Wazzup!
One of the most interesting things I saw yesterday was that a Nigerian scientist, Temidayo Oniosun, is sending Egusi (melon seeds) to space. He says he is on a mission to âassess its suitability for nutritional and functional applications in long-term human space exploration.â I am rooting for him.
In other news, ChatGPT does not want you cheating on your essays anymore. OpenAI has launched a new study mode for ChatGPT that âhelps you work through problems step by step instead of just getting an answer,â according to an OpenAI blog post. The tool gives you guidance rather than serving up complete essays or answers, amid rising AI misuse at universities.Â
PS: If you care about your finances, then you should be attending Zikokoâs Naira Life conference. The conference will bring together finance experts, industry leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs who will share their journeys and offer actionable strategies to make your financial dreams a reality. Itâs happening on August 8 at the Jewel Aeida, Lekki.Â
Get tickets here to secure a spot.
â Faith
Fintech
Chipper Cash brings global money transfers to Zambia in partnership with Western Union and Zoona
Chipper Cash has launched international money transfers in Zambia through a new integration with Western Union and Zoona Transactions Zambia Limited. The co-branded service, now available in the Chipper Cash app, allows Zambians to send and receive money in over 200 countries and territories, via mobile wallets, cash pickup, and soon, bank deposits.
This launch builds on Chipper Cashâs 2022 acquisition of Zoona, a Zambian payments platform, and leverages Western Unionâs global remittance rail. Together, the trio brings financial services to the fingertips of millions, targeting users long excluded from traditional banking. The service lets customers fund their digital wallet at local agents, mobile networks, or banks, then send money globally with a few taps.
Hereâs why it matters: Zambia, with over 20 million people and fast-rising smartphone adoption, presents a ripe market for mobile-first financial solutions. The shift from cash to digital is accelerating, and partnerships like this one help bridge the gap between legacy remittance systems and the mobile economy.
This move is part of a broader fintech trend: global-local collaborations that blend trust, reach, and user-centric tech. For Chipper Cashâwhich already serves 5 million users across Africaâit marks a strategic play to deepen its cross-border capabilities and embed more tightly into Zambiaâs evolving digital finance ecosystem.
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Logistics
South Africaâs Takealot takes on logistics with new business unit
South African retail giant, Takealot Group, is turning its logistics arm into a new business unit called Takealot Fulfillment Solutions (TFS). TFS wants to strategically support the rising wave of digital commerce both locally and internationally. From now on, the groupâs logistics, supply chain, international freight, and courier services will be under the TFS brand.Â
Why does it matter? Takealot Fulfilment Solutions will handle logistics for both the Takealot Group and third-party logistics customers like large retailers, startups, and other individuals that require affordable services. This is part of Takealotâs strategy to evolve from just an e-commerce giant to tech fulfillment services. Takealot hopes to use TFS to reduce its logistics costs, drive broader revenue growth, and better support players in the e-commerce space.
ICYMI: Takealot previously held talks to hire 18,000 workers who had lost their jobs this year at South Africaâs Post Office. The aim was to ramp up its logistics workforce at a scale competitive enough against players like Amazon, which entered the market in 2024. With this new logistics arm, Takealot can put this newly hired workforce to good use by building a national last-mile network that is more flexible and harder for Amazon to copy.Â
The big picture: Takealot has been facing some competition from Amazon, which entered South Africa in May 2024. However, Takealot had a 15% revenue growth for the financial year in June despite the growing competitive landscape. The move into logistics is a signal that the South African e-commerce leader is looking to expand revenue sources and increase its competitive edge beyond commerce.
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Companies
Lipa Later sought $5 million loan weeks after entering administration
Two weeks after entering administration in March 2024, Kenyan buy-now-pay-later startup Lipa Later attempted to raise $5 million to salvage its operationsâdespite having already ceded control to a court-appointed administrator.
According to a term sheet seen by TechCabal, co-founder Eric Muli sought a $5 million, 36-month loan from UK-based Advanced Global Capital (AGC) in April to support the companyâs invoice factoring business. The proposed deal came with a steep 14% annual interest rateâinterest-only for the first 24 months, with repayments starting in year three.
By the time the loan was requested, the company was no longer under Muliâs control. In late March, the board handed over Lipa Laterâs assets and operations to Joy Vipinchandra Bhatt of Moore JVB Consulting LLP after months of unpaid salaries, defaulted supplier payments, and failed fundraising efforts. It remains unclear whether the administrator was aware of or authorised the financing attempt. Under Kenyan insolvency law, directors lose management powers once administration begins.
Lipa Later was once a rising star. Founded in 2018, it raised $16.6 million from backers including Cauris, Lateral Frontiers, Orbit Startups, and Founders Factory Africa. But signs of distress became evident by late 2023, when it acquired struggling e-commerce platform Sky.Garden for $1.9 millionâdespite already defaulting on obligations.
By March 2024, the company was out of cash, staff were unpaid, and creditors loomed. The $5 million loan bid was a last-ditch effort to stay afloatâbut one made outside its legal authority.
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Emerging Tech
South Africa and China agree to advance AI & digital infrastructure cooperation
South Africa and China reached a formal deal to advance AI cooperation between the two nations. The agreement was reached during a recent visit to China by a high-level delegation of officials, including the communications and digital technology minister, Solly Malatsi, and senior South African officials responsible for AI, digital infrastructure, and cybersecurity. It aims to unlock collaborative research, investment, and application of AI in key sectors such as education, agriculture, and public service delivery.Â
Why does it matter? In addition to AI cooperation, a key topic of discussion was satellite broadband. This is a key area that aligns with Minister Malatsiâs broader agenda to close the digital divide and enhance access to education and healthcare. Elon Muskâs Starlink satellite services are not available in South Africa due to concerns around the Black Power empowerment regulation. While in China, the delegation also engaged with the China Satellite Network Company (CSNC) to explore other satellite broadband options to improve connectivity for rural communities in South Africa, signalling an interest in more feasible alternatives.Â
Big Picture: In June 2025, South Africaâs Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation also signed an agreement with the Chinese tech firm, Huawei, during a visit to China to boost cooperation on AI research and innovation. As South Africa continues to deepen its collaboration with China, itâd be interesting to see the long-term effects this has on South Africaâs goals for tackling the digital divide and impactful AI research. Whether this will raise any more eyebrows from the United States, which has already hit the country with 30% in tariffs expected to take effect on August 1, remains a big question.
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CRYPTO TRACKER
The World Wide Web3
Source:
|
Coin Name |
Current Value |
Day |
Month |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bitcoin |
$118,434 |
+ 0.42% |
+ 10.77% |
| Ether |
$3,861 |
+ 1.64% |
+ 57.21% |
| XRP |
$3.14 |
+ 0.59% |
+ 41.26% |
| Solana |
$180.82 |
+ 0.39% |
+ 18.49% |
* Data as of 06.20 AM WAT, July 31, 2025.
Events
- Bridge And Value and AlexBoyo World (ABW) are hosting a bespoke trade mission to Paris for Nigerian businesses looking to scale into France and the wider European market. From September 22â26, 2025, participants will attend the Spotlight Nigeria Business Forum (8th edition), Europeâs premier Nigeria-focused summit, and BIG 2025, Bpifranceâs flagship entrepreneurship event. The itinerary also includes high-level business meetings, networking sessions with French investors and institutions, and a guided visit to Station F, the worldâs largest startup incubator. Registration is open until August 15.
Written by: Ifeoluwa Igbiniode and Faith Omoniyi
Edited by: Faith Omoniyi
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