Feature/OPED
Fintech: An Access Route to Unbanked Populations in Africa

With a rapidly growing population and a younger generation of tech-savvy workers, Africa is poised to become the next global market leader.
Today, the continent’s population is over 1.4 billion. The advancement in technology, propelled by the urgent need to reconcile demand and supply has led Africa to work towards being increasingly competitive on the international scene.
Despite tremendous advancements in trade and improved financial accessibility and communication technologies, a huge part of the continent is still unbanked.
The circuit of internet accessibility and reliability is growing exponentially on the continent, but nevertheless, the majority of consumers still don’t have access to bank services. The reality is even worse when it is gender compared.
The UN Women data shows that approximately 1.3 billion women in the world are unbanked, of which ¾ of that population has never owned a bank account. There is no doubt that, to ensure traceability for microeconomic aggregates, it is important to be able to account for the population which constitutes that economic projection through their financial flows.
This has also been a huge impediment to e-commerce. Despite their willingness to operate on every corner of a given territory or continent at large, our population, especially women are still held back by this challenge.
Africa’s large unbanked population is mainly caused by poor infrastructures (transportation networks, communication networks), low literacy rate (that is the ability to understand and use certain services and technologies), government red tapes and myriads of technological barriers. Companies like Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa, however, have learned how to bypass this setback with services such as JumiaPay.
Data from penser, a specialist consulting firm focused on the payments and Fintech industry, outline that sub-Saharan Africa alone has the tremendous potential to house Fintech and e-commerce, as well as ensure their survival and continuity over time. This explains why the e-commerce leader in Africa, Jumia, founded mechanisms to overcome bottleneck challenges, as well as geographical and technological means to satisfy its ever-growing market in Africa.
With its presence in 12 African countries and the advent of the COVID -19, the market for e-commerce and Fintech was both challenged and faced significant changes. It was both a time to re-think and, re-invent the new normal of e-commerce for our unbanked population with limited resources, which is o also faced with geographical and sanitary barriers.
Generally, e-commerce greatly prospers in territories where the greater part of the consuming population has access to first; national IDs or any official document which will permit them to obtain or have access to banking systems (bank accounts, access to credits, bank cards etc); but also, most especially in areas where the population is ready to embrace new technologies and where the government has made available the necessary infrastructures and policies to welcome such companies.
The particularity with Africa at large is that e-commerce or Fintechs don’t only have to face government barriers, but internet penetration, geographical possibilities, education and also limited financial resources (of populations) to subscribe to these services.
In recent years, a more effective approach was developed by Jumia, that of mobile payments to replace payment on delivery. This did not only revolutionise the e-commerce sector but also how Fintech could better apprehend the problem of accessibility to the unbanked population.
As more people are beginning to use smartphones on the continent, it becomes easier for them to profit from online banking services without necessarily vising a bank. With JumiaPay, the main Fintech incorporated the technology of Jumia, customers can now recharge their phones, pay utility bills, make hotel reservations, book a ride, order food from their favourite restaurants and more.
Forging innovation yet challenging future ahead
This innovation comes at an important time as cash on delivery becomes more challenging and difficult to monitor. Also, it has created unprecedented access to unbanked populations in Africa, which reached its climax during the Covid-19 era as government barriers didn’t permit people to continue trading using the traditional methods (physical exchanges, supermarket purchasing just to name a few). The service gives users a high secured mode of payment, which puts them at the centre of every operation.
Once on the app, users can access it via their fingerprint or pattern lock. Also, no payment is completed on the app without sending an OTP (One Time Password) via a registered phone number or email. That way, the customer can be assured no unwanted transactions can be performed.
Furtherance, customers get an email for every transaction performed on the app, ensuring traceability, trust and accountability for all. These features have permitted more unbanked population to embrace Fintech services, but also to permit those who never wanted to let go of physical money to trust mobile money services. In this way, customers can follow their money online while reducing the stress on former banking systems.
Creating regulations that work for all
Over the past decade, Africa has gradually become the global leader in mobile financial services. This has been proven within the start-up ecosystem, which was largely driven by Fintechs, accounting for about 25% of funding attracted by start-ups in 2020[5].
Although this success is unevenly distributed on the continent with major markets in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya, regulators (governments and non-governmental) in emerging markets (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon) are showing a strong commitment to the growing sector.
Fintechs have helped to boost financial inclusion on a continent where there are only five bank branches per 100.000 people, compared to 13 in other parts of the world. The Africa Financial industry summit for example has since called for an enabling environment and harmonised financial regulations to create sustainable innovation culture which will help Fintech firms expand their footprint in Africa.
Moreover, financial institutions such as commercial banks are now embracing Fintechs and partnerships with them, as the relationship is mutually beneficial: Fintechs need banks to scale and banks benefit from their innovation and service offerings as in the case of Jumia Pay.
Regulators are beginning to engage earlier with them, enabling the right environment to test their products and systems and offering support in risk management. They oversee consumer protection and protect depositors and financial stability by ensuring that they’re truly beneficial to consumers. This has been the case with countries like Morocco and Tunisia which are trying to catch up with the trend of Fintechs as an element of development.
A promising Africa for a sustainable and equitable development
Conclusively, Financial technology has never been this important and crucial during an era of sanitary challenges (that is Covid-19), as it has considerably helped in eliminating the need for cash and allowed customers to maintain physical distance from cashiers to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
It has also helped SMEs that provide at home services to stay in operation, as their customer base could pay for goods and services remotely as in the case of Jumia pay. It is thus important that regulators (governmental and non-governmental), and the population, in general, be able to quickly embrace Fintechs.
Fintech is transforming the banking world and traditional business models and there is a clear growth potential for it in Africa, overwhelming regulatory hurdles remain a challenge which can be overcome, but it remains an essential part of all our futures, thus the need for governments, regulators, investors and entrepreneurs to work in symbiosis.
Feature/OPED
Strategies for Launching Your Real Estate Tech Startup Successfully

By Dalip Jaggi
Launching a real estate tech startup requires a lot of focus. But at its core, the primary goal is to eliminate pain points commonly seen in the industry.
Unfortunately, the process of buying, selling, and managing a property is rarely straightforward in real estate deals. For one, there tends to be endless paperwork to complete, regular back and forth between agents and clients, and long drawn-out closing periods.
If you can create a real estate company that actively eliminates these challenges, it can be transformative for both agents and clients alike. However, getting to this stage takes a lot of work in terms of strategy and vision.
This guide will outline key strategies you can implement to help you launch your real estate tech startup.
Address a Specific Industry Need
The foundation of a successful real estate company rests on its ability to solve a specific, ongoing problem. Overly general solutions usually don’t resonate in the market, but a focused approach can build a loyal customer base over time.
To begin, you need to carefully analyze the market, looking for consistent challenges. This is more than just a surface-level skimming of the market. It means finding overlooked areas or specific pain points that significantly impact a particular group of users.
Try to focus on problems that might be solvable with new technology or unique market approaches. This ensures that your startup’s efforts are directed toward creating solutions that people genuinely want and are willing to use.
Clearly Articulate Your Brand Value
After finding a relevant market need, you need to clearly define what makes your new company different from existing competitors. This is your unique value proposition.
A strong value proposition requires more than just listing your product or service’s features. It should also explain the real, tangible benefits users can expect to experience. Articulate precisely how your offering solves the problems in your target market, and highlight the specific ways it stands out from other options available.
Create a Proof of Concept
Most startup companies that develop software will start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). An MVP has the fundamental features that software will have, but won’t include more sophisticated components that the customer may expect in a complete product. This keeps costs down while trying to develop a full-functioning platform or service.
The main goal of an MVP is user testing. They help capture a user’s first impressions of how the software performs in real-life scenarios. To gather meaningful feedback from your MVP users, you’ll want to ensure that only the most essential functions are present. Over time, feedback from MVP users helps you to prioritize relevant product additions.
In the iterative process leading to a fully launched marketable product, ensure that you try to incorporate any mission-critical improvements before launch. This will help to avoid major setbacks post-launch that might impact brand perception.
Gain Enough Financial Support
To move from a simple prototype to running an actual real estate technology company, you will need the right level of funding. There are different ways to obtain this capital, each having its own benefits.
At the outset, self-funding can help you continue to maintain control of the venture, although you may be a bit more limited in terms of initial growth opportunities. Working with a private investor, on the other hand, can lead to a sizeable cash injection in the business along with experienced mentorship to help you through the initial growth stages of your business. Unfortunately, though, this will likely come at the expense of giving away equity in the company.
Build a High-Performing Team
A successful real estate company needs a strong team. It’s important to try to source new individuals with a wide range of professional experiences. Among other skills, you should be looking for employees with strong real estate knowledge, a technical background, and a good understanding of sales and marketing principles.
Aim to source candidates who not only master these skills but are also passionate about the company’s goals. This helps build a sense of ownership and responsibility with all your team members, keeping everyone focused on ensuring the startup’s success.
Consider Integrating Helpful Renovation Tools
Homeowners and property managers are always looking for ways to increase a property’s value by completing various types of home renovation projects. By integrating helpful renovation tools into your software, you can help your new real estate technology quickly stand out in a crowded market.
Adding helpful features that let users estimate the costs of their renovation, plan different elements of a bathroom remodel, or track the statuses of their home projects can add significantly more value to your solution.
Put Together a Digital Marketing Strategy
Having a solid digital marketing presence is critical for new businesses to attract clients and expand their user base. This includes the use of SEO, paid advertising, and content marketing to increase brand visibility and create more touchpoints between businesses and potential clients.
Social media is equally important for helping to raise brand awareness. This helps you connect with clients directly and network with other industry professionals. By partnering with other real estate organizations, agencies, and commercial businesses, you’ll further help your brand’s visibility and credibility as you start launching new services.
Focus on Customer Engagement
Building lasting relationships with customers all rests on being able to provide excellent support. Earning their trust requires consistent dedication. This means responding quickly to questions and concerns that come up and keeping your focus on ensuring their satisfaction.
Actively soliciting user feedback, through surveys and reviews, allows you to take the necessary steps to improve their experience. It’s also important to keep users informed with regular updates and offer additional support to show them that they are a top priority. All of these initiatives add a personal touch to your brand, helping you stand out from others.
Give Your Startup the Best Chance for Success
Starting a successful business in real estate comes with its own set of challenges that need to be tackled. However, by following the strategies discussed, you’ll be sure to stand out in the industry better while introducing high-value solutions to your user base.
Dalip Jaggi is an entrepreneur, technologist, and passionate business leader sum up the core of Dalip Jaggi, co-founder of Revive Real Estate, a PropTech company to democratize house flipping. Since its 2020 inception, Revive has become the smartest solution for homeowners to maximize their home’s sales value across the nation.
Feature/OPED
Sunusi Bature: Time to Take the Podium

By Ahmad Dambazau
The National Assembly is a constitutional locomotive for any purposeful democratic government, it provides checks to the government of the day and a legal basis for the system in general .This basically accounts for the high respect usually accorded and, of course, the attendant high expectation placed on it. The legislative arm of government like any other is saddled with the responsibility enshrined in the constitution and among such major functions includes representation, oversight and law making in addition to many other numerous functions.
Be that as it may, it has been a genuine cause for worry for Nigerians that, despite our series of experimentation with democracy, our legislators have performed below expectation. Their handling of national issues has especially remained without constitutional decorum and political experience required of people of their exalted status. Part 2, Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, vests the legislative powers of the federation on the National Assembly which comprises the Senate and House of Representatives.
Dawakin Tofa ,Tofa and Rimin Gado Federal constituency is one of the few constituencies in Nigeria represented by the same legislator for 18 years(2007-2005) despite poor representation .
As the federal constituency searches for the best man to represent them for this serious legislative task. One name keeping ringing bell is Hon Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa ,Media and Communication Expert and Director General of Media and Publicity to Kano State Governor.Sunusi has earlier served as the Chief Press Seceretary to the Governor in the early days of the administration .
Mallam Sunusi is a seasoned PR guru, development communication and stakeholder engagement expert with 21 years working experience in both international development, private sector and the Media in Nigeria.
He is a winner of the Cambridge education award on investigative journalism in 2008, Bature has worked at different capacities in various national, International and Bilateral organizations such as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the United State Agency for Internal Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children International, Discovery Learning Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation.
He held several positions which include General Manager Corporate Services at Dantata Foods and Allied Products Limited (DFAP), Director Stakeholder Engagement at YieldWise Project, Country Program Manager at Girl Rising (ENGAGE) Project funded by the US Government, State Project Coordinator for MNCH Campaign Project of the BMGF, Deputy Director Operations at Discovery Learning Alliance, State Program Officer, Policy Advocacy and Media Development, Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist among other positions.
Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. Hons.) in Mass Communication from University of Maiduguri, Sanusi holds a National Diploma in Mass communication from Kaduna Polytechnic, a Higher National Diploma (HND) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Education and Promotion.He also bagged MSc. in Social Work with specialization in Community Development from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State and another master’s degree in Public Relations (MPR) from the prestigious Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. He participated in the MSc program on Project Management at Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland.Until his appointment, Sunusi Bature served as the Vice President, Nigeria operations for a UK based firm, Kingston Organic PLC.
Hon Dawakin Tofa has opened yet another vista of debate among electorates on the value of quality representation with vigour,expertise and experience of having a wider constituency responsibility and coverage .He has vindicated his mettle among his constituents that even as an appointee of the Governor his eloquent consistent and fearless voice always seeking the improvement of lives of his constituents accountability among representatives of the people.
He is truly a representative of the people though unelected going by the amount of work he was able to do for the overall benefit of his people. In fact, it is worth elucidating that this PR guru was able to touch the lives of the people in his stewardship in the private and public sectors. So far he has proved to be one of the few politicians that attracts government presence to his community. No matter what anyone would say, the amount of dividends of democracy that this community leader was able to bring to the door step of the people is unmatched.
Sunusi Bature’s development credentials and landmarks speaks volumes. The highlights of which were stellar achievements of re-positioning the educational sector in the more definitive ,radically ,progressive and futuristic manner , not to mention the capacity building, empowerment and educational scholarship for his people ,all shone brightly for both his admirers and detractors to access.
The Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kano State, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, has been honoured with the prestigious Most Outstanding Spokesperson Award by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information. Dawakin Tofa was selected for this esteemed award in recognition of his instrumental role in promoting not only the positive image of the Kano State Governor and his giant strides also for effectively showcasing the only NNPP ruling state in Nigeria.
In the award citation, Mallam Sunusi was hailed as an unwavering proponent of non-violent communication, renowned for his extensive network and adept delivery of practices with clarity in objectives, and strategic framing of engagements with his audience.His profound impact and effectiveness in perception and reputation management are highly commendable.
In whatever one indulges in there are always people to observe and give their verdict .It is a well- known fact that there is nothing stronger than the people’s verdict.it shows a collective desire which inevitably is the voice of reason. The momentum of Hon Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa legislative bid is gathering amongst all strata of the constituency is enough testimony that experienced count in the race for the parliamentary seat.
Dambazau wrote in from Kano
Feature/OPED
Nigeria’s Mining Reforms: Unlocking Investment and Growth

Over the past two years, Nigeria has implemented key policies and reforms to revitalize its mining industry, attract investment and strengthen the sector’s contribution to GDP.
Recent government-led initiatives have streamlined licensing processes, removed bottlenecks and simplified market entry for international investors, enhancing production across the country’s 44 solid mineral types.
As Africa’s premier mining investment event, African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 will convene Nigerian and African stakeholders with global investors and industry leaders to drive deal-making and accelerate sector growth.
Launch of Mineral Resources Decision Support System
In May 2024, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency unveiled the Mineral Resources Decision Support System to provide global investors with easy access to geological and policy data.
The platform markets Nigeria’s vast mineral resources and critical infrastructure, assisting investors in making informed decisions about the country’s mining sector. By enhancing data transparency and accessibility, the system aims to streamline investment processes and boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s mining industry.
Restructuring of Ministry
To improve efficiency, Nigeria restructured the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in August 2023, creating two separate entities. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development focuses on upstream activities and investment facilitation, while the Ministry of Steel Development oversees the development of steel and metallic resources to drive industrial growth. This restructuring aims to enhance sector-specific governance, attract targeted investments and accelerate the country’s mineral and steel value chain development.
Approval of Nigerian Minerals & Mining Bill
Approved in April 2023 and currently under public review, the Nigerian Minerals & Mining Bill aims to introduce incentives for foreign investors while strengthening local content requirements. Once enacted, it will become the sector’s primary legal framework, enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
The bill is also expected to modernize regulatory oversight, ensuring sustainable resource management and aligning Nigeria’s mining sector with global best practices.
Implementation of Nigeria Mineral Value Chain Regulations
Implemented in July 2021, the Nigeria Mineral Value Chain Regulations mandates local processing of raw minerals such as gold and lithium, encouraging downstream investment.
Following this policy, China’s Avatar Energy Materials Company launched a 4,000-ton-per-annum lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State in May 2024, while Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nig Ltd. is developing a lithium processing plant in Kaduna State to support EV e battery production.
These investments mark a significant step toward positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global critical minerals supply chain. Against this backdrop, AMW 2025 will provide a platform for industry leaders to explore Nigeria’s evolving mining landscape and engage with global investors.
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