Nigerian fintech startup, Cova, reportedly shuts down after two years
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Cova reportedly shuts down
AltSchool Africa enters Kenya
Starlink users may be arrested in Zimbabwe
Cova reportedly shuts down
Cova, a Nigerian fintech startup, is reportedly shutting down on February 10, 2024, citing “several factors.”
According to Benjamindada, the co-founders, Oluyomi Ojo and Yomi Osamiluyi, notified users via email that subscription refunds would be processed by February 13, 2024.
Founded in 2021, Cova aimed to be a comprehensive platform, allowing users to monitor and manage all their assets in one place.
The company concentrated on offering lending, investment, and savings solutions to its clientele through digital financial services.
While the reason for its shutdown is unknown, the startup, which charged $10 to $100 per month or year for subscriptions, faced several challenges, including customer demand for deeper integration and the need to build trust in a relatively new idea.
What’s more, customers and staff are uncertain in the wake of Cova’s closure.
AltSchool Africa enters Kenya
AltSchool Africa, a Nigerian ed-tech startup, has expanded into Kenya, its second East African market. This move comes after the company opened an office in Rwanda in 2022.
Tabitha Kayvu will lead operations in the new market.
Launched in 2021 with a global presence in over 100 countries and 60,000 learners, AltSchool Africa offers courses designed to accelerate entry into global tech roles.
The startup began with one-year diploma courses in software engineering and has since expanded to include five schools: engineering, data, business, product, and the creative economy. The courses cover several topics, including sales, digital marketing, fintech product management, and data engineering.
Adewale Yusuf, the co-founder, and CEO, emphasised the decision to expand to Kenya due to its potential for learner enrollments, albeit currently trailing behind Nigeria.
AltSchool Africa’s expansion into Kenya signifies a strategic move to address the growing demand for tech skills in East Africa.
According to Statista, there will be a rise in digitally skilled jobs in Africa during the next several years. The prediction states that by 2030, digital skills will be necessary for about 28 million jobs in Nigeria and 17 million jobs in Kenya, respectively.
The startup’s plans to explore additional launches in African countries with demonstrated traction demonstrate its commitment to bridging the continent’s tech skills gap. Understanding the changing nature of the workforce, AltSchool Africa prioritizes training students to meet employer expectations and achieve long-term, meaningful outcomes.
Starlink users may be arrested in Zimbabwe
A Starlink dish placed on a fence next to a house
Gbadebo’s Starlink setup
Individuals and businesses using, distributing, or advertising Starlink or its kits may face arrest in Zimbabwe.
Why? According to the nation’s telecom regulator, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Starlink has not yet officially secured a license to operate in the country.
The regulator issued the warning after the authority became dissatisfied with Starlink Internet service kits’ social media advertisements on several platforms, including Facebook.
According to reports, POTRAZ is partnering with the police to conduct a nationwide raid to apprehend those using Starlink services. The basis for potential arrests lies in the absence of licenses for Starlink services to operate in the country.
So far, arrests have already occurred, with two individuals arrested in Vic Falls and Bulawayo, and their cases are currently in court.
In September 2023, Zimbabwe said it received Starlink’s application for an operating license, and POTRAZ was reviewing it. However, two months later, the telecom regulator said that Starlink had yet to apply.
Zoom out: In December, the National Communication Authority, Ghana’s telco regulator, warned the public not to use Starlink’s equipment or services and directed anyone involved in sales or service operations to stop.
