The Desk

Nigerian WordPress users told to update now — bug lets hackers run code

A critical flaw in WordPress before 7.0.3 lets attackers bypulse authentication and potentially take over sites. Nigerian admins are urged to patch.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Funding

Jumia raises $50 million from World Bank arm and Axian to expand African e-commerce

IFC anchors the round with $25 million, with Axian and other investors providing the rest. Funds target logistics, JumiaPay, and core-market growth.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Founders can now test crypto and data-driven fintech under new CBN sandbox

Nigeria's central bank opened applications for its second regulatory sandbox cohort, adding dedicated tracks for virtual assets and data-enabled services.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Claude users will have their AI text secretly watermarked from August 2

Anthropic has started embedding invisible, machine-readable watermarks into all text generated by new Claude AI models, making the content detectable even after copying and pasting.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Founders can pitch at West Africa's biggest tech show as GITEX Nigeria sets 2026 dates

The government-backed event will hold an AI summit in Abuja on Aug 31 and a full tech expo in Lagos from Sep 2-3, targeting thousands of startups, investors, and global tech leaders.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

UNILAG students can now get free contraceptives delivered to campus

GoMed Nigeria, UNFPA, and Lagos State have launched a digital platform offering free sexual and reproductive health products and discreet delivery to University of Lagos students.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Jeff Bezos-led group nears deal for one-third stake in Liverpool FC

A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is close to acquiring a roughly 30% minority stake in Premier League club Liverpool, multiple outlets report.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Learners in low-connectivity areas get AI tutor that works offline

VirtualClickSupport unveils DigiBridge, an AI-powered EdTech framework with adaptive tutoring, offline-first access, and culturally responsive design for resource-constrained environments.

The DeskAug 12, 2026

Founders could build more ventures with AI, Zuckerberg argues

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says advanced AI will expand human capability and entrepreneurship, not destroy jobs, in a new essay published Monday.

The DeskAug 11, 2026

Business owners, not agents: why Moniepoint and OPay aren't fighting the same fight

A viral tweet frames Moniepoint and OPay as rivals, but the best data shows they dominate different layers of Nigeria's POS and banking economy, with clear splits in agent count, market share, and product design.

The DeskAug 10, 2026

Startup

OneDosh users can now top up USD wallets instantly with a debit card

Nigerian fintech OneDosh launched a Stripe-powered onramp letting eligible users fund USD wallets with a debit card and access its full ecosystem immediately.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Nigerian businesses still crushed by multiple taxes despite reforms, CBN survey finds

A new Central Bank of Nigeria survey shows 70.8% of firms say overlapping taxes remain their top problem, ranking above insecurity and high interest rates.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Startup

Businesses can now run AI security over old CCTV, as Sorveo goes live in Lagos

Lagos startup Sorveo has launched an AI platform that plugs into existing CCTV cameras, offering real-time facial and plate recognition without replacing hardware.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Nigerians can now earn rewards as OPay opens affiliate applications

OPay has opened applications for an affiliate programme in Nigeria, letting creators, students, and entrepreneurs earn by driving new user signups and activity.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

MTN customers can claim free 25GB data today for its 25th anniversary

MTN Nigeria is giving eligible customers a free 25GB data bundle through its app, valid until 11:59 pm on 8 August 2026.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Developing countries don't need big AI models, World Bank says

The World Bank's 2026 development report advises developing economies against competing on large AI models and data centres, urging a focus on local adaptation instead.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Lebara customers can now pay for airtime and data through Payaza

Lebara Nigeria has named Payaza Africa as its exclusive payment partner, letting customers buy airtime, data, and subscriptions directly through the telco's new digital platform.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Shoppers can now test ASUS laptops before buying at a new Lagos store

ASUS and Konga opened a flagship experience store in Computer Village, Ikeja, letting customers try premium laptops, AI PCs, and gaming devices with expert help and after-sales support.

The DeskAug 8, 2026

Customs hires just 3,852 out of 573,680 applicants — a 0.7% success rate

The Nigeria Customs Service offered jobs to 3,852 candidates from 573,680 applications, a 0.7% success rate. Recruitment will now be an annual, merit-based exercise.

The DeskAug 5, 2026

Cloud providers in Nigeria must now follow new sovereign data rules

NITDA signed three regulatory instruments for Nigeria's National Sovereign Cloud Initiative, setting rules for cloud computing, technical standards, and digital infrastructure assurance.

The DeskAug 5, 2026

Insights

Nigerians spent N1.41 trillion on beer, malt and spirits in six months

Combined revenue from the country's three largest brewers hit N1.41 trillion in the first half of 2026, a sharp rise from N1.09 trillion a year earlier.

The DeskAug 5, 2026

Events

Fintechs and Banks can Now Apply for a Lagos Sprint to Turn Gender Data into Real Products

A three-day design sprint in Lagos this September will help financial players turn gender-disaggregated data into practical tools and policies.

The DeskAug 4, 2026

Nigerians can now get birth and death certificates online

NPC launches a nationwide digital platform for civil registration, ending manual certificates and linking records to the national ID system.

The DeskAug 4, 2026

Amazon's value crosses $3 trillion as cloud and AI growth pays off

The e-commerce and cloud giant briefly hit a $3 trillion market cap on Monday after strong earnings beat Wall Street expectations.

The DeskAug 4, 2026

Nigerians can now trade on real-world events via Busha’s licensed prediction market

Busha launches Signal, a Lagos State-licensed prediction market letting users trade outcomes on sports, politics, crypto, and more using their existing crypto wallets.

The DeskAug 4, 2026

MTN is 3 million subscribers away from 100 million after hitting 96.9 million in May

MTN Nigeria now controls 51.19% of the mobile market with 96.9 million active subscriptions, leaving it just over 3 million short of the 100 million milestone, according to the latest NCC data.

The DeskAug 1, 2026

Nigerian firms can now access top-tier CrowdStrike security locally via eProcess

eProcess Consulting becomes Africa's first CrowdStrike Elite Partner, signaling local firms can deploy advanced global cybersecurity tools.

The DeskAug 1, 2026

Travellers to South Africa will pay a new $30 digital processing fee

South Africa proposes a ZAR 500 (~US$30) electronic processing fee for online travel authorisations and visas, with new charges likely from August 2026.

The DeskAug 1, 2026

Startup

Students can now build and fly drones for credit at Miva University

Miva Open University and drone maker Terra Industries are building robotics labs where students will design, test, and fly drones as part of their degree programs.

The DeskAug 1, 2026

Young techies in Nigeria and Ghana can now apply for MacBook awards and funded scholarships

Cardtonic's Upskill 4.0 offers 25 MacBook M4 Pro laptops for professionals and 20 AltSchool Africa scholarships with ₦250,000 stipends. Applications close August 28.

The DeskAug 1, 2026

Rwandans on 3G phones will lose service by June 2027

Rwanda will switch off its 3G network on 30 June 2027, with 2G to follow later, as the country pushes users and businesses toward 4G and 5G.

The DeskAug 1, 2026

African enterprises get AI factory framework to scale innovation

Tenece and Dell Technologies unite African business leaders with a framework for deploying AI, cybersecurity, and digital trust at scale.

The DeskJul 31, 2026

Brand Press

48 Nigerian Student Teams Advance in OPay Innovation Challenge

OPay selected 48 undergraduate teams from more than 2,200 applications for the next stage of its National Innovation Challenge. The teams enter a six-week virtual mentorship with OPay, Google and the federal 3MTT programme.

The DeskJul 27, 2026

Nigerians can submit and track revenue ideas on new NRS portal

The NRS Ideas Gateway Portal launched on 24 July 2026, letting users submit ideas for the Nigerian Revenue Service and track every submission from start to finish.

The DeskJul 26, 2026

Nigerian tech builders can apply for fourth NCC hackathon

The Nigerian Communications Commission opened calls for its Hackathon Live Show fourth edition, extending a series of regulator-run challenges that have awarded grants and accelerator spots to local startups.

The DeskJul 24, 2026

Kogi youth gain digital skills training to steer clear of cybercrime

NITDA and Kogi State will collaborate on digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness and youth capacity building to direct young people toward productive digital careers instead of internet fraud.

The DeskJul 24, 2026

NITDA MoU deploys AI advisory platform to Nigerian smallholders

NITDA and Extension Africa signed an MoU to roll out the AI-Enabled Digital Advisory Platform, delivering mobile guidance on weather, soil and crops to millions of farmers under the Gates-funded NPPP-AI-DAP initiative.

The DeskJul 22, 2026

Nigeria to Host 7th ATU Plenipotentiary Conference in Abuja July 2026

Nigeria will host the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Abuja on 23-24 July 2026 to set Africa's digital and telecommunications agenda.

The DeskJul 21, 2026

Ogun State Opens Applications for Second Gen AI Fellowship

Applications are now open for the second cohort of the six-month Gen AI Fellowship in Abeokuta, backed by the Bosun Tijani Foundation and Ogun State Government following a first cohort of over 80 fellows.

The DeskJul 21, 2026