Google has unveiled a comprehensive $37 million investment package to support artificial intelligence (AI) development across Africa. This total includes both new and previously committed, but unannounced, funding. The initiative targets key areas such as AI research, talent development, digital infrastructure, and local language support. A central component of the announcement is the launch of the AI Collaborative for Food Security, a multi-stakeholder initiative backed by $25 million from Google.org. This collaborative will unite researchers, nonprofit organizations, and local experts to develop AI-driven solutions for early hunger detection, climate-resilient crops, and customized advisory tools for smallholder farmers. The overarching aim…
Author: Our REPORTER
Airtel Africa Plc has delivered a strong financial and operational performance for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, highlighting accelerated growth across its data and mobile money services. The telecoms giant reported a 9% increase in total customer base, reaching 169.4 million subscribers. Data customers surged by 17.4% to 75.6 million, supported by a 4.3 percentage point increase in smartphone penetration to 45.9%. This drove a 47.4% rise in data usage across its networks, resulting in an 18.5% increase in data average revenue per user (ARPU) in constant currency. Mobile money continued to be a cornerstone of Airtel Africa’s growth,…
PalmPay, a top-tier neobank and fintech platform with a strong focus on emerging markets, has once again secured a place on CNBC and Statista’s prestigious 2025 list of the Top 300 Fintech Companies in the World. Digital TimesNG recalls that this marks the second consecutive year the company is being recognized among the globe’s most innovative and impactful financial technology leaders. The annual ranking, compiled through a rigorous assessment of thousands of fintech firms worldwide, evaluates companies based on key criteria such as growth trajectory, innovation, market reach, and overall impact. The 2025 edition features a diverse mix of established…
News Highlights: National Recognition for Communication Excellence Strategic Communication Driving Digital Inclusion In a significant nod to excellence in public sector communication, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has been named one of Nigeria’s top 50 public relations and communications professionals in the 2025 edition of the prestigious PR Power List. The recognition, jointly unveiled on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, by GLG Communications in collaboration with The Guardian newspaper, celebrates leading voices shaping strategic communication across Nigeria and the diaspora. Hajiya Hadiza Umar was honoured in the “Rising…
First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, has joined forces with Mighty Media Plus Network Limited for the maiden edition of the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit. Two major players in the country’s energy and development sectors- Nigeria LNG (NLNG) and Shell Nigeria, are also supporting the event. Chief Executive Officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, Olumide Iyanda, announced the partnerships in a statement on Monday. Iyanda described FirstBank’s involvement as a strong statement of the bank’s belief in the power of Nigeria’s creative sector. “FirstBank’s support is a reaffirmation of its long-standing commitment to promoting the creative economy,”…
News Highlights: LG Leverages Music and AI to Reignite Meaningful Human Connections in a Hyper-Digital World Backed by Research, LG Champions Optimism Through Deeper Social Bonds In a bid to rekindle genuine human connection in an increasingly digital and impersonal age, LG Electronics has unveiled a new brand campaign titled “Radio Optimism.” The initiative is crafted to promote shared musical experiences as a powerful medium for spreading positivity and strengthening emotional bonds. “Radio Optimism” embodies LG’s core brand message, “Life’s Good,” by addressing the emotional disconnection that often accompanies today’s technology-driven lifestyles. In a world where social interactions are frequently…
News Highlights: Senate Launches Major Investigation into ₦1.3 Trillion CBEX Ponzi Collapse Lawmakers Demand Accountability from Financial Regulators Amid Rising Suicides and Public Distrust In an impassioned move to stem the tide of rising financial fraud, the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday declared the proliferation of Ponzi schemes a national emergency, initiating a sweeping investigation into regulatory lapses that enabled the catastrophic collapse of Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX)—a digital investment platform accused of defrauding Nigerians of over ₦1.3 trillion. Described as one of the most devastating financial scams in the country’s history, the CBEX saga is now the tipping point for…
News Highlights: UTME Cut-Off Marks for 2025 Raised Federal Government Enforces 16-Year Minimum Admission Age The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in collaboration with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, has approved the National Minimum Tolerable Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores, also known as cut-off marks, for the 2025 admission cycle. At the 2025 annual policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions, held on Tuesday in Abuja, the meeting adopted 150 as the minimum benchmark for admission into universities. For polytechnics and colleges of education, the cut-off was set at 100, while colleges of nursing were given…
News Highlights: IHS Nigeria and UNICEF’s Oxygen Plant Boosts Emergency Healthcare Delivery in Oyo State Impact Assessment Affirms Sustainability and Lifesaving Reach of IHS-UNICEF Partnership IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”)—one of the world’s largest independent operators and developers of shared telecommunications infrastructure by tower count, has continued its nationwide impact assessment of oxygen plant projects donated to hospitals across the country. Digital TimesNG reports that as part of this initiative, representatives of the company visited Jericho Specialist Hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The visit was aimed at evaluating the current…
News Highlights: Governor Otti Endorses Youth Innovation for Governance Abia Youths Showcase Cutting-Edge Civic Tech Solutions Governor Alex Otti on Monday received the Abia State Champions of the 2025 Civic Connect Hackathon at the Executive Council Chamber in Umuahia, commending the innovative spirit of Abia youths and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting digital transformation and youth-led innovation. Digital TimesNG reports that the Civic Connect Hackathon, jointly organised by the State Ministry of Science and Technology and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, is a strategic initiative aimed at nurturing creativity and unlocking the tech potential of…