Author: Rasheed Hamzat

As AI tools continue to flood professional and creative spaces, users are discovering a paradox —the more AI writes for us, the more we risk sounding the same.  Nowhere is this more evident than on platforms like LinkedIn, where even CEO Ryan Roslansky recently admitted that AI-generated post suggestions aren’t as widely adopted as expected. The reason? People don’t want to sound artificial when their reputation is on the line. This growing concern is creating a demand for tools that enhance writing without erasing personality.  Below are five AI-powered solutions that strike the right balance of empowering professionals, students, and…

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has issued a sobering moral warning about Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling it a “signature threat to human dignity, labor, and agency.” In doing so, he positions the Vatican not just as a spiritual beacon but as an emerging voice in the global governance of technology. Who is Pope Leo XIV? Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV is said to be bringing a unique blend of spiritual depth, academic rigour, and global experience to play. An Augustinian friar, former missionary in Peru, and accomplished theologian, the pope is fluent…

The launch of BuyScrap Nigeria marks a milestone in sustainable waste management: a tech-powered, online platform connecting waste producers with recyclers. Since its 2024 founding, the startup has expanded its reach beyond Lagos, integrating logistics, compliance, and environmental impact in one streamlined digital solution. Founded in 2024 by mechanical engineer Ndaman Joshua Olayinka, BuyScrap Nigeria operates as a digital marketplace that connects individuals and businesses with certified recycling centers and waste management companies.  According to its LinkedIn profile, the platform supports efficient and environmentally responsible disposal practices across 20+ categories of recyclable materials—from plastics to e-waste. BuyScrap’s user interface enables…

At the 2025 Techpreneur Summit hosted in Lagos by the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Eco-Cyclers, a youth-led waste recycling initiative founded by Ogechi Nwonye-Bernard, emerged as one of three standout startups awarded a share of DBN’s ₦13 million innovation grant.  The Enugu-based social enterprise received ₦3 million to scale its operations, which focus on environmental education, community recycling, and youth employment. This recognition affirms the growing national importance of grassroots environmental solutions. According to DBN Managing Director Dr. Tony Okpanachi, the summit was designed to support “innovative, scalable solutions by Nigerian entrepreneurs working to solve our most urgent socio-economic…

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has officially opened applications for the 2025 Generative AI Accelerator, inviting early-stage startups worldwide to participate.  Running from June 10 to July 10, the eight-week hybrid program will culminate in a demo day at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters on October 13, 2025, before wrapping up at AWS re:Invent later in the year.  Forty startups will be selected to receive up to $1 million in AWS credits, along with technical mentorship, go-to-market support, and access to AWS’s generative AI infrastructure. What the Accelerator Offers The program targets teams working on large language models (LLMs), model infrastructure, fine-tuning tools,…

In what industry analysts have described as a bold step to power Nigeria’s innovation economy, the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has awarded ₦13 million in grants to three high-impact tech startups during the 2025 Techpreneur Summit held in Lagos.  According to DBN, the grants, awarded through the Grooming Endowment Trust (GET) in collaboration with CREM, are part of a broader vision to build a resilient, data-driven, and inclusive MSME landscape. But DBN didn’t stop there as the bank also launched a first-of-its-kind MSME Data Asset platform—a tool designed to transform how stakeholders understand and invest in small and medium…

YouTube has long been the cornerstone of digital storytelling, education, entertainment, and brand visibility. Yet, for creators—especially individuals and small teams —the production process remains labor-intensive. From writing scripts to editing hours of footage, the demand for consistency and quality can often outweigh creative freedom. Now, AI video generation tools are beginning to flip this narrative. These tools are empowering creators to generate high-quality videos in minutes, often without touching a camera or editing software. They offer speed, scale, and creativity—reshaping the production game for solo creators, startups, and large media brands alike. 1 —Midjourney V1 Leads with Image-to-Video Simplicity…

Midjourney, the San Francisco-based AI lab known for its innovative text-to-image model, has launched its first AI video generation tool, V1, on June 18, 2025. The model, now available via Discord and the web, transforms static images into short animations of up to 21 seconds, marking a major expansion of Midjourney’s creative toolkit and a strategic move into the burgeoning AI video market. V1 is a Step into Motion Midjourney users can now animate previously generated images—or uploads—into video clips. By selecting “Animate,” users trigger the generation of four 5-second video versions, which can be extended in four-second increments up…

On June 18, 2025, a verified X (formerly Twitter) account belonging to Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) —one of the world’s leading venture capital firms —briefly posted a fraudulent crypto airdrop message.  The tweet, which falsely claimed that over $5 million had already been distributed, was live for several minutes before being deleted and later confirmed to be the result of a hack. While the breach was short-lived, its impact was significant. It exposed just how vulnerable even the most reputable institutions are to digital scams —and served as a harsh reminder to everyday users that the crypto space is still a…

In a striking breach of digital trust, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of the most powerful venture capital firms in the world, briefly became the unwitting face of a crypto scam.  On June 18, 2025, the official a16z account on X (formerly Twitter) was compromised and used to promote a fraudulent crypto “airdrop.” The post, which falsely claimed the firm had given away over $5 million worth of tokens, was live for several minutes before being deleted. The firm later confirmed the incident, stating: “Apologies for the clown show — the clowns who temporarily took over our account have been booted.”…

When Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen assumed the role of Managing Director/CEO of NIGCOMSAT Ltd in August 2023, she brought a challenge to Nigeria’s tech ecosystem —rethinking how government infrastructure powers innovation. Less than a year later, her leadership has launched Phase II of the NIGCOMSAT Accelerator Programme —a bold initiative that’s transforming Nigeria’s satellite capabilities into a startup launchpad. Anyone conversant with the inner workings of the government will know this isn’t just an upgrade to a national agency but a visionary shift —driven by an executive who’s seen innovation from boardrooms in Meta, Ericsson, and MTN, and now brings that…

The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd has officially ignited the engines on its second phase of the Accelerator Programme—a strategic leap to merge Nigeria’s satellite capabilities with grassroots innovation. For local startups, this is more than just an accelerator—it’s a direct entry point into the global space-tech conversation. With access to satellite infrastructure, deep mentorship, and pathways to international visibility, Phase II of the program signals NIGCOMSAT’s shift from an engineering institution to a powerful enabler of entrepreneurship. Cohort 2 with 35 Startups NigComSat CEO, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, in a post on Linkedin on Thursday, revealed that 35 startups are…

From unicorns to underdogs, here’s why the Nigeria Tech Market needs more than capital to lead the tech narrative. When people think of African tech, they often think of Nigeria—and with good reason. It has led the continent in startup funding for years, birthed unicorns like Flutterwave and Paystack, and boasts the largest pool of developers on the continent. But as Kenya overtook Nigeria in startup funding in 2023, and as countries like Uganda and Rwanda gain ground with clearer messaging and strategy, it’s clear: tech dominance is no longer just about size. It’s about a story. Tech Talent, Infrastructure—and…

As Uganda prepares for the second edition of its flagship tech investment summit, the country is making what we consider as its boldest move yet to lead East Africa’s innovation economy. On June 19–20, 2025, Uganda’s Kololo Independence Grounds will transform into a regional tech epicenter. The Uganda Investor Summit (UIS) 2025 will likely not be the usual networking event. It will be a declaration —a clear and calculated message that Uganda is no longer content playing catch-up in Africa’s innovation race. Instead, it’s positioning itself as a strategic launchpad for investors, founders, and policymakers seeking the next great digital…