Author: Opinion

With roughly 80% of transactions on the continent still rely on legacy USSD technology, BCG’s Associate Director Kitso Lemo outlines how shifting to API-driven, AI-first telcos model will unlock the next wave of fintech growth. Successful AI integration isn’t just hype, it represents a projected 3% to 5% increase in revenue (via hyper-personalization) and a 15% to 20% reduction in capital expenditure through self-optimising networks. Why African telco leadership teams consistently over-index on buying technology but fail at the crucial 70%—people and process change management. For the better part of a decade, the global telecommunications sector has been viewed by investors with…

In this climate of ever shifting geopolitical sands, Africa is well positioned to take advantage of these developments by developing its natural resources and processing same, argues Dele Kuti, Global Head, Energy at Standard Bank Corporate & Investment Banking As we approach the second half of the year, it is important to reflect on the busy first half. After a hectic 2025, most observers would have expected some form of respite. Unfortunately, respite will not likely be a word associated with the half of the year2026. The Oil and gas and the broader energy sector, an industry I have worked…

Critical minerals: The world’s appetite for cobalt, copper, lithium, graphite, manganese and rare earths is growing because the technologies that promise a cleaner and more digital future still depend on physical minerals, writes Prof. Yizhou He. While the U.S. is trying to reduce dependence on Chinese-dominated supply chains. China remains deeply embedded in mining, refining and battery manufacturing. Europe is searching for “secure” and “responsible” mineral partnerships. In May 2026, another deal reminded the world why the Democratic Republic of Congo sits at the centre of the global energy transition. Congo’s state cobalt company, Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, Trafigura and…

The key to AI is not intelligence. It is safety. And safety is not a feature. It is a philosophy, writes AI advisor John Kamara.  A few weeks ago, I wrote about being in a room in Nairobi full of smart, passionate people talking about African AI. The energy was real. The intent was genuine. And something kept nagging at me like a splinter I could not locate. We were talking about AI. We were not, I realised on the drive home, talking about intelligence. This is the piece I could not write yet. Because the more I sat with…

The appeal of Kenya’s creative economy lies in its multiplier effect. Creative production stimulates adjacent industries: tourism, retail, technology, events, hospitality, and infrastructure, generating diversified revenue streams and employment at scale.  Kenya’s creative economy is evolving from cultural promise into investment reality. Spanning film, music, digital content, gaming, fashion, and sports, the sector has emerged as one of Africa’s most dynamic growth frontiers, propelled by digital adoption, favorable demographics, progressive policy reform, and deepening international partnerships. Conservative estimates from government and industry sources consistently place the creative sector’s contribution at approximately 5 per cent of Kenya’s GDP. Recent assessments suggest the figure ranges between 5…

Binance is the central trading hub for crypto, leading in liquidity and price discovery, with $34T traded in 2025 and $145T all-time volume. Beyond trading, Binance’s infrastructure includes regulated access, secure custody for retail and institutional users, transparent asset assurance, and industry-leading security systems.  Binance bridges crypto and the traditional economy, providing institutional custody, collateral services, as well as fiat and payment rails that enable everyday fund transfers. Some people still think of Binance as just an exchange. This label made sense when crypto platforms were used primarily for trading. Yet today, Binance is more accurately described as crypto infrastructure,…

Afreximbank contends that Fitch Ratings failed to account for this critical distinction, producing an assessment the bank views as an unfair misrepresentation of its true credit standing. In a recent public statement, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced it would terminate its credit rating relationship with Fitch Ratings. The rationale for this decision was particularly striking. The bank attributed the move to its “firm belief that the credit rating exercise no longer reflects a good understanding of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement, its mission, or its mandate.” It further emphasized that its business profile remains “robust, underpinned by strong shareholder relationships…

As Washington assumes ‘America First’ position, NGOs in Africa that are heavily dependent on U.S. aid face a stark choice either to collapse or reinvent themselves quickly through diversification, innovation, and local ownership. As President Donald Trump’s second year in office gathers pace, a controversial yet vital question grips the boardrooms of NGOs in Africa: how long can they survive without billions of dollars in American foreign aid? Washington has over the decades been the largest contributor to international development, with subsidies to health, education, democracy promotion, and humanitarian assistance channeled via USAid, which ceased operations on 1st July 2025.…

For more than a decade, the Ethiopia GERD has represented hope to millions of Ethiopians who contributed their savings, their salaries, and their belief to a project that promised electricity, dignity, and development. For others in the region, particularly Egypt, it has represented uncertainty and fear about water security. That tension has turned a hydroelectric project into one of the most consequential geopolitical issues in Africa. Today, the conversation around Ethiopia GERD sovereignty is resurfacing in a new context. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates signals deepening diplomatic and economic engagement between Ethiopia and key…

As the clamor for Africa’s moment gets underway, one of the most consistent patterns we have seen is that too many programmes are either poorly funded, poorly designed or poorly implemented. Africa stands at the edge of a historic demographic shift. By 2050, one in three young people in the world will be African. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the continent to shape global innovation and economic growth. But the promise of this moment depends on something very simple: whether every child in Africa learns to read and do basic maths in the early grades. Why Learning Levels Remain…