By Adedapo Adesanya

The United Kingdom is deepening efforts to position itself as a preferred global expansion hub for African startups with the launch of the UK–Africa Ecosystem Week, a coordinated support programme to be delivered during London Tech Week.

Powered by the UK–Africa Sandbox and Ventures 54 in partnership with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the initiative is expected to provide African founders with structured support to navigate business, investment and networking opportunities in the UK market.

The programme is also backed by the UK Nigeria Tech Hub, the UK South Africa Tech Hub, London & Partners and the Mayor of London’s office, signalling growing institutional support for stronger commercial and technology ties between the UK and African innovation ecosystems.

According to the organisers, the initiative introduces a more coordinated approach to participation at London Tech Week, one of the world’s largest annual technology gatherings, which attracts over 100,000 participants across more than 500 events yearly.

Founders participating in the programme will gain access to curated sessions, concierge-style support services, dedicated workspaces, investor engagement opportunities and market entry guidance tailored to African technology companies seeking expansion into the UK.

A flagship UK–Africa Ecosystem Day will also bring together investors, policymakers, ecosystem builders and founders to discuss commercial expansion opportunities and partnerships between both regions.

Founder of Ventures 54 and UK-Africa Sandbox, Mr Anthony William Catt, said the initiative was developed in response to the increasing number of African startups travelling to London Tech Week over the last few years.

He explained that what started as informal networking gatherings under the London Africa Network had evolved into structured programming and has now scaled into a full week of activities aimed at helping founders maximise opportunities available within the UK ecosystem.

“This is about putting the right structure in place, so African founders have a dedicated support track to get the most out of the week and access the best of what the UK has to offer,” he said.

Speaking on the initiative, Acting His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, Mr Ben Ainsley, described the UK as a natural destination for ambitious African startups due to its large technology ecosystem, deep venture capital market and access to global talent.

“The UK Government is committed to supporting high-growth international companies succeed in the UK and initiatives like the UK–Africa Sandbox demonstrate our focus on making it easier for African founders to access support and fully engage with the UK’s world-class innovation ecosystem.”

The programme is expected to attract delegations and founders from countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana.

Organisers added that the initiative would extend beyond London Tech Week through the broader UK–Africa Sandbox platform, which aims to support African founders entering the UK market while also creating pathways for UK startups seeking expansion opportunities across Africa.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Efforts by the federal government to improve its revenue collection are being boosted by the adoption of Interswitch’s Revenue Assurance and Optimisation (RevOP) platform.

As a Payment Service Solution Provider (PSSP), the leading integrated payments and digital commerce company has used its platform to strengthen public sector payment infrastructure and support Treasury Single Account (TSA) collections in Nigeria.

Through its integration with the RevOP platform, Interswitch continues to enable secure, end-to-end processing of payments initiated via the portal. Transactions are seamlessly routed into the TSA framework, ensuring compliance with federal government financial regulations while supporting efficient and accountable revenue management.

Leveraging its robust payment infrastructure, Interswitch facilitates multiple payment channels, including card and digital payments, delivering a seamless and reliable experience for citizens, businesses, and government agencies, fulfilling their payment obligations.

Interswitch’s continued role on the platform builds on its longstanding experience in supporting critical national payment infrastructure and collaborating with regulatory and financial institutions to drive digital transformation across Nigeria’s public sector. Its infrastructure is designed to ensure high transaction uptime, real-time processing, and secure data handling, all essential for effective public revenue collection.

By deepening its participation on the RevOP platform, Interswitch further strengthens its position as a trusted partner within Nigeria’s evolving digital payments ecosystem, while continuing to support initiatives that promote fiscal transparency, operational efficiency, and sustainable governance across government institutions.

“Interswitch is proud to continue supporting the federal government’s drive toward greater transparency and efficiency in public revenue management.

“Our role on the RevOP platform reflects our commitment to delivering a secure, seamless, and compliant payment infrastructure that enables all stakeholders to meet their obligations with confidence,” the Managing Director for INCLUSIO at Interswitch, Mr Muyiwa Asagba, stated.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Purple Group has confirmed it is in discussions with investors over potential acquisition and strategic investment opportunities involving the Maryland Mall in Lagos, which has been put for sale, as the company intensifies efforts to restructure obligations tied to the asset.

Business Post gathered that the group has debt obligations to Vantage Mezzanine Fund II, which typically sits between senior debt and equity.

In a statement, Purple said it had received recent enquiries and expressions of interest regarding possible investments in the mall following reports published last week.

The real estate and lifestyle company stated that it remains supportive of “any value-enhancing transaction undertaken at an appropriate valuation” and is working with Vantage Mezzanine Fund II, property advisory firm Broll, and investment house Renaissance Capital Africa to achieve what it described as a mutually beneficial outcome for stakeholders.

It disclosed that it had presented a “structured repayment and settlement plan” to Vantage as part of ongoing engagements linked to the asset. According to the company, the proposed plan contemplates the potential sale of all or part of the Maryland Mall asset.

The statement further revealed that discussions are ongoing with credible investors and prospective purchasers interested in acquiring a 100 per cent stake in the mall, taking a partial interest in the property, or participating in a broader strategic investment tied to Purple’s future listing ambitions.

The firm stressed that any transaction would be expected to align with the most recent valuation of the asset or any revised valuation subsequently agreed upon by the parties involved.

It also called for a coordinated and transparent process involving all stakeholders, including Broll and Rencap, saying this would help preserve stakeholder value and ensure efficient execution of any transaction.

Maryland Mall, located along Ikorodu Road in Lagos, is regarded as one of the prominent retail and mixed-use developments on the mainland. However, since its launch in 2016, the facility has faced several operational challenges. In October 2023, Mr Richard Ayodele Akintunde was named the Receiver Manager, and years later, the management agreement between Purple Group and the receiver manager was terminated, and Broll was appointed the new Facility Manager.