Technology
Charting the Course of AI in Nigeria’s Business Terrain

By Olumide Balogun
In the bustling markets of Lagos, a remarkable transformation is underway. A local logistics company, once struggling with efficiency, has now streamlined its entire operation using AI-driven solutions. This is a glimpse into the broader canvas of Africa where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a cornerstone for business innovation.
Across the continent, from the tech hubs of Nairobi to the vibrant streets of Accra, AI is no longer a distant concept but a present-day tool reshaping the way businesses operate and grow. Enterprises of all sizes are tapping into AI to enhance their processes, improve customer experiences, and unlock new growth potential.
Recently, Google brought together industry leaders from leading organisations such as MTN, FirstBank, and Kuda to explore the integration and impact of AI in African businesses. The discussions brought into focus the immediate relevance of AI, emphasising that its value lies not just in preparing for future challenges but in providing practical solutions for the pressing needs of today’s market.
Fola Olatunji-David, representing the Nigerian Minister of Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijan noted that “AI is not just a technological leap forward, but a catalyst for redefining how we approach business challenges and opportunities in Africa.”
As AI becomes more prevalent across Africa, it’s crucial to recognize that its adoption is more than just a technological upgrade. It’s about rethinking how businesses operate, engage with customers, and improve their processes. Key factors like managing costs, acquiring the right talent, and implementing effective strategies are central to this transition. Successfully navigating these aspects of AI integration hinges on practical solutions and a collective commitment to embracing and adapting to this technological evolution.
In this transformative landscape, it’s the businesses that are at the forefront, with the support of collaborative partners. Our initiatives, like the Google for Startups Accelerator AI First program, aim to empower businesses to effectively leverage AI technologies. By working together, we can ensure that the adoption of AI across Africa’s business sector is impactful and responsible, driving progress and prosperity across the continent.
The transformative potential of AI in Africa is immense. It offers a pathway for businesses to enhance operational efficiency, drive innovation, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market. The journey of integrating AI into African businesses is a testament to the region’s resilience, adaptability, and commitment to embracing new technologies for sustainable growth and development.
The narrative of AI in Africa is evolving, marked by instances of innovation and collaborative efforts. While there are diverse experiences across the continent, many businesses are finding ways to harness technology for their growth and success. This journey with AI is contributing to various aspects of economic development, illustrating the potential and diverse applications of technology in different African contexts.
In the vibrant city of Lagos, a small yet ambitious logistics company is redefining its business landscape. By integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their operations, they have not only improved efficiency but have also carved a new path for growth and innovation. This is not just an isolated success story; it mirrors a larger narrative unfolding across Africa where AI is becoming a fundamental tool for business transformation.
Across the continent, in bustling marketplaces and corporate boardrooms, AI is no longer perceived as a futuristic notion but as a present-day catalyst for change. Businesses, both large and small, are increasingly embracing AI to enhance processes, customer experiences, and scalability. This adoption signifies a significant shift in how African businesses approach innovation and competitiveness in the global market.
A recent roundtable convened by Google brought together leaders from top organisations like MTN, FirstBank, and Kuda in Nigeria. This gathering was more than just a meeting of minds; it was a testament to the growing recognition of AI’s role in reshaping African businesses. One of the most poignant insights, shared by Fola Olatunji-David, representing the Nigerian Minister of Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy, encapsulates this sentiment perfectly: “AI is not just a technological leap forward but a catalyst for redefining how we approach business challenges and opportunities in Africa.”
However, the integration of AI into the African business sector is not without its challenges. It requires a reimagining of business models, customer engagement strategies, and operational efficiencies. Key hurdles such as cost, talent acquisition, and strategic implementation need to be addressed. This journey towards AI integration calls for not just innovative solutions but also a unified vision and a steadfast commitment to driving technological change.
It is essential to acknowledge that businesses are at the forefront of this transformation. They are the primary drivers of innovation, with collaborative partners playing a supportive role in this journey. Initiatives like Google’s Accelerator AI First program are designed to empower businesses to effectively leverage AI for sustainable growth and innovation. This collaborative approach ensures that AI adoption across Africa’s business sector is both impactful and responsible, contributing to progress and prosperity.
The potential of AI to transform Africa’s business landscape is immense. It provides a pathway for businesses to enhance operational efficiency, drive innovation, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market. This transformative journey is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and commitment of African businesses to embrace new technologies for sustainable growth and development.
As we look to the future, the focus is clear. AI’s role in Africa is not just about technological advancement; it’s about shaping a new economic narrative for the continent. A narrative where technology acts as a catalyst for sustainable growth, innovation, and a brighter, more prosperous future for Africa.
The story of AI in Africa is one of collaborative innovation, transformation, and the promise of a technologically empowered continent. It’s a narrative that showcases how technology can be harnessed not only to drive business success but also to contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of the continent.
Olumide Balogun is the West Africa Director for Google
Technology
Investors Arm Refold AI $6.5m to Eliminate Enterprise ‘Integration Tax’

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup, Refold AI, has completed a $6.5 million round in seed funding to develop a platform that removes API complexity into repeatable, productized software with AI.
Every year, companies pay about $350 billion to big consultancies and systems integrators to ensure API’s work smoothly, but Refold AI is coming to end this tax on business with an AI-native infrastructure.
In a statement shared with Business Post, it was disclosed that this seed funding was led by Eniac Ventures, Tidal Ventures, with participation from Better Capital, Ahead VC, Karman Ventures, Z21 and other notable angels.
The company will use the new capital to expand its engineering team, deepen product integrations, and support its growing enterprise customer base.
Refold AI currently works with over 30 paying enterprise customers, including Incorta and Naehas, has grown 2X in two months, supporting more than 1,500 active users and processing 30+ million API calls per month, with ARR already in the seven figures.
The startup flips the traditional playbook. Instead of hiring teams or middleware to maintain system connections, companies can deploy Refold’s autonomous agents – small AI programs that learn how systems interact, write and maintain integration code, and adapt automatically as software changes.
The platform is already being used to manage ERP-to-CRM syncs, finance automation, and mission-critical supply chain flows across its early customer base.
Refold’s platform is built on three-layered architecture that supports everyone from engineers to end users. At the foundation are Workflow Code Agents, used by solution engineering teams to generate, test, and maintain integration logic without boilerplate. On top of that sits MCP Chains, a natural language interface where business teams can describe outcomes and have agents generate working workflows automatically.
For SaaS product teams, Refold also includes an Embedded Integrations Platform — a plug-and-play toolkit for offering native integrations, complete with prebuilt UI components. Together, these layers let teams turn edge-case service requests into repeatable software products in days, not months.
While legacy iPaaS tools offer templates and global consultancies bill by the hour, Refold turns every edge-case request into a repeatable, productized agent. The platform’s incentives are flipped: it profits not by extending complexity, but by eliminating it. At its core, Refold combines reasoning and reinforcement learning to enable agents that make decisions.
Refold’s agents have already delivered real results. In production, they’ve automated reconciliation in finance workflows, unified inventory and order systems for supply chains, and built real-time data sync pipelines across ERP and CRM stacks. Previously, these were multi-quarter projects. Refold ships them in days and maintains them without tickets.
With a 20-person team across San Mateo and Bangalore and plans to grow to 30 by year-end, Refold is now focused on deepening its enterprise integration catalog and pushing toward zero-friction deployment.
“We were spending more time managing chaos than building software. We started Refold with a simple idea: integrations are repeatable and cumbersome, it should not need humans,” the chief executive and co-founder of Refold AI, Jugal Anchalia, said.
Also, the CPO and co-founder of Refold AI, Abhishek Kumar, noted, “We’re not building another workflow tool. We’re replacing the consultant economy with agents that learn and scale. In the future, integrations should be free, fast, and invisible.”
One of the investors, Hadley Harris from Eniac Ventures, said, “As we enter the agentic era, enterprise integrations stand out as one of the most compelling and valuable use cases.
“For decades, companies have burned billions on brittle, bloated workflows. Refold has rebuilt the stack from the ground up to make integrations seamless and intelligent, and the market is already catching on.”
Another investors, Nicholas Muy from Tidal Ventures, said, “Finally, someone is fixing the most broken part of enterprise software. For decades, we’ve been patching integrations with expensive consultants and manual work. Refold’s AI agents don’t just patch the problem—they eliminate it. This is a fundamental leap forward.”
Technology
Google, GOMYCODE to Train 1000 Nigerian Developers on Generative AI

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
No fewer than 1,000 Nigerian developers are expected to benefit from a training programme put together by Google in collaboration with GOMYCODE.
The initiative is to educate participants on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and it is for 11 weeks, according to a statement made available to Business Post.
This training is under the Build with AI scheme and it is part of efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s participation in the global AI economy.
It was designed to foster a new generation of tech talent capable of building transformative products that are both locally relevant and globally competitive.
The initiative comes at a pivotal moment as industries across Nigeria and Africa increasingly look to technology to solve pressing challenges and drive economic growth.
By providing access to advanced AI tools like Gemini and a curriculum with oversight from Google’s experts, the program is set to bridge the gap between raw talent and the specialized skills required to innovate in the AI era.
This strategic focus is intended to accelerate the development of solutions in key sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and agritech, positioning Nigerian developers at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation.
The 11-week programme will be delivered through GOMYCODE’s extensive network of hackerspaces, combining in-person instruction with hands-on, mentored lab work. This approach ensures that the training is both accessible and practical, allowing developers to immediately apply their learning to real-world projects.
Developers interested in being part of the AI revolution can apply via bit.ly/BwAIDevTraining. The initiative will culminate in a demo day where top participants will showcase their AI-powered solutions to a team from Google and other industry leaders.
Commenting on the development, the Head of Developer Ecosystem for Google in Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr John Kimani, said, “We are witnessing a technological renaissance in Nigeria, driven by a vibrant community of developers who are eager to solve the challenges around them.
“Our collaboration with GOMYCODE is about more than just training; it’s about empowering this community with the tools and expertise they need to build the future.
“By equipping them with Google’s generative AI, we are helping to unlock a new frontier of innovation that can deliver significant economic and social impact across the continent.”
On his part, the Country Director for GOMYCODE, Mr Babatunde Olaifa, said, “Our role is to provide the critical infrastructure and local expertise needed to nurture Nigeria’s tech talent. Partnering with Google allows us to bring world-class curriculum and technology directly to our developer community.
“We are creating an environment where innovation can thrive, and we are incredibly excited to see the solutions that will emerge from this program, built by Nigerians, for Nigeria and the world.”
Technology
Orange Joins $1m Hedera Africa Hackathon to Accelerate Web3 Skills in MEA

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The $1 million Hedera Africa Hackathon for the development of blockchain solutions has got bigger with the inclusion of Orange, through its Orange Digital Center (ODC) network.
More than 10,000 innovators across 16 countries are competing for the prizes.
The Hedera Africa Hackathon, launched on August 1, 2025, is co-organized with Exponential Science Foundation. The hybrid event will take place online and in person, with physical spaces offering participants access to technical infrastructure, personalized mentoring, and strategic networking.
Orange is partnering with the organisers to promote the adoption of decentralized technologies, education, and innovation.
At the heart of this partnership, a certifying training program in Hedera technology will be deployed within Orange Digital Centers (ODC) in 16 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
Accessible online, this training aims to equip young people, professionals, and project leaders with solid skills in a fast-growing field: blockchain and Web3, which will be required for their participation in the Hedera Africa Hackathon.
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