Tuesday, November 26African Digital Business Magazine
Africa Travel, Egypt News

Rixos Hotels Egypt Welcomes 2025 with an Exclusive Line-Up of Performances and January Events

Rixos Hotels Egypt is all set to ring in the New Year with a spectacular array of world-class performances at its luxurious properties. From December 31, 2024, to early January 2025, guests can experience electrifying shows featuring internationally renowned DJs, live bands, and breathtaking beachfront stages. With sunny, refreshing weather, Rixos is poised to be the ultimate destination for holiday celebrations. Mr. Erkan Yildirim, Managing Director of Rixos Hotels Egypt, shared, "We are thrilled to offer an extraordinary blend of music and entertainment, set against the luxurious backdrop of our properties, ensuring an exceptional celebration for all our guests." At Rixos Premium Seagate, the New Year kicks off with exciting performances starting December 31, featuring the Cote d'A...
South Africa News

NIQ Retail Barometer: South Africans Expend R214 Billion on FMCG and Durable Goods in Q3 2024

South African consumers have spent R214 billion on Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Technology & Durable products in the third quarter of 2024, representing a year-over-year growth of 4.1%. This is according to new insight from the NIQ Retail Spend Barometer, which has been drawn from GfK – an NIQ company – intelligence and measures the turnover in sales of FMCG and non-food consumer products sold in retail stores nationwide. The NIQ Retail Spend Barometer provides a complete overview of South African spend for the FMCG sector (ambient and fresh food and drink, healthcare, toiletries, homecare and general merchandise) and for the Tech & Durables sector (technical consumer goods, household appliances and DIY). This cross-category and cross-channel overview is based on real sal...
Business, South Africa News

Pay-as-you-go everything – innovation, the African way

Reach Africa’s Sales Director Leslie Adams discusses the rise of incremental purchasing and how it’s shifting the African economy In a Johannesburg township lives an entrepreneur; one who is going about his business in a uniquely African way. Miles Kubheka’s business ‘Gcwalisa’ is a shipping container-based retail outlet kitted out with bulk dispensers, apportioning essential goods like maize and sugar. The store operates on a weigh-and-pay basis: Kubheka purchases goods in bulk from food manufacturers, taking advantage of the wholesale discounts. He passes these savings on to his customers, who only pay for the amount they choose to purchase. Goods are brought home in reusable containers, further reducing costs. The idea behind Gcwalisa was born from the reality that many township resi...
Fintech

Digitisation as Africa’s Great Equaliser in Financial Services

By Saviour Chibiya, Chief Executive of Absa Regional Operations (ARO) Access to financial services in Africa had for decades been defined by disparities—between rural and urban areas, between men and women, between small businesses and larger enterprises. It meant that millions, especially the continent’s most vulnerable populations, were excluded from the formal economy, curbing entrepreneurship, restricting access to credit, and stifling upward financial mobility for far too long.  But by the turn of the millennium, change was afoot.  Early web pioneers like Ghanaian professor Nii Quaynor, often hailed as "Africa’s father of the internet", were busy laying the groundwork for the continent's foundational online infrastructure. In 1994, Quaynor introduced Ghana’s first internet service ...
Fintech

Ecentric Wins Fintech Innovation of the Year at 2024 Africa Tech Festival Awards

Ecentric, a leading omnichannel payments provider, and its partners were awarded Fintech Innovation of the Year at the 2024 Africa Tech Festival for their pioneering Wealth on Wheels (WOW) initiative, aimed at transforming South Africa's minibus taxi industry. The awards ceremony, held on November 13, 2024, at the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, Cape Town, celebrated outstanding technological innovation across Africa. The event recognized companies, individuals, and projects for their contributions to advancing technology on the continent. Launched at the Southern African National Transport Conference (SATC) in Pretoria, the WOW platform brings digital solutions to the heart of transportation, modernizing the minibus taxi sector and driving it into the digital era. In collaboration with the Eas...
Nigeria News, Startups

TLP Advisory Celebrates 10 Years with New Report on Nigeria’s Startup Ecosystem

The report identifies talent shortages, funding challenges, and regulatory barriers as key obstacles, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships and policy advocacy. 51% of surveyed startups struggle to secure funding, with angel investors playing a vital role. 30% of founders cite regulatory issues as significant barriers, urging stronger policy engagement. One-third of startups rely on strategic partnerships, underscoring collaboration as a critical factor for resilience. TLP Advisory, the venture law firm headquartered in Lagos, with offices in London and New York  marks ten years of operation with the launch of a new report, “A Decade of the Nigerian Venture Ecosystem: Numbers, Insights & Stories.” The report provides a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria's ...
Business, Tech

Experts Warn of Common Black Friday Scams to Avoid

With Black Friday just around the corner, thousands of deals and discounts will be up for grabs on November 29th. Whether you're a savvy shopper hunting for bargains or getting a head start on holiday gift shopping, there will be plenty of irresistible offers to take advantage of. However, it's crucial to stay vigilant, as online scams tend to increase in the lead-up to major sales events. Cybercriminals often take advantage of the larger audiences drawn to websites by discounted prices and special offers, making it more important than ever to protect yourself from potential threats. Marco Farnararo, CEO and Co-Founder of BravoVoucher.co.uk, has shared his expert advice on how to identify and steer clear of Black Friday scams. Fake Websites Popular retai...
Events, Startups

EMERGING Valley Set for Record Attendance: Over 100 Startups, 150+ Speakers, and 40 Inspiring Conferences Scheduled

On December 3, 2024, Aix-Marseille-Provence, designated as the European Capital of Innovation in 2023, will host the 8th edition of EMERGING Valley at the futuristic and inspiring site of TheCamp. Organized under the High Patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, this international event is supported by the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council, Euroméditerranée, the City of Marseille, and the French Development Agency (AFD). It will bring together 150 speakers, over 40 sessions across 3 top-tier stages, and participants from more than 50 countries, solidifying Aix-Marseille-Provence's status as a strategic hub for emerging technologies connecting Europe and Africa. A Main Stage Rich in Strategic Announcements and Inspiring Discussions The Main Stage ...
Fintech, South Africa News, Tech

SAFPS Warns: Technology is Emerging as a Major Battleground in the Fight Against Fraud

International Fraud Awareness Week is a global annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the widespread issue of fraud and showcasing the efforts across various sectors to combat this growing challenge. This year it takes place from November 17 to 24. "The role technology plays in fraud, and scams is becoming particularly challenging in South Africa," says Nazia Karrim, Head of Product Development at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), “with South Africa growing into an increasingly connected society, online fraud is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed." Be Careful of Business Email Compromise (BEC) The increased nature of technology-based fraud is evident in the recent statistics accompanying it. This is a significant challenge for companies th...
Ethiopia News

Ethio Telecom – An African Model for UN-Driven Corporate Climate Action at COP29

Six Years of Commitment to Reforestation and Climate Resilience Inspire Call for Global Corporate-UN Collaboration As COP29 unfolds in Baku, Azerbaijan, the focus on contributions to climate goals has taken center stage. Among the most compelling examples of proactive climate action comes from Africa, where Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s leading 130 years old telecom provider, has spent the past six years planting millions of trees as part of Ethiopia's broader Green Legacy initiative. This remarkable effort not only demonstrates a powerful local solution but also suggests a promising model for the United Nations to scale climate action globally by mobilizing corporate partnerships. Pioneering Climate Accountability Through Tree Planting Since 2019, Ethio Telecom has spearheaded a six-year t...