Africa Tech Radio

Don't Sleep Off On A Bicycle: Sleep Off Using Tech

How well do you sleep? Do you know that good sleep is vital and essential to an healthy body and mind? Above all do you know technology can help you sleep better? 

Well Gloria and Turkish Sleep Technician, Ed Sunduk, take on an engaging conversation on the challenges we face concerning good sleep in Nigeria, how to surmount these challenges and the disparity between the sleep tech industry in Turkey and that of Nigeria.

Digital Lending - Is This A Lending Revolution?

Digital lending is the use of online technology to originate and renew loans in order to deliver faster and more efficient decisions.

There has been a growing trend in the adoption of digital lending platforms across Sub-Saharan Africa which gives rise to this discussion.

Though personal loans and credit cards both offer a way to borrow funds and have many of the same standard credit provisions, there are some differences such as repayment systems.

It is true that fintech has transformed the African continent and opened the gateway to new tech innovations, the idea of credit worthiness has not been exactly digitized at a large scale across income levels and Africa needs a credit system to advance the wealth of the citizens. This is why we need fintechs to innovate on the credit system in Africa.

Nigeria’s Fehintolu Olaogun, the Co-Founder and CEO of CredPal, discusses this new fintech revolution, the issues and the contribution of CredPal in the scheme of things.

Telcos vs Banks: Easter Gift For Fintechs or Not?

On April 2, 2021, Nigerian customers of telecom giant MTN for a short while could no longer buy airtime from their banks using the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes. It would have been the biggest Fool’s Day prank of the decade in Nigeria if it had happened on the 1st of April.

According to reports, Nigeria’s biggest telco by far, MTN had reduced the commission for banks from an average of 4.5% to 2.5% after months of negotiation and this did not go down well with the banks who flatly rejected this.

Will this showdown bring forth a new era for FinTechs? Has this showdown opened up Pandora’s box? Will the Nigerian vision 2040 goal of achieving 90% financial inclusion be a dream in wonderland or is the recent shakeup a glimpse that we are close?

Stanley Onuorah, popular on Social Media as Online Banker, provides answers to these questions.

New Coronavirus Variant: What Can Tech Do?

The Coronavirus has exposed the lapses in the health care system in Nigeria. In the midst of pandemic, how has tech stepped in to the rescue?

On January 5, 2021, Dr Uju Ugwuibe joined Gloria in a conversation about the second strain of the Coronavirus and all that tech has done to help.

Paypal and Flutterwave Deal: What It Really Means For SMEs

Cross-border payments with non-African countries have been a source of concern for individuals and SMEs in Africa due to a number of factors. Though there is a growing ePayment sector in Africa which is worth around $10 billion, many have attributed the fear of fraudulent activities, insufficient regulation and poor banking security system as major reasons major international payment platforms were unsure about stepping into Africa.

For YCombinator’s most valuable African startup, Flutterwave,  simplifying payments for endless possibilities is the only goal. Flutterwave recently partnered with PayPal to enable African merchants to receive payments via PayPal on Flutterwave’s platform. This partnership will connect African businesses with more than 377 million PayPal account holders globally.

A banker and innovator, Nkemjika Okeke, spotlights the importance of this deal for African SME’s in this chat with Tony.

Digital Currencies: Are There Cybersecurity Risks?

As the world inches closer to more adoption of digital currencies, the issues of data protection and privacy will become more evident.

There are fears that the digital currency systems of major global economies may become a big global payment system and the issues of data protection, privacy, digital sovereignty, etc., may become more pronounced especially for African countries which are major consumers of products and services and at the same time lack good cybersecurity protocols.

Are there any cybersecurity risks and concerns for the use and adoption of digital currencies?

These issues are discussed by a cybersecurity expert and the Chairperson, African Union Cyber Security expert group, Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola.

Are Books Still Important?

Every April 23, the world celebrates the importance of books. World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading.

 

Also, by championing books and copyright, stakeholders are encouraged to stand up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge, promote literacy and mobile learning and advance Open Access to scientific knowledge and educational resources.

 

A Nigerian writer and poet, Stephen Nonso Okoli, shares his story with us on the importance of books to individuals and societies, in line with the theme for 2021 which is Share your Story.

Are You Breaking Up Via Text or Not?

When a relationship does not go as planned and one has to call it quits, the question of how to go about it becomes inevitable.

Gloria engages the Blunt Crazy Love Doctor on the best approach to ending a relationship.

Where Should Your Child Get Digital Etiquette From?

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” — the words of Emily Post.

Has your child started accessing the digital space? Where do they get to learn these little things that matter the most about their etiquette digitally? From a friend or a peer? From home? In school? From a caregiver? Or would they just grow up to learn from their experiences?

These are some of the contemporary issues facing children, adolescents and youths.

An educator and the National Coordinator International Schools, Teachers and Directors Association in Nigeria who doubles as a parent, Mrs. Juliana Odekhian, shares her expert thoughts on the issue.

A parent and a Communications Strategist, Tolulope Baiyewu, also delves in to balance the perspectives.

Gather Here If You're Ever Going Under The Knife

While some women seek to go under the knife to improve their appearance using cosmetic surgery, there are so many sides to the procedure.

Listen to Gloria take up Dr. Esan of the Indigo Cosmetic Hospital in an engaging and enlightening discussion on Cosmetic Surgery in Nigeria.