Why Integration, Not Innovation, Is The Real Digital Challenge For Governments

Brand Spur
-
0
Why Integration, Not Innovation, Is The Real Digital Challenge For Governments

By: TJ Hanekom, COO at Africonology Solutions

Across Africa, governments are investing heavily in digital
transformation to improve citizen services, modernise operations, and
expand access through cloud, AI, and digital platforms.

Yet despite significant progress, many public sector organisations
continue to face the same fragmented processes, duplicated data, and
disconnected citizen experiences that existed before digitisation began.

In many African governments, this challenge is amplified by hybrid
environments that combine legacy systems, newer digital platforms, and
varying levels of connectivity. This creates a reality where integration
is not just a technical concern but a determinant of whether citizens
can consistently access essential services.

The problem is not always the technology

The problem is often misunderstood. Government systems do not always
fail because they are old. Many still perform the functions for which
they were designed effectively. The real challenge is that they were
never designed to work together.

Over time, departments implemented technologies independently to solve
specific operational needs. The result is an environment where systems
may function well in isolation, but struggle to exchange information,
support integrated services, or provide a single view of citizens and
operations.

Digitising complexity instead of removing it

What is concerning is that many modernisation initiatives are now
replicating these same limitations on newer platforms.

Too often, organisations focus on adding digital channels, portals, or
AI capabilities without fundamentally redesigning the operational
architecture underneath them. Complexity is digitised instead of
removed. Legacy constraints are carried forward into modern
environments.

This raises an important question for leadership teams: Are we
transforming government, or simply rebuilding old operating models with
newer technology?

Transformation must become integration-centric

The next phase of digital transformation cannot be system-centric. It
must become integration-centric.

Integration is no longer just about connecting applications. It is about
creating trusted data, interoperable services, and operational
foundations that allow governments to simplify processes, improve
decision-making, and deliver connected citizen experiences across
departments and agencies.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/23/the-future-of-ai-in-nigerian-smes-overcoming-barriers-to-implementation/

Importantly, this does not require replacing everything. In most public
sector environments, large-scale replacement programmes are neither
practical nor sustainable. The real opportunity lies in modular,
interoperable architectures that allow governments to evolve
incrementally while maintaining continuity of essential services.

Why architecture matters more than products

Governments that modernise around vendor ecosystems without defining
long-term operational outcomes risk recreating the same fragmentation
they are trying to solve. Open standards, governed integration, and
composable architectures are becoming essential for sustainable
transformation.

This becomes even more critical as AI adoption accelerates. Artificial
intelligence cannot resolve fragmented environments built on
disconnected systems and inconsistent data. Without integrated
foundations, AI risks amplifying inefficiency rather than eliminating
it.

When integration is addressed effectively, the results are measurable.
Governments can reduce duplication, improve fraud detection, accelerate
service delivery, and expand access to underserved populations.

Across African public sector environments, the shift toward
integration-centric transformation is already underway. The
organisations making the greatest progress are not those adopting the
most technology, but those rethinking how their systems, data, and
services are designed to work together.

The governments that will lead the next era of transformation will not
necessarily be those deploying the most technology. They will be the
ones willing to rethink how government services, data, and operations
should function in a truly connected digital society. Because the future
of government is not about digitising the past. It is about designing
entirely new ways to deliver public services.

The Future Of AI In Nigerian SMEs: Overcoming Barriers To Implementation

Brand Spur
-
0
The Future Of AI In Nigerian SMEs: Overcoming Barriers To Implementation

By Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria

Ask a tech entrepreneur in San Francisco what AI means for their
business, and they are likely to talk about competitive advantage,
product differentiation, and scale. Ask a small business owner in Kano
or Onitsha the same question, and the conversation shifts entirely.

For many Nigerian SMEs, the priority is keeping the lights on, managing
costs, and finding sustainable ways to grow in a challenging economic
environment. This difference in perspective explains why the global AI
conversation, often shaped by assumptions about stable infrastructure,
deep capital, and abundant technical talent, frequently fails to address
the realities facing Nigerian SMEs.

This matters because Nigerian SMEs are not a peripheral concern. In 2024
alone, MSMEs contributed 46.32% [1] to Nigeria’s GDP, accounting for
96.9% of businesses and 87.9% of employment. These businesses are the
backbone of the Nigerian economy, and if AI is going to mean anything
for Nigeria’s development, it has to work for them in the daily
conditions they actually operate in.

However, research [2] drawing on empirical data from 144 Nigerian SMEs
found that inadequate infrastructure, low digital literacy, skills
shortages, and regulatory gaps are collectively preventing them from
meaningfully engaging with AI. Awareness of AI is high and growing. What
is missing is a clear and honest conversation about what adoption
actually requires in this specific context. The barriers are real, but
none of them are insurmountable. The question is whether the tools,
pricing models, and support structures being offered to Nigerian SMEs
are designed with those barriers in mind, or whether they have been
built for another market entirely.

Subscription models making AI affordable for small businesses

When most small business owners hear “AI,” they imagine expensive
software, specialist consultants, and a hefty upfront bill.

That assumption is not entirely wrong, but it describes a particular way
of buying technology, not AI itself. The shift that makes AI genuinely
accessible at the SME level is the move away from large, one-time
capital purchases towards tools that charge a predictable monthly
subscription. Businesses can pay for what they use, scale back when
necessary, and avoid the debt that a major technology investment can
create.

The deeper opportunity here is consolidation. Many SMEs are already
spending money across multiple disconnected tools—one for invoicing,
another for customer records, another for stock tracking—none of which
talk to each other. An integrated platform that handles several of these
functions together, with AI built in, can actually cost less than the
sum of those separate subscriptions while giving business owners a
clearer picture of their operations.

With margins already under pressure, any technology a business adopts
needs to, visibly, show increase in productivity or bottom line.
Subscription-based, integrated platforms, priced transparently and
honestly, are the model that best fits this reality.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/23/no-smartphone-no-internet-no-excuse-efiwe-turns-any-text-message-into-a-coding-classroom/

Infrastructure challenges demand a mobile-first approach

No conversation about technology in Nigeria is complete without
confronting the infrastructure problem, and AI is no exception. Nigeria
continues to face major infrastructure barriers [3], including limited
broadband access, unreliable power supply, and high data costs, all of
which constrain deeper AI adoption. These are structural features of the
operating environment that any sensible technology strategy must account
for today.

The electricity situation alone is significant. The World Bank estimates
that the lack of stable electricity costs Nigeria’s economy
approximately $26.2 billion [4] annually, equivalent to about 2% of GDP,
forcing many businesses to run on expensive diesel generators. That cost
ripples outward.

In practical terms, AI tools built for Nigeria cannot assume a stable
broadband connection or a computer that is always powered on. The tools
that will actually get used are the ones that work on a smartphone,
consume minimal data, and can function offline when connectivity drops,
syncing back up when it returns. The mobile phone is already how many
Nigerian SME owners run their businesses. AI that meets them there,
rather than demanding infrastructure they do not have, is AI that has a
genuine future in this market.

The direction is clear: build capability from within, using tools that
make that possible. Recent AI performance research reveals that 64% of
African workers [5] are already actively using AI at work, signaling
massive grassroots readiness and driving forward-thinking organizations
across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa to aggressively prioritize
internal upskilling frameworks to bridge the talent gap.

As the policy groundwork is being laid, the commercial ecosystem is
beginning to respond. What remains is a clear-eyed acceptance that AI
tools built for this market need to look different from those built for
markets with different realities. Low cost, low bandwidth, and usability
for non-technical people are not modest ambitions; they are the actual
requirements. Build for those realities, and AI has a real future in
Nigeria’s SME economy.

No Smartphone. No Internet. No Excuse. Efiwe Turns Any Text Message Into A Coding Classroom

Brand Spur
-
0
No Smartphone. No Internet. No Excuse. Efiwe Turns Any Text Message Into A Coding Classroom

With Efiwe Zero now live on MTN Nigeria, the AI-powered ed-tech platform
closes the final gap in mobile learning, reaching anyone who can send an
SMS, on top of a coding curriculum already used by 13,000+ learners in
139 countries.

Efiwe, the mobile-first, AI-powered coding education platform built for
the billions of people who rely on smartphones, or, until now, even less
than that, as their only device, has officially launched Efiwe Zero, a
fully SMS-based version of its curriculum that lets anyone learn to code
using nothing but a basic feature phone and a text message.

Available now to MTN Nigeria subscribers, Efiwe Zero works by texting
the word “EFIWE” to shortcode 34461. From there, learners receive
interactive bite-sized coding challenges, written in plain text and
split across stitched messages to work around the 160-character SMS
limit, and get instant, AI-powered feedback on every answer they send
back. No app, no download, no data bundle, and no internet connection
are required, at any point, ever.

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not” has been Efiwe’s founding
belief since it launched in August 2025, and Efiwe Zero is the most
literal expression of that idea yet. It takes the same AI tutor, the
same instant feedback, and the same beginner-to-builder curriculum that
already runs on smartphones across 139 countries, and rebuilds it inside
the one technology that predates the smartphone entirely, the text
message.

Most coding education platform has quietly assumed a baseline of a
laptop, a data plan, and a stable enough connection to load a page. For
a huge number of would-be learners, that assumption is the barrier
itself, not a footnote to it.

Efiwe Zero removes it entirely. It runs on the same dual-model AI
architecture that powers Efiwe. By default, validation and feedback are
handled by Efiwe 2.0, the cloud-based model, and whenever it is busy or
unavailable, the platform falls back seamlessly to the lightweight,
on-device Efiwe 1.0/1.5 model, which is always available. This is
exactly how the WhatsApp and Messenger bots work as well. The web
platform follows the same logic, with one difference: it defaults fully
to Efiwe 1.0/1.5 only when a learner is completely offline. Across every
surface, the quality of the teaching never depends on the quality of the
signal.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/23/pmi-research-effective-complexity-management-increases-project-success-rate-by-5x/

Chidi Nwaogu, Co-founder and CTO of Efiwe, has spent his career trying
to close the gap between digital opportunity and digital access, and
sees Efiwe Zero as the answer to a question he’s been chasing since his
first year running a coding bootcamp.

“Every feature we’ve ever shipped at Efiwe started with the same
question: who are we still leaving out? With Efiwe Zero, the answer got
smaller than it’s ever been. If a phone can receive a text message, that
phone can now teach someone to code. We spent weeks figuring out how to
stitch a full coding challenge across multiple SMS messages without
breaking the experience, because a 160-character limit should never be
the reason someone’s learning stops,” said Nwaogu.

Efiwe Zero is the newest layer in a platform that already meets learners
wherever they are. The core web platform offers five interconnected
courses, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Tailwind, and Python, totaling over
1,500 interactive, gamified coding challenges and taking learners from a
first line of HTML to professional back-end Python, entirely on a
smartphone. Courses on PHP, SQL, and React are currently in development
and expected to launch in the coming months, based on direct learner
demand. The same AI-powered curriculum is also available through
WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, accessible by simply messaging “hi,”
with zero account creation or downloads required. Efiwe Zero now extends
that same curriculum once more, this time reachable from any feature
phone, with no internet and no smartphone required. And through the
Efiwe Open API and JavaScript SDK, schools, NGOs, and platforms can
embed Efiwe’s challenges, AI feedback, and progress tracking directly
into their own products.

Every layer runs on the same underlying AI tutor and the same
accessibility commitments. The platform offers full offline capability
after a single initial load, support for 246 languages plus sign
language, Voice-to-Code for hands-free input, Sign-to-Code and Sign This
for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners, and Battery Saver Mode for
learners with limited access to charging.

Efiwe Zero arrives in the middle of a stretch of rapid growth and
recognition for the platform. Efiwe now serves more than 13,000 learners
across 139 countries, up from 11,000 across the same number of countries
at the time of Efiwe Zero’s MTN Nigeria launch in May. The platform
recently completed the single largest language expansion in its history,
bringing total language support to 246. It is also running a structured
pilot with Teach For Nigeria across 10 schools in Lagos and Ogun State,
a pilot that directly inspired Efiwe’s new Account Switching feature,
which lets up to 20 learners share a single device without losing
progress between handoffs.

On the recognition front, Efiwe has been named by the International
Telecommunication Union as one of the world’s top 5 startups leveraging
AI to improve learning and upskilling, shortlisted for the 2026 Royal
Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, and
accepted into the Builders of Africa’s Future accelerator, run by the
African Diaspora Network and the African Management Institute.

Efiwe Zero currently runs on MTN Nigeria, with the team evaluating
expansion to additional networks and countries based on demand.
Efiwe is a mobile-first, AI-powered coding education platform that
enables anyone to learn to code directly on any smartphone, or, with
Efiwe Zero, a basic feature phone, with no laptop, no constant internet
connection, and no prior coding experience required. Since launching on
August 16, 2025, Efiwe has grown to serve more than 13,000 learners
across 139 countries, offering courses in HTML, CSS, JavaScript,
Tailwind, and Python, and in 246 languages plus sign language.
The core platform is, and will remain, 100% free.

PMI Research: Effective Complexity Management Increases Project Success Rate By 5x

Brand Spur
-
0
PMI Research: Effective Complexity Management Increases Project Success Rate By 5x

As the region accelerates digital transformation, infrastructure
development, energy expansion, and public-sector modernisation, new
global research from the Project Management Institute (PMI) has revealed
that project complexity is emerging as a prominent threat to successful
project delivery across Sub-Saharan Africa.

PMI Research: Effective Complexity Management Increases Project Success Rate By 5x
PMI.Org Headshots 22 and 24

According to the PMI’s latest Pulse of the Profession® report,
Driving Success in Complex Projects: From Navigating Tasks to Navigating
Systems [1], the findings show that projects are increasingly facing
missed deadlines, decision bottlenecks, and pressure on teams as
organisations race to deliver transformation amid rapid change.

The report, based on insights from project professionals and senior
leaders across 35 countries, shows that 81% of project professionals
globally believe projects have become more complex in recent years, with
37% describing the increase as significant. This increase in complexity
is being driven by a combination of organisational, environmental, and
human factors, including AI adoption, shifting stakeholder expectations,
economic volatility, and increasingly interconnected systems.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the research highlights a particularly strong
pattern of delivery disruption. According to PMI’s regional findings,
missed delivery deadlines (at 44%) stand significantly above the global
average (35%), while delays in stakeholder decision-making (41% vs. 34%
for global) are emerging as another major friction point for
organisations across the region. The findings suggest that complexity is
increasingly slowing value alignment, approvals, and execution, creating
governance bottlenecks that compound delivery challenges. Team morale is
also under pressure, with 23% of regional respondents citing decreased
morale as a consequence of poorly managed complexity, compared to 19%
globally.

“These findings reflect the realities many organisations across
Africa are already facing,” said George Asamani, MD, PMI Sub-Saharan
Africa. “Africa is currently undertaking some of the world’s most
ambitious transformation agendas, from infrastructure and
industrialisation to digital inclusion, energy access, fintech
innovation, and public-sector reform. But as the scale of ambition
grows, so does the complexity behind execution.”

“As organisations attempt to deliver more projects faster, many are
discovering that traditional approaches focused purely on timelines and
tasks are no longer enough. Success today depends on the ability to
navigate interconnected systems, align stakeholders quickly, adapt to
change continuously, and build resilient teams capable of operating in
uncertainty,” he added.

The report identifies three major dimensions of complexity globally:
organisational, environmental, and human. Organisational complexity
includes unclear governance structures, siloed teams, and competing
priorities that make alignment and execution more difficult.
Environmental complexity is driven by rapid AI disruption, geopolitical
shifts, regulatory volatility, and broader market uncertainty, forces
reshaping project environments faster than many organisations can adapt.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/23/personal-equity-quantifying-individual-activity-to-price-risk/

Human complexity, meanwhile, is the social and cognitive dimension:
competing incentives, political dynamics, and relationship pressures
that affect how decisions get made, how teams build confidence, and how
effectively people can lead through uncertainty.

According to Asamani, complexity does not always appear as a major
crisis. Often, it shows up through everyday project challenges like
shifting priorities, delayed decisions, changing requirements, or
stakeholders pulling in different directions. But when these issues are
not managed as part of a bigger interconnected system, they can lead to
delivery delays, strategic drift, and pressure on teams.

Despite these challenges, the research points to a clear opportunity:
organisations and teams that effectively manage complexity are five
times more likely to deliver successful projects. Globally, projects
managed effectively in complex environments achieved an 88% success rate
compared to just 14% that were ineffective at managing complexity.

The research highlights several practices strongly linked to better
project outcomes, including securing sponsor alignment early,
maintaining phased stakeholder engagement throughout the project
lifecycle, applying structured frameworks to navigate complexity,
investing in scenario planning, and sustaining team momentum during
periods of uncertainty.

For Sub-Saharan Africa, where project delivery directly determines
economic growth, social outcomes, and investor confidence, closing this
complexity management gap is not optional; it is a strategic imperative.
PMI’s certifications and frameworks are specifically designed to equip
project professionals with the tools to navigate complex, interconnected
systems and deliver with consistency and impact.

“The future competitiveness of African economies will increasingly
depend on the ability to execute at scale,” says Asamani. “Africa does
not have an ideas deficit, and increasingly it does not have a capital
deficit. What will determine whether this decade delivers on its promise
is execution capability. Strong project leadership isn’t a soft
priority; it’s the difference between transformation that happens on
paper and transformation that changes lives.”

Personal Equity: Quantifying Individual Activity To Price Risk

Brand Spur
-
0
Personal Equity: Quantifying Individual Activity To Price Risk

By Winston Osuchukwu | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mathesis Analytics

For decades, credit risk assessment in Nigeria has rested on an
incomplete foundation. Lenders—whether deposit money banks,
microfinance institutions, or digital finance operators—price credit
largely on the basis of data they alone have collected about a borrower.
This institutional insularity is often deliberate, and it costs the
Nigerian borrower dearly. The concept we advance here, Personal Equity,
challenges this status quo at its root.

PERSONAL EQUITY IS THE QUANTIFIED EXPRESSION OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S
FINANCIAL BEHAVIOUR, AGGREGATED ACROSS EVERY INSTITUTION WITH WHICH THEY
HAVE TRANSACTED AND TRANSLATED INTO A PRECISE, PORTABLE MEASURE OF
CREDITWORTHINESS. IT IS, IN ESSENCE, A PERSON’S CREDIT IDENTITY—NOT
AS A SINGLE LENDER PERCEIVES IT, BUT AS THE FULL BREADTH OF THEIR
FINANCIAL LIFE REFLECTS IT.

The distinction is material. A borrower who faithfully repays a
microfinance loan, consistently saves through a fintech wallet, and
services a BNPL facility without default has demonstrated coherent
financial responsibility. Yet under Nigeria’s prevailing
infrastructure, that pattern is invisible to any lender they have not
yet transacted with. Each new relationship begins from near-zero, and
the borrower is priced accordingly—not because they are risky, but
because their risk is unmeasured.

THE CREDIT REPORTING ACT 2017 AND THE CBN’S BUREAU LICENSING FRAMEWORK
WERE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THIS. CREDIT BUREAUS EXIST AS THE AUTHORISED
REPOSITORIES FOR INDIVIDUAL CREDIT DATA. IN PRINCIPLE, LENDERS MUST
SUBMIT INFORMATION TO THEM AND CONSULT THEM IN DECISIONING.

In practice, the system is undermined by selective compliance. Negative
data is reported more consistently than positive behavioural data, and
institutions that have built a granular picture of their customers have
little incentive to share it with competitors. The consequence falls on
the borrower: an individual whose repayment discipline and savings
consistency are richly documented but poorly shared is perpetually
undervalued. They overpay for credit they could access more cheaply, or
are excluded from credit they objectively qualify for.

THE NIGERIA DATA PROTECTION ACT 2023, ADMINISTERED BY THE NDPC,
ESTABLISHES THAT PERSONAL DATA—INCLUDING FINANCIAL BEHAVIOURAL
DATA—BELONGS IN A MEANINGFUL SENSE TO THE DATA SUBJECT. INSTITUTIONS
ARE PROCESSORS AND CONTROLLERS WITHIN DEFINED PURPOSES; THEY ARE NOT ITS
OWNERS. A BORROWER’S REPAYMENT HISTORY AND TRANSACTION PATTERNS ARE
GENERATED BY THEIR OWN CONDUCT, AND THE VALUE EMBEDDED IN THAT DATA IS A
PRODUCT OF THEIR DISCIPLINE. THAT THEY CANNOT PRESENTLY EXTRACT AND
DEPLOY THAT VALUE IS A FUNCTION OF MARKET STRUCTURE, NOT OF ANY
PRINCIPLED LEGAL POSITION. PERSONAL EQUITY OPERATIONALISES THE
RECOGNITION THAT THIS DATA IS AN ASSET OF THE INDIVIDUAL, MAKING IT
PORTABLE AND COMMERCIALLY MEANINGFUL.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/23/africas-ready-to-drink-coffee-market-opportunity-opens-as-global-industry-nears-48-billion-by-2030/

MATHESIS ANALYTICS HAS BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE PERSONAL EQUITY
A PRACTICAL REALITY. OUR PLATFORM INTEGRATES DIRECTLY WITH THE CORE
BANKING SYSTEMS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ENABLING THE AUTOMATIC,
CONTINUOUS UPDATING OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S PROFILE AND SCORE AS NEW DATA
IS GENERATED. CRITICALLY, OUR ARCHITECTURE IS NOT LIMITED TO A SINGLE
INSTITUTION: WE AGGREGATE BEHAVIOURAL SIGNALS ACROSS MULTIPLE
RELATIONSHIPS AND ENRICH THEM WITH ALTERNATIVE DATA—TELCO USAGE,
UTILITY PAYMENTS, AND OTHER INDICATORS OF FINANCIAL CHARACTER OUTSIDE
THE FORMAL BANKING SYSTEM. THIS MATTERS IN A MARKET WHERE A SUBSTANTIAL
SHARE OF THE ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION REMAINS UNDERBANKED OR
THIN-FILE. TO DATE, MATHESIS HAS SCORED OVER 40 MILLION INDIVIDUALS AND
ENABLED MORE THAN $272 MILLION IN CREDIT DISBURSEMENTS ACROSS NIGERIA.

THE CASE FOR PERSONAL EQUITY IS NOT MERELY ONE OF BORROWER FAIRNESS; IT
IS EQUALLY AN ARGUMENT FOR MARKET EFFICIENCY. NIGERIA’S CREDIT MARKETS
ARE CHARACTERISED BY SPREADS THAT ARE WIDE RELATIVE TO ACTUAL RISK AND
EXCLUSION RATIOS THAT ARE HIGH RELATIVE TO THE CREDITWORTHY
POPULATION—MUCH OF IT ATTRIBUTABLE TO INFORMATION ASYMMETRY. LENDERS
WHO CANNOT PRICE AN INDIVIDUAL’S RISK EITHER EXCLUDE THAT INDIVIDUAL
OR PRICE CONSERVATIVELY, AND BOTH OUTCOMES ARE DEADWEIGHT LOSS.

This aligns directly with the CBN’s financial inclusion agenda. The
challenge of inclusion in Nigeria has never primarily been one of
product or distribution; it has been one of information. By creating a
complete, multi-source, continuously updated picture of
creditworthiness—built on the customer’s consent and consistent with
the NDPA, the CBN’s open banking frameworks, and global best
practice—Personal Equity addresses the gap that has kept creditworthy
Nigerians outside the formal system.

NIGERIA’S CREDIT MARKET HAS LONG OPERATED ON THE PREMISE THAT RISK IS
AN INSTITUTIONAL PERCEPTION RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL REALITY. PERSONAL
EQUITY CHALLENGES THAT PREMISE, ASSERTING THAT AN INDIVIDUAL’S
FINANCIAL BEHAVIOUR IS A QUANTIFIABLE, PORTABLE, AND VALUABLE ASSET THAT
OUGHT TO WORK IN THEIR INTEREST. AT MATHESIS, WE HAVE BUILT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE THAT OPERATIONAL. THE DATA EXISTS. THE TECHNOLOGY
EXISTS. WHAT REMAINS IS THE COLLECTIVE WILL TO DEPLOY IT.

Mathesis Analytics is a Nigerian-incorporated AI-powered credit
decisioning and scoring platform that has scored over 40 million
individuals and enabled more than $272 million in credit disbursements
across Nigeria.

Africa’s Ready-To-Drink Coffee Market Opportunity Opens As Global Industry Nears $48 Billion By 2030

Brand Spur
-
0
Africa’s Ready-To-Drink Coffee Market Opportunity Opens As Global Industry Nears $48 Billion By 2030

Africa’s leading coffee-producing nations are being urged to move beyond exporting raw beans and capture greater value from the rapidly expanding global ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee market, which is projected to approach $48 billion by 2030.

The opportunity comes as consumer demand for canned cold brew and RTD coffee products continues to rise across major markets, driven largely by younger consumers seeking convenience, traceable sourcing, and premium beverage experiences. Industry estimates place the global RTD coffee market at about $38.7 billion in 2026, with strong growth expected over the next four years.

While countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda remain globally recognised for producing some of the world’s most sought-after coffee, African-owned brands continue to hold a relatively small share of the finished consumer products sold in international markets. Instead, much of the value chain remains concentrated among multinational beverage and food companies that control processing, distribution, branding, and retail access.

According to industry stakeholders, the challenge is no longer coffee quality but the infrastructure and investment required to transform raw agricultural output into branded, export-ready consumer goods. Brandspur Brand News reports that expanding local processing capacity could enable African producers and cooperatives to participate more directly in higher-margin segments of the coffee industry.

Key areas identified for development include establishing regional processing hubs capable of cold brew extraction and aseptic packaging, strengthening temperature-controlled logistics networks, and improving compliance with international food safety and traceability standards. Regulatory requirements such as HACCP certification, ISO 22000 food safety management systems, and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are increasingly shaping access to premium export markets.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/22/masterchef-nigeria-top-5-pressure-sends-derry-home/

Industry observers also point to branding as a critical factor. As consumers place greater emphasis on product origin and sustainability credentials, coffee brands that highlight farm-level traceability, cooperative ownership, and geographic identity may be better positioned to compete in global specialty beverage markets.

Beyond exports to Europe, North America, and Asia, analysts note that Africa’s own urban consumer markets are becoming increasingly important. Cities including Lagos, Nairobi, and Kigali are experiencing growing coffee consumption, creating additional opportunities for locally produced RTD beverages and specialty coffee brands.

The evolving regulatory environment could also provide an advantage for African producers able to demonstrate transparent sourcing and sustainability practices. Compliance standards that present challenges for some commodity traders may strengthen the competitiveness of producers with well-documented supply chains and verifiable origin credentials.

As global demand for premium coffee beverages accelerates, industry leaders argue that Africa’s next challenge is not producing more coffee but capturing more of the value generated after harvest. Achieving that goal will depend on investment in processing infrastructure, cold-chain logistics, financing, regulatory readiness, and brand development capable of turning Africa’s coffee heritage into globally recognised consumer products.

Masterchef Nigeria Top 5 Pressure Sends Derry Home

Brand Spur
-
0
Masterchef Nigeria Top 5 Pressure Sends Derry Home

The heat was high, the flavours were bold, and the pressure was sizzling as the Top 5 home cooks on MasterChef Nigeria were tasked with re-imagining beloved Buka classics in a challenge that demanded they cook with serious “street in their step.”

Joining the judges in the MasterChef kitchen was the well-known and much-loved Chef Bukie Akinmade, who brought her expertise, warmth, and deep love for Nigerian food culture to the judging table.

For this challenge, the contestants had to prepare two dishes inspired by the vibrant energy, flavours, and soul of Nigerian street food and Buka-style cooking. But this was not just about recreating familiar favourites. The home cooks had to turn humble food into fine dining elevating everyday classics while still keeping the heart, spirit, and authenticity of the street alive.

For Derry, the mission was personal. She was determined to let tradition and tribe shine through her food, but unfortunately, her dishes did not land the way she had hoped. The judges felt that her execution did not meet the standard required at this stage of the competition, and after a tough cook, Derry became the next contestant to leave the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen.

Joining Derry in the bottom three were Favy and Fads.

Favy, who still had the immunity pin, was confident in the dish she presented and chose not to use it. However, her undercooked Dubai Pistachio Puff Puff came back to bite, landing her in the danger zone.

Fads also found herself under pressure after serving two starter-style dishes. Time got the better of her in the kitchen, leading to a shocking moment when she accidentally put her hands into hot oil. The incident startled the judges and Fads herself, but she pushed through with determination and made sure her food reached the plate. In the end, the judges were impressed with how well her chicken was cooked, and she was declared safe.

While some contestants struggled to find their rhythm, David and Isabella rose to the occasion and served the strongest dishes of the day.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/22/54-of-aspiring-web3-professionals-cant-land-their-first-job-bitget-report/

Although Isabella’s dish was simple, the judges felt that she truly understood the brief and successfully took her food to the streets while giving it the elevation the challenge required. Her flavours, concept, and execution impressed the panel and earned her a place among the top cooks of the challenge.

David, however, brought both flavour and fighting spirit to the plate. The judges were particularly impressed with the look of his dishes, as well as the balance and depth of flavour in his street food classics. His ability to elevate familiar favourites while staying true to the heart of the challenge made him one of the standout performers of the day. David’s fighting spirit paid off as he walked away with Dish of the Day.

MasterChef Nigeria continues next week as the Top 4 battle for a place closer to the ultimate title.

The remaining contestants will be challenged to create two Afro-Italian dishes, with a major prize on the line for the winning dish. As the finale draws closer, every plate matters, every second counts, and only the strongest cooks will survive the heat.

The show airs weekly on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family with rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family.

Produced by Primedia Group, MasterChef Nigeria is supported by a strong coalition of leading Nigerian brands, including headline sponsor Power Oil, alongside Indomie, Dano Milk, Malta Guinness, Sonia Tomato, Kiara Rice, Golden Penny Flour, Golden Penny Sugar, Golden Penny Garri, Golden Penny Semolina, Golden Penny Chocolate Spread, and Golden Penny Wheat.

For more information and a chance to win great prizes, visit www.masterchefnigeria.com and follow the conversation on social media: Facebook: MasterChef Nigeria | Instagram: @masterchefngr | TikTok: @masterchefngr | X (formerly Twitter): @masterchefngr

54% of Aspiring Web3 Professionals Can’t Land Their First Job: Bitget Report

Brand Spur
-
0
54% of Aspiring Web3 Professionals Can’t Land Their First Job: Bitget Report

VICTORIA, Seychelles – June 2026

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has released its Web3 Next-Gen Talent Intelligence Report, finding that hiring barriers, not a lack of talent, are one of the industry’s biggest workforce challenges. Conducted under Bitget’s Blockchain4Youth (B4Y) initiative, the study surveyed aspiring and early-career professionals across multiple regions and found that while Web3 continues attracting highly educated talent, many candidates remain unable to secure their first role.

More than 54% of respondents identified prior experience requirements for junior positions as the biggest obstacle to entering the industry, while 52% said their education provided theoretical knowledge but lacked practical, job-ready skills. The findings suggest that as blockchain education expands globally, employment pathways have not kept pace, creating a growing disconnect between learning and workforce participation. The report concludes that the sector faces a talent access challenge instead of talent shortage, with many qualified candidates struggling to gain the experience needed to enter the industry.

The report also highlights the increasing importance of emerging markets in shaping the future of the Web3 workforce. Nigeria, Indonesia, and China accounted for nearly half of all respondents, reflecting how blockchain education and career interest are expanding beyond traditional technology hubs. Nearly 46% of participants were between the ages of 23 and 30 years, while more than 58% held Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degrees.

“The industry has succeeded in attracting talent globally. The challenge now is converting talent into employment. The findings show there is a large pool of motivated and educated candidates, but many are struggling to take the first step into the industry. Closing this gap will be critical for the next phase of industry growth,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/22/akada-childrens-book-festival-celebrates-literacy-and-storytelling-at-eighth-edition-in-lagos/

The report highlights that talent interests are evolving alongside industry demand. AI and blockchain convergence emerged as the most sought-after career path, selected by 61% of respondents. Despite strong enthusiasm for the sector, respondents consistently identified practical industry exposure as a missing piece of career development, with 62% selecting mentorship fr0m experienced professionals as the support mechanism most likely to accelerate their careers.

The report follows continued expansion of Blockchain4Youth, Bitget’s global initiative focused on blockchain education and workforce development. The findings reinforce the importance of structured learning pathways that combine technical education with practical industry exposure, an approach reflected in the Blockchain4Youth Learning Hub curriculum, which combines blockchain fundamentals, DeFi education, industry insights, and emerging technology topics.

The Blockchain4Youth Learning Hub recently surpassed 10,000 registered learners worldwide. Participants who successfully complete the programme receive a certificate that can be used to access priority review for selected opportunities within Bitget and the Blockchain4Youth Talent Alliance, helping connect education with real-world career pathways. Through initiatives including Boxed for Opportunity and educational partnerships, career-focussed programmes, and the Blockchain4Youth Talent Alliance, Blockchain4Youth continues connecting learning, mentorship, and career development opportunities for emerging Web3 talent.

The report concluded that stronger collaboration between educational institutions, employers, learning platforms, and industry participants will be needed to bridge the gap between education and employment and support the next stage of Web3 workforce growth.

For more information, please read the report here.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry’s lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | DiscordRisk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Akada Children’s Book Festival Celebrates Literacy And Storytelling At Eighth Edition In Lagos

Brand Spur
-
0
Akada Children’s Book Festival Celebrates Literacy And Storytelling At Eighth Edition In Lagos

   ….Honours Pelumi Numi with Children’s Book of the Year Award

Lagos, Nigeria – More than 1,700 children, parents, educators, authors, illustrators and book lovers gathered at Rugby School Nigeria, Eko Atlantic, Lagos, for the eighth edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF), highlighting its pivotal role in nurturing young minds and reinforcing the importance of literacy and cultural heritage in Nigeria. The festival, which is the first and largest Nigerian book festival curated specifically for children, continues to serve as a platform where African stories are shared, experienced and celebrated through immersive learning.

This year’s festival, themed “Big Dreams, Brave Stories,” showcased 25 original children’s books by Nigerian authors based both locally and internationally. The programme brought together a rich mix of learning and creative experiences, including 6 Book Chats, 2 Young Authors’ Panels, 5 Parents’ Workshops, 7 Children’s Workshops, 2 Illustration Workshops (Draw Like a Pro!), and 2 Animation Workshops.  In addition to book readings, the festival featured a wide range of interactive activities—including Scrabble and chess tournaments, STEM activities, sensory play sessions, SIP-and-Paint experiences, and other hands-on creative engagements—helped to spark curiosity, imagination, and a stronger love for reading among children and families.

A major highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Akada Children’s Book Festival Children’s Book of the Year Award, which recognised excellence in children’s publishing and storytelling. The winner of the 2026 award, Lumi Drives from London to Lagos by Pelumi Nubi, was announced during the festival. Other notable recognitions included Enifome Uyoyou-Agha & Aiden Johnson, winners of the Writing Competition; Sorcha Fischer, winner of the Illustration Competition; and Edward Peculiar, winner of the Chess Tournament.

Speaking on the significance of the festival, renowned children’s author and Convener of the Akada Children’s Book Festival, Mrs. Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi, said:

“The Akada Children’s Book Festival was created out of a clear need to address the gap in children’s access to books that are not only available, but meaningful, relatable, and reflective of their lived experiences. From the beginning, our mission has been to build a strong reading culture among children in Nigeria by creating a space where stories, imagination, and learning come together. Each year, we return with renewed purpose, and this eighth edition is no different. Our expectation is simple but powerful—to see more children fall in love with reading, more parents actively engage in their children’s learning journey, and more writers and illustrators inspired to tell African stories with pride and excellence. This festival is ultimately about shaping a future where reading is not an obligation, but a joyful habit that opens doors for every child.”

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/22/paystack-launches-small-business-program-to-support-nigerian-businesses/

Throughout the day, children participated in a rich programme of literary and educational activities. Popular book readings and storytime sessions featured titles including Iwa: Short Stories About Character by Zansi Adebowale, Sleepy Guppy Says Bedtime Must Wait by Adebola Rayo, What Happened On Thursday? by Ayo Oyeku, Kachi and the River Guard by Amarachukwu Chimeka, Lumi Drives From London To Lagos by Pelumi Nubi, Sim Sim Goes To The Salon by Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie and many more.

The festival also celebrated emerging literary talent through dedicated Young Authors’ Panels featuring Achiever Omotoso, Oluwatoke Aduradola, Tiwatope Oloye and Chimziterem Iloh. Attendees were further treated to theatrical performances, puppet shows and an exclusive first reading of Dunoma the Brave by acclaimed author Lola Shoneyin, alongside appearances by several leading children’s authors and storytellers.

The Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF) is an annual event that provides a visible platform for the work of indigenous authors and encourages broad public engagement with children’s literature from Nigeria and around the world. Since its launch in 2019, the festival has drawn over 10,160 attendees and donated more than 5,118 books, creating greater access to quality reading materials for children. Beyond celebrating African stories and authors, the festival empowers parents and educators to nurture a love for reading, embrace shared reading practices, and inspire the next generation of African storytellers.

Paystack Launches Small Business Program To Support Nigerian Businesses

Brand Spur
-
0
Paystack Launches Small Business Program To Support Nigerian Businesses

First offer gives eligible Nigerian merchants access to up to ₦4 million in discounts from business service partners.

Lagos, Nigeria. 22 June, 2026 – Paystack [1], one of Africa’s leading
payments technology companies,  has launched the Paystack Small Business
Program to support Nigerian small businesses through a range of
initiatives designed to help them grow, connect with relevant
opportunities, and access funding for their next stage of growth.

The program will support businesses as they start, manage and grow their
operations, starting with the Paystack Small Business Bundle [7]. The
bundle gives eligible Nigerian merchants access to up to ₦4 million in
discounts on tools and services from selected partners across key areas
of business operations, including commerce, bookkeeping, logistics,
design, workspace, customer communication, and digital tools.

Small businesses play a significant role in Nigeria’s economy, but
many still face everyday operational challenges, from managing sales and
records, reaching customers, handling deliveries, and accessing
affordable tools. The program has been developed to provide practical
support for these businesses as they manage daily operations and plan
for their next stage of growth.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/22/nigerias-fmcg-market-reaches-25-billion-in-2026-as-credit-access-remains-out-of-reach-for-most-retailers/

The Paystack Small Business Program will start with the following
initiatives:

  • Paystack Small Business Bundle: a collection of tools, services,
    resources, and partner offers to help small businesses operate more
    efficiently and grow sustainably.
  • Paystack Small Business Launchpad: dedicated, hands-on support to help
    high-potential businesses get the most out of Paystack and accelerate
    their growth.
  • Paystack Small Business Grant: funding for high-potential businesses to
    support their next stage of growth.

Through the Small Business bundle, eligible merchants can access offers
from partners including Bumpa [3], Ijeworks [8], Wiicreate [9], Flowcart
[10], Simplebks [11], Africaworks [4], Paystack [1], Kindlybook [12],
FezDelivery [13], Gamp [14], Pressone [15], Mercurie [16], Shuttlers [5]
and Canva [6].

Paystack is targeting 2,000 Nigerian SMBs for the Small Business Bundle,
with additional partner offers expected over time.

The Bundle is available to eligible Nigerian merchants with a live
Paystack account, at least 10 Paystack transactions in the last 30 days,
and operations in Nigeria. Eligible merchants can visit the Small
Business Bundle Page [2] to browse available partner offers, submit
their business details and receive redemption instructions once their
eligibility has been confirmed.

1...222324...3,970Page 23 of 3,970