![[Africa Tech Review] Nixon Kanali: Data security and privacy laws develop across Africa](Images/Key Persons/Nixon_Kanali_.jpeg)
[Africa Tech Review] Nixon Kanali: Data security and privacy laws develop across Africa
Data privacy and security have always been a huge concern across different countries in Africa. To address these concerns, numerous countries in the region have been developing and implementing laws to protect and secure the personal information of their citizens. This week, lawyers across Africa commented on the continent’s urgent need for data privacy and security laws.
This week, African startups were also in the news. South African fintech firm Hello Pay launched a new high-end Android Mobile point-of-sale solution (mPOS) for local merchants and SMEs. Kenyan health tech startup Zuri Health launched a WhatsApp chatbot for its users in the country. Norebase, a Nigeria-based trade technology firm secured $1M pre-seed funding round. Still in Nigeria, digital freight forwarding company OnePort 365 raised $5 million in seed funding to drive the end-to-end digitisation of freight management in Africa. Viva Technology and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) also announced the top 45 start-ups that have been long-listed for the first edition of the AfricaTech Awards. Sun King, a solar energy company that helps power off-grid homes in Africa and Asia raised $260 million in Series D funding. Back in Kenya, on-demand delivery platform Glovo announced the winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya.
In Tanzania, fintech startup NALA partnered with Pan-African payments company, Cellulant to power payments from the United Kingdom and the United States to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana. Fintech startup Power Financial Wellness joined forces with insurtech firm Turaco to offer affordable health insurance products to its customers.
In South Africa, Eaton Electric completed the installation of a modular power system at Africa Data Centre (ADC)’s 10MW Johannesburg Midrand facility. This is Eaton's largest installation on the continent to date. AURA, the security startup released a report revealing how innovation in technology outsmarts crime. Cybersecurity firm Trellix released its Threat Labs Report: April 2022, examining cybercriminal behaviour in South Africa over the last six months.
This week, AfDB opened a new digital skills training centre for women in ICT in Africa. At the same time, The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) announced a $15 million in funding to the African Development Back’s Africa Digital Inclusion Facility(ADFI). Digital Payment Solutions Provider Network International announced a 33% increase in year on year revenue for Q1 2022.
Other top highlights of the week include Entravision a global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company, this week announced its expansion into Kenya and Realness Institute, in partnership with Netflix, announcing the twelve participants selected for the 2022 Episodic Lab (EPL) and Development Executive Traineeship (DET).
Nixon Kanali is the Tech Editor for Africa Business Communities.
