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Nigeria’s Helium Health Launches Venture In Kenya. Two Other Things And A Trivia
This line-up of stories will help you discover the latest happenings around the tech world, today.
1. Nigeria’s Helium Health launches venture in Kenya
Nigerian startup Helium Health has thrust its foot into Kenya as it looks to expand its venture.
Then startup is an electronic medical records (EMR) and hospital management information (HMI) systems provider.
In 2016, the startup was founded as an initiative looking to take hospitals and clinics instantly digital with its flagship Electronic Medical Records/Hospital Management Information System (EMR/HMIS) product.
Not long, its flagship system became the most widely used of such solution in West Africa with over 300 healthcare providers and over 5,000 health professionals using its technology in Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana.
In 2020, the startup closed a US$10 million Series A funding round to expand its African footprint.
Speaking on the development, Tito Ovia, co-founder of Helium Health, noted that Kenya is a good fit for the startup.
Tito said: “We have been planning to expand into Kenya’s thriving health-tech sector since last year, so we’re very excited to be hitting the ground running in 2021, already working with three new local partners to help improve efficiencies and provide a better service to patients.
“We believe there is a great opportunity to harness cutting-edge technology to help improve the way healthcare data is gathered and managed across Africa, so partnering with like-minded healthcare providers and facilities in Kenya is an excellent fit for us.”
Tech Trivia: Which year were Toyotas first sold in the US?
A. 1975
B. 1958
C. 1990
D. 1955
Answer: See end of post.
2. Egypt’s MoneyHash closes pre-seed capital
MoneyHash, a Cairo-based fintech, has Thursday announced closing an undisclosed pre-seed investment.
The new funding was led by Amir Farha’s COTU Ventures, a leading seed stage venture firm in the Middle East.
According to local media, other VC that participated included Kepple Africa Ventures, a VC based in Africa fostering growth of startups.
The startup is expected to use the funds to further develop its technology, expand its team and launch its services.
In 2020, the startup was founded by Nader Abdelrazik, Mustafa Eid, and Anisha Sekar.
Today, it is building a super Application Programming Interface (API) that will aggregate payment and fintech solutions, allow merchants to give their customers a unified checkout experience and access reports and data through a central dashboard.
3. Kenya’s Kune secures $1m pre-seed funding
Kune, a food-tech startup in Kenya, has secured a pre-seed funding round worth US$1 million to help it scale.
The startup delivers freshly-made, ready-to-eat meals at affordable prices.
Founded by French entrepreneur Robin Reecht in 2020, Kune is a food delivery service that aims to provide busy, modern Nairobians with access to freshly prepared meals at affordable prices.
According to local media, the startup aims at clients from all social groups.
Reecht, who spoke on the development, noted that the company spent three months designing the structure.
He said: “After three intensive months spent structuring the company, finding land for our factory, and hiring key team members, I started fundraising. I’m delighted that Kune has attracted this level of interest from investors who immediately saw the potential to grow Kune not only in Kenya but across Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Tech Trivia Answer: 1958
Toyota was formed on Oct. 31, 1957. Known as Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., the company established its headquarters in a former Rambler dealership located in Hollywood, Ca. Toyota began to make its first sales in 1958 with287 Toyopet Crown sedans and one Land Cruiser.
News
President Tinubu departs UK for France
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed the United Kingdom for Paris, France, where he is expected to attend an “important engagement” after spending over a week in the UK.
The Senior Special Assistant on Political and other matters to the president, Ibrahim Kabir Masari disclosed this on Friday through his X account.
“Today, I had the honor of visiting President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR at his private residence in the United Kingdom, where we engaged in productive discussions.
“We then departed for Paris, France, for another important engagement”, Masari said.
Meanwhile, details of the engagement were not made public.
Recall that President Tinubu departed Nigeria on Wednesday, October 2, for a two-week working vacation in the UK, as part of his annual leave.
News
FG breaks ground on the construction of inland dry port in Ogun
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola has said the Gateway Inland Dry Port in Ogun port would be built to international standards, equipped with the latest digital systems for tracking, clearance and cargo movement to ensure efficiency and global competitiveness.
He spoke on Friday while performing the ceremonial ground-breaking of the Gateway Inland Dry Port in Ogun.
The event was held at Kajola, in Itori in the state’s Ewekoro local government area (LGA).
In his address, Oyetola said the port would be a model for other inland dry ports in the country.
The Minister said the port would be built to international standards, equipped with the latest digital systems for tracking, clearance and cargo movement to ensure efficiency and global competitiveness.
“This project is about laying the foundation for a key logistics hub that would facilitate the movement of goods across Nigeria,” he said.
Oyetola added that it would create over 5,000 direct jobs, 15,000 indirect jobs and stimulate local businesses.
“Moreover, it will attract investments that will spur regional development, benefiting Ogun and beyond.
“No doubt, this project aligns seamlessly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, as we are committed to creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation and economic growth.
“This initiative will undoubtedly help Ogun to become a more attractive destination for businesses and investors, reinforcing our collective aspiration for a prosperous Nigeria.
“Inland dry ports provide faster and more efficient alternatives for moving goods, ultimately benefiting our economy and reducing the burden on our coastal seaports,” he said.
Oyetola expressed the hope that the dry port would enhance the efficiency of the logistics network and contribute to the decongestion of Apapa and Tin Can Ports.
He added that this should thus improve Nigeria’s trade competitiveness on the global stage.
The Minister directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure that the port was developed as a state-of-the-art facility.
He said this should be by integrating advanced technology and leveraging information and communication technology (ICT) that supports modern port processes.
“This inland dry port is expected to enhance the efficiency of our logistics network, reduce green house gas emissions associated with road transportation and promote environmentally -sustainable practices,” Oyetola said.
In his speech, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said the port would help in opening up and engendering more development in the state.
He pointed out that this would be by serving as a transport and logistics hub for the nation.
Abiodun noted that the ground-breaking event was not merely the foundation of a dry port, but the beginning of a new era of economic growth, job-creation and increased prosperity.
He added that the project was a testament to the shared vision of prosperity and industrialisation.
“This will transform the state into a leading logistics and commercial centre, both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
“Having identified the ideal location convenient for our Gateway Dry Port Inland Container Terminal, this facility is a key enabler of industrial activity and manufacturing in Ogun.
“It will, on completion, increase the ranking of our state on the ease-of-doing-business index,” the governor said.
Earlier, the Olu of Ilaro and Chairman of Ogun’s Council of Obas, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, appealed to the Federal Government for the reconstruction of the Sagamu interchange-Papalanto-Ilaro road.
Olugbenle noted that the construction of the road would compliment and enhance the full benefits of the port project.(NAN)
News
Kano anti-corruption agency probes ‘disappearance’ of 132 foreign scholarship beneficiaries
The Kano Anti-corruption and Public Complaints Commission has began investigation into alleged disappearance of 132 students out of 550 students that were supposed to benefit from the state’s N1.5billion foreign scholarship.
The commission is questioning two top officials the state Ministry of Higher Education regarding the issue of 1,001 students supposedly studying in India and Kenya.
The State Government sponsored 1,001 postgraduate students to pursue their master’s degrees in India and Uganda.
The initiative is part of the government’s foreign scholarship scheme which was inaugurated by Gov. Abba Yusuf.
Yusuf recently hosted a farewell dinner for the first batch of 550 beneficiaries of the scholarship at the Government House, commending former Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso for introducing the scheme.
It was, however, learnt that only 418 students were actually sent abroad for studies, raising questions about the whereabouts of the remaining students.
When contacted, the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru A. Kabiru, confirmed the report, saying the two top officials were interrogated over the alleged scholarship scam.
He said an investigation is ongoing to identify and bring those responsible for the alleged scam to justice.
“Preliminary investigations uncovered fraudulent activities at the office of the Ministry for High Education over the postgraduate students to pursue their master’s degrees in India and Uganda.
“We opened investigation to find out the truth of matter. Whoever is found to have been involved, will be prosecuted, no matter how highly placed,” Kabiru warned.
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