- Rwanda plans to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
- Authorities plan to use a national digital identification system to verify users’ ages.
- Several African countries, including Gabon, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, are advancing similar restrictions on minors’ access to digital platforms.
Rwanda plans to tighten regulations governing minors’ use of social media platforms as African governments increase scrutiny of children’s exposure to digital content and online risks.
ICT and Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire said on Wednesday, April 29, that the government was preparing legislation to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing digital platforms. Authorities aim to address growing concerns over online content and its impact on children’s development.
The proposed law would prevent minors from creating accounts or accessing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Authorities would implement the restrictions through cooperation between internet service providers, digital platforms and parents. The government also plans to rely on a national digital identification system to verify users’ ages.
Ingabire said national data supported the government’s decision. A recent study showed that 46% of schoolchildren already accessed digital services through mobile phones, often without parental supervision.
At the same time, between 30% and 35% of students reported difficulties linked to social media use, including attention disorders and anxiety associated with online content consumption, the minister said.
The initiative builds on Rwanda’s existing online child protection framework rather than introducing a standalone measure. In 2025, the country adopted a national child online protection policy that strengthened oversight of digital content and expanded cooperation with internet providers and digital platforms to curb harmful material.
Rwanda also already enforces cybersecurity and data protection laws that include specific provisions for minors under the age of 16.
African governments tighten digital safeguards
Rwanda’s move reflects a broader regulatory trend across Africa as governments seek to tighten controls on minors’ access to social media platforms.
In Gabon, authorities recently announced regulations that would impose a minimum age of 16 for social media access alongside stronger identity verification measures.
Zimbabwe is also considering similar restrictions targeting users under 18, while Nigeria has launched public consultations on introducing age limits for social media platforms.
Meanwhile, Egypt has started regulatory discussions aimed at strengthening child protection measures against the rise of harmful online content.
These initiatives align with broader coordination efforts led in part by the African Union to improve online safety standards for children across the continent.
Samira Njoya
- South African entrepreneur Sibongile Maputla founded fintech platform Squirrel Away in 2025.
- The platform converts family gifts into savings earmarked for children’s future expenses such as education and housing.
- Squirrel Away targets financial inclusion by simplifying digital savings for families without advanced financial expertise.
South African technology entrepreneur Sibongile Maputla founded Squirrel Away in 2025 as a digital platform designed to reshape how families give gifts and build financial security for children.
The platform operates as a value-based gifting solution. Family members and relatives can direct each contribution toward a specific financial objective for a child. The platform aims to gradually build savings that children can later use for education, housing or early adulthood expenses.
Squirrel Away focuses on ease of use. The platform allows users to create an account, add a child or beneficiary and send or receive financial contributions as gifts.
The company designed the service for users without advanced financial skills. The platform also integrates savings into celebrations such as birthdays and family events.
At the same time, Squirrel Away promotes a broader educational and social objective. By transforming gift-giving into an investment activity, the platform encourages children and families to adopt savings habits at an early age and strengthen long-term financial preparedness.
Maputla also serves on the investment committee of the Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics and economics from the University of Pretoria in 2001. She later obtained a master of business administration degree from Wits Business School in 2019.
Maputla started her professional career in 2000 at Standard Bank Group, where she worked as a foreign exchange trading trainee.
In 2002, she joined Coronation Fund Managers as an equity broker. She later served as chief operating officer at Benguela Global Fund Managers between 2016 and 2021.
Melchior Koba
- China launched an international AI competition on April 24 targeting African innovators as part of 70 years of diplomatic relations.
- The initiative, coordinated under FOCAC, aims to identify scalable AI solutions for sectors such as health, education, and public services.
- Winners will receive international exposure, publication opportunities, and potential collaboration with Chinese tech ecosystems.
China announced on Friday, April 24, the launch of an international artificial intelligence competition focused on African innovators. The initiative coincides with the celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between China and several African countries.
The program operates under the Secretariat of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). It reflects China’s strategy to engage African innovation ecosystems at a time when artificial intelligence drives economic transformation and global competitiveness.
The competition aims to identify projects that address key development challenges across Africa. It targets solutions in healthcare, education, industry, scientific research, and public services.
At the same time, the program prioritizes high-impact technologies that can integrate into broader digital transformation frameworks across the continent.
Beyond the competition itself, China positions the initiative as an international showcase platform for African innovators. Selected projects will receive increased visibility and publication in an international compendium.
In addition, organizers will connect winners with collaboration opportunities within China’s technology ecosystem. This includes potential partnerships with Chinese AI actors and institutions.
The program also includes an immersion component in China for selected winners. The organizers expect this step to strengthen exchanges between African project developers and Chinese AI experts.
As a result, the initiative aims to facilitate skills transfer and accelerate partnership development in a rapidly evolving technology sector.
China opens the competition to students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and digital professionals across Africa. The program does not require formal institutional affiliation. Instead, evaluators focus on idea relevance, innovation level, and potential impact.
Authorities set the application deadline for May 29, 2026, through an online submission platform.
Samira Njoya
In Nigeria, fintech giant Flutterwave and the Activate Success International Foundation announced a partnership on Wednesday, April 29, to support more than 30,000 young entrepreneurs. The initiative will provide payment tools and targeted training to help business owners run their operations and accept international payments. As of 2025, more than 50 million naira has already been disbursed to fund projects and support startup creation.
In Nigeria, paying for games and digital services remains a major challenge for many gamers. To address this, content creator PlaywithTomide has partnered with OneDosh, a platform that simplifies international payments. The aim is to provide a reliable solution that integrates easily into gamers’ habits, making transactions simpler and more seamless.
The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub has launched a fund to develop digital and AI skills across Nigeria’s film, fashion and music sectors, aiming to support creators and deepen collaboration with the UK. The initiative seeks to help professionals use technology to create, innovate and scale their businesses in the creative industries.
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Burkina Faso is exploring partnerships with Russia to train talent in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
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A pilot training program is already running in Ouagadougou with a Novosibirsk university.
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Africa could require 230 million digital-skilled jobs by 2030, highlighting urgent capacity gaps.
Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, met Natalia Krasovskaia, Executive Director of the Russian Public Diplomacy Center, on April 28 in Bobo-Dioulasso. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the National Culture Week and focused on exploring training projects in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Both parties discussed the launch of training programs for young people in Burkina Faso. The ministry stated that an initial initiative is already underway in Ouagadougou. The program operates in a regional high school in partnership with a university based in Novosibirsk.
The initiative aims to develop job-ready profiles as demand for digital skills rises, driven by the digitalization of services and businesses.
In addition, authorities are considering further collaboration with a private polytechnic institute to strengthen executive-level training. The government aims to build a local talent pool capable of supporting digital transformation and reducing reliance on foreign expertise.
This engagement forms part of a broader strategy to diversify Burkina Faso’s international partnerships, with increasing focus on technology sectors. Authorities aim to lay the foundation for a more autonomous digital ecosystem aligned with market needs.
The partnership comes amid a wider shortage of skilled labor in Africa’s technology sector. According to the Foresight Africa 2025–2030 published by the Brookings Institution, nearly 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030. The report also projects up to 650 million training opportunities, representing a market valued at about $130 billion.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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The University of Abomey-Calavi has opened a simulation center to enhance practical pharmacy training.
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The “Pharm Expérience” facility combines a mock pharmacy with digital learning tools and real-time monitoring systems.
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The initiative supports future deployment of a national “e-pharmacy” solution and reflects a broader shift toward digital healthcare in Africa.
The pharmacy department of the University of Abomey-Calavi launched a simulation center on April 27 to strengthen hands-on training for pharmaceutical science students. The facility, named “Pharm Expérience,” aims to align academic learning with real-world conditions in pharmacies and hospital settings.
The center operates through a dual technological architecture. It includes a dispensing room that replicates a modern pharmacy environment and a classroom equipped with interactive digital tools.
A system of cameras and videoconferencing enables instructors and students to monitor practical scenarios and role-playing exercises in real time. This setup provides deeper immersion and reinforces experiential learning.
Preparing for “e-pharmacy” deployment
University authorities stated that the initiative seeks to raise training standards by bridging theory and professional practice. Habib Ganfon, Vice-Dean of the pharmacy faculty, emphasized that the project aims to place students at the center of ongoing technological transformation in the sector.
The center will also serve as a platform to prepare future pharmacists for the national “e-pharmacy” solution currently under development. The objective is to equip students with digital pharmaceutical management tools before their large-scale deployment.
Continental shift toward digital pharmacy
Beyond Benin, African countries are accelerating the adoption of digital solutions in the pharmaceutical sector. Governments and regulators are exploring online pharmacy models and digital drug distribution systems amid persistent supply chain and access challenges.
According to the report “Online Pharmacy in Africa: Regulatory Landscape and Opportunities for Action,” published in 2023 by Salient Advisory, countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa have already introduced regulatory frameworks or guidelines for online pharmacies. Ghana has gone further by implementing a state-led national e-pharmacy system.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Gamride allows passengers and drivers to negotiate fares instead of relying on algorithmic pricing.
- The app reports over 50,000 users and 500,000 rides, mainly in major Gambian cities.
- The startup plans to expand across Africa with a transparency-driven mobility model.
Gamride is a ride-hailing application developed by a Gambian startup. The platform connects passengers with drivers but differentiates itself through a negotiation-based pricing model. Unlike conventional platforms, where algorithms set fares dynamically, the company launched the app in 2025 with a system built on direct price negotiation.
The startup stated that it aims to “revolutionize urban transport by creating a fair and transparent platform where both passengers and drivers have a say in every transaction.”
In practice, users enter their pickup location, destination, and the amount they are willing to pay. Nearby drivers can then accept the offer, reject it, or submit a counteroffer.
This model addresses a major criticism of traditional ride-hailing platforms, namely the lack of price transparency during peak demand periods. Gamride emphasizes a policy without surge pricing and without hidden fees. It ensures that both parties agree on the final fare before the trip begins.
In addition to its pricing model, Gamride integrates standard ride-hailing features. The platform provides real-time geolocation, driver profiles with ratings, driver verification, and multiple payment options.
Users can pay via mobile money or bank cards, which reflects local payment habits and supports broader adoption.
Gamride reports more than 50,000 users and over 500,000 completed rides, primarily in major cities across Gambia. The company now aims to expand into other African markets by leveraging its value proposition centered on transparency and flexibility.
By adopting a bid-based pricing model, Gamride aligns with a broader trend in Africa’s mobility sector. Startups are increasingly tailoring solutions to local realities, where price sensitivity plays a decisive role in digital service adoption.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The international fintech platform Yuno announced on Tuesday, April 28, that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Nigerian fintech firm Flutterwave to facilitate expansion into African markets. With a single integration, merchants can now instantly accept card, bank transfer and mobile money payments across multiple countries. The collaboration reduces costs and technical overhead, making it easier for international companies to access the African digital economy through a centralized dashboard.
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Gambian startup Ba2kayIce has launched “Safe Gambia,” a web app aimed at improving public safety. The free tool allows residents and tourists to report incidents in real time, using user-generated data to help protect communities and visitors. The initiative seeks to strengthen security systems by encouraging public participation.
At the “Future of Commerce” summit held on Wednesday, April 22, in Lagos, delivery platform Glovo and industry experts called for closer collaboration to drive innovation.
The initiative aims to support Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their shift to the digital economy. By improving access to digital tools and payment systems, participants hope to create a more inclusive business environment and boost trade across the country.
- Pretium enables payments across Africa using stablecoins and a unified digital platform.
- The company reports more than 600,000 transactions with a 99.99% success rate.
- The platform helps businesses manage cross-border payments without locking capital in multiple markets.
Derrick Bundi, a Kenyan IT specialist and technology entrepreneur, is contributing to this evolution. He co-founded and leads Pretium, a payment platform that enables transactions across Africa using digital assets known as stablecoins.
Pretium launched in 2023 with a mobile application designed to simplify daily payments. The platform allows users to send money, pay merchants, and settle various bills, including electricity, internet, and television services. Users can fund their accounts with digital assets and then use them directly for everyday spending.
At the same time, Pretium provides businesses with tools to accept payments and manage financial flows. The platform offers a unified interface that allows companies to operate across multiple African countries without complexity. Businesses and merchants can receive payments, execute transfers, and integrate these services into their operations.
Moreover, Pretium operates in several African markets and enables payments across borders without friction. It also allows companies to avoid locking funds in each country where they operate. The company states that it has processed more than 600,000 transactions with a 99.99% success rate.
Before launching Pretium, Bundi co-founded Xwift Ltd in 2020 and served as chief executive officer until 2022. The company supports transport and supply chain players in digitizing their operations.
Bundi graduated from Taita Taveta University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in business information technology. He started his career the same year as an IT support specialist at the Fountain Enterprise Programme.
He also worked as a web developer at Obitell in 2019, where he helped build tools that allow users to trace family origins. He later joined Deveint as a software engineer. Subsequently, he worked as a software engineer at PesaKit between 2021 and 2023, where he focused on financial technologies and proximity-based digital commerce.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Tunzaa enables users to pay for goods in installments without using traditional credit.
- The platform promotes disciplined, goal-based savings for specific purchases.
- Founder Ng'winula Kingamkono builds a debt-free digital marketplace connecting merchants and consumers.
Ng'winula Kingamkono, a Tanzanian IT specialist and technology entrepreneur, leads this shift. He founded and runs Tunzaa, a digital platform dedicated to online buying, selling, and business management.
Kingamkono founded Tunzaa in 2021 as an online marketplace. The platform allows users to purchase products and services from selected vendors. It also provides direct delivery to customers, thereby improving access to quality goods without requiring physical travel.
Tunzaa places its payment model at the core of its value proposition. The platform allows users to pay progressively in multiple installments instead of settling purchases upfront. This approach relies on a “pay little by little” principle and avoids traditional credit mechanisms.
Consequently, the system encourages users to build dedicated savings for a specific purchase. Users accumulate payments until they reach the required amount. The platform also sends reminders and provides regular tracking to reinforce financial discipline.
Tunzaa targets a broad range of users, including traders, developers, manufacturers, and consumers. It connects all stakeholders within a single ecosystem without debt or interest. Users simply set aside money toward a defined purchase goal within a secure and transparent framework.
Before launching Tunzaa, Kingamkono co-founded Guumzo in 2013. The application allowed users to record two-minute voice messages and share them with subscribers. He later co-founded Ellipsis Digital in 2018. The company recruits tech talent for projects in Europe and other global markets. He served as head of business development until 2022.
Kingamkono graduated from University of Dodoma in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in information systems and computer programming. He started his career the same year at Samaki Samaki Restaurants as a development manager. He later served as chief executive officer of Thinkers Technologies Ltd from 2015 to 2018, where he specialized in software development.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum