Business

iiDENTIFii wins KPMG Tech Innovator in Africa

After a four-month long competition, KPMG Private Enterprise awarded iiDENTIFii the top spot.

 

Following the incredible success of the inaugural competition last year, KPMG again called on tech innovators across the continent to bring their innovations to the table with the aim of not only highlighting new technology breakthroughs that transform and revolutionize businesses in diverse industries, but to identify those businesses truly leading the pack.

After a four-month long competition, KPMG Private Enterprise has announced the winner of their Tech Innovator in Africa Awards where iiDENTIFii took the top spot, followed closely by Chekkit Technologies Inc in second place and Troygold in third place.

iiDENTIFii stood out this year, given their level of innovation and disruption, long term potential (there are broad application opportunities for their solution) and the quality of their pitch.

iiDENTIFii will go on to compete in the global event taking place in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2022. The global competition is made up of 20 countries across key economies globally and while each region runs their own competition, the global platform allows for various players across the world to pitch their businesses’ products and services and be recognised for leading tech innovation and business model excellence, judged by a panel of local and global industry experts.

The entire iiDENTIFii team is honoured to have won this prestigious competition. We’ve been inspired by all the world-class innovators who were in the running throughout Africa,” said Lance Fanaroff, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of iiDENTIFii.

“As Africa’s representative for the global finals, we’re determined to make our continent proud when we compete on the global stage, at the Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon in November.”

“Our team has worked hard to make innovation a consistent thread throughout the business, and we are grateful for KPMG’s commitment to tech trailblazers.”

“Africa is ripe with innovation and this competition truly showcases Africa’s leading tech innovators on a local and global scale – demonstrating the impact that the fastest-growing tech innovators are having across the globe.

“We opened the competition in February this year and had an overwhelming response with 159 applications from across the continent – almost double compared to the number of applications received last year. This demonstrates not only the growing tech innovation in Africa but indicates the appetite for African tech businesses to be recognised and scale their operations for the greater good of the continent and its people,” said Alan Barr, Partner and Head of Private Enterprise at KPMG.

“It was great to see the shift in innovations this year and how African businesses have used the challenges of the past two years to truly define their strategies and ensure they have adapted to what the market wants and needs,” concluded Barr.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Announcements Business Culture Economy
post-image

 

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unveiled a groundbreaking financial initiative aimed at empowering grassroots entrepreneurs and boosting the state’s economy. The program, known as the Lagos State Access to Finance for SMEs Through Cooperatives (LASMECO), was officially launched following a landmark agreement with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Sterling Bank.

The N10 billion public-private fund will provide Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with non-collateralized loans of up to ₦10 million at a competitive 9% annual interest rate. Beneficiaries will also enjoy a six-month moratorium period. The loans will be disbursed through verified cooperative societies, a move Governor Sanwo-Olu described as a strategic model to ensure both accountability and community impact.

Speaking at the launch, the governor said, “Today marks a significant step forward in our journey to build a more inclusive and resilient economy in Lagos State. This isn’t just about funding — it’s about removing systemic barriers…

Read More
Business Economy

NITDA, Google Hold Strategic Workshop to Accelerate Nigeria’s Digital Transformation Agenda

post-image

In a landmark move to fast-track Nigeria’s digital economy and position the country as a global tech powerhouse, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and technology giant Google have commenced a high-level two-day collaborative workshop. The event, which kicked off this week in Abuja, marks a pivotal step in actualizing a broader strategic partnership between the Federal Government and Google, following a significant meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris on February 10, 2025.

The workshop aims to validate critical findings and refine a draft framework built around five transformative pillars that will guide the collaboration between NITDA and Google. These pillars include:

  1. Scalable Digital Infrastructure – Expanding and strengthening Nigeria’s tech backbone to enable widespread internet access and digital connectivity across urban and rural areas.

  2. Read More
Business Culture Economy Entertainment Events Software Tourism Travels Trends

Tayo Folorunsho Calls for Investment and Structural Reforms to Propel Abuja’s Entertainment Industry to Greater Heights

post-image

Tayo Folorunsho, a leading Nigerian entertainment expert and Founder of Edutainment First International Ltd/GTE, has raised concerns about the challenges of running an entertainment business in Abuja. Despite the difficulties, he remains committed to overcoming these obstacles, urging for significant investments and coordinated reforms to unlock the full potential of Abuja’s entertainment industry.

Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, is renowned for its political significance, booming real estate sector, and vibrant economy. However, Folorunsho, who has successfully run entertainment ventures in Lagos, notes that Abuja’s entertainment market is still in its infancy. Unlike Lagos, where the entertainment scene operates year-round, Abuja’s calendar is more limited, with events mostly concentrated around festive periods. This seasonal nature, coupled with inconsistent support from agencies and organizations, poses a challenge for entertainers and event managers seeking to build long-term businesses in the city.

In…

Read More
Business Economy Finance Fintech

CBN Governor Cardoso Highlights Nigeria’s Economic Progress, Reform Commitment at IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings

post-image

By Anthony Emeka Nwosu


At the close of the 2025 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso delivered an optimistic and reform-driven message at a media briefing with Nigerian journalists, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth.

Addressing the press, Governor Cardoso described the week as one of “highly productive engagements” with global financial leaders, international investors, and members of the Nigerian diaspora. According to him, the CBN delegation leveraged the global forum to spotlight Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and to explore strategies to deepen stability, enhance the financial sector, and stimulate broad-based growth.

“Thanks to the steps taken over the past 18 months, we have strengthened our monetary buffers and positioned Nigeria to better…

Read More
Business Culture Economy

Nnewi-Born Industrialist, Dr. Stella Okoli, Set To Commission ₦35 Billion Pharmaceutical Factory in Ogun State

post-image

 

 

By Ada Lilian Sunday

From the industrious heartland of Nnewi in Anambra State, a town renowned for producing some of Nigeria’s most formidable entrepreneurs, comes yet another monumental achievement that reinforces the legacy of enterprise that defines the region. Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli, founder and Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., is set to unveil a ₦35 billion Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing facility in Sagamu, Ogun State — a project that not only highlights her entrepreneurial foresight but also signals a bold step towards Nigeria’s pharmaceutical self-reliance.

Dr. Okoli’s journey is one deeply rooted in the enterprising spirit of Nnewi, often referred to as the “Japan of Africa” for its robust manufacturing culture. As a daughter of the soil, she has not only upheld but also elevated the town’s proud tradition of innovation and industrial excellence. With over four decades of business leadership, she has transformed Emzor from…

Read More
Business Economy Technology Technology Trends Telecoms

Oluremi Tinubu Commissions Cutting-Edge IT Centre in Honour of Onikepo Akande, Announces Rollout of 10 Additional Centres Nationwide to Drive Tech Inclusion and Economic Growth

post-image

In a historic and forward-looking event, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, officially commissioned a modern Information Technology (IT) Centre named in honour of a distinguished Nigerian icon, Mrs. Onikepo Akande. The facility, situated in a strategic location within the state, is designed to serve as a springboard for digital empowerment, particularly targeting women and young people—two demographic groups that have long been underserved in Nigeria’s rapidly advancing tech ecosystem.

The well-attended ceremony brought together prominent government officials, traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, tech stakeholders, youth groups, and women-led organisations who all gathered to witness the unveiling of what is expected to become a landmark centre for skills acquisition and digital transformation.

In her keynote address, the First Lady underscored the importance of digital literacy and innovation in the…

Read More
Announcements Business Economy

ProvidusBank Launches N50 Billion Commercial Paper Program for Investor Subscription: A Crucial Move for Nigeria’s Economy

post-image

ProvidusBank, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, has announced the launch of a N50 billion commercial paper program, offering investors the opportunity to subscribe to short-term debt securities issued by the bank. The program, which will be available for investor subscriptions, is aimed at raising funds to support the bank’s growth and operations while contributing to the broader stability and growth of Nigeria’s economy.

Key Features of the Commercial Paper Program

The N50 billion commercial paper program is designed to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including working capital needs and the funding of key projects. The program will provide investors with a secure investment avenue while ensuring that ProvidusBank maintains the financial strength necessary to drive its operations and support Nigeria’s economic development.

The commercial paper is being offered with attractive interest rates and…

Read More
Business Culture Economy

FG, WORLD BANK UNITE TO DIGITALLY EMPOWER YOUNG NIGERIANS AND DRIVE JOB CREATION

post-image

On the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings and following the institution’s Development Committee session, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, reaffirmed Nigeria’s collaboration with the World Bank to advance a shared agenda focused squarely on creating high-quality jobs for young Nigerians.

“Employment generation must be a central pillar of development,” Mr. Edun told journalists, highlighting that Finance Ministers—who serve as the Bank’s Governors—have collectively made this their top priority. “This aligns seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places job creation at the core of our economic revitalization efforts.”

Mr. Edun underscored the pivotal role of multilateral financial institutions in shaping these global development priorities. “We are scaling up efforts with the World Bank to create sustainable jobs and stimulate inclusive growth,” he said, adding that…

Read More