Hi, welcome to Tech This Evening, an After-Work Tech Newsletter from Techparley Africa. Sure, there is a lot to unpack right now. Sit back, while I walk you through.
Top Story: 3 Years On, Why’s Nigeria’s 5G Network Coverage Still Stuck at 3 Per Cent?
When Nigeria’s 5G network coverage arrived in 2022, the country positioned itself as a technological frontrunner in Africa. Policymakers spoke confidently of a future powered by ultra-fast connectivity, AI-enabled industries, and digital public services running at global standards.
Three years later, the reality is far more modest, as only 3 per cent of all internet subscribers in Africa’s largest economy are on 5G, according to newly published data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). That equates to just over four million users in a country of more than 220 million people.
Across the Atlantic, 5G adoption is accelerating so rapidly that global connections surpassed 1.5 billion by the end of 2023. In Africa, early adopters like South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania have moved faster, driven by more competitive device markets and stronger infrastructure coordination.
Nigeria, despite its size, market potential, and early licensing advantage, is falling behind.
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How to Haunt Funding in 2026: A Complete Guide for Startups. Read now.
How to Manage Cofounder Conflicts in a Startup: A Step-by-Step Guide. Read now.
On Startup Spotlight:
Midddleman: This Nigerian Startup is Using AI to Help African Businesses Source Goods Directly from China
For years, African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have relied on retail platforms such as AliExpress, and Temu to source low-cost goods from China. That gap has created an opportunity for Midddleman, a Nigerian tradetech startup to link African businesses directly with manufacturers in China.
Midddleman’s story began with two young graduates, Omolara Sanni and Adeola Owosho, who launched a string of micro-businesses selling everything from skincare products to car accessories on Instagram. But what they learned had nothing to do with product margins. It was about trust.
“People did not trust us enough to pay before delivery,” Sanni recalls. “We were in Lagos, but customers outside Lagos would refuse to pick up their items. Some would stop responding entirely. We lost money sending goods out.”
The inability to scale due to buyer mistrust pushed them to think more deeply about Nigeria’s e-commerce challenges.
Quadri Adejumo brings you all the details. Read here.
Also Read:
OceanHub Africa’s 2026 Accelerator Opens Application to Transform the Continent’s Blue Economy. Apply Now. Yakub Abdulrasheed brings us the details, here.
Quote of the Day:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke.
Thank you for joining me yet again this evening. Stay safe, and see you tomorrow for the next tech newsletter.
Best, Quadri
