👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Starlink sets up shop in Guinea-Bissau
In partnership with Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy pre-TGIF. We start today’s newsletter on a grim note. A day before a deadly attack wiped out the people of Yelwata in Benue State, a severed fibre optic cable plunged the area into silence. What followed was a tragedy no one could stop because no one could speak. Frank has the full story in the third blurb of today’s dispatch. Starlink touches down in Guinea-Bissau Kenya tightens anti-money laundering rules A massacre in Yelwata reveals the deadly cost of Nigeria’s digital divide Nigerian telecom companies to start deducting USSD fees from airtime on June 18 World Wide Web 3 Events Internet Starlink touches down in Guinea-Bissau Image Source: Tenor In a post made on X, SpaceX’s Starlink has announced the launch of its high-speed internet service in Guinea-Bissau. The announcement makes it Starlink’s 23rd African country. Their rollout pace is giving Usain Bolt. Starlink’s availability map, now shows regions like Bissau, Buba, and Gabú, as “available” zones, while other areas are tagged “Waitlist” or “Coming Soon.,” This is a big deal for Guinea-Bissau, where only 35.2% of the population has internet access. The country’s connectivity is hindered by poor infrastructure, with internet speeds reaching 150 Mbps. But why is Starlink spreading so fast? The ISP’s launch in Guinea-Bissau comes a few weeks after it launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and a few months after its expansion to Somalia and Lesotho. Beyond having active operations in 23 African countries, the company is in active negotiations with regulators in at least 10 African nations, including Ethiopia and Senegal. These negotiations often involve securing regulatory licences and addressing local content requirements. Despite its progress, the firm faces resistance in markets like South Africa. Still, the addition of 10 countries could push Starlink’s African presence to over 30 nations, operating in over 60% of the continent’s 54 countries. A question in everyone’s mind: Why is Starlink spreading so fast? Is Starlink chasing market share, power, or presence, betting on Africa’s 950 million-plus offline population before anyone else does? A map of their spread in the continent reveals their playbook: Starlink is aggregating small, high-value pockets across the continent. The company doesn’t have the local penetration to compete with mobile telcos head-on. But by stitching together niche markets across dozens of countries, it can achieve reach and profitability without ever becoming dominant. Save more on every NGN transaction with Fincra Stop overpaying for NGN payments. Fincra’s fees are more affordable than other payment platforms for collections & payouts. The bigger the transaction, the more you save. Create a free account in 3 minutes and start saving today. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Regulation Kenya tightens anti-money laundering rules after being greylisted in Europe Kenya’s President William Ruto/Image Source: Watchdog Uganda On June 13, the European Commission greylisted Kenya, tagging it a high-risk country for remittances and trade partnerships. That announcement must have rattled President Ruto’s finance cabinet, because the UK-Kenya corridor is one of the country’s top remittance sources. As we explained in this newsletter, the greylisting would have meant that if you’re Kenyan, your relatives abroad—especially in Europe—would be having headaches trying to send you money through SWIFT and other traditional payment methods. Thankfully, the government has acted swiftly (see what we did there ) to control the situation.
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In Benue, fragile telecoms infrastructure makes an unsafe state even deadlier
On the night of June 13, 2025, nearly 200 residents of Yelwata, a rural community in Benue State, were slaughtered in their sleep. Terrorists armed with machetes and fuel stormed homes, setting them ablaze in a brutal attack that unfolded without warning. Beyond the element of surprise, the killers’ advantage was a culmination of multiple failures: chronic insecurity left unchecked, ineffective government intervention in persistent communal tensions, inadequate local emergency response, and vulnerable telecom infrastructure. A day before the attack, a severed telecom fibre line had plunged parts of the state into a total communication blackout. In a state already devastated by continuous violence, this kind of vulnerability can be fatal. This digital vulnerability is unfolding in tandem with a relentless wave of violence. Between January 2023 and February 2024, Benue State recorded at least 135 armed attacks—primarily by suspected herdsmen—resulting in more than 2,600 deaths, including children, women, and the elderly. Over 50 communities were affected, with widespread reports of displacement, sexual violence, kidnappings, and the destruction of homes and farmland. In 2023 alone, the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi documented 119 such attacks, leading to at least 414 deaths and hundreds of injuries and abductions. This violence has only intensified. Amnesty International reports that between May 29, 2023, and May 2025, at least 6,896 people were killed in similar attacks across Benue. These numbers are staggering, but no event in recent memory has highlighted the scale of the crisis in emergency response and the widening security vacuum as clearly as the June 2025 attack on Yelwata. Yelwata is guarded by a police station and at least three joint security checkpoints. In a statement on June 14, 2025, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that two military officers and one civil defence officer were killed trying to repel the attackers. With no functional ambulance service, first aid is usually administered by poorly equipped local clinics or chemists. Government agencies, such as the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), typically arrive long after the fact—if at all—often meeting survivors only at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps where they’ve taken refuge. According to multiple eyewitnesses who spoke to TechCabal, no centralised or well-coordinated emergency response systems exist in the state concerning these attacks. First responders are typically locals themselves, often aided by neighbouring communities that send volunteer vigilantes or police officers from nearby checkpoints. A Frontline location to kill for Located along the Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja highway in Guma Local Government Area and predominantly inhabited by the Tiv ethnic group, Yelwata was both a bustling commercial hub and a vulnerable frontline. To many Tiv residents, Yelwata was considered more of a town than a village due to its central market, Catholic parish, divisional police post, and concentration of schools and other social infrastructure. Catholic Bishop of Gboko, +Avenya, standing where the mother of a priest and four of his relatives were killed in cold blood at Yelwata. Image Credit: Diocesan social communication department. Culturally, Tiv communities have long avoided fencing their homes, as openness is deeply valued. “A Tiv person wants to sit under a mango tree to eat and invite anyone passing by. Fences would prevent that,” explained Johnstone Kpilaakaa, a Tiv-born journalist with HumAngle who has covered Yelwata and similar communities. “Fenced houses are more typical in larger towns like Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, or Otukpo.” Jairus Awo, a journalist based in Makurdi who has also reported extensively on the Benue conflict, affirmed this cultural norm. “When you fence your house and lock the gate, it keeps people out—friends, neighbours, even your children’s playmates. Until now, rural people didn’t feel a need to secure themselves from others,” he said. But that openness made them easy targets. When the attackers struck around 11 p.m., the community was unprepared. Armed with machetes and petrol, the assailants torched homes and killed residents in their sleep. “It’s hard to imagine anyone calling for help or posting to social media when they’re asleep and not expecting an attack,” Awo added. While eyewitnesses say the attackers were Fulani herdsmen, it has been difficult to determine the motivation for the attackers. In the past, violence had erupted because of disagreements between the farmers in the community and nomadic herdsmen whose cows destroyed crops on the farms. The attack in Yelwata did not happen as a result of these disagreements. “There is no provocation for the recent one, at least none that many people know about in recent times,” said Awo, who has been visiting families affected by the attack in Yelwata. “And if so, it could be concentrated on a community, but it is going round the state. The attackers are taking turns.” In the aftermath of the Yelwata attack, more than 6,500 people from 1,069 households were displaced. Many are now waiting for space at the overcrowded, under-resourced IDP camp at Makurdi International Market. Of Yelwata’s estimated 10,000 residents, only a few have remained—either to care for wounded relatives, protect what’s left of their homes, or seek refuge with extended family elsewhere. Some families are still searching for missing loved ones, unsure who survived. A cycle of violence, a deepening digital gap The cycle of violence in Benue is further exacerbated by the fragility of its telecom infrastructure. Between May and June 16, 2025, the state experienced at least 16 major network outages. While most fibre cuts were eventually repaired, the standard fix—fibre cable splicing—does not restore the cable’s original performance. Each splice results in minor signal degradation and creates new points of vulnerability, especially in volatile, high-risk areas. Although MTN, Airtel, and Globacom dominate telecom coverage in Benue, 9mobile relies heavily on leased infrastructure from MTN, resulting in slow and, in many cases, indefinite service restoration in crisis-affected zones due to persistent security threats. Restoring connectivity in rural conflict zones like Yelwata is not only dangerous but also prohibitively expensive. In Nigeria, the average cost to repair one kilometre of fibre optic cable is about ₦4.44 million (approximately $3,000 at ₦1,480/$1), based on figures from operators
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Uber Eats’ South African users can now order meals right from their seats at live events
Uber Eats has launched ‘Live’, a new feature that lets users order food and drinks right from their seats at select event venues, changing the live entertainment experience for South Africans. When attending a live concert or a football match at any of these venues, a user can open the Uber Eats app, choose a meal from available food stalls at the event venue, and have it delivered to them right where they are sitting. First tested at SunBet Arena in Pretoria during a recent Basketball Africa League (BAL) game on June 13, 2025, Uber Eats hopes this new feature will change the way South Africans enjoy live entertainment by making it easier to grab a bite without missing the action. Launched in South Africa in 2016, Uber Eats is now betting on the country’s popular entertainment venues—and the rising demand for food delivery—as more people look for convenient ways to enjoy live events. SunBet Arena, one of the country’s premier indoor venues, typically hosts 20 to 30 major events a year. In 2025 alone, global stars like Andrea Bocelli, Sting, and Robbie Williams have graced its Pretoria stage, and it was the battleground for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs and finals—a week-long event. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Beyond SunBet, high-capacity venues such as Cape Town Stadium, FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, and Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban are also packed with concerts, sports fixtures, and cultural festivals—each representing a golden opportunity for Uber Eats to embed itself deeper into the live event experience across South Africa. In 2024, South Africans spent about $3.3 billion on online food deliveries. This number is expected to nearly double to $5.99 billion by 2030, growing steadily by about 9.9% each year. Services such as Uber Eats and Mr. D that aggregate restaurants and other meal options, form the fastest growing segment of this market. “We’re proud to introduce a product that meets South Africans exactly where they are – at the heart of culture, community, and celebration,” says Cassie Jaganyi, Head of Communications, Uber Sub-Saharan Africa. “Uber Eats Live is about enhancing moments, not interrupting them. It’s innovation that moves with the crowd, not against it.” According to Uber’s 2023 Economic Impact Report, the platform supported over 40,000 earners and contributed R17 billion (over $930 million) to the local economy in just one year. By creating tech-enabled opportunities like Uber Eats Live, the platform continues to unlock new ways to drive growth and deliver value for consumers, merchants, and delivery riders alike. Uber Eats claims that as South Africa’s entertainment landscape evolves, they are committed to evolving with it, bringing smart, user-centric solutions to life that enhance every kind of experience. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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Sabi returns as Moonshot by TechCabal 2025 headline sponsor
For the third consecutive year, we are excited to announce Sabi as the headline sponsor of our flagship event, Moonshot by TechCabal. Launched in 2021, Sabi is building the digital backbone of African trade. The company is transforming the way the world sources African commodities – bringing transparency, trust, and efficiency to fragmented mineral supply chains across the continent. Through its technology, Sabi connects merchants, importers, exporters, distributors, and manufacturers to essential services, facilitating smoother trade and driving small merchant growth. Driven by the vision of its co-founders, Anu Adasolum and Ademola Adesina, Sabi’s focus has expanded beyond FMCGs to include agricultural and mineral commodities. With its proprietary platform, Technology Rails for African Commodities Exchange (TRACE), Sabi has enabled reliable sourcing at scale, designed for Africa’s realities but built to meet global standards. With operations across Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, and a growing international presence in the United States and Saudi Arabia, Sabi sits at the intersection of local production and global demand. Its asset-light, infrastructure-first model supports over 250,000 users — from smallholder farmers and miners to international manufacturers — and facilitates more than 20,000 tons of mineral exports monthly. Sabi has raised over $62 million to date, with a business strategy rooted in trust, adaptability, and scalable systems. Sabi’s continued partnership with Moonshot by TechCabal underscores its strong commitment to driving excellence within Africa’s technology and commerce sectors. We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s edition of Moonshot by TechCabal on October 15th and 16th, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it, get your tickets today!
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How to check your BVN in Nigeria in 2025
Table of contents 8 ways to check your BVN in Nigeria USSD code NIBSS BVN Validation Portal Your bank’s mobile app Your bank’s Internet Banking Visit your bank branch Call or email the NIBSS helpdesk BVN enrolment slip Visit a NIMC office Your Bank Verification Number (BVN) is an 11-digit number that ties all your bank accounts in Nigeria to a single identity, regardless of the number of banks you use. Introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), it’s now a mandatory requirement for most banking and financial services in Nigeria. It links to your details (such as your name, date of birth, and biometrics) and is used to confirm your identity, prevent fraud, and comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. If you’ve ever opened a bank account, applied for a loan, or registered for government programs, chances are you already have one. When do you need your BVN? You’ll need your BVN for more than just opening a bank account. It’s increasingly being used across various sectors to verify your financial identity. Here are common situations where your BVN is required: Opening new bank accounts: Most banks will not process account opening without a valid BVN, even for online-only accounts. Linking multiple accounts: If you bank with more than one institution, your BVN helps create a unified customer profile. Accessing government benefits or grants: Programs like TraderMoni, NPower, and other social intervention schemes often require your BVN for verification and fund disbursement. Applying for loans or credit facilities: Whether through your bank or digital lenders, your BVN is used to assess your creditworthiness and prevent duplicate borrowing. Recovering a locked or inactive account: If you lose access to your bank account, your BVN helps verify your identity and restore access. Registering for fintech services: Wallets and fintech apps (like Opay, PalmPay, or Carbon) often request your BVN to comply with CBN regulations. Verifying your identity at NIMC: Since the BVN is being linked with the NIN, it’s useful during national identity verification or updates. 8 simple ways to check your BVN in Nigeria Need to check your BVN? There are several easy ways to do it, and you don’t have to visit the bank or fill out any long forms. Here are the most reliable methods you can use: 1. Check your BVN using USSD code (*565*0#) This is the most popular and most straightforward method in Nigeria. Just dial *565*0# from the same phone number you used to register your BVN. Your 11-digit BVN will show up on your screen after a short verification. Tip: Make sure you have at least ₦20 airtime on your phone, as the service isn’t free. This method works on any mobile phone, with or without internet, and no smartphone is needed. It supports MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. It’s beneficial if you live in areas with poor internet or just want something quick and stress-free. But keep in mind: If the phone number you used is no longer active or linked to multiple BVNs, this method won’t work. You’ll need to try another option or update your phone number with your bank. 2. Use the NIBSS BVN Validation Portal (Online) If you have internet access, you can check your BVN online using the official NIBSS BVN Validation Portal. Here’s how: Visit the portal online (just search for “NIBSS BVN validation”). Enter your full name, phone number (linked to your BVN), and date of birth. Pay a small ₦20 fee using your card or bank account. Once payment is successful, your BVN will appear on your screen. This method is suitable if you’re more comfortable with online interactions. It’s quick, secure, and works anytime, as long as your details are correct. 3. Through your bank’s mobile app Many Nigerian banks now display your BVN right inside their official mobile apps. If you’ve already set up your banking app, this is a simple way to find it. Just follow these steps: Open your bank’s mobile app (like GTWorld, UBA Mobile, AccessMore, or FirstMobile). Log in with your username and password. Look for “Profile”, “Account Info” or “Personal Details” — that’s where your BVN is usually displayed. Copy or save it safely. If you haven’t used your bank’s app before, you’ll need to download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and complete the setup. Ensure your app is updated to the latest version to avoid missing this feature. 4. Check your BVN using your bank’s Internet Banking If you’re more comfortable using a computer than a mobile app, you can check your BVN through your bank’s internet banking platform. Here’s how to do it: Visit your bank’s official internet banking website. Log in using your username and password. Go to sections like “Account Info”, “Profile”, “Personal Details”, or “Account Summary.” Your BVN should be listed along with your other account details. Safety tip: Always double-check the website address to make sure you’re on the real banking site. Look out for the padlock symbol in the browser to know it’s secure. Some banks, such as Zenith Bank, may display your BVN under sections like “BVN Update” or “Account Info”. Most banks follow similar steps, so once you’re logged in, it shouldn’t take long to find it. 5. Visit your bank branch If you prefer speaking with someone face to face or can’t access your BVN online, walking into your bank is a trusted option. To do this: Visit the bank branch where you first registered for your BVN. Go along with a valid ID, National ID, driver’s license, international passport, or voter’s card. Head to the customer service desk and ask to retrieve your BVN. They’ll confirm your identity and then provide you with the BVN, either as a printout, via SMS, or by email. This is a good option if your phone number has changed or if none of the digital methods are working for you. Banks also use this in-person
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Forget students; Nigerian lecturers are using AI too
When Artificial Intelligence (AI) first entered the classroom, the global gaze fell sharply on students. ChatGPT? Must be a cheating tool. QuillBot? For lazy students who want to escape writing essays. Grammarly? That one got a pass because it was seen as a glorified grammar checker rather than a thinking machine. Educators and parents worried that students’ use of AI would dull their thinking and render learning meaningless. But as the dust settles, focus is shifting. Scrutiny of AI use in lecture halls has turned to faculty offices where Nigerian lecturers are quietly prompting AI to support their work. In many faculty offices, AI is becoming a quiet collaborator, and for some, it is already indispensable. So, I set out to ask a simple question: how are Nigerian lecturers using AI? A teaching assistant I spoke to Nigerian lecturers across various disciplines, including humanities, STEM, business, and marketing, but they all echo the same sentiment: AI is not the brain behind teaching. It is an assistive tool. For Uchenna Uzo, professor of marketing and faculty director at Lagos Business School, AI has become a natural extension of how he thinks. He doesn’t wholly rely on it to generate teaching material. Rather, he uses it as a scaffolding tool, something to help organise his thoughts. “I use AI to put structure to my thinking, propose relevant examples for projects or amplify what I want to teach the students,” he says. He describes AI as a companion he feeds his ideas to build exercises for his students. newsletter signup Beyond the classroom, he integrates AI into his research process. Perplexity AI, in particular, is his preferred tool, helping him aggregate existing literature quickly and transparently. Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, associate professor of computer sciences at the University of Lagos and director of the university’s tech innovation hub, NitHub, uses AI to clarify concepts, explore new developments in his field, and refine questions he plans to pose to his students. Although his lecture notes already exist, he says AI helps him stay updated, especially if new concepts emerge around the topic he intends to teach. Then there’s Dr. Agboola, a senior lecturer in his late 40s from the Department of Business Management at Covenant University and curator of the institution’s startup lab, who explores numerous AI models to find the best fit for his task; his method of using AI is more procedural and rigorous. He begins the semester by mapping out topics in a course outline. He uploads library-curated materials into an AI tool, giving it explicit instructions: generate a two-hour slide presentation based on these readings. With the help of AI, he compresses what used to be a four-day task into a three-hour sprint. He uses AI tools to identify and suggest relevant readings for his students, generate weekly topic structures, and even test potential research directions. For Dr. Agboola, AI is a curriculum planner and a quiet, creative partner that allows him to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time thinking. Across these lecturers’ use of AI rests a common sense of control. The lecturers still lead the lecture; AI just assists. Many Nigerian lecturers say they still refine AI outputs to make them sound more like them, more human, but they are no longer starting from scratch. Instead of spending days digging for course materials, they begin with a prompt and reshape what comes out. Push back While some Nigerian lecturers incorporate AI into their workflow, a vocal group of lecturers cautions students against its use. In many classrooms, ChatGPT remains a dirty word, often portrayed as a cheat code or violation of academic integrity. Dr. Soji Alabi, associate professor of communication at the University of Lagos, expressed his clear reservations. He believes students’ use of AI tools—which he detects with his sixth sense—dulls their intelligence and thinking. As such, he discourages its use both in learning and teaching. Not every lecturer is opposed to students’ use. Within academic circles, a growing number of lecturers are choosing to embrace students’ use of AI—but with conditions. Dr. Odumuyiwa stated, “I tell my students to open it in class, and we use it.” This growing group of lecturers are convinced that it is better to train students on how to use AI tools ethically rather than imposing an outright ban. For Dr. Agboola, presentation-based assessments have become more common. Prof. Uzo goes a step further, crafting prompts that produce intentionally complex or open-ended exercises, challenging students to think beyond what AI will generate for them. However, there is a silent tension unfolding across campuses. One of the uneven expectations. While students use of AI in their schoolwork is limited or completely rejected, the same rules do not apply to lecturers. Self-awareness is what many lecturers cite as a difference. They believe they have the maturity and experience to filter and refine AI output, a skill, they fear, some students do not have. Still, campus policies are trying to catch up. For students, many are warned to avoid using AI tools entirely or keep their usage within strict limits (usually 10–20%). For Covenant University, the limit rests at 15%. Some institutions attach penalties to academic work that exceeds the set limit. In Lagos Business School, the threshold for the use of AI is below 20%. Prof. Uzo states that the institution has a research ethics committee that deals with cases where such limit is exceeded. He describes the disciplinary process as one that ends with the dean and senate of the university deciding what punitive measure to be meted out. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde
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Kenya extends real-time bank transfer hours, inching towards 24/7 goal
Kenya has begun modernising its financial infrastructure by extending the operating hours for its Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, the Kenya Electronic Payment and Settlement System (KEPSS). Starting July 1, 2025, KEPSS will operate from 7 AM to 7 PM on business days, up from the current 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM schedule. KEPSS is Kenya’s version of what many countries call an RTGS system, a central infrastructure bank use to securely transfer real-time high-value payments. The time extension signals a shift in how the country approaches large-value, time-sensitive digital transactions, as it opens the door for further reforms that could make Kenya’s financial sector more competitive, inclusive, and less dependent on dominant private fintech platforms. Extending hours improves flexibility for banks, businesses, and government agencies. But the extension also signals that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is inching closer to enabling real-time settlement across longer windows, a key requirement if Kenya wants to transition to a true 24/7 digital economy. This is especially relevant as fintechs and telcos push for access to core payment infrastructure. Currently, only banks and a few regulated institutions can access KEPSS directly. Many users and fintech founders see the lack of public rails for customer-to-business (C2B) payments as a significant hurdle to affordability and competition. The CBK has not spoken about its next steps, although the regulator may, in the future, give licensed non-bank players access to KEPSS or a similar real-time infrastructure layer. That would lower entry barriers, reduce reliance on expensive third-party integrations, and allow fintechs to offer alternatives at scale. CBK is laying the groundwork for future reforms by aligning with global trends of expanded RTGS availability. In India, Singapore, and parts of Europe, real-time payment systems now run 24/7 and include non-banks in some form. Kenya’s move could be the first of many toward that direction. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Safaricom in anti-competitive row
In partnership with Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Good morning! We have a question for you: what is the cost of privacy? Kenyans have been asking this as their tax authority explores new ways to access citizens’ data. PS: If you’re at the Lagos Startup Expo today, come say hello! I’ll be roaming around the booths. Let’s get into today’s dispatch! Safaricom faces anti-competion allegations over Ziidi Parliament rejects KRA’s plan to access personal data of Kenyans TransUnion partners with MTN to issue credit rating South African startup raises $1.8 million to power AI electricity trading World Wide Web 3 Events Companies Safaricom accused of anti-competitive practices in Ziidi money market fund dispute Image Source: Safaricom Safaricom has been called out for giving Ziidi preferential treatment. Here’s what to know: Ziidi is a money market product, launched by Safaricom, that enables M-PESA (another Safaricom subsidiary) customers to invest in a money market fund. Customers earn interest by investing funds from their M-PESA wallet into the Ziidi account. Ziidi now counts over one million users with $46 million in assets. Now, the tea: A fund manager sent a letter to the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) requesting that Safaricom, which controls over 91% of mobile money services in Kenya, be investigated for allegedly distorting the market by giving Ziidi free access to its M-PESA infrastructure. What they’re saying is that because Safaricom (M-PESA) does not charge Ziidi transaction fees, like it does other MMFs, these other funds have to charge users between $0.077 and $0.46 for deposits and withdrawals, while Ziidi users pay nothing. Sounds good for Ziidi customers, but not so well for other money market fund players like Cytonn, CIC, and Britam. “Why?” The complainant (Cytonn’s CEO Edwin Dande) claims Ziidi’s zero-rated M-PESA access gives it an unfair customer acquisition and retention edge, even when competing funds offer similar or better returns. They claim that this act limits market access for them and distorts competition in the retail investment market. So, what now? The complainant wants CAK to investigate this issue and take action by compelling Safaricom to begin charging transaction fees on Ziidi or extending M-PESA access to all market players. ICYMI: In 2024, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission investigated American Tower Corporation (ATC) and Airtel Africa’s 2022 agreement. This agreement stated that Airtel will use ATC’s sites in Nigeria, Kenya, Niger, and Uganda to support its network rollout. This arrangement was tagged as anti-competitive and capable of stifling competition as it was viewed as an attempt to prevent other telecom operators from accessing these infrastructure. Zoom out: If a dominant player can quietly tilt the playing field in favour of its subsidiaries, what’s left of fair competition? Could this be the beginning of a future where platform power decides who wins? For now, all eyes are on CAK… and Safaricom. Save more on every NGN transaction with Fincra Stop overpaying for NGN payments. Fincra’s fees are more affordable than other payment platforms for collections & payouts. The bigger the transaction, the more you save. Create a free account in 3 minutes and start saving today. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Policy Parliament rejects KRA’s plan to access personal data of Kenyans Time Tower, Kenya Revenue Authority headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. IMAGE | THE INFORMER Would you be comfortable
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From Dakar to Abidjan: Why Francophone Africa Is Africa’s next growth engine
16th June 2025 Lire en Français Bonjour, Welcome to our newest newsletter—TNW: Francophone Africa—where you’ll get smarter about tech innovation, policy, culture, and economy as it unfolds in Francophone Africa. We have teamed up with Lina Kacyem of Launch Africa to bring you the biggest insider insights and analysis of the region’s technology landscape. This is a bi-monthly newsletter, expect the next dispatch on July 1st. Sign up here and be the first to know. Let’s get into today’s dispatch! From Dakar to Abidjan: Why Francophone Africa Is Africa’s next growth engine Conversations about Francophone Africa often begin and end with its challenges, often missing the unique direction the region is taking. See previously written articles here. But focusing only on the hurdles means missing the bigger story: a quiet, strategic build-up of innovation, policy reform, and entrepreneurial energy that’s positioning this region as one of the most underestimated growth engines on the continent. This isn’t a story of catching up, it’s a story of creating something new. With a shared language, a relatively unified legal system, a stable currency zone, and growing tech ecosystems, Francophone Africa is assembling real structural and demographic advantages. From Dakar to Douala, Cotonou to Antananarivo, we’re seeing a mosaic of startup activity that’s bold, diverse, and deeply rooted in local realities. If you’re only watching the usual hotspots, you’re missing the next big wave. Here’s the full breakdown — country by country — of what makes Francophone Africa not just promising, but strategically primed for startup growth. Francophone Africa’s Startup Advantage: The Untold Upside of a Rising Innovation Frontier Let’s get one thing straight: Francophone Africa isn’t just playing catch-up in the startup game, it’s building something different, something powerful. While the narrative often centers on challenges (and rightly so), we need to flip the script and talk about the real strategic advantages brewing beneath the surface. This region isn’t just fertile ground. It’s an underestimated launchpad for resilient, resourceful, and ready-to-scale innovation. The Macro View: Why Francophone Africa Matters Seventeen countries. Over 200 million people. A shared language. A common legal framework. A stable currency union. If you’re looking for scale, structure, and opportunity, Francophone Africa can deliver. It’s far from easy, but it’s not meant to be. Here’s what the world often overlooks: The CFA Franc Zone (WAEMU & CEMAC) provides rare currency stability in a volatile world. OHADA law, for all its flaws, offers legal uniformity that simplifies cross-border expansion. Economic growth with most of the African countries projected to experience strong economic performance forecast being in those regions (among the top globally). We have Niger (11.2%), Senegal (8.2%), Libya (7.9%), Rwanda (7.2%), Cote d’Ivoire (6.8%), Ethiopia (6.7%), Benin (6.4%), Djibouti (6.2%), Tanzania (6.1%), Togo (6%), and Uganda at 6%. A growing youth population with a median age under 20 is fueling tech adoption and digital transformation. Venture capital is moving in fast. In 2023 alone, Francophone Africa saw a 70% increase in startup funding, according to AVCA, outpacing many Anglophone counterparts. Let’s break it down by selecting countries, just an overview. Because this isn’t just one story, it’s a mosaic of bold experimentation and structural advantage. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! Get your tickets Côte d’Ivoire: The Emerging Elephant of West Africa Abidjan is rising. Fast. The Ministry of Digital Transition has been accelerating initiatives to structure and facilitate the ecosystem: from legislation to dedicated space for startups. Citing a couple of examples we have: The GENIE project with one focus area being the creation of 35 digital centers in educational institutions and town halls, which will serve as true hubs for learning and innovation. The Launch of the first Ivoire Tech Forum this year A strategic workshop for the future of digital agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire: “LA CASE AGRI” – the national project for the creation of the Agri Data Space of Côte d’Ivoire. I can summarize the Ivorian ecosystem with the following: Startup Act in motion: Côte d’Ivoire is crafting one of the region’s most startup-forward legal reforms. Once fully enacted, it’ll offer tax breaks, simplified registration, and innovation support. Access to infrastructure: Good internet in urban zones and ongoing road construction projects improving logistics. Government push: the government is actively supporting and (at times) co-funding digital skills training, preparing a pipeline of startup-ready talent. Investment spotlight: Startups like Djamo are raising millions, tapping into a massive underserved banking population. Côte d’Ivoire is bridging policy and innovation, giving startups a government-backed runway. Senegal: A culture of commerce and entrepreneurship that transcends time Senegal isn’t just “catching up”, it’s sprinting ahead. Senegalese people have long been renowned for their strong tradition in commerce, with vibrant markets and trade networks rooted deep in history. From the bustling streets of Dakar to rural marketplaces, entrepreneurship is a defining cultural trait. This spirit of commerce continues to drive innovation and economic resilience across the country. If you add the power and strengths of its diaspora from France to the US, you are bond to be admirative of its ecosystem, especially in light of its market size. In a nutshell, let’s look at said ecosystem: Pro-startup leadership: The government’s “Startup Act” (signed in 2020) is operational, with perks like: Five years tax exemption, Access to public procurement, R&D grants and founder-friendly IP protection. Digital ecosystem: With DER/FJ (Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth), Senegal is putting real money into early-stage companies. Global capital: Launch Africa, where I work, has invested in Senegalese startups since its first fund in 2021. Other top VCs such as Partech and 500 Global are all active here. First Francophone unicorn: Wave. Built in Dakar. Raised $200M in Series A. Need I say more? We can all debate African founders or not, but the reality is the Wave team chose Dakar as their first
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Nigerian agritech Winich Farms raises six-figure extension round from DisrupTech Ventures
Winich Farms, the Nigerian agritech startup which raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding in October 2024, has closed an extension round with participation from DisrupTech Ventures, worth six figures in dollars. This marks the first time that DisrupTech Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm which typically backs fintechs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has cast its net into Sub-Saharan Africa. Winich Farms is only its second agritech investment, after it backed Egypt’s Mozare3 in 2021. Winich Farms did not share the exact amount raised or the valuation for the round. But according to CEO and co-founder Riches Attai, conversations with DisrupTech started two years ago. “I had tried to get Malek Sultan [a key partner at DisrupTech] onboard with what we were doing two years ago,” said Attai. “But one, they [DisrupTech] weren’t focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, and two, they were very big on fintech, which was understandable. But DisrupTech remained in our pipeline.” After its pre-Series A round in October, Winich Farms received several offers from investors for an extension round, all of which it declined. The agritech startup had no plans of raising extension funding until DisrupTech came along. The deal made sense for Attai and his team because they were expanding their technology and building an embedded finance product, which allows smallholder farmers to access credit to scale their production. DisrupTech, with partners like Sultan and Mohamed Okasha—who co-founded Egypt’s first fintech unicorn, Fawry—has experience scaling fintech products, which Attai says is a key value the investor brings. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Following the extension round, Winich Farms will add DisrupTech to its board. Sahel Capital, an agritech investor which participated in Winich Farms’ pre-Series A round, will also sit directly on the startup’s board, bringing a balanced mix of fintech and agritech experience. Winich Farms digitises the farm-to-market supply chain, sitting as the operational wheel between smallholder farmers and offtakers. The startup replaces informal middlemen who often buy low from farmers and sell high to commercial buyers. With Winich Farms’ model, Attai claims farmers are priced fairly for their farm produce, and the startup sells them at slightly marked-up prices to offtakers. It uses collection points situated near the farms in rural areas, and run by field agents. Previously, during transportation, large 60-ton trucks would wait at city centres, and mini trucks would go to the collection points and supply to that big truck. The big truck then delivers to offtakers. But this was unsafe, with banditry on the rise. However, with the $3 million in pre-Series A funding, Winich Farms has now set up four fulfillment centres in accessible locations in Kwara, Benue, Kebbi, and Taraba states, where the large trucks can easily reach. Now, the agents at the collection points deliver to the fulfillment centres and earn their quota. The large trucks pick up produce from these fulfillment centres and deliver to offtakers. In line with its goal, the agritech startup has also scaled card issuance from 5,000 smallholder farmers to 60,000 in seven months. To onboard farmers, Winich collects their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) on its embedded finance app and links each card to the farmer’s identity. This gives them a digital profile and makes it easier to connect them to credit and insurance services provided by third-parties. With a growing network of agents, new fulfillment
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