Author: Anita Bosman

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund, the African Development Bank Group’s concessional lending arm, has approved a loan of $73.31 million to strengthen science and technology education at the tertiary level. Under the second phase of the Support to Higher Education, Science and Technology Project – (HEST II), the funding will support the upgrade of 19 public universities with modern laboratories, teaching equipment and digital learning facilities. The financing will also be used to establish three centres of excellence in engineering, as well as a science and technology park that will enable…

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk Kenya has been named the fastest-growing internet advertising market in the world, according to PwC’s Africa Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025 – 2029. The report highlights Kenya’s remarkable rise as a digital powerhouse, forecasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16% in internet advertising through 2029 – more than double the global average of 8.4%. This milestone underscores Kenya’s position as a regional leader in digital transformation and reflects the country’s strong mobile-first economy, growing internet penetration, and rapidly evolving advertising landscape. The report attributes this surge to several factors, including increased smartphone usage,…

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk European connectivity leaders Ericsson and Nokia have partnered with Berlin’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), to shape and drive the next generation of video coding standardization – for better immersive media and mobile video user experiences in the 6G era. The three partners combined video codec research expertise for the first time, aiming to strengthen Europe’s role in next generation standardization. Partnership researchers jointly demonstrated a new video codec with considerably higher compression efficiency than the current standards (H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, and H.266/VVC) without significantly increasing complexity, while also improving energy efficiency and scalability. The documented…

Abu Dhabi: TECHz – News Desk The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into sports marks one of the most significant transformations reshaping the global sporting landscape. The growing adoption of smart technologies across management, training, investment, and event organisation is enhancing performance efficiency and improving the operational environment of the sports industry at all levels. Today, AI has become a central pillar of the sports ecosystem, moving beyond data analytics to serve as a tool for planning, decision-making, forecasting, and performance analysis. It also plays a vital role in elevating fan experiences and optimising the operational management of sports institutions.…

Hanoi: TECHz – News Desl The world’s first global convention to prevent and respond to cybercrime opened for signature last week in Hanoi, Viet Nam. 65 states signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime, which still must be ratified by each State according to its own procedures. “The UN Cybercrime Convention is a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against cybercrime,” noted UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the signing ceremony. “It is a testament to the continued power of multilateralism to deliver solutions. And it is a vow that no country, no matter their level of development, will…

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has announced that it has received an investment from NVIDIA. Hardy Pemhiwa, President&Group CEO, Cassava Technologies: “Cassava is Africa’s leading technology company, driving the continent’s digital transformation with digital infrastructure and digital services. Securing this investment is an important milestone that we expect to unlock additional value from and catalyze the further expansion of our digital infrastructure and services to bridge the digital divide on the continent.” Cassava’s impressive roster of investors now includes Econet Group, British International Investment, Finnfund, Fund for Export Development in Africa…

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk Huawei Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the country’s hospitality sector through cutting-edge digital solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and guest experiences. This announcement came during the Smart Hotel Solutions Conference, where the company unveiled a suite of intelligent hotel management technologies designed to accelerate digital transformation across the industry. Addressing participants at the event, Vito Zhao, Director of Commercial and Distribution Sales at Huawei Nigeria, highlighted that the introduction of these innovations comes at a crucial time for the nation’s hospitality market. He explained that the technologies aim to help hotels streamline operations,…

Johanbesburg: TECHz – News Desk First Bank of Nigeria Limited has taken a major step in advancing financial connectivity across the continent with the integration of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) into its digital banking platform, the LIT app. The move marks a significant milestone in simplifying cross-border transactions and promoting financial inclusion across Africa. The new feature enables FirstBank customers to send and receive payments instantly and securely in local African currencies, removing the need for foreign currency conversions. This innovation reflects the bank’s continued leadership in digital transformation and its commitment to supporting seamless intra-African trade.…

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, in partnership with Starz University, has announced the launch of a major Cybersecurity Awareness Session and 24-hour Capture The Flag (CTF) Hackathon, a dynamic initiative designed to equip Liberian students with practical cybersecurity skills and real-world experience in digital defense. The event aims to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application by immersing participants in hands-on cybersecurity challenges that mirror real-life threats faced by governments and industries. Through this initiative, students will engage in digital defense, ethical hacking, encryption, cyber forensics, and incident response, while competing in…

Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk The Government of Zambia has officially launched the E-Agriculture Project, a landmark initiative designed to transform the nation’s agricultural sector through digital inclusion, technology integration, and data-driven decision-making. The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Technology and Science, and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA). The launch, held under the theme “Smart Farming for a Digital Zambia: Empowering Growth Through Technology,” underscores the government’s commitment to using technology as a catalyst for productivity, food security, and sustainable development. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Reuben Mtolo Phiri, MP,…