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Egyptian Startup Minly Secures $3.6m Seed Round, One Other Thing And A Trivia

This line-up of stories will help you discover the latest happenings around the tech world, today.

1. Egyptian startup Minly secures $3.6m seed round

Minly, an Egyptian startup, has secured an oversubscribed US$3.6 million seed round to extend its products and services.

Minly is a platform empowering stars to create authentic, personalised connections with their fans across the MENA region.

In 2020, the startup was co-founded by Mohamed El-Shinnawy, Tarek Hosny, Bassel El-Toukhy, Tarek ElGanainy and Ahmed Abass.

According to local media, Minly allows users buy personalised video messages and shoutouts from their favourite celebrities.

Today, the Minly app is available on Android, iOS, and web, and has experienced rapid organic growth with more than 50,000 registered users on the platform.

The US$3.6 million funding round is co-led by 4DX Ventures, B&Y Venture Partners, and Global Ventures, and also includes participation from other leading regional funds and a cast of highly strategic angel investors.

Tech Trivia: Which company acquired professional networking site LinkedIn in 2016?

A. Google
B. Facebook
C. Microsoft
D. Apple

Answer: See end of post.

2. Malagasy ed-tech startup Sayna closes new round

Sayna, a Malagasy ed-tech startup has announced securing a round of funding to help it expand access to its training programme and launch new platforms.

The three year old startup provides quality training in the digital sector in Africa.

Since inception, it offers professional opportunities to young people by bridging the gap between the growing demand of companies on digital issues and the supply of digital talent.

The new raiser, which was led by I&P Acceleration Technologies, a programme dedicated to African digital startups led by Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), and Miarakap, an impact investment firm.

Matina Razafimahefa, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sayna, expressed his excitement over the new investment.

“As a team, we are very proud of what we have accomplished so far. Our successes and failures have allowed us to truly understand our market so that we can now offer a solution that can truly reinvent access to the job market for junior developers. The best is ahead of us!”

Tech Trivia Answer: Microsoft

Microsoft Corp. and LinkedIn Corporation in 2016 announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn’s net cash. The agreement, however, contained that LinkedIn retains its distinct brand, culture and independence.

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Lagos Govt increases fares for BRT

‘Diesel price hike, lack of spare parts’ — Lagos increases BRT fares for ALL routes

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has increased the fare for the Bus Rapid Transit better known as BRT.

A notice posted by LAMATA on Thursday afternoon said the 18 per cent increment would begin next week.

“Please be informed that there will be an 18 percent increase in the bus fare on all Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) schemes,” part of the notice read.

“The fare increase is because of the increase in the cost of operations and the need to ensure that buses keep running and guarantee your movement around Lagos”.

LAMATA called for the “understanding and cooperation” of passengers amidst the increment.

The Lagos Government had in November 2023 cancelled the 50% transport fare discount on all BRT and reverted to the old prices.

“The 50% rebate in transport fare in the regulated transport system in Lagos ends on Sunday,” LAMATA said then. “The statement informed commuters that starting “from Monday, November 6, 2023, transport fare will return to the pre-2nd August 2023 rate.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in July of that year reduced the transport fares for the state-owned buses and commercial buses by 25% on all routes.

The moves were parts of efforts to cushion the impacts of the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu government.

Sanwo-Olu also said then that the Lagos State Government was expanding its fleet of staff buses for workers in the Lagos State Public Service.

He said that the buses are ready and will be deployed through the office of the Head of Service of the state.

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Ekiti court strikes out defamation suit against Dele Farotimi

The Ekiti State Chief Magistrates Court, has struck out the defamation suit against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.

The court’s decision followed the application and motion by Martins Akala, the police prosecutor, to withdraw the suit from the court.

The Federal High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, on January 29, 2025, struck out cyberbullying and defamation charges against Farotimi following the police application to withdraw the charge.

In the matter at the Magistrate Court, the Ekiti State police on December 4 2024, arraigned Farotimi following alleged defamation of legal luminary, Afe Babalola in his book, titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Farotimi had in the book claimed that Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court justices among others.

Farotimi was granted bail on December 20, 2024, and adjourned the case till February 13 for a hearing.

However, on January 27, 2025, Afe Babalola agreed to withdraw the criminal defamation cases against Farotimi from the court, following the intervention of prominent traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

When the matter came up on Thursday, Akala, the police prosecutor, told the court that the defamation suit against Farotimi should be withdrawn following directives from the authorities.

He said, “This matter is slated for hearing today. But I want to seek leave of the court to withdraw the charge against the defendant on the instruction of the police authorities.”

Reacting to the court’s ruling, Farotimi’s counsel, Kemi Adejare said, “the case was struck out based on the application of the prosecution. We welcomed it, they brought us here and they asked us to go.

“In the open court, I said they had just removed the chains, they brought the chains, they removed the chains. Why should we complain?”

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2,363 Ghost Workers Uncovered by Zamfara Govt

The Zamfara State Government said it had uncovered 2,363 ghost workers following the verification of civil and public servants in the state.

Governor Dauda Lawal constituted a committee headed by the state Head of Service in August 2024 with the mandate to conduct the verification exercise of state workers.

A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, revealed that the verification process exposed 220 minors receiving monthly pay as civil servants.

The statement noted that the verification exercise was necessary due to the state government’s efforts to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.

Idris said, “The committee’s final report submitted to Governor Dauda Lawal highlighted that 27,109 permanent workers were cleared while workers with questionable employment include 2,363 ghost workers, 1082 civil servants who are due for retirement, 395 contract staff, 261 not on the nominal roll, 213 on study leave, 220 minors in employment, and 67 workers on secondment.

“The report highlighted that 75 workers’ first appointment dates were not in compliance with the issue dates, and all of them were minors at the time of employment.

“During the verification, 2,363 ghost workers were exposed. They were paid a total of N193,642,097.19 every month.

“1082 workers are due for retirement, and they collect a total sum of N80,542,298.26 monthly. At the same time, five workers found to be on secondment were paid monthly N354,927.60.

“The verification committee recommended suspending 207 workers who were not cleared. They are paid a total salary of N16,370,645.90 monthly.

“The committee found 12 workers on the payroll but not in the database and collected a monthly salary of N726,594.

“These verification exercises are ongoing efforts to monitor the Zamfara workforce and ensure transparency and accountability in service, especially as the minimum wage payments begin in March of this year.”

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