Partnership combines Mastercard’s global payments network with Smile ID’s capabilities to combat fraud and expand financial inclusion across Africa. Mastercard has extended its strategic commercial partnership with Smile ID, an identity verification provider in Africa to accelerate the rollout of secure digital identity solutions across the continent. This partnership will enable banks, fintechs, mobile money operators and other enterprises to onboard new customers faster, reducing identity fraud and expanding access to the financial system. It combines Mastercard’s global insights and Identity technology, which enables customers to verify digital identity elements with Smile ID’s data verification and fraud detection capabilities. Addressing Africa’s Fraud & Inclusion Gap As Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, trusted identity solutions are a critical enabler of financial inclusion, fraud prevention, and cross-border commerce. Additionally, smartphone penetration is continuing to rise, necessitating an urgent need to unlock opportunities for millions through secure identity verification services that work across digital channels. For over five decades, Mastercard has worked alongside African governments, businesses, and communities to advance financial inclusion and economic development. Mastercard, together with Smile ID, is well positioned to address these challenges by expanding access to financial services, while helping to support compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations across Africa. As part of the agreement, Mastercard has also made a minority investment in Smile ID, reinforcing its long-term commitment to digital inclusion and innovation in Africa. “This partnership with Smile ID is a pivotal step in advancing digital trust and inclusion across Africa. As fragmented identity systems slow down businesses and lock millions out of the digital …
Autel Energy Powers South Africa’s Largest Public EV Bus Charging Project in Cape Town, Supporting 120-Bus Fleet Transition by 2025
Autel Energy, a global leader in smart and sustainable EV charging solutions, today announced its pivotal role in South Africa’s most ambitious electric public transport initiative: the electrification of Cape Town’s bus fleet. Through its advanced MaxiCharger DC Fast (150–240 kW) technology, Autel Energy is powering the country’s largest public EV bus charging hub — also among the most significant in Africa — enabling the rollout of 120 electric buses by December 2025. The project, delivered in partnership with STS Tech Group, is centered at Cape Town’s Arrowgate Depot, which operates on a solar–grid hybrid system. This integration highlights Autel Energy’s capability to deliver charging infrastructure that is both renewable-ready and future-proof, ensuring maximum uptime, high efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Currently, the depot operates with 30 MaxiCharger DC Fast units, with capacity expanding to 50 units by year-end. These chargers support the city’s 68 BYD B12 electric buses already in operation — each carrying 65 passengers with a range of up to 240 km per charge — and will scale to serve 120 buses by the end of 2025. This transition will eliminate an estimated 18,000 tonnes of CO? emissions annually, equivalent to removing more than 4,000 cars from Cape Town’s roads. Designed for high-traffic public and fleet applications, the MaxiCharger DC Fast offers: Modular architecture for scalable power and simplified maintenance 98% efficiency to reduce operating costs and maximize ROI Multiple connector options (CCS, CHAdeMO, GB/T) for universal compatibility IP65-rated weatherproof protection to withstand Africa’s demanding climates Autel Cloud integration for remote monitoring, smart load management, and diagnostics 27-inch interactive screen for user-friendly operation and public information display “Autel has proven itself to be a truly world-class product, combining innovative technology with reliability and …
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Wadhwani AI Global Launches to Bring AI Solutions to Africa, Latin America, and Other Developing Countries
New organization develops context-specific AI solutions to improve healthcare access, educational outcomes, and agricultural systems for underserved populations Wadhwani AI Global today announced its launch across the Global South, targeting Africa, Latin America, and other low and middle-income countries. Wadhwani AI Global will partner with governments, multilaterals, and local organizations to embed AI directly into critical public systems, transforming healthcare delivery, educational access, and agricultural systems for those who need it most. The approach applies insights from the Wadhwani family’s experience funding AI solutions in India, where Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani’s $25 million commitment has supported the development and deployment of 25+ AI platforms and solutions that have reached more than 150 million people. Key achievements include: An AI-powered oral reading fluency tool has assessed over 6 million children through 11 million assessments across schools in Gujarat and Rajasthan, providing automated insights to improve early childhood reading comprehension. A cascade of AI solutions screens for tuberculosis, the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, enabling healthcare workers to identify presumptive pulmonary TB cases using cough sound data and patient history. A clinical decision support system empowers 160,000 health workers to conduct over 250,000 consultations daily, directly addressing the shortage of trained medical personnel in rural areas. These solutions demonstrate how context-specific AI can achieve massive scale while solving urgent local challenges. “AI has demonstrated its transformative power in many parts of the world, so our challenge now is ensuring those benefits reach communities where they can change lives most profoundly,” said Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani, Co-Founders of Wadhwani AI Global. “We’re building an institution that partners with governments and innovators to make AI a …
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AHF Applauds African Leadership in Strengthening Public Health
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) applauds the Government of Zambia for increasing its health budget allocation from 7% in 2021 to 12% today, an effort that reflects growing political commitment to strengthen national health systems and secure long-term sustainability. AHF also commends continental efforts by African presidents and regional institutions for driving urgent action on key public health priorities. These decisive moves by African governments and institutions come at a time when the continent’s health sector is under immense pressure from a sharp 70% decline in Official Development Assistance between 2021 and 2025 and rising debt burdens, with countries expected to service $81 billion of debt by this year. Ghana’s President John Mahama recently hosted the African Health Sovereignty Summit, which galvanized political will to reduce foreign aid dependency, promote health security and self-reliance, and position Africa as an equal partner in global health governance. Leadership by African presidents has been instrumental in championing vital health priorities to create a stronger, more resilient, and more independent health system for Africa: Ghana President John Mahama: health sovereignty Kenya President William Ruto: regional production Nigeria President Bola Tinubu: health workforce Rwanda President Paul Kagame: health financing South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa: pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema: cholera response Additionally, institutions such as the African Union (AU), Africa CDC, and AU Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) are working with governments and partners to mobilize funding and expand regional vaccine and medical commodity production, with progress already visible in local manufacturing, financing, regulatory frameworks, and regional markets. Earlier this year, the Africa CDC launched the “Africa's Health Financing in a …
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Azumah Ghana Denies False Reports of E&P Takeover of Black Volta and Sankofa Projects
Azumah Resources Ghana Limited has today categorically denied reports claiming that Engineers & Planners (E&P) has completed the acquisition of Azumah Ghana and Upwest Resources Ghana and has taken control of the Black Volta and Sankofa Gold Projects. These reports are false and without any legal basis. Azumah Ghana remains the lawful owner and operator of the projects. No shares have been transferred to E&P by Azumah Ghana, Upwest, or their shareholders. Not only is this untrue, but as recently as Friday E&P formally abandoned its claims against Azumah Ghana, a development widely reported in the Ghanaian media as paving the way for Azumah Ghana to commence development of the Wa and Black Volta projects unimpeded. The Honourable Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, was internationally praised for resolving the Azumah–E&P dispute and assuring investors at the Africa Down Under conference in Australia that Ghana remains a model of stability. Yet within days, E&P has defied that resolution by forcibly seizing the mine without legal basis, directly undermining the Minister’s own words and casting significant doubt on Ghana’s ability to guarantee the rule of law. If such a transfer had occurred, it would amount to an expropriation of private property. This would expose the Government of Ghana to claims exceeding US$1 billion under both Ghanaian law and international treaties. It would also fundamentally undermine the message delivered by the Honourable Minister at Africa Down Under last week. Azumah Ghana intends to apply immediately to the International Court of Arbitration to prevent any such unlawful seizure by E&P, and to ensure that the rights of its shareholders and the interests of the people of Ghana are fully protected. Prof. Prince Amponsah, Chairman of Azumah Ghana, said, “This is false information designed to confuse the public. It is consistent with E&P’s previous strategy of …
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Trident’s DRC Pass Digital Identity System Recognized at Africa Singapore Business Forum as Model for International Collaboration
Singapore-based tech firm's nationwide digital ID platform for 110 million DRC citizens highlighted by Minister Grace Fu as exemplar of Singapore-Africa partnership Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd. (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a Singapore-based catalyst for digital transformation and Web 3.0 activation, was prominently featured during the Africa Singapore Business Forum 2025, with Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, highlighting the company's groundbreaking DRC Pass digital identity system as a prime example of successful Singapore-Africa collaboration. During her keynote address, Minister Fu specifically recognized Trident's partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo to implement a nationwide digital identification system that will enhance financial inclusion and improve public service delivery for over 110 million DRC citizens. "In the digital space, Singapore-based tech firm Trident is partnering with the Democratic Republic of Congo to implement a nationwide digital identification system known as DRC Pass," Minister Fu stated. "The platform will enhance financial inclusion and improve public service delivery for over 110 million DRC citizens. It is a good example of how Singapore companies work with African partners to bridge the digital divide and promote financial inclusion." The recognition comes two months after Trident signed the definitive public-private partnership agreement with the DRC Government in June 2025, officially launching the Republic's national digital identification system and establishing Trident as the exclusive provider of electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) services. The DRC Pass system represents Africa's most ambitious Web 3.0 digital identity deployment, focusing on four core applications: biometric-blockchain SIM card registration to eliminate fraud, seamless single-sign-on access to government and business portals, one-click digital payments enablement for …
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ISACA and Ingryd Academy Partner to Train 10,000 Aspiring Tech Professionals in Nigeria
Global IT professional association ISACA and Nigeria-based tech talent training and outsourcing academy INGRYD Academy today announced a partnership focused on advancing IT/information security readiness and workforce development for those pursuing careers advancing trust in technology, including cybersecurity, emerging technologies and IT audit. Designed to support Nigeria’s national workforce development goals and meet Africa’s growing demand for digital skills, the five-year partnership will equip 10,000 aspiring tech professionals with in-demand training and access to ISACA’s global professional community. Each year, 2,000 INGRYD Academy students will receive several Fundamentals courses from ISACA, a one-year ISACA student membership, and networking and mentorship opportunities through ISACA’s global chapters, as well as workshops, conferences, and other events with INGRYD staff and ISACA members where they can share ideas, knowledge and best practices. Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, according to a report from IFC and Google, yet the region faces a critical shortage of trained professionals to meet growing demand. Nigeria, with more than 100 million internet users and a fast-growing tech sector, is well positioned to lead—but continues to experience gaps in cybersecurity capacity and workforce readiness. This collaboration helps address that need at scale. The collaboration provides a unique opportunity to expand IT and cybersecurity training to help close the global tech talent gap, helping aspiring tech professionals build relevant, future-forward skills that will launch their careers, including through ISACA courses on cybersecurity and AI. This program aligns with ISACA’s academic and workforce development efforts to support the next generation of learners around the globe seeking in-demand IS/IT skills and communities looking to grow their digital trust workforce, as well as with INGRYD Academy’s mission to …
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AI in Africa to Top $16.5b by 2030: Mastercard Explores Path for Continued Digital Transformation
Key insights from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco demonstrate AI’s potential to drive financial inclusion, job creation and innovation. Up to 230 million digital jobs projected in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 – but infrastructure, regulation and local talent remain critical gaps. Mastercard has today released its latest whitepaper, Harnessing the transformative power of AI in Africa, a pan-African study of the continent’s readiness, opportunity and roadmap for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. The whitepaper provides detailed insights into how AI—if deployed responsibly and inclusively—can unlock transformative outcomes across the continent’s major industries, including agriculture, healthcare, education, energy and finance. With Africa’s AI market projected to grow from USD 4.5 billion in 2025 to USD 16.5 billion by 2030 according to a recent report from Statista, the paper presents a clear case for multi-stakeholder collaboration and investment. It highlights how Africa’s unique demographics, mobile-first infrastructure and entrepreneurial spirit position it as an active architect of the future. Mark Elliott, division president, Africa at Mastercard, commented: “Africa’s engagement with AI is already reshaping lives — not just in labs, but in farms, clinics and classrooms. To unlock its full potential, we need investment in infrastructure, data, talent, and policy. At Mastercard, we believe responsible, locally rooted AI can drive inclusive growth and connect more people to opportunity.” The whitepaper outlines the potential positive impact of AI on digital infrastructure, policy and governance, research and development, local language processing and investment into Africa. It also explores how AI can accelerate job creation, with up to 230 million digital jobs projected by 2030, and increase access to formal finance through AI-enabled credit scoring and fraud prevention. Greg Ulrich, chief AI and data officer, Mastercard, …
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Wawira Njiru’s TED Talk Unveils Africa’s Blueprint to End Classroom Hunger
From Kenya to the world, Food4Education delivers a smarter, scalable solution As the UN Food Systems Summit +4 wraps up in Addis Ababa, Wawira Njiru, Founder and CEO of Food4Education, takes the TED stage with a powerful message: Africa is not waiting for answers, it’s creating them. In her TED Talk released today, food systems trailblazer Njiru tells the story of how a simple act of care — feeding 25 children in a makeshift kitchen — sparked a bold, locally-led solution now delivering over 500,000 meals every day. Today, Food4Education is the backbone of Kenya’s school feeding infrastructure and a blueprint for countries across Africa investing in nutrition, education, and opportunity all at once. “School feeding isn’t charity, it’s strategy, it’s infrastructure,” said Njiru. “It’s how we nourish children, support farmers, strengthen education, and build systems that last. We’ve created a sustainable solution that shows Africa isn’t just solving its own challenges — we’re setting precedents the world can learn from.” Built on public–private partnership, Food4Education combines government co-investment, parent contributions, and philanthropic force to power its industry-redefining solution. Its green kitchens run on clean energy. Its meals are sourced from local smallholder farmers. Its systems are digital, dignified, and built for scale, with every plate powering learning, livelihoods, and long-term opportunity. Taking the stage as part of The Audacious Project 2024’s cohort, Njiru’s TED Talk comes at a time of renewed global attention on school feeding as a proven lever for inclusive, sustainable development. With Africa home to the youngest population on Earth, and 1 in 4 people projected to be African by 2050, how the continent feeds its children today will shape the future we all share. “There’s no debate: school meals are among the most effective, scalable tools to strengthen food systems, linking education, nutrition, agriculture, and local …