Plantain and beans

Pack your bags and get ready

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Naija tech Twitter dey ment lol

Design Jigga and wahala

If you see watin EDSA dey pass pa we na ya ehhh

Njala University, Limkokwing University and IPAM left the chat

Please tell her about the Hakimi saga

E nor worth am abi?

Some said “God whenn”

Tech Spotlight

Our tech spotlight for this week is Aminata Jalloh, the Health Lead at the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation - DSTI for Sierra Leone's first Pregnancy Registration and Service Tracking (PReSTrack) application. This achievement is truly remarkable and represents a major milestone for healthcare in the region.

Her dedication to tailoring this application to the needs of Community Health Workers, Peripheral Health Unit staff, District Health Management Teams, and Ministry of Health and Sanitation directors and Managers is a testament to her outstanding leadership and commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people of Sierra Leone.

The impact of her work will be felt for years to come, and it is a testament to the power of technology to improve healthcare outcomes in underserved communities. She is an inspiration to all and a true role model for women in tech everywhere.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to this important project, and for your ongoing dedication to improving healthcare in Sierra Leone and beyond.

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AI tools for everyone:

1. Quillbot – spelling and grammar checker

2. Autowrite – AI written blogs

3. RestorePhotos – restore old photos

4. Krisp – remove background noise

5. Cogram – online meeting notes

6. Remail – write emails using AI

7. You – AI search engine

8. Luminar AI – photo editing

9. LongShot AI – Write SEO-optimized blogs

10. Wavve – turn audio into social media videos

11. Unscreen – remove video backgrounds

12. AnyClip – video analysis and optimization

News in the tech ecosystem

1. Google has announced plans to restrict loan apps on its Play Store from accessing sensitive user data such as photos, videos, and contacts, in response to concerns about the predatory practices of some loan apps in Nigeria and Kenya. Both countries have enforced strict regulation and licensing policies to combat unethical data-sharing and debt-shaming practices adopted by unregulated lenders. Since Nigeria's 2022 licensing change, 173 loan apps have been registered, while Kenya has approved 32. The update to Google's Personal Loans Policy will take effect from May 31.

2. Kenya has received a $378 million grant from the European Union to support the electrification of its public transport system. The funding will enable Kenya to build the necessary infrastructure to make its bus rapid transit system more efficient and cost-effective. As part of the agreement, Kenya's upcoming Green Mobility-Nairobi core bus rapid transit line 3 (BRT 3) will feature zero-emission electric buses and introduce intelligent transport system features. This financing is expected to boost Kenya's plans to operate electric vehicles on its BRT system, especially for its capital city, Nairobi, which faces severe air pollution and fuel shortage crises.

3. PayDay, a neobank based in Rwanda, has raised $3 million in a seed funding round led by Moniepoint. The funding round was oversubscribed, with participation from Techstars, HoaQ, DFS Lab’s Stellar Africa Fund, Ingressive Capital Fund II, and existing investors including Techstars and Angels Touch. PayDay has received a total of $5 million in funding since its inception two years ago.

4. Nigerian fintech startup OnePipe has received a credit facility of $4.8m from TLG Capital to provide inventory finance to small shops. However, the company has laid off an undisclosed number of team members to extend its runway.

5. Shuttlers, a Nigerian tech-enabled mass transit company, has raised an additional US$4 million in equity funding to accelerate its transportation solution's growth. The company offers commuters affordable rates to travel in comfort along selected routes and allows them to book rides in advance with its subscription feature. The funding, led by Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, will help Shuttlers expand to other Nigerian cities, build infrastructure to power mass transit, and provide employee transportation to more corporates.