Author: Follow ICT

Vodacom Group has named Ayman Essam as Chief Executive for External Affairs, effective October 1, 2025, in a move that signals the company’s deepening commitment to strategic engagement across its African markets. In this newly expanded role, Essam will oversee external affairs operations across all Vodacom territories on the continent, including Egypt, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Egypt will remain a key market under Essam’s purview, continuing to receive dedicated attention due to its scale and strategic importance within the group’s portfolio. Essam will report directly to Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub,…

Orange Egypt has signed an exclusive partnership with Enjaz Payment Services, one of the largest fintech companies in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Enjaz operates across the Kingdom with a wide-reaching network of more than 140 branches, combining strong on-ground presence with innovative digital services. This partnership introduces a seamless money transfer service from Saudi Arabia to Egypt through the Orange Cash wallet, offering customers exceptional benefits: • Full waiver of international transfer fees for senders transferring through Enjaz branches or its digital platform to Orange Cash wallets in Egypt. • EGP 500 cashback for recipients upon successfully receiving…

As Africa’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve, FollowICT highlights the week’s most significant developments across the continent—from venture studio breakthroughs in Nigeria to strategic capital flows in East Africa and beyond. FirstFounders Bets Big on AI Startups in Nigeria FirstFounders (F2), a Nigerian venture studio, is challenging conventional startup acceleration models with a thesis rooted in deliberate, hands-on risk mitigation. The firm released a report last week detailing its approach, which diverges sharply from traditional accelerators. Unlike accelerators that offer distant guidance, F2 operates as a co-founder—building alongside entrepreneurs and investing from day one. According to a report by The…

In a significant step that reflects its strong commitment to innovation and strengthening cybersecurity standards, First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr (FABMISR), one of the largest banks operating in Egypt, has successfully implemented the latest version of SailPoint IIQ, a leading Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution in collaboration with Hemaya Information Technology. This initiative is part of the bank’s full compliance with the Central Bank of Egypt’s Cybersecurity Framework, ensuring robust identity governance and access security. The successful deployment of the IAM tool is the result of close collaboration between Hemaya, the bank’s technology partner, and key internal leaders including…

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and institutions worldwide, FollowICT’s Digital Economy platform presents a weekly roundup of the most consequential developments in AI. From billion-dollar valuations to geopolitical tech tensions, here’s what you need to know this week. ChatGPT Mobile App Surpasses $2 Billion in Consumer Spending Since its launch in May 2023, global consumer spending on the ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android has reached $2 billion, according to a new analysis by app intelligence firm Appfigures. The report notes that this figure is nearly 30 times the combined lifetime mobile revenue of ChatGPT’s competitors, including…

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries at breakneck speed, FollowICT presents a weekly roundup of the most consequential developments in the AI landscape—from corporate shakeups to geopolitical tensions. OpenAI’s GPT-5 Pricing Sparks Industry-Wide Shockwaves OpenAI stunned the tech world for the second time in a week with the release of GPT-5, its latest flagship model, just days after unveiling two open-source models. CEO Sam Altman declared GPT-5 “the best model in the world,” citing its exceptional performance across a wide range of tasks—especially programming. But it’s the pricing that’s turning heads. Altman tweeted, “I’m very happy with the price…

As Africa’s digital economy accelerates, a wave of innovation is sweeping across the continent’s startup ecosystem. From Nigeria to South Africa, emerging companies are redefining education, commerce, agriculture, and travel. Here’s a roundup of the week’s most compelling developments, curated by FollowICT. Nigeria’s Edozzier Cracks Global Top 5 in iOS Education In a striking leap for Nigerian EdTech, Lagos-based Edozzier has secured a spot among the top five global education apps on Apple’s iOS platform—surpassing industry giants like Udemy and Coursera as of August 1, 2025. The AI-powered education resource planning platform achieved this milestone just two weeks after launching…

As artificial intelligence accelerates its global expansion, FollowICT—a platform specializing in digital economy coverage—presents its weekly roundup of the most pressing developments shaping the AI landscape. DuckDuckGo introduces filter to hide AI-generated images in search results Privacy-centric browser DuckDuckGo rolled out a new setting allowing users to exclude AI-generated images from image search results. The feature, launched in response to user feedback, aims to reduce visual clutter and improve search accuracy. Users can access the toggle by navigating to the “Images” tab and selecting the new dropdown labeled “AI Images,” where they can choose to either display or hide such…

From AI intelligence engines in Mauritius to fintech accelerators across Ghana and Nigeria, African startups are gaining serious ground. FollowICT rounds up this week’s most notable developments from across the continent. Mauritius-based AI startup Rwazi raises $12M to accelerate global expansion Rwazi, an African-founded AI market intelligence platform with global reach, has secured $12 million in Series A funding to bolster its decision-support engine and simulation capabilities. The funding is expected to expand Rwazi’s real-time insight tools, offering organizations actionable visibility into shifting trends and optimal strategic responses. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Mauritius, Rwazi developed a mobile and…

EgyptAir, the national carrier of the Arab Republic of Egypt and a member of the Star Alliance, has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with TRU, the emerging platform for flexible installment solutions, to enable customers to purchase domestic and international airline tickets through easy and diversified installment plans. This partnership marks a significant milestone in supporting digital transformation in the travel sector and aims to expand access to aviation services by offering travelers flexible and simplified payment options. The newly introduced service ensures a smoother travel experience without the burden of immediate financial commitments, thereby empowering more…