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: How Abba Abubakar Aliyu Is Strengthening Nigeria’s Power Infrastructure — and What It Means for the Tech Ecosystem
Nigeria’s rural power landscape is undergoing a transformation, and at the centre of this shift is Abba Abubakar Aliyu, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the Managing Director of the REA on 23 January 2025, it was widely seen as a vote of confidence in a technocrat whose leadership style blends technical discipline with a vision for decentralised energy.
Aliyu’s career shows a professional steeped in electrification projects. With over 20 years of experience in energy policy and organisational development, he served as General Manager at the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and as Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Power on policy.
This background now shapes the REA’s shift towards scalable systems rather than demonstration projects. This helps explain why the REA under his watch has been positioned as a centerpiece of Nigeria’s energy future.
Other Tech News Stories You Should Read:
How to Attract Investors to Your Startup Even Without Revenue. Read now.
Crowdfunding vs Venture Capital: Which Is Right for Your Startup? Read now.
The Rise of EdTech Startups: What Founders Should Know. Read now.
On Startup Spotlight:
Nanovate: This Egyptian Startup is Building Arabic AI Tools That Help Businesses Work Faster in Their Own Language
Egyptian startup Nanovate is emerging as one of the most focused Arabic-first AI automation companies in the Middle East and North Africa, developing tools for organisations that want technology built around their language, culture, and operational reality.
Although more than 400 million people speak Arabic globally, fewer than three per cent of global AI tools offer native Arabic support. This gap has forced many regional businesses to rely on English-based systems. Nanovate is directly addressing this challenge by building AI that can understand, think, and respond naturally across 22 Arabic dialects.
Founded in January 2024 by Nancy Madbouly and Ahmed Gamal, the company is constructing an end-to-end AI ecosystem that enables businesses to operate faster and smarter using technology built for their language and market.
“Nanovate is a technology company that helps businesses across industries unlock the power of AI and automation. From intelligent AI Agents to full-scale digital transformation, we design and build tailored solutions that streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and drive growth,” the company’s LinkedIn page says.
Quadri Adejumo brings you all the details. Read here.
Also Read:
Pan-African Startup Lipaworld is Positioning Itself as a Bold New Force in Cross-border Finance. 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
