Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.
This week we continue to follow Optasia IPO pageantry as it prepares to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in early November. SA banking giant FirstRand has a history of big bets on tech players, as well as steadily buying into traditional local banks across the continent (just acquired Standard Chartered in Zambia as Western banks pull out). This establishment blessing on the AI-led fintech company sets up Optasia to enter the big league.
This week also has another smattering of startups in North Africa getting a much-needed shot of growth funding to take them from interesting experiments to sustainable businesses.
We did want to examine “Africa’s first operational AI Factory” announced by Altron, but got no meaningful answers to simple questions like, “What does it actually do?”, “What’s actually in the box?” and “What specific capabilities does it povide?”. Until there’s a bit of substance, we’ll park it alongside the African Data Centres/Cassava smoke & mirrors.
And now — having reached a year, a thousand subscribers and ten thousand 90-day views … do we continue? Without funding support of our own, AfricaAINews.com is not viable moving forward.
If you want us to continue, and you have ideas for sponsorship and support, we’re all ears. Just hit “reply” to this mail, or hit me up on LinkedIn. Let us hear from you! Nature abhors a vacuum, and journalism abhors a silent audience.
On with this week’s issue!
/Roger
Funding
Optasia secures $272-million from FirstRand before JSE listing
#SouthAfrica #funding #fintech — Optasia has attracted a R4.7-billion ($272-million) investment from banking giant FirstRand Group for a 20.1% stake as it prepares to list on the JSE. The AI-driven credit platform, valued at up to $1.16-bill, plans to raise $75-million for expansion into emerging markets including Kenya and Indonesia. The listing is scheduled for early November. (TechCentral)
SehaTech secures $1.1 million to expand AI insurtech
#Egypt #insurtech – Cairo-based SehaTech has raised $1.1-million in Seed funding led by Nigeria’s Ingressive Capital, bringing its total to $2-million. The company plans regional expansion of its AI-driven health insurance automation platform to boost efficiency and reduce fraud across Africa and the Middle East. (Middle East AI News)
Madica backs Tunisia’s Anavid and Morocco’s Hypeo AI
#Tunisia #Morocco #funding #startups — Africa-focused investment programme Madica, supported by Nigerian fund, Flourish Ventures, has invested “up to” $200 000 into Tunisian retail video analytics startup Anavid, and into Moroccan influencer marketing automation firm Hypeo AI. Both will join Madica’s 18-month support scheme, alongside a new partnership with business network ABAN to boost regional co-investment. Hypeo was in the news in a previous funding round from US-based Renew Capital, no numbers were given. (Daba Finance)
Education
Senegal parts out $233m tech fund for digital and AI teacher training
#Senegal #education #policy — Senegal’s Ministry of National Education has launched massive programme to train 105,000 teachers and administrators in digital and AI skills under its CFA130 billion ($233-million) Education Digital Strategy 2025–2029 to modernise teaching despite persistent connectivity gaps. (We Are Tech Africa)
Morocco launches AI training for 200,000 students
#Morocco #training — Morocco has begun a nationwide digital skills initiative to train 200,000 schoolchildren in AI and technology under its Digital Morocco 2030 plan. The pilot, running across twelve cities, aims to foster digital literacy and support the country’s vision for an inclusive, innovation-driven economy. (Ecofin Agency)
Egypt trains 1,895 new AI ambassadors through NTI
#Egypt #education #innovation — The National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) has graduated 1,895 interns from the fourth cohort of its AI Ambassadors programme, run with the Engineers for Sustainable Egypt Foundation. The initiative, Egypt’s largest AI awareness drive, has now trained 5,005 participants to apply AI tools in their workplaces and support national digital transformation goals. (TechAfrica News)
Egypt issues AI use guidelines for universities, research
#Egypt #policy #education — Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities has released official guidelines (download link) regulating AI use in higher education and scientific research. The manual sets ethical principles, risk management policies, and rules for acceptable AI applications. It also mandates ethics committees in universities to oversee implementation as part of the country’s National AI Strategy. (Al-Fanar Media)
Hubs, Labs & CoEs
UM6P and Syensqo form AI lab for green industry
#Morocco #sustainability – Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has partnered with materials science firm Syensqo to establish an AI research lab in Ben Guerir. The collaboration will apply advanced AI to chemistry and materials innovation, driving sustainable industrial processes and accelerating Morocco’s green technology agenda. (Morocco World News)
KEPSA and Microsoft launch Kenya AI Skilling Alliance
#Kenya #education — The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KPSA), in partnership with Microsoft, has launched the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Skilling Alliance (KAISA), to coordinate AI training, innovation, and policy alignment. The 24-month roadmap includes sectoral working groups, national skilling programmes, and an AI innovation hub to promote inclusive, ethical AI adoption. (Microsoft)
Applications
Africa tops global hotel AI adoption rates, report finds
#Africa #applications #hospitality — A new study shows 57% of hotel businesses in the Middle East and Africa have adopted AI tools, outpacing the global average of 35%. Regional hotel chains have the highest trust in AI, scoring 7.1/10, but 47% cite data silos as a barrier to deeper integration and full automation by 2030. (Bizcommunity)
EY applies AI to enhance efficiency in Angola’s energy sector
#Angola #applications #energy — Global consultancy EY is deploying AI solutions across Angola’s oil and gas industry to predict equipment failures, cut flaring and boost sustainability. According to EY Angola’s André Afonso, the firm also helps clients secure funding for major projects, including the Cabinda and Lobito refineries, while supporting new gas exploration initiatives. (Angola Oil & Gas)
[ This newsletter was human roasted and AI basted ]