Fintech News Society Software Technology Trends

Cassava Technologies pledges R4.5 billion in investment into the South African economy

Cassava Technologies (www.CassavaTechnologies.com) has pledged a total of R4.5 billion in investment in South Africa through its business units – Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres and Distributed Power Africa. The announcement was made during the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in support of SA President Cyril Ramaphosa’s initiative to drive investment into the country.

 

Through this investment, Cassava, which has operations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the USA and Latin America, will continue to bring internationally recognised services and products to South Africa through the group’s renewable energy, cloud & cyber security, data centres and broadband connectivity business units.

Cassava’s investments will contribute towards positioning South Africa as an attractive investment destination

South Africa accounts for the largest proportion of Africa’s industrial GDP with a sophisticated and growing ICT sector. The country’s unique combination of highly developed first-world economic infrastructure and a stable macro-economic environment affords businesses like ours a conducive investment environment in which we can partner with government to drive economic development and create jobs” stated Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies.

Cassava’s investment pledge comprises key projects, including the expansion of the Liquid Intelligent Technologies fibre network, the extension of Africa Data Centres capacity and footprint, enhanced cloud and cyber security capacity, and the rollout of clean, renewable energy by Distributed Power Africa in South Africa.

South Africa’s USD$ 6.75 billion ICT sector represents one of Africa’s most investment-attractive and growth-bound industries today. The world bank estimates that South Africa’s internet penetration rate has doubled over the last decade, standing at 70%. While the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa reports that the national population coverage for 4G/LTE was at 97.7% in 2021, placing the nation years ahead of its peers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cassava’s investments will contribute towards positioning South Africa as an attractive investment destination and enable greater inclusion of all South Africans consistent with Cassava’s vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Economy Society Software Technology Technology Trends

From Garage to Cybersecurity Titan: ESET Southern Africa Celebrates its 20-Year Journey in Shaping the South African Digital Landscape

post-image

 

Three web-generations ago, when the word “website” was new, and the familiar words “virus” and “Trojan” gained new meaning in the digital world, an unlikely partnership formed between 18-year-old Justin Stanford and 50-year-old businessman, Erik van Vlaanderen. This partnership led them to create the information security company, 4D Digital Security (4DDS) in 2002, which was the starting point and reason for ESET Southern Africa existing today. Together they went on to change South Africa’s digital security landscape and put the nation on the global cybersecurity map.

 

This year, ESET Southern Africa celebrates 20 years of leading the cybersecurity industry in South Africa, offering product solutions to businesses of all sizes, whether consumer or enterprise. Since their inception, the journey to becoming a cybersecurity powerhouse mirrors the rapid evolution of the South African tech industry.

 

Through a cold call to San Diego in 2003, 4DDS secured the distribution rights for NOD32;…

Read More
Announcements Business Economy Government Technology Technology Trends

NDPC Hosts Capacity-Building Workshop for Health Records Officers, Wins Prestigious Award

post-image

 

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria, recently organized a capacity-building workshop aimed at enhancing the skills of Health Records Officers from various states across the country. The event, which focused on the critical importance of data protection in the health sector, was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Dr. Mrs. Obiajulu Ugbo. The National Commissioner and CEO of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, delivered the opening remarks.

Dr. Olatunji highlighted the sensitive nature of health data, emphasizing the need for rigorous protection measures. He stressed the significance of the training, noting that the participants represent over 40,000 health professionals responsible for managing health records nationwide. To illustrate the potential risks, he shared real-life case studies demonstrating the severe consequences of data…

Read More
Announcements Business Economy Energy

NNPC Limited Partners with China Engineering & Machinery Corporation for Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant Project

post-image

 

In a landmark move to enhance Nigeria’s power generation capacity, NNPC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Engineering & Machinery Corporation (CMEC) for the co-funding of the Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant (GIPP) Phase-1 Project. The signing ceremony took place in Beijing this Thursday, reflecting the deepening collaboration between Nigeria and China in the energy sector.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas Power & New Energy of NNPC Limited, and Mr. Zhang Daguang, Chairman of CMEC Nigeria. This agreement represents a significant step forward in the development of the GIPP, which is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to utilize its abundant gas resources for sustainable power generation and industrial growth.

The Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant, also known as the Abuja IPP, is a 350-megawatt gas-fired power project that forms a key component of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project. The AKK pipeline,…

Read More
Announcements Business Education Trends

Revolutionising higher education: Accra Institute of Technology leads adoption of Artificial Intelligence

post-image

 

 

In a groundbreaking move, Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) has announced its commitment to becoming one of the world’s first universities to fully embrace and integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) across all aspects of its operations. This transformative initiative was outlined by AIT President, Professor Clement Dzidonu, during the institution’s 20th graduation ceremony.

Speaking to the graduating class and distinguished guests, Professor Dzidonu emphasized the profound impact of AI and associated technologies on the future of higher education. “We stand at the dawn of an AI revolution, and it is no surprise that leading universities across the world are actively exploring ways to integrate these technologies into their operations,” he stated.

As a leading technological university, AIT recognizes that the integration of AI is not just a trend but a necessity in the 21st-century educational landscape. To this end, the university has committed to becoming a global pioneer in the holistic implementation…

Read More
Announcements Business Culture International Society Software

One of the Most Influential Women in AI: Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

post-image

 

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo is recognized as one of the most influential women in artificial intelligence today. Named among the 100 Most Influential Women in Tech and AI by *Times New York*, Dr. Okolo is making significant strides in both AI research and policy. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, by Nigerian immigrants, she has emerged as a leading voice in her field. Currently, she is a Fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation within the Governance Studies program at The Brookings Institution and a recent Ph.D. graduate in Computer Science from Cornell University.

Dr. Okolo’s research focuses on key areas of AI governance, especially in emerging markets. Her work spans AI literacy upskilling, human-centered approaches to AI explainability, the future of data work, and leveraging AI to enhance global health outcomes. At Cornell, her dissertation employed ethnographic methods to understand how frontline healthcare workers in rural India perceive…

Read More
Business Economy International Investments News Opinion

Farouk Khailann Urges Modernization of Investment Strategies in Africa

post-image

 

Farouk Khailann, CEO of Premium Africa Holdings and Senior Advisor, has delivered a sharp critique of traditional methods used to attract investors to Africa, asserting that these practices are not only costly but increasingly ineffective.

In a recent statement, Khailann highlighted the inefficacy of conventional investment approaches, which often involve lavish spending and large entourages. “The traditional methods of attracting investors have become not only excessively expensive but also increasingly ineffective,” Khailann said. He criticized the practice of presenting oneself with an entourage dressed in expensive suits, noting that this approach does not resonate with high-net-worth investors interested in Africa. “You sit in rooms where the real private, high-appetite-for-Africa investors don’t align with or even bother to show up,” he added.

Khailann also condemned the reliance on government-to-government funding, which he claims often comes with restrictive conditions. He emphasized that genuine private investors are sometimes exploited for personal gain rather than…

Read More
Announcements Business Economy Education Government

NITDA Champions Youth Empowerment at 2024 Head-to-Head Debate Reality House Grand Finale

post-image

 

In a momentous display of support for educational and technological advancement, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) played a pivotal role in the 2024 Head-to-Head Debate Reality House Grand Finale. Hosted by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), the event brought together leading figures in education and technology to discuss and promote the empowerment of Nigeria’s youth.

The highlight of NITDA’s participation came through the insightful address delivered by Mr. Yakubu Musa from the Digital Literacy Department, representing Director General Kashifu Inuwa CCIE. Musa’s speech emphasized the strategic importance of investing in Nigeria’s youth, who he described as the nation’s most valuable asset.

Musa articulated that the future of Nigeria hinges on the effective harnessing of human potential. He advocated for a robust investment in human resources, arguing that such investments are critical to fostering innovation, generating wealth, and driving sustainable…

Read More
Announcements Business Culture Events

NDPC Partners with Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria for Capacity-Building Workshop on Data Protection

post-image

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria, recently organized a capacity-building workshop for Health Records Officers from various states across the country. The workshop aimed to enhance data protection practices in the health sector.

The event commenced with opening remarks from Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC. The workshop was formally opened by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was represented by Dr. Mrs. Obiajulu Ugbo, Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister of State for Health.

In his address, Dr. Olatunji highlighted the critical importance of data protection within the health sector, emphasizing the sensitive and confidential nature of the data collected and processed. He noted that the workshop is vital as it targets over 40,000 health professionals across Nigeria who handle health records…

Read More