General
Fixbot, Maotronics, Others for Qualcomm Make in Africa Mentorship Program
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Ten startup companies in Africa, including three from Nigeria, have made it to the debut of Qualcomm Make in Africa Mentorship Program.
The programme is an initiative of Qualcomm Technologies, and it aims to provide a 7-month equity-free mentorship scheme for the beneficiaries.
The 10 lucky startups were chosen from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and Rwanda from a pool of more than 550 applicants from 34 African countries.
They were carefully selected by a global jury based on a variety of qualifications, including technical capabilities, business factors, and potential for innovation and intellectual property generation.
The Qualcomm Make In Africa startups will receive equity-free mentorship in business planning, engineering, intellectual property protection, and the application of advanced connectivity, sensing, AI/ML and other processing technologies for innovative end-to-end systems solutions.
Announced in December 2022, Qualcomm Make in Africa will provide 1:1 mentorship for the shortlisted companies with Qualcomm leaders on a regular cadence to guide startups to product realization, as well as provide masterclasses on product management, pitch clinic, IPR, and hardware architecture.
The program will culminate in a final demo day in December 2023, connecting startups with various industry leaders, venture capitalists, investors, and other accelerators.
“I’d like to applaud and congratulate these 10 startups for their innovative solutions,” said Sudeepto Roy, the Vice President for Engineering at Qualcomm Incorporated.
“I am beyond excited to hear about their respective problem domains and innovative solutions. They have applied their talents and ingenuity to address Africa’s present-day needs in areas of reliable access to clean energy, precision agriculture to conserve water and other resources, adaptations of electric transportation for many last-mile needs, using AI and other innovations for accelerating disease pathology and treatment, and addressing energy efficient, affordable computing for the education market.
“Over the next few months, we will mentor them in areas of business development, technology applications and intellectual property law. We are honoured to be able to participate in their entrepreneurial journey and their future impact in Africa,” Roy added.
Also, the Vice President and Head of Government Affairs (Middle East and Africa), Qualcomm International, Elizabeth Migwalla, said, “As part of our new Africa Innovation Platform, the Qualcomm Make in Africa mentorship program is one of many initiatives we are working on in close collaboration with government and industry stakeholders in Africa, to help position African entrepreneurs and researchers to service markets throughout the continent and realize their global ambitions.
“We believe that startups based in Africa are best placed to identify uniquely African problems that can be solved through end-to-end systems solutions and new business models.
“We congratulate the shortlisted companies and look forward to a fruitful collaboration for innovation in the coming months.”
The shortlisted companies and their technology solutions are (sorted by alphabetical order):
- Ecorich Solutions – patented organic composting in Kenya
- Fixbot – Vehicle diagnostics and inspection via OBD dongle in Nigeria
- Karaa – e-Bike tracking, charging, retrofit, and rentals in Uganda
- Maotronics Systems Limited – IOT-enabled precision agriculture in Nigeria
- Microfuse – Affordable plugin computers for the education sector in Uganda
- Neural Labs Africa Ltd – Deep learning and computer vision for healthcare diagnosis in Kenya and Senegal
- OneTouch Diagnostics – Diabetes patch and monitoring system in Nigeria
- QuadLoop – Leveraging e-waste for solar e-Lanterns and battery storage in Nigeria.
- SLS Energy – Recycled lead-cell battery storage banks in Rwanda
- SolarTaxi – Electric vehicle (EV) taxi and fleet management in Ghana.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Executive Director/GCOO of Pathway Holdings Limited, Mrs Dolapo Akanbi-Alade, has called for increased inclusion of Nigerian women in finance as the world marks International Women’s Day 2026.
International Women’s Day 2026 is marked every March 8, and this year’s theme is Give To Gain.
In a statement shared with Business Post, Mr Akanbi-Alade noted that while International Women’s Day highlights the need for gender equality, significant progress requires deliberate policies and systems that expand women’s access to finance and leadership opportunities.
She emphasised that many Nigerian women and women-led businesses still face limited access to finance, highlighting the urgent need for targeted inclusion initiatives.
“At Pathway Holdings, we empower women and give access to investment advisory, asset management, and lending solutions for institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and businesses. Ensuring that women and women-led enterprises can access these opportunities is critical to building a more inclusive financial system,” she added.
Mrs Akanbi-Alade said, “Women’s access to finance is not only a social responsibility but essential for national productivity and economic growth’’. She co-founded the following companies:
Pathway Asset Management Limited is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, as a Fund and Portfolio Manager. The product range includes Pathway Fixed Deposit Notes, Privately Managed Notes, Pathway Private Portfolio Management, Investment Advisory, and Mutual Funds, which will be launched soon.
Pathway Advisors Limited is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Issuing House and financial adviser. Pathway Advisors’ services cover Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Capital-Raising, Financial Advisory, Rating Advisory, and Project and Structure Finance.
Fundbox Financial Services Limited is a wholly owned micro-lending company providing short-term personal and SME finance loans to salaried individuals, self-employed personnel, and small businesses. They offer services which include Cars4Cash, SME Loans, Personal Loans, and Group Employee Loans. Fundbox has successfully disbursed a wide range of loans to both corporate and individual clients, supporting their financial needs and business growth.
Pathway Holdings Limited is a notable investment holding firm focusing on private market investments, including private equity, private credit, and infrastructure. Pathway creates customised investment solutions for institutional investors and individuals, leveraging its extensive experience and local footprint.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has approved the postings of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various countries and the United Nations, including the former head of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Lateef Kayode Are, who is to serve in the United States.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed on Friday that 31 non-career and 34 career ambassadors have been assigned to their duty posts.
The Senate had confirmed all 65 nominees in December 2025 following screening by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to immediately commence an induction programme for the envoys, who will assume duties after receiving agrément from their host countries.
Below is the full list of postings:
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS
1. Senator Grace Bent — Togo (Lomé)
2. Senator Ita Enang — South Africa
3. Ikpeazu Victor — Spain
4. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu — Israel (Tel Aviv)
5. Mahmud Yakubu — Qatar
6. Paul Oga Adikwu — Vatican City Holy See
7. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas — Philippines
8. Reno Omokri — Mexico
9. Engr. Abasi Braimah — Hungary (Budapest)
10. Mrs Erelu Angela Adebayo — Portugal
11. Barr. Oluwayimika Ayotunwa — Japan (Tokyo)
12. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi — Greece (Athens)
13. Barr. Chioma Priscilla Ohakim — Poland (Warsaw)
14. Aminu Dalhatu — United Kingdom (High Commissioner)
15. Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau — China (Beijing)
16. Tasiu Musa Maigari — Gambia
17. Olufemi Pedro — Australia
18. Barr. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu — Argentina
19. Lateef Kayode Are — United States
20. Amb. Joseph Sola Iji — Russia
21. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim — United Nations (Permanent Representative)
22. Femi Fani-Kayode — Germany
23. Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole — Canada (Ottawa)
24. Fatima Florence Ajimobi — Austria
25. Mrs Lola Akande — Sweden
26. Ayodele Oke — France
27. Yakubu N. Gambo — Saudi Arabia
28. Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut — South Korea (Seoul)
29. Barr. Joe-Kyari Okocha, SAN — Ireland (Dublin)
30. Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar — Tunisia (Tunis)
31. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe — Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain)
CAREER AMBASSADORS
32. Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka — Côte d’Ivoire
33. Besto Maimuna Ibrahim — Niger (Niamey)
34. Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi — São Tomé and Príncipe
35. Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele — Algeria (Algiers)
36. Endoni Syndoph Paebi — Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
37. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno — Egypt (Cairo)
38. Ambassador Jane Adams — Jamaica (Kingston)
39. Ambassador Clark-Omeru Alexandra — Zambia (Lusaka)
40. Chima Geoffrey Lioma David — Mali (Bamako)
41. Ambassador Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen — Equatorial Guinea (Malabo)
42. Ambassador Wasa Segun Ige — Lebanon (Beirut)
43. Ruben Abimbola Samuel — Italy (Rome)
44. Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley — Mozambique (Maputo)
45. Ambassador Magaji Umar — DR Congo (Kinshasa)
46. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru — India (New Delhi)
47. Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad — Senegal (Dakar)
48. Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde — Ghana (Accra)
49. Ambassador Aminu Nasir — Ethiopia
50. Abubakar Musa — Chad (N’Djamena)
51. Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris — Netherlands (The Hague)
52. Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar — Morocco (Rabat)
53. Ambassador Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed — Malaysia
54. Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle — Tanzania
55. Ambassador Shaga John Shamah — Botswana
56. Hamza Mohammed Salau — Iran (Tehran)
57. Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami — Kenya
58. Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola — Benin (Cotonou)
59. Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel — Belgium (Brussels)
60. Ambassador Akande Wahab Adekola — Switzerland (Berne)
61. Ambassador Arewa Esther — Namibia (Windhoek)
62. Ambassador Gergadi Joseph John — Gabon (Libreville)
63. Ambassador Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata — Sierra Leone
64. Danladi Yakubu Nyaku — Sudan (Khartoum)
65. Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru — Thailand (Bangkok)
Mr Onanuga noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Aminu Dalhatu, and from France for Ambassador Ayodele Oke.
Nominations of the remaining 62 envoys have been conveyed to their respective host countries pending agreement.
General
In Celebration of International Women’s Month, CANAL+ and MultiChoice Celebrate African Women
Across Africa and beyond, women continue to shape and elevate the stories that define our societies. In celebration of International Women’s Month, CANAL+ pays tribute to the storytellers, athletes, mothers, creators, leaders and icons whose voices inspire millions of households across the continent.
The African entertainment industry is driven by women, actresses, directors, screenwriters and producers who bring depth and authenticity to every production. From captivating telenovelas and popular comedies to powerful drama series, female talent remains at the heart of the stories most loved by viewers on CANAL+ Group of channels. In sport, women redefine competition and excellence – on the field, behind the mic or in leadership. From football to tennis and athletics, women in sport don’t just participate, they elevate the game and inspire the next generation.
CANAL+ and its subsidiary MultiChoice have chosen to celebrate them through a dedicated campaign: “We are… because she is.” A 90-second spot, produced in both French and English versions, will be broadcast on the Group’s channels and social media platforms in more than 35 countries across Africa.
Watch the promo below
Throughout International Women’s Month, DStv and GOtv will spotlight female‑led films, series, reality shows and global cultural moments that reflect the brilliance and complexity of modern womanhood.
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