The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment aims to position Nigeria as a leading exporter of skills in technology, medical and professional services, and creative industries with the relaunch of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), according to TechPoint. Positioning Nigeria in the global services economy Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, spoke about the recent move at the Itana Free Zone, stating that the relaunch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision aims to position Nigeria firmly in the global services economy. “The opportunity is
Agbo Obinnaya and his co-founder, Ngwu Anthony Mark, are helping Nigerians learn about the law through their AI platform, Case Radar. Founded in September 2024, it’s helped 1,400 users receive legal advice and find lawyers for their cases. While its platform is similar to that of ChatGPT, both founders believe its knowledge of legal advice is limited to what is widely available online. In contrast, Casa Radar operates on digitized Nigerian court documents that were previously unavailable on the internet, according to TechPoint. Using AI to teach Nigerians about the
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) joins the list of Black leaders pushing for corporate accountability. Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke and members of the Congressional Black Caucus’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force met with Target CEO Brian Cornell to discuss the company’s rollback of its DEI efforts, according to a press release. In January, the retailer announced that it would end its three-year DEI goals, conclude its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives by 2025, and discontinue a program focused on carrying more products from Black— or minority-owned businesses. Congressional
Senegalese mobile money platform Wave has secured $137 million in debt financing, led by Rand Merchant Bank, with support from British International Investment (BII), Finnfund, and Norfund, according to TechCabal. The funding will enable the company to expand its operations, allowing it to continue serving underserved communities across Africa. What does Wave do? Founded in 2018 by Drew Durbin and Lincoln Quirk, Wave serves over 20 million monthly active users through a network of more than 150,000 agents and a team of 3,000 employees across eight markets in West Africa.
A group of British Caribbean professionals has launched the Caribbean Tech Collective, an initiative designed to bring together Caribbean founders, professionals, and investors in the tech industry, according to The Voice. The Caribbean Tech Community Only 4% of people in the tech industry identify as Black in the UK, with Africans making up a significant amount of that number. The Voice reported that tech startups receive under 0.1% of global venture capital funding in the Caribbean. In 2023, venture capital investment in Caribbean tech just reached $215 million, and there
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. In this episode of Techish, Abadesi chats with Bridget Todd (There Are No Girls on the Internet and IRL) about how AI is changing our lives, especially when it comes to companionship and relationships. They dive into the convenience economy, the responsibilities of tech companies and users, and why real community still matters in an increasingly AI-driven world. Follow Bridget Todd on Instagram @bridgetmarieindc Check out Bridget’s There Are No Girls On The Internet podcast and the IRL podcast Chapters 02:35 AI Lovers?!10:47 Convenience vs Community 23:18
Better Auth, an authentication tool, has raised $5 million in seed funding from Peak XV, Y Combinator, P1 Ventures, and Chapter One, according to TechCrunch. Bereket Engida, the self-taught programmer from Ethiopia and founder of the tool has built what some developers believe is that the best authentication tool to date. Engida’s jounrey to building Better Auth Engida told TechCrunch that he had built the entire product in Ethiopia before coming to the US. He started programming at 18 after a friend declined to help him create an e-commerce search
Black Girls Code and haircare brand The Doux have partnered to launch a competition for girls and young women to use AI to create original videos that reflect their self-perception. The Black Beauty AI Challenge is the first of its kind, and competition entries will help shape how AI understands the nuances of Black identity. Teaching AI about Black beauty Participants as young as 13 will have the opportunity to win up to $1,500 in cash prizes, with submissions evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges. “At Black Girls Code,
Tennis star Coco Gauff is building on her partnership with UPS by teaming up with entrepreneur Emma Grede to advise small-business owners. Gauff became a UPS brand partner in 2023. The new campaign, titled “Unlocking Potential,” leads with Grede mentoring three upcoming entrepreneurs — Classy Casita, Petrova Chocolates, and Anima Iris. Grede and Gauff supporting small-business owners The campaign, created by The Martin Agency, begins with an anime-inspired spot featuring the 20-year-old phenom announcing her collaboration with Grede. Then, Grede will meet with the entrepreneurs to offer advice and mentorship.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Inc., a multimedia and entertainment venture company, is entering the anime world through a strategic partnership with the newly formed Studio Azuki. Studio Azuki, a US-based animation company, is a joint venture between NFT brand Azuki and Japanese firms Comisma Inc. and Xenotoon Inc. The studio aims to merge Web3 technology with anime to create next-gen content for global audiences. The collaboration will combine Studio Azuki’s production skills with Westbrook’s extensive Hollywood network and expertise in global entertainment, as first reported by Variety.
