Category: Technology

  • Heirs Technologies gets NRS accreditation to support firms on e-Invoicing compliance

    Heirs Technologies gets NRS accreditation to support firms on e-Invoicing compliance

    Heirs Technologies, a subsidiary of the Heirs Holdings Group, has secured accreditation from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) as a System Integrator for the Federal Government’s mandatory e-Invoicing regime, positioning the firm among the authorised partners supporting business compliance under the Merchant Buyer Solution framework.

    The accreditation, published in the NRS-approved service providers directory, enables the company to connect corporate invoicing platforms to the national e-Invoicing infrastructure for invoice validation, secure data exchange, and automated regulatory reporting — key elements of ongoing tax administration reforms.

    The federal government’s e-Invoicing policy is a core revenue-assurance initiative designed to curb leakages, promote transparency, and strengthen compliance across major sectors. With implementation gaining speed, more businesses are now required to align their invoicing processes with the NRS model.

    Commenting on the development, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of Heirs Technologies, George Njuguna, stressed that e-Invoicing should be regarded as a comprehensive compliance obligation rather than a routine IT upgrade.

    Read Also: Pillarcraft is NRS System Integrator

    He said, “E-Invoicing is fundamentally a compliance requirement that spans finance, tax, operations, and technology. Successful implementation requires robust system integration and a clear understanding of regulatory and tax obligations.”

    Njuguna added that the company is leveraging its digital transformation and integration capabilities, in collaboration with tax experts, to deliver solutions that meet both technical and regulatory standards.

    As an accredited System Integrator, Heirs Technologies will provide end-to-end support, including readiness assessments, integration services, validation, and post-deployment technical assistance. Its systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing ERP and accounting platforms to minimise operational disruption.

    Beyond its role in the national e-Invoicing rollout, the company continues to broaden its offerings in cloud infrastructure, enterprise integration, cybersecurity, managed services, data and artificial intelligence, software licensing, and digital transformation advisory.

    Heirs Technologies said the accreditation further underscores its commitment to helping organisations navigate Nigeria’s evolving regulatory and digital landscape.

  • Fed Govt eyes satellite-to-mobile services

    Fed Govt eyes satellite-to-mobile services

    The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for between 2025 and 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.

    The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period stated.

    The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.

    The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.

    According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.

    It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.

    READ ALSO: Reading Nigeria’s governance signals

    The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.

    It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.

    Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.

    It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.

    The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.

    The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.

  • Top 10 Practical Rules For Trading Under Leverage Caps

    Top 10 Practical Rules For Trading Under Leverage Caps

    Nigerian traders are increasingly facing leverage limits from brokers and regulators. At first this can feel like a restriction that kills opportunity, especially if you were used to opening big positions with a small account. In reality, trading under leverage caps can protect you from the blowups that wipe out many accounts in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. With the right rules, capped leverage becomes a framework for discipline rather than a barrier.

    Understanding Leverage Caps In The Nigerian Context

    Many Nigerian traders look at brokers such as HFM when they first hear that leverage caps are in place and wonder if this will block them from reaching their goals. A leverage cap simply means there is a maximum multiple between your account balance and the total position size you can open. Instead of thinking in terms of how big your positions used to be, it helps to focus on how controlled risk can keep you in the market long enough to learn and grow.

    Rule 1: Start From Risk Per Trade Not From Leverage

    Under a cap, professional traders do not ask how much they can open. They ask how much they are willing to risk on one idea. For many Nigerian accounts this is between one and two percent of equity. Once that number is clear, you calculate lot size backward based on your stop loss distance. This keeps every trade aligned with survival, regardless of leverage limits.

    Rule 2: Respect Stop Losses As A Hard Line

    When leverage is capped, you no longer have space to add more and more positions after a bad entry. The stop loss becomes your main defence. For traders dealing with naira volatility and unexpected news from the Central Bank of Nigeria, a hard stop loss means one mistake does not turn into a margin call. Never widen a stop loss just to avoid a loss.

    Rule 3: Limit The Number Of Open Trades

    With a cap in place, ten small trades can still consume a large part of your margin. A simple rule is to limit yourself to two or three open positions at any time, especially if you are trading highly correlated pairs like EURUSD and GBPUSD. This makes it easier to track risk and react when news moves the market.

    Rule 4: Choose Pairs That Fit Your Account Size

    Not all instruments are equal under leverage caps. Some pairs and gold can move very quickly, which can be dangerous for small accounts. Nigerian traders with modest starting balances are often better off focusing on a few major pairs with reasonable spreads instead of chasing every move in exotic crosses or volatile metals.

    Rule 5: Use A Written Trading Plan

    A written plan is even more important when leverage is limited, because you cannot rely on size to cover a weak edge. Your plan should specify:

     • Entry conditions
     • Stop placement rules
     • Take profit methods
     • Maximum number of trades per day
     • Maximum risk per day and per week

    With a plan in front of you, leverage caps become just one more parameter in a controlled system instead of a frustration that pushes you toward random decisions.

    Rule 6: Track Margin Level Daily

    Many traders in Nigeria only look at balance and equity, and ignore margin level. Under a leverage cap you should check margin level each day and after every new order. Decide on a minimum margin level that you will not cross. For example you might decide to close part of a position if margin level falls below a certain percentage. This prevents forced liquidations.

    Rule 7: Avoid Revenge Trading After News Shock

    Economic announcements about inflation, interest rates or oil can move markets aggressively. When a spike hits your stop loss, the common reaction is to open another trade to recover quickly. Under leverage caps this behaviour is especially harmful, because your available margin is already reduced after the loss. Have a rule that after a big news loss you either reduce size for the next trade or stop trading for the day.

    Rule 8: Think In Naira Not Just In Pips

    Nigerian traders often celebrate a large pip count without checking what it means in local currency. Under leverage caps, you want to know exactly how much naira you risk and how much you aim to make. This keeps expectations realistic and shows you whether your strategy can cover data costs, withdrawal fees and daily living needs if you trade part time.

    Rule 9: Grow Position Size Gradually

    If you respect the caps and build a consistent record, your account can grow steadily. Instead of jumping from micro lots to standard lots in one step, increase position size after a set of profitable weeks and only within your risk rules. This creates a staircase type growth instead of risky jumps that ignore leverage and margin constraints.

    Rule 10: Accept That Caps Encourage Patience

    The most important mental shift is to accept that leverage caps are part of the environment, like weather in Lagos traffic. You cannot change them, but you can adapt. Caps encourage patience, better setups and more careful planning. When you stop fighting them and start designing your rules around them, your trading becomes calmer and more sustainable.

    Conclusion

    Leverage caps may feel like a limitation when you first encounter them as a Nigerian trader, but they can become an ally in your journey. By focusing on risk per trade, strict stop losses, limited open positions and gradual growth, you build habits that would be necessary even with unlimited leverage. Over time, these ten practical rules help you protect your capital, survive difficult market phases and give yourself a genuine chance to develop skill in the forex market.

  • Remita emerges major force powering Nigeria’s trillion-naira payments ecosystem

    Remita emerges major force powering Nigeria’s trillion-naira payments ecosystem

    Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL) has emerged as a major force driving Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem, processing over 100 trillion Naira in transactions in 2025 alone. The fintech platform plays a central role in enabling a wide range of daily financial activities, including salary disbursements, loan repayments, school fees payments, utility bills, government services, and contributions to cooperative and savings groups.

    Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Switch, it is regarded as one of the top 3 payment technology forces in Africa’s largest economy,

    In 2025, Remita processed well over 100 trillion Naira of payment transactions, underscoring its position as a provider of significant financial infrastructure in Nigeria. This scale was not driven by isolated surges but by sustained, day-to-day activity spanning transaction switching for financial institutions, corporate and public payments processing, and the enablement of consumer financial flows, reinforcing its central role in the economy.

    Remita also enabled access to over 15,000 products and services across 180 countries, further establishing its role as an invisible backbone connecting businesses, institutions, and individuals within Africa’s largest economy. It illustrates a defining paradox of modern infrastructure: the more essential it becomes, the less visible it appears.

    Within the fintech and banking industries, this role is often described as “the rails” – the underlying tracks on which Nigeria’s payment ecosystem runs. Like electricity through power lines or water through pipes, Remita’s impact is most pronounced where secured and reliable execution is non-negotiable. Across corporate payments, institutional disbursements, large-scale revenue collection, and complex multi-party transactions, Remita operates as a trusted national infrastructure, where even minor disruptions can have cascading consequences.

    Throughout 2025, Remita supported revenue collection and disbursements across the federal, state, and local governments, operating reliably to ensure the wheels of government operations grounded smoothly to avoid delayed salaries, stalled public services, and erosion of public trust. Sustained infrastructure uptime reinforced a core principle of modern governance: when systems function seamlessly, confidence is preserved.

    On any day, Remita enables a civil servant in Gombe to receive her salary, a contractor in Kogi to be seamlessly paid, a student in Enugu to pay university fees, a resident of Abuja to pay for water, a property owner to pay land use charge in Lagos, and a contravening citizen to pay FRSC anywhere across the country. These millions of transactions occur concurrently, at scale, and without friction, by design.

    2025 marked Remita’s progression toward continental relevance. Through strategic integration with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), Remita has laid the foundation for simplified cross-border African payments – reducing dependency on third-party currencies and enabling businesses to transact across borders with greater ease.

    “As Nigeria’s digital economy becomes more interconnected with the rest of Africa, the role of infrastructure becomes even more consequential,” explains ‘DeRemi Atanda, Managing Director of Remita. “Our responsibility is to build systems that can support that future. We are not just building for Nigeria. We are building infrastructure that can support Africa’s digital economy.”

    AI was another frontier where Remita demonstrated industry leadership in 2025. Its deep understanding of the need for a shift from automation to intelligence led to its release of a landmark fintech AI report, which positioned Nigeria within global conversations on the application of artificial intelligence in financial services. More than thought leadership, the report signaled commitment to building payment infrastructure that is not only resilient at scale, but increasingly responsive, predictive, and aligned with the realities of modern financial ecosystems.

    Financial inclusion and access to financial services by yet a large population continued to be a major discussion in 2025. Through partnerships with agent networks such as Moniepoint, NIPOST and Paga, Remita further extended services beyond traditional banking touchpoints – bringing formal financial systems closer to individuals and small businesses, particularly in underbanked communities.

    In the works from Remita is a next-generation mobile app that generated a lot of buzz in Q4 2025 when it entered a public beta. Built on the same backbone enterprise-grade infrastructure, the app has amazing features like multi-bank account management, esusu groups, discounted airline tickets, recurring payments, international payments with local currency, and others in development that will surely excite the market. The public market launch of the app is scheduled for Q1 2026.

    Remita remains the core infrastructure behind Nigeria’s digital economy and is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of Africa’s financial future. As the continent moves toward greater integration and rail-play becomes the most crucial element, the platforms that matter most won’t be the loudest or the flashiest. They will be the ones that work, consistently and at scale, enabling prosperity for millions while remaining largely invisible to those they serve. That’s the mark of truly transformative infrastructure, and the story of Remita’s impact in 2025.

    Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL) is a leading Nigerian fintech company committed to simplifying financial transactions for individuals, businesses, and public institutions. Through innovative payment infrastructure and enterprise tools, RPSL enables its customers to collect, disburse, and manage funds securely and efficiently. As a trusted partner in Nigeria’s digital economy, Remita continues to champion inclusive growth through technology-driven financial empowerment.

  • Nigerian tech expert unveils AI tool to simplify new tax reforms

    Nigerian tech expert unveils AI tool to simplify new tax reforms

    A Nigerian technology expert, Oluwaferanmi Oladepo, has launched Kaanta, an Artificial Intelligence-driven tool aimed at simplifying the new tax reforms by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. 

    Kaanta, which is Whatsapp based AI tool was designed to provide simplified tax guidance to traders, small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals to know the implications of the ongoing fiscal reforms with compliance requirements. 

    Speaking on Thursday at the unveiling of the tool in Osogbo, Osun State, Oladepo who is the founder of the tech hub, noted that the AI tool is essential as Nigerians enters a new phase of tax reforms era, hence he locally developed technology platform, Kaanta AI, to help Nigerians to understand their tax obligations.

    He explained that, rather than Nigerians to rely on complex online portals or technical language, Kaanta AI operates entirely on WhatsApp, allowing users to ask tax-related questions, receive explanations, calculate taxes, and understand available reliefs using text, voice or handwritten notes. 

    Oladepo noted, “The assistant also supports local languages, including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Pidgin, expanding access beyond English-speaking users.”

    He stated that the reason for the creation of the app was to tackle increased public confusion and misinformation about the reform, saying the platform is a response to a long-standing gap in tax education.

    “Tax should not feel scary or confusing. Kaanta AI is built to help Nigerians understand what applies to them and make informed decisions, using clear and accessible language.”

    “Nigerians can access the AI platform on https://www.kaantasolutions.com.ng.

    “The platform provides tax calculations and insights on tax reliefs. The company also plans to introduce professional tax services, including filing support for small businesses and larger organisations. Kaanta AI operates a freemium model, with basic guidance available at no cost and advanced services offered through paid plans.”

    The Product and Growth Lead, Tobiloba Olanipekun, explained that “We wanted Kaanta AI to feel like a conversation, not a lecture. Anyone from a market trader to a young professional—can ask questions freely and get clear answers.”

  • Egwuatu immortalised as 279th certified Global Tech Hero

    Egwuatu immortalised as 279th certified Global Tech Hero

    Osita Victor Egwuatu has been immortalised as the 279th Certified Global Tech Hero, a recognition that cements a career defined by practical rigor, measurable impact, and a clear orientation toward enabling sustainable growth for organizations.

    Trained in business and information systems and certified in agile practice, he occupies the intersection of product management, strategy, and growth, bringing a discipline to experimentation and decision-making that has reshaped how teams translate data into durable momentum.

    His signature contribution is the Traction Evaluation and Optimization Tool, TEVOT, a decision-support system built to cleanse noisy growth signals, benchmark progress, and produce prioritized, evidence-backed roadmaps that leaders can act on immediately. 

    TEVOT is not an academic abstraction; within two years of adoption it has produced notable, auditable improvements for organizations, raising retention and activation substantially, increasing revenue and lifetime value markedly, reducing churn and acquisition costs, and delivering an overall composite uplift in effective traction that demonstrates both reliability and commercial consequence.

    Beyond TEVOT, his co-creation of UFinMD, a purpose-built financial operations platform has addressed a widespread pain point: fragmented, hard-to-audit fiscal data. That platform consolidates dispersed financial records into an auditable dashboard, automates reconciliation, applies AI-driven anomaly detection and forecasting, and prepares export-ready tax and compliance packages for multi-jurisdictional businesses. 

    Its adoption by multiple organizations underscores a contribution that enhances governance and decision intelligence rather than pursuing novelty for its own sake. His work has been shared through expert commentary and academic publications, bridging practitioner needs and scholarly discourse, and reinforcing an ethic of transparency and reproducibility in product-led growth.

    The Connected Awards celebrates this induction as a recognition of demonstrable influence with solutions that shorten time-to-impact, raise the success rate of experiments, and turn product experimentation into predictable value creation. 

    In praise of this achievement, the founder of The Connected Awards, Qazeem Oladejo, reflected on the significance of applying disciplined measurement to growth, noting that such work “turns intuition into accountable action and gives founders and operators a way to invest in what actually moves the needle.” That sentiment captures why this recognition matters, because it honors a professional who builds tools that leaders can trust to produce real results.

    This certification marks a formal acknowledgment of a practice that has already changed outcomes for teams and organizations. 

    It recognises the combination of academic grounding, methodological clarity, and executional velocity that defines his work, and it celebrates a sustained contribution to how modern organizations discover, prioritize, and scale the interventions that create lasting traction.

  • Aguele identifies three key Infrastructural gaps facing Nigeria’s AI future in 2026

    Aguele identifies three key Infrastructural gaps facing Nigeria’s AI future in 2026

    As the global race for Artificial Intelligence dominance intensifies, tech and media entrepreneur Benedict Aguele has warned that Nigeria’s potential to lead the continent remains fragile.

     While national ambition is high, Aguele points to three specific physical bottlenecks that will determine whether Nigeria builds its own future or merely consumes technology developed elsewhere.

    Speaking during a meeting with tech entrepreneurs and journalists in Abuja, Aguele highlighted the practical, physical requirements for building a robust AI ecosystem in Nigeria amid intensifying global competition.

    Aguele noted that AI is an industrial process rather than a digital miracle. He stresses that a digital revolution cannot succeed while the physical foundations required to run it are ignored. By 2026, the gap between nations that own technology and those that pay to use it will widen based on how these infrastructure challenges are addressed.

    AI models require massive banks of servers that consume immense amounts of electricity. Nigeria’s current energy instability acts as a ceiling for growth in this sector. Without a dedicated power strategy specifically for data centers, local startups will be forced to host their innovations on foreign servers. This dependency drains the economy of revenue and significantly increases the cost of doing business for Nigerian innovators.

    For AI to serve as a tool for national growth, its reach must extend beyond the tech hubs of Lagos and Abuja. High-speed, reliable internet in rural areas has shifted from a luxury to a basic requirement for development. Aguele warns that if the “last mile” of connectivity is not solved by 2026, AI will likely deepen existing inequality rather than bridge it.

    Many global AI models lack an understanding of the nuances of Nigerian life. Aguele emphasised the urgent need for local data sovereignty. To be effective and accurate, AI systems must be trained on Nigerian accents, local languages, and specific cultural customs. 

    Without an intentional effort to own and curate local data, the country risks being misinterpreted by the very technology meant to serve its citizens.

  • Poorly designed OKRs slowing delivery across Africa’s tech sector — Expert

    Poorly designed OKRs slowing delivery across Africa’s tech sector — Expert

    Qazeem Oladejo, an internationally recognized product management consultant and architect of the Product Ideation Reviewing Tool (PIRT™️), has warned that poorly constructed Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are quietly fragmenting product organizations and dragging down delivery velocity across Africa’s fastest-growing tech sectors.

    Speaking, Oladejo, whose work spans fintech, healthtech and real estate, said the problem is not the idea of OKRs itself but the way organizations translate strategy into measures. 

    “When objectives are vague and key results read like task lists, you get a dozen teams rowing in different directions and no one accountable for the outcome,” he said. “Misaligned OKRs fragment teams and slow delivery; they turn alignment into theatre rather than a mechanism for decisive learning.”

    Oladejo, whose career has been defined by a disciplined, evidence-driven approach to product leadership, argues that the remedy lies in a simple but profound shift that makes outcomes the unit of work and experiments the unit of learning. His Product Ideation Reviewing Tool, PIRT™️, converts fuzzy ideas into auditable risk maps, surfacing the riskiest assumptions and sequencing Minimum Viable Experiments (MVEs) that prove or disprove those assumptions before large-scale build begins. 

    “Treat every major deliverable as an experiment with a clearly stated hypothesis and success condition,” he told reporters. “If you don’t build a plan to test the thing that matters, you’re just building noise.”

    Oladejo’s method has gained traction among founders and corporate innovation teams precisely because it reframes planning as a measurable pathway rather than a list of features. Proponents say PIRT™️ reduces wasted engineering hours, shortens feedback loops, and forces leadership to allocate attention and capital toward verifiable risk reduction instead of relying on gut instinct. Industry observers point to growing adoption of the framework in startup accelerators and product workshops across the continent.

    The consultant’s credentials give weight to his prescriptions. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants and has been honoured by professional bodies for his contributions to productivity and business innovation. In recent years, Oladejo has received awards recognising his innovation and impact, and his work continues to be widely featured in major outlets where he speaks on topics ranging from data mesh architectures to zero-trust SaaS design. “Recognition is humbling,” he reflected in accepting one such honour, “and it fuels my commitment to uphold the highest professional standards and to continue driving meaningful growth through thoughtful, principled consulting.”

    Practical change, Oladejo insists, is organisational rather than technical. He recommends adapting OKR language so that objectives declare the desired shift in user behaviour or business metric, and key results measure leading indicators that predict the outcome, not just the completion of work. “I often leverage adapted OKR structures that prioritise outcome statements over output commitments,” he said. “That subtle tweak redirects every design discussion and engineering task toward the desired end state.” His interviews and workshops repeatedly emphasize cross-team rituals, shared glossaries, demo sessions and automated data governance, that prevent divergent implementations from sabotaging impact.

    For many leaders wrestling with competing priorities, Oladejo’s message is a call to discipline as reducing ambiguity, instrument experiments rigorously, and elevating validated learning above feature velocity. “When teams can point to an experiment, a hypothesis and a measured learning, you stop arguing about who finished what and start arguing about what we now know,” he said. “That is how organizations become faster, not by shipping more, but by learning more quickly.”

    As African product ecosystems scale, the stakes of this transition are rising. Investors, customers and regulators increasingly demand tangible outcomes. Oladejo’s interventions, from PIRT™️ to his public advocacy for outcome-driven OKRs, are shaping how the region’s product leaders design more resilient, accountable and effective roadmaps.

  • Hack4Futo expands focus on practical innovation, responsible tech development

    Hack4Futo expands focus on practical innovation, responsible tech development

    Hack4Futo is set to deepen its impact as a hub for practical innovation and responsible technology development, with plans for its next edition pointing to more advanced technical tracks, stronger mentorship and increased collaboration with industry players.

    Founded to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and real-world problem-solving, Hack4Futo has evolved into an annual innovation platform that emphasises hands-on learning, collaboration and impact-driven solutions.

    Its founder, Chibueze Sam-Obisike, said the initiative was created to provide a structured environment where ideas could be tested, skills refined and technology applied to real societal and industry challenges.

    “Hack4Futo was created to give people a space to learn by building, collaborate meaningfully and see technology as a tool for impact,” he said. “There were talented individuals with ideas and drive, but no clear platform to experiment or showcase what they could do.”

    From its modest beginnings, Hack4Futo has grown organically into a recognised annual innovation hub, attracting wider participation, stronger mentorship and more sophisticated projects. According to the founder, this evolution has been marked by deeper technical engagement, greater diversity of ideas and a clear shift towards solutions that address broader societal and industry needs.

    “People are no longer just participating for the experience,” he noted. “There is now a stronger focus on innovation, sustainability and long-term relevance.”

    Central to Hack4Futo’s vision is challenging limiting mindsets around innovation and impact. The platform promotes the belief that meaningful solutions can be created locally and immediately, without waiting for external validation or future opportunities.

    “In today’s fast-changing world, adaptability, curiosity and ethical responsibility are just as important as technical competence, Hack4Futo reinforces that balance”, Chibueze said. 

    The initiative also underscores the importance of structured innovation platforms in unlocking Nigeria’s vast tech potential. By encouraging collaboration, mentorship and responsible experimentation, Hack4Futo helps convert raw talent into practical capability and viable solutions.

    Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, form a key part of Hack4Futo’s thematic focus. Challenges are designed to reflect global technological trends while remaining grounded in local realities, encouraging participants to apply AI and data-driven tools to areas such as education, healthcare, finance, agriculture and governance.

    “We don’t just focus on using AI,” the founder explained. “We emphasise understanding its impact, its limitations and the responsibilities that come with it.”

    Ethics and integrity are woven into every stage of the Hack4Futo process. Through mentorship sessions and evaluation criteria, participants are challenged to consider privacy, fairness, transparency and accountability, ensuring that innovation aligns with societal good.

    This emphasis also informs Hack4Futo’s clear stance against cybercrime and unethical tech practices. The organisers stress that while economic pressures exist, unethical paths offer only short-term benefits and long-term consequences.

    Chibueze said, “Technology can either build systems that serve society or erode trust, We encourage people to create value, solve problems and build sustainable careers they can be proud of.”

    Looking ahead, the next edition of Hack4Futo is expected to feature deeper technical tracks, stronger industry collaboration and clearer pathways for standout ideas to evolve beyond the hackathon into products or startups.

    For emerging tech talents, Chibueze stated that his advice remains consistent: start early, build consistently, stay ethical and focus on solving real problems. “Technology is most powerful when it serves people,” the founder said. “Build something you can stand behind for years to come.”

  • The $290 Million Question: Is Moniepoint a Nigerian Unicorn or a Foreign-Owned Trojan Horse?

    The $290 Million Question: Is Moniepoint a Nigerian Unicorn or a Foreign-Owned Trojan Horse?

    In a recent announcement that sent ripples across Africa’s fintech landscape, Moniepoint Inc. confirmed it had secured an additional $90 million to close its Series C funding round at a staggering $200 million (Source: Techpoint Africa; Serrari Group; Ecofin Agency, Oct 2025). While the company, formerly TeamApt – touts the deal as a major vote of confidence, the influx of capital, led by heavyweight institutional investors like Development Partners International (DPI) and LeapFrog Investments, and including global players like Visa, Google’s Africa Investment Fund, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (Source: Multiple, Oct 2025), raises fundamental questions about who truly controls Africa’s “leading profitable fintech.”

    The Founder’s Dilution: CEO or Steward?

    The unprecedented scale of external capital implies a massive, unspoken cost: a significant transfer of power from the original founders and local interests to foreign boardrooms. The narrative is shifting from a local entrepreneur building a pan-African dream to a highly competent CEO appointed by a global consortium.

    Industry speculation, fueled by the sheer volume of institutional money now dominating the cap table, alleges that Co-founder and Group CEO Tosin Eniolorunda’s personal equity stake may have been diluted to a non-controlling percentage, a common outcome where founders become figureheads for their international backers, holding minimal control despite remaining the public face (Controversy derived from: African Law & Business, Nov 2025; DPI Partner Adefolarin Ogunsanya, Oct 2025).

    When institutional giants anchor a round of this size, the company’s ultimate financial destiny is often decided far from its Nigerian headquarters. The founder, in essence, becomes an incentivized steward for foreign capital, undermining the narrative of a fully Nigerian-owned tech success story.

    The Irony of ‘Commitment’: A Campaign Built on Borrowed Loyalty

    Moniepoint frequently uses its “Made for Your Progress” campaign to declare its commitment to financial inclusion and “powering the dreams” of millions of Nigerians. However, this rhetoric is being used as a shield against the truth of its ownership:

    The audacity of Moniepoint’s “Made for Your Progress” campaign rings hollow: how can a company whose ultimate ownership and controlling decisions reside in the boardrooms of US and European private equity firms genuinely claim to be “powering the dreams” of Nigeria’s people? Their commitment is not to the progress of the Nigerian economy, but to the return on investment (ROI) demanded by foreign shareholders who now hold the majority stake in the parent entity, Moniepoint Inc. By positioning Nigerian success stories as mere fuel for their foreign-controlled growth machine, Moniepoint risks betraying the very local entrepreneurs they claim to champion, transforming their powerful campaign slogan into a thinly veiled sales pitch designed to keep Nigerian users generating profits for their non-Nigerian masters.

    The Veil of Profitability: Lawsuits and International Losses

    The controversial funding news is further complicated by signs of internal instability and financial vulnerability outside its core market:

    1. Struggling UK Expansion: Despite claims of “sustained profitability” in Nigeria, recent reports indicate Moniepoint posted a $1.2 million operating loss tied to its ambitious and rapid expansion into the United Kingdom (Source: Fintech Magazine Africa; Techpoint Africa, Oct 2025). This international stumble reveals a delicate balancing act where the core profitable business is being leveraged to subsidize risky global ventures demanded by demanding international investors.

    2. Internal Equity Battle: The company’s internal equity practices have been drawn into sharp public controversy. A former top executive is currently locked in a high-profile lawsuit against Moniepoint, alleging the wrongful denial of nearly $1 million in vested stock options (Source: Startup Researcher, Jun 2025). This legal battle casts a long shadow over the company’s integrity and its commitment to those who helped build the business, the very individuals it credits with its success.

    The question for Moniepoint, its customers, and the Nigerian tech ecosystem is unavoidable: If the local founder holds minimal control due to massive dilution, if the company struggles with international expansion, and if its own executives are fighting for their promised equity, what exactly is being celebrated? Is this a victory for African fintech, or a carefully orchestrated asset acquisition by global private equity and institutional funds who now own the overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s most critical payment infrastructure?