29,215 ($20) – ₦42,500 ($28) Where to buy: Oraimo website, Konga, and Jumia. Image Source: Oraimo 8. Xiaomi Watch 5 Active This smartwatch offers a massive feature set without the premium price tag. It sports a bright 2.0-inch LCD, Bluetooth calling, and over 140 sport modes. With 5 ATM water resistance and a battery that lasts up to 18 days on a single charge, it’s perfect for users who want fitness tracking without the anxiety of daily charging. Best for: First-time smartwatch users and fitness beginners. Price: ₦39,000 ($26) – ₦44,000 ($29) Where to buy: Jumia and Xiaomi retailers. Image Source: Xiaomi 9. A compact desk gadget (Novelty tech) Sometimes the best gift is one that adds personality to a space. Whether it’s a retro digital clock, a floating bulb, or a pixel art display, these compact gadgets upgrade the vibe of a workspace or bedroom. They are affordable stocking stuffers that bring a touch of creativity to a desk setup. Best for: Creatives, streamers, and students. Price: ₦30,499 ($20) Where to buy: Konga and Jumia. Image Source: Jumia 10. Rechargeable fan In areas with unpredictable power supply, a rechargeable fan is a genuine lifesaver. Modern units now feature LED lights, timers, and digital displays. Available in sizes ranging from handhelds to standing units, this is a practical gift that ensures comfort during the hot, dry holiday season. Best for: Families and anyone living in areas with erratic power. Price: ₦10,200 ($7) – ₦231,000 ($157) Where to buy: Konga, Jumia, and electronics stores. Image Source: Konga 11. Smart glasses Smart glasses are the futuristic pick for 2025. They double as fashion accessories and audio devices, allowing users to listen to music or take calls without blocking their ears. Budget-friendly options like the Xiaomi MIJIA or Amazon Echo Frames offer these features starting around $150, while premium models like the Meta × Ray-Ban offer AI integration and cameras. Best for: Early adopters and fashion-forward techies. Price: ₦16,990($11) – 60,525 ($41) (varies by brand) Where to buy: Amazon, Jumia, and Konga. Image Source: Jumia 12. Redmi 15C The Redmi 15C is a powerhouse budget phone from Chinese phone maker Xiaomi. With a large 6.71-inch display, an octa-core processor, and a massive 6,000mAh battery, it handles daily tasks with ease. The 50MP AI
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7 African startups redefining travel, training, transportation, and treatment
Startups On Our Radar spotlights African startups solving African challenges with innovation. In our previous edition, we featured seven game-changing startups pioneering aquaculture, financing, funding, and healthcare. Expect the next dispatch on December 19, 2025. This week, we explore seven African startups in the health, education, travel, and automotive sectors and why they should be on your watchlist. Let’s dive into it: Zof AI wants to automate the entire software-testing lifecycle with specialised AI agents (AI, USA) Founded by Kevin Kissi, a former engineer at Microsoft and the US Bank, Zof AI addresses the inefficiencies of manual software testing, which is often slow and limited in scope. At Microsoft, he saw how manual testers and separate units handling security, compliance, privacy, and accessibility, all needing to validate a product before release. These workflows made testing slow, fragmented, and expensive. Kissi left Microsoft with the insight that AI agents could fully automate every layer of software testing, from generating test cases to executing them at scale. Zof AI’s platform runs software tests using 40 specialised AI agents, with each one dedicated to a specific testing category such as unit testing, integration testing, accessibility, security, device emulation, localisation, or SQL-injection detection. Users upload a requirements document or let the system generate one if none exists, which will allow Zof AI to automatically crawl the application, learn its behaviour, generate test scenarios, and assign them to its agent network. Inside the platform’s dashboard, users can start tests, target individual agents, or schedule automated runs that execute in the cloud, even when the user is offline. Results of tests may include bug reports and analysis, and improvement suggestions. The system scores every developer based on bug frequency in their code, the speed at which they fix it, and historical quality. Zof AI integrates with GitHub, Slack, Asana, and a suite of enterprise tools. The startup operates a tiered subscription model that includes an entry plan of $99 monthly for 120 credits and access to three agents, a higher tier at $599 monthly for 8,000 credits and full access to all 40 agents, and enterprise pricing, which is handled through corporate licensing deals. Zof AI is transitioning to a new pricing system that will price each agent individually and introduce team and business billing tiers. Zof AI uses a mix of internally fine-tuned models and external large models, like Llama 70B and Mistral, and assigns different underlying models to each agent type depending on which performs best for its task. These models are trained on data that combines synthetic datasets, scraped public-domain materials, and open datasets. Since launching in Q4 2025, Kissi claims that Zof AI has raised $250,000 from angel investors, onboarded 50 startups, 10 medium-sized companies, and one major enterprise client in France, and is currently raising its seed round. Why we’re watching: Competing platforms, like Katalon, applitools, testsigma, and Tricentis, still require recordings, pre-written test cases, or human-in-the-loop inputs. Zof AI’s differentiator lies in its ability to crawl applications, interpret requirements, autonomously generate hundreds of test cases, and deploy 40 specialised agents to those tests. The company is also preparing to launch an always-on feature that continuously tests software by monitoring codebases and documentation without requiring a user to manually trigger a test. My Oga Mechanic wants to save Nigerian car owners from unreliable mechanics and expired papers (Autotech, Nigeria) Founded by Kefas Longshak, My Oga Mechanic was born from personal frustration. In 2016, Longshak bought a Volkswagen Passat, then spent over a year being exploited by mechanics when the car got faulty. Recognising that many vehicle owners lack technical knowledge and struggle with trust, he built My Oga Mechanic as a single mobile application to handle all vehicle needs, from documentation to diagnostics and repairs. Users can renew and register all vehicle documents, including change of ownership, vehicle licenses, tint permits, and driver’s licenses. They can also book vetted mechanics for two types of repairs: on-site fixes (with a flat ₦10,000 [$6.90] logistics fee) or in-shop repairs at a mechanic’s workshop. Longshak claims that My Oga Mechanic operates a growing marketplace of over 2,000 mechanics, spare-parts vendors, and service centres across Lagos. Each vendor goes through a multi-step verification process that includes identity checks with the national identification number (NIN), on-site visits, skills assessments, and provides dedicated agents to support mechanics who don’t own smartphones. Users get full cost visibility with mechanics providing estimates for necessary autoparts and workmanship before a job begins. Payments are split into two. Mechanics receive an upfront amount to buy parts and then get the balance only after the user confirms completion. Every repair comes with repair protection insurance (charged at an extra 1% of the repair cost) to cover unexpected damage during vehicle repair. My Oga Mechanic also supports accident repair claims for users with third-party or comprehensive insurance, by handling the entire claims workflow between service centres and insurers. Its flagship feature is MechaAI, an automotive diagnostic AI agent that lets users describe car symptoms and chat about issues that come up with their vehicles. It can also make suggestions for simple fixes or recommend verified mechanics. MechaAI pulls from a large internal database of repair manuals and technical data, and is built on a custom AI model that sits on top of Google Gemini to handle natural-language conversations. Additionally, the platform handles document renewals, delivering updated papers directly to the user’s doorstep. The platform runs on a subscription model. Users pay ₦6,000 ($4.14) per month for a primary vehicle and ₦3,500 ($2.41) for each additional vehicle. Subscribers get unlimited MechaAI access, free and timely document renewals, and no booking fees, meaning that subscribers pay only for actual repair parts and workmanship. Non-subscribers pay ₦1,000 ($0.69) per MechaAI session and ₦2,000 ($1.38) booking fees. My Oga Mechanic earns a 10% commission on mechanic workmanship and commissions on spare parts sales, and claims to have a network of 306 spare parts suppliers offering warranties on all purchases. The startup is currently bootstrapped and preparing
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Value laptops for Nigerian students and budget users in 2025
In Nigeria, students and budget users need durable, reliable laptops without breaking the bank or spending money they don’t have on high-end models. While flagship laptops get all the hype and attention, modern entry-level and mid-range budget-friendly laptops are now built to offer features such as SSD storage, efficient processors, and good battery life. This guide will focus on the best laptops for students and budget users that deliver the highest value under ₦700,000.00 ($482.53). These utility laptops are suitable for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and students who need a budget-friendly device for everyday use. The top 5 budget-friendly laptops for Nigerian students and every user. Here are the top five budget-friendly laptops for Nigerian students. The laptops are a good choice for students and everyday users on a budget. HP 250 G10 (13th Gen core i3) Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i3-1315U RAM/Storage: 8GB DDR4 RAM / 512GB NVMe SSD Price: ₦575,000.00-₦596,000.00 ($396.37-$410.84) Display: 15.6-inch Battery: 3-Cell, 41 Wh Battery Life: Expect around 5-6 hours of real-world web browsing and document editing. The HP 250 G10 is built for durability. It passed the MIL-STD 810H military-grade tests, meaning it can withstand the bumps, drops, and other rough handling of daily student life better than most. It features a single USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone/mic port. Its RAM is accessible and upgradable, and it weighs 1.2 kg. Acer Aspire 3 (AMD Ryzen 3 7320U) Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 7320U RAM/Storage: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM / 256GB or 512GB NVMe SSD Price: ₦550,000.00-₦650,000.00 ($379.13-$448.07) Display: 15.6-inch Battery: 3-Cell, 40 Wh Battery Life: Expect 9-12 hours of continuous web browsing or video playback. With its AMD Ryzen Mendocino processor, the Acer Aspire 3 delivers outstanding battery life, rivalling many high-end laptops. The base version weighs 1.6kg and features a single USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, and an HDMI port. The RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded; instead, buy the 8GB version for efficiency. For peak performance, avoid the 4GB version. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (AMD Ryzen 5 7520U) Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U (or similar 7000 series) RAM/Storage: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM / 512GB NVMe SSD Price: ₦600,000.00-₦700,000.00 ($413.60-$482.53) Display: 15.6-inch Battery: 3-Cell, 47 Wh Battery Life: Expect 7-9 hours of real-world web browsing. The IdeaPad Slim 3 is an all-rounder and ideal for multitasking, light coding, data analysis, and running complex software. It features one USB Type-C (Gen 2) port, two USB Type-A ports, and one HDMI port. Like the ACER, its RAM is soldered to the motherboard and can’t be upgraded. The design is slim and weighs 1.62kg. Dell Vostro 3530 (Core i3) Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i3-1305U RAM/Storage: 8GB DDR4 RAM / 512GB NVMe SSD Price: ₦535,000.00-₦595,000.00 ($368.79-410.15) Display: 15.6-inch Battery: 3-Cell, 41 Wh (Note: A larger 54 Wh battery exists but is more expensive) Battery Life: Similar to the HP, expect 5-6 hours of typical web browsing. This is a mini workstation for students or users who prefer a heavy-duty build and want to self-upgrade the RAM, which comes in two standard SODIMM slots, making it easy to upgrade to 16GB. The laptop also features a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. It weighs 1.9kg and passes the MIL-STD durability test. ASUS Vivobook 15 (12/13th Gen Intel/AMD) Processor: 12th/13th Gen Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3/5 RAM/Storage: 8GB DDR4 RAM / 256GB or 512GB SSD Price: ₦550,000.00-₦650,000.00 ($379.13-$448.07) Display: 15.6-inch Battery: 3-Cell, 42 Wh Battery Life: Expect around 5-7 hours of real-world web browsing. ASUS is popular for consistently delivering style and value. The Vivobook 15 does not disappoint. It features vibrant displays, a slim design, and, like HP and DELL, it passes the durability test. The laptop also features a USB Type-C port, USB Type-A ports, and an HDMI port. The base version weighs 1.7kg, and it has upgradable RAM. Most 8GB models have 4GB or 8GB soldered plus one open SODIMM slot, making it easy to upgrade to 12GB or 16GB. Visual aid: guide to choosing the best value laptops for students and users on a budget This visual aid focuses on the key differences between these laptops. Essential checklists before buying value laptops There’s no justification for buying a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Always go for a Solid State drive (SSD) 4GB RAM is not enough to operate Windows 11. Buying a laptop with at least 8GB RAM is more prudent. Ask if the RAM is soldered or SODIMM. Soldered RAM means it can’t be upgraded, while SODIMM RAM can be upgraded later. A large watt-hour (Wh) capacity isn’t the only determinant for a solid battery life. Research the processor and how it saves battery. Look for an Intel Core i3 (12th Gen or newer) or an AMD Ryzen 3/5 (5000-series or 7020-series). These modern CPUs are far more powerful and power-efficient. Finding a reliable and efficient laptop in Nigeria for under ₦700,000 is entirely achievable, as the models highlighted demonstrate. The best value laptop is ultimately the one that meets your specific priorities. Before you make your final decision, remember the crucial checklist: prioritise a Solid State Drive (SSD), insist on at least 8GB of RAM (and know if it’s upgradable), and select a modern Intel Core i3 (12th Gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen (7020 series or newer) processor. By following this guide, you can confidently invest in a powerful budget laptop that will serve you well through your studies and beyond.
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Africa’s PR costs are soaring; ex-CNN anchor Zain Verjee has an AI fix
The Rundown Studio, a communications technology company co-founded by former CNN anchor Zain Verjee, has launched an AI-powered prompt library designed to help communications teams in emerging markets cut the cost of traditional public relations services. The platform gives users direct access to newsroom-tested frameworks without relying on expensive agency retainers. It includes 12 specialised tools for corporate communications teams, newsrooms, and investors. These tools cover Tier 1 media pitches, newsroom standard press releases, full 30-minute television scripts, and best practice frameworks for communications teams working across Africa. The platform launched with free and paid tiers. The launch comes at a time when traditional PR services remain costly and out of reach for many organisations across Africa. In several African markets, small businesses spend up to $1,500 monthly on basic media retainers, while more established firms pay between $5,000 and $15,000 monthly. Larger international campaigns can cost upwards of $20,000 monthly. These high costs, combined with staffing and structural challenges within many agencies, mean startups, nonprofits, and growing companies are often unable to access professional communications support. The Rundown Studio says its system is designed to close this gap by offering cheaper, structured alternatives powered by AI. Image Source: The Rundown Studio. “This addresses a fundamental market failure,” Verjee said. “Communications teams in Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra have the same deadline pressures as teams in New York or London, but they do not have the same access to world-class expertise. Traditional agencies charge enterprise rates for work that can now be systematised through frameworks that keep humans in control.” She added that the tools are not designed to replace professionals but to support them. “These are not generic AI prompts. They are workflows built from 20 years of combined newsroom and corporate communications experience, designed specifically for the resource constraints and cultural contexts of emerging markets,” Verjee said. Cofounder and product strategist, Thomas Brasington, said the product challenges the traditional billable-hours model used by many PR agencies. “We are testing whether you can deliver the strategic thinking of a senior communications consultant through structured frameworks, with the professional still making every final decision,” he said. The tools were developed by former journalists from organisations including CNN, BBC, and Sky News. The company said the system analyses source material against current news cycles and generates newsroom-calibrated outputs. The launch follows The Rundown Studio’s earlier release of The Newsroom Blueprint, an AI verification handbook developed with security and intelligence researcher Candyce Kelshall and the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies, as well as its Embedded podcast series featuring LinkedIn executive Aneesh Raman and Mastercard AI counsel Rashida Richardson.
Read MoreMTN South Africa to increase subscription and voice charges next year
MTN South Africa will increase its consumer contract prices from February 1, 2026, by an average of 5.4% across monthly bills. The adjustments will primarily affect subscription and voice costs. Subscription fees will rise by an average of 9.7%, while voice rates will increase by about 8%. The company said the decision is necessary to maintain investment in network capacity, protect infrastructure, and continue delivering high-performance connectivity as the country’s demand for data accelerates. The increase reflects the growing cost pressures facing telecom operators in South Africa, where mobile networks underpin everything from fintech to online retail. For MTN, these price adjustments are positioned as a response to rising operational costs, even in a period where general inflation has eased. “Although general consumer inflation has eased, MTN and the telecommunications sector in South Africa continue to face steeper increases in operational costs, including electricity and measures to protect and restore network infrastructure from vandalism,” MTN said. Device repayments, insurance fees, value-added services, out-of-bundle data rates, and top-up bundles will remain unchanged. Although consumers will feel the higher charges, MTN is also introducing new benefits to select plans to offset the impact. MegaFlex customers will receive up to 17% additional airtime, Yellow Plans will include 20% more voice minutes, and MTN’s Home Internet 5G and LTE customers will see speed upgrades of up to 50%. In October, MTN held talks with the country’s communications regulator, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), as part of efforts to tackle persistent challenges in the telecoms sector, from high data costs to uneven digital access. But the subscription includes data plans. Read: MTN South Africa, ICASA hold talks to make data cheaper and expand digital access The timing of the increase will vary depending on each customer’s billing cycle. Out-of-bundle charges will change on February 1, 2026, but the updated subscription fees will appear only when a customer’s monthly bill resets. Most billing cycles fall on the 1st, 5th, 11th, 12th, 17th, or 27th of the month. Customers can confirm their specific billing date by checking their latest invoice in the MTN app. MTN’s price adjustments highlight a broader challenge of balancing affordability with the high cost of keeping networks modern, resilient, and fast. As data consumption continues to grow, infrastructure pressures intensify, and customers require affordable networks, the industry will increasingly need to navigate this tension. Read: MTN South Africa to invest $17 million in Gauteng network upgrade
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Cypherock wants more Africans to use cold storage crypto wallets
Storing digital assets (read: cryptocurrencies) demands the same level of security-consciousness as traditional finance. Yet crypto’s promise of “sovereignty” places the burden of protection squarely on users, turning them into sole guardians of their own purses. The digital asset industry began with non-custodial wallets, which gave users total control over their holdings without third-party interference. They simply had to hold onto their “private keys,” a string of 12–24 random words that only the user is privy to. Once they lose access to, forget, or if those keys get into the wrong hands, their crypto assets could get lost forever or wiped out. According to CoinLedger, a global crypto tax reporting and asset tracking platform, an estimated 3–4 million Bitcoins (up to 20% of total supply) are permanently lost; that’s about $367.8 billion in value—using Bitcoin’s price as of 3:03 p.m. UTC on December 10, 2025—lost to human error, forever putting a strain on market liquidity. It is this fragility of human memory that birthed the custodial wallet industry—where crypto exchanges hold the keys on users’ behalf—and subsequently, the hardware wallet market. Trezor Model One, created in 2014, is widely credited as the first crypto hardware wallet. Now, Cypherock, a Singapore-headquartered company registered as “HODL Tech PTE Limited” with Indian operations, is attempting to disrupt the incumbents, Ledger and Trezor, by eliminating the single point of failure that has plagued crypto self-custody. Founded in 2019 by Rohan Agarwal and Vipul Saini, Cypherock has sold over 15,000 crypto hardware wallets globally. Most of its customers are in the US, where the company plans to open a warehouse to ease distribution bottlenecks, as well as in Germany. Its next frontier is Africa, one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto regions, but also one of the toughest hardware markets to penetrate. How Cypherock’s sharded wallet works Most mainstream hardware wallets secure assets by generating a seed phrase—a private key—stored on a single chip within the device. If that device is compromised or the backup of the seed phrase is found, funds can be lost or stolen. Cypherock’s pitch is that its “sharded,” seedless design removes that conventional single‑seed failure point. The Cypherock team provided me with the “Standard” X1 wallet at no cost. The standard retail price for this model is $179, excluding delivery. Cypherock’s X1 hardware wallet replaces that single point with five independent pieces. The wallet comes with a vault (that resembles a flash drive) and four near-field communication (NFC)-enabled smart cards. Using a cryptographic technique known as Shamir’s Secret Sharing (SSS), the private key is split into five shards, preventing a single point of failure in case a component is lost: One is stored in the X1 Vault itself, and the remaining four are embedded in the NFC-enabled cards that accompany the device. This cryptographic algorithm allows a “secret” (the private key) to be divided into unique parts, or “shards,” where some of the parts, but not all of it, are needed to access the key. To authorise a transaction, the user would need the X1 Vault plus any one of the four cards; the full key is never stored or exposed in a single place. A closer look at the Cypherock X1 “Vault”; it resembles a flash drive and contains a four-way joystick for navigation. It comes on when connected to a desktop device and needs to sync with Cypherock’s cySync app/Image Source: TechCabal Cypherock X1 NFC-enabled smart cards come in four/Image Source: TechCabal “The architecture is designed so that the private key never exists in a single location effectively until the moment of transaction signing, which happens offline,” said Aditya Rawat, growth manager at Cypherock. This “1-of-5” storage but “2-of-5” authentication model shifts the security paradigm. It mitigates the risk of a “wrench attack“—a situation where a user is physically coerced into giving up their private keys—because stealing just the Vault or just a card yields nothing. These stickers came with the Standard X1 wallet/Image Source: TechCabal From a cybersecurity perspective, this hardware isolation is critical. The Vault contains dual chips: an STM32L4 microcontroller and an ATECC608A secure element. Both chips generate a unique pairing key; if an unauthorised person attempts to replace or tamper with one of the chips, the device bricks itself, a feature Keylabs, a blockchain security firm, validated as a robust defence against supply chain attacks in a 2022 audit. The private key never exists in memory in full until a user deliberately initiates a transaction. Transactions are signed offline. The moment the user taps a card on the Vault, the device reconstructs the key just long enough to authorise the action, and then dissolves it again. Cypherock X1 Vault comes on when connected to a power source/Image Source: TechCabal Cypherock’s wallet has a built-in “1-of-4” redundancy, which means that if a user loses one card, it is inconsequential, and even the Vault on its own is useless, as access relies on the Vault and at least one of the four smart cards. The company argues that in a world where keys can be lost, stolen, compromised, or forgotten, security redundancy becomes a necessity. Preparing for worst-case scenarios For crypto users in emerging markets, especially those who have been burned by crypto exchanges going bankrupt, the “bus factor” matters. If a hardware wallet company disappears, users need assurance that the device does not become an unusable brick. Cypherock has built several layers for that scenario. The X1 is compatible with BIP39, the industry standard for seed-phrase generation. The device allows users to view the full seed phrase by connecting the Vault to a power source (even a simple power bank) and tapping one card. This allows the user to transfer their crypto holdings to any external wallet of their choice. The company has also open-sourced its codebase, allowing developers to build recovery tools independent of the company’s servers, said Rawat. Interface of the cySync app. Its wallet can hold over 9,000 cryptocurrencies/Image Source: TechCabal “We are preparing to release an open-source mobile application that will
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