In a Press Statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday 17, January, Patricia Technologies said the new repayment regime is a careful sequel to the company’s repayment exercise launched on Monday 20, November 2023.

The company further explained that this phased repayment regime would give the business and the Police the needed latitude to recover stolen funds from the arrested suspects and enable the business to mass up some revenue from the continued use of the reinforced Patricia App.

“To manage expectations, Patricia Technologies estimates a repayment plan spanning two to five years. The commitment is to ensure that every customer receives their full and final rightful payments within this timeframe, underscoring the company’s determination to persist until all of its financial obligations are fulfilled,” the statement read in part.

Patricia Technologies also hinted that it has worked on a best-in-class technological solution to prevent a repeat of the recent breach.

“To streamline transactions and fortify security, Patricia Technologies is redesigning the Patricia Plus platform. The AI-enabled system, scheduled to go live by Q2 2024, aims to offer a simpler, more efficient user experience while reducing operational burdens,” the company further disclosed.

It would be recalled that Patricia Technologies Limited recently suffered a severe setback from a breach of its platform by suspected criminal elements, resulting in substantial asset losses to the company and customers.

The company acted swiftly and reported the matter to the cybercrime unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which in turn made a breakthrough in the investigation by arresting some suspects now set to be arraigned in court by June this year.

“Given the protracted process of apprehending the remaining suspects and recovering some of the stolen funds, we have considered it imperative to announce this tenured repayment schedule,” the company explained.

Patricia Technologies had indeed made good on its promise by commencing repayment to affected customers on Monday, 20 November 2023.

Patricia Technology, however, says its decision to spread out the repayment tenure carefully is to make room for “the outcome of recovery efforts by the Nigeria Police and inbound revenue from trading on the reinforced Patricia app, all of which will contribute significantly to the needed funds for the planned payment.”

Patricia Technologies said that, as a business, it is strategically shifting focus towards its business arm and OTC desk, citing positive traction in recent months. “We are transitioning from crisis to creation mode, emphasising value creation designed to enhance service delivery and expedite the return of customers’ lost funds,” the company said.

Opportunities for Patricia’s Users

The company projects that 2024 and 2025 would be good years for the Crypto community. To that effect, Patricia Technologies has pledged to support all its users with opportunities in the crypto space so as to reduce their burden.

The company said it would do this by sharing airdrop opportunities, Staking and Defi opportunities that their users could use and convert to US Dollars. It added that it plans to have this operation in full flight on or before Q2 of this year.

The company also assured customers of its commitment to communicate and engage with them during this challenging time continually.

Patricia Technologies said it is dedicated to rebuilding trust through concrete actions, saying that its customer service team will be available to address queries, provide clarifications, or discuss individual circumstances with customers.

“To make this seamless, a dedicated website is also under development to streamline communications about all issues on the repayment regime,” the company assured.

Patricia Technologies expressed gratitude to its loyal customers for their understanding, patience, and unwavering trust, saying that the company remains steadfast in its commitment to resolving the current situation and emerging more resilient than ever before.

Techeconomy gathered that the company (DLM Trust) will no longer partner with the crypto exchange to pay back ₦2 billion in withheld customer funds.

The firm said Patricia breached the terms and conditions of the agreement.

DLM Trust, a subsidiary of DLM Capital Group, has put its partnership with Patricia to pay customers back on hold.

According to a statement by the firm, “it will no longer be proceeding with Patricia Technologies as it’s escrow trust in repayment of ₦2 billion withheld customer funds.”

Yesterday, October 24, 2023, DLM Trust announced its partnership with the company, saying it will “ensure a seamless and secure process for the return of deposits to Patricia Technologies Limited’s valued customers.”

It also revealed that the first batch of repayments will start on November 20. Hours after the announcement, this is no longer the case.

DLM Trust is renouncing its partnership with Patricia Technologies because of a breach in the agreement.

The statement read that there were “multiple breaches in the terms and conditions of agreement and trust between Patricia Technologies and DLM Trust Company.”

Yesterday, October 24, 2023, DLM Trust announced its partnership with the company, saying it will “ensure a seamless and secure process for the return of deposits to Patricia Technologies Limited’s valued customers.”

It also revealed that the first batch of repayments will start on November 20. Hours after the announcement, this is no longer the case.

DLM Trust is renouncing its partnership with Patricia Technologies because of a breach in the agreement.

The statement read that there were “multiple breaches in the terms and conditions of agreement and trust between Patricia Technologies and DLM Trust Company.”

Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) is one of Nigeria’s most-watched reality TV shows, with 70 percent of its viewers loving it. The show is popular both at home and abroad, and technology is playing leading roles in providing the content to the audience.

In this article, we will explore how the BBNaija show is harnessing technology for entertainment in different ways.

Multi-Platform Content Distribution

BBNaija is not just using TV broadcast, the show is also leveraging the internet to the fullest. The TV show uses live streaming platforms and social media accounts to air. This allows fans to get easy access to news and updates related to the show anytime and anywhere.

Over the years, Big Brother Naija has had different sponsorships from CloseUp (Unilever), Indomie, Munch It, Minimee, Patricia, and Abeg, Moniepoint to mention a few. These sponsors assist in running the show one way or the other, and in return, they get to promote their products.

The multi-streaming platforms are all bombarded with viewers who want to keep up with the happenings in the house. Using Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Dstv, Gotv, and ShowMax, these sponsors get to be advertised by the BBNaija media, thereby bringing them the brand awareness they need.

Advanced Surveillance Systems

Big Brother Naija features surveillance systems all over the house, showing the viewers every action and inaction of the contestants of the house. The surveillance is possible thanks to the different strategically placed cameras, microphones, and sensors all around the house.

The cameras and other surveillance gadgets are available 24/7 to ensure viewers do not miss anything. Besides watching on the TV, viewers can access live streams on mobile apps such as Showmax, Dstv app, and Gotv app to stay entertained wherever, whenever, keeping them entertained.

Data Analytics and Viewer’s Engagement

BBNaija uses data analytics to learn more about the preferences and behavior of viewers. By studying and viewing data, they can adapt challenges and material to increase participation. Thanks to the data-driven strategy, the audience will have a more engaging and enjoyable experience.

Interactive features like polls, quizzes, and games that can be accessed through various devices actively promote audience participation. These actions keep viewers engaged in every event of the show, encouraging a feeling of connection and involvement. 

Mobile Applications and Social Media Integration

The owners and sponsors of BBNaija have seen the importance of mobile applications and social media.

Besides airing on 3rd party mobile apps such as Showmax, Dstv, and Gotv, the reality TV show also has its mobile app on the Google Play Store (for Android) and Appstore (for IOS). The Big Brother Naija mobile app allows viewers to enjoy live streams, live chats, voting, and interactive games.

Conclusion

Through these points, BBNaija will continue to have a large audience even in the future because it uses technology to its advantage. The TV reality show is a prime example of how technology in the entertainment sector can be leveraged.

Announcing the undisclosed amount of investment in a recent LinkedIn post, Mr. Oluwaseun noted that the investment in PATRICIA Technologies, a standout name among Africa’s premier crypto exchanges is a pointer to the confidence investors have in Africa’s Leading Crypto Exchanges.

In the post, he lauded PATRICIA Technologies for its unparalleled innovation and commendable representation of Nigeria and Africa on the global financial spectrum, stressing that despite the challenges faced by many in the fintech realm, PATRICIA’s resilience and adaptability, particularly under the leadership of Hanu Fejiro Agbodje, have been a constant beacon of optimism for industry insiders.

 “While turbulence is a part of groundbreaking journeys, Patricia Technologies has consistently been a flagbearer of innovation, setting Nigeria and Africa alight on the global stage. Beyond just crypto, this is about steadfast resolve, audacious vision and pioneering the financial evolution in Africa,” he said.

Meanwhile, the strategic investment by Mr. Oluwaseun has been viewed by many as not just a financial commitment but a profound testament to his faith in PATRICIA’s team, their mission and their transformative capabilities.

As the crypto market evolves and faces the inevitable ebb and flow of the financial world, backing from influential figures in the industry can provide companies like PATRICIA with the necessary boost to keep pushing boundaries. With such endorsement, the company is poised to cement further its role as a leading force in Africa’s burgeoning crypto sphere.

For those intrigued by this exciting development, Oluwaseun Dania encourages individuals and industry peers to join in championing PATRICIA Technologies’ resurgence, signifying a brighter future for African fintech.

Oluwaseun Dania has invested in various ventures across a myriad of industries ranging from Agriculture, Movie Production, Education, Renewable Energy to various Technology startups.

We at Patricia believe that a critical utility of Blockchain lies in its ability to solve inherent, Africa-specific problems to democratize the financial landscape. As a company, we have tackled some of those problems for 900,000 Users and Merchants. In doing so, we have contributed to financial inclusivity, job creation, the development of a talent-based economy, and the creation of new wealth amongst young Africans.

Being different makes you stand out, and taking the path less traveled is crucial to greatness and impact, a trait the typical African youth possesses. I write this memo, ‘The state of Blockchain in Africa, that I might pay forward some of the knowledge I have garnered with other brilliant, disruptive, “typical” young Africans, who also might want to do the most.

African problems, particularly problems in African finance, require ingenious solutions for real change. In most instances, change in the ecosystem often requires large degrees of disruption; the more disruptive you are, the more reward there appears to be. For substantial advancement to be made on the continent, we must drive innovative and disruptive solutions that allow for leap-frogging and transformation. It is this transformative power that blockchain technology possesses. We have seen some level of this disruption in the eastern African finance ecosystem with notable successes around MPESA (mobile money).

Aside from transparency and accountability, the Blockchain can provide high levels of financial inclusion and accessibility that is not currently available on the continent and could be applied in other systems. In a few weeks, I will turn 27 years old.

Over the past 27 years, most African nations have suffered from high inflation rates, corruption, poverty, resource misappropriation, unemployment, and many more afflictions that rob citizens of wealth and purchasing power. Currently, the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 goals seem unrealizable due to the constant depletion of infrastructure and human development on the continent.

Super high inflation rates across Africa have historically been much higher than the global average. Extreme examples such as Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation.

Currently, the Nigerian Naira is taking a beating, mirroring the effects of inflation. So many African countries suffer from depreciating and volatile national currencies; currencies such as the Nigerian naira (NGN), Egyptian pound (EGP), Algerian dinar (DZD), Ethiopian birr (ETB), and Ghanaian cedi (GHS) have seen similar situations. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with limited supplies, disinflationary monetary models, and decentralized governance offer protection against such downturns.

Blockchain is so unique that it combines the wealth preservation properties of hard assets, such as gold and land, with the portability of a digital currency.

Take all of that and mash it up with the doggedness, strong will, and tenacity of Africans; you get the start of the African Financial Revolution. If there is an innovation that can save and unite Africa, I predict it is Blockchain technology.

If I were to describe the entire Blockchain space in Africa, I would describe the space as YOUNG and DISRUPTIVE.

What is Web3?

Web3: Web 3, simply put, is the third generation of the evolution of web technologies, similar to how we have new iPhone models every year. Web3 is the most recent version of the internet.

Before we delve into web 3, we have to touch base on its predecessor, Web1 and web2.

Web1: This is the earliest version of the internet; it is read-only for the web; it mostly offered users the ability to read and research, with hardly any way to interact with what they were reading. Think of it like reading a printed magazine; you can only read it.

Web2: This defines the current state of the internet, Where users can read and also write. The critical difference is writing. Here you can interact with the internet, user-generated content (uploading a video on youtube), Making an order online(Purchasing from Jumia). Web 2 provides users to create content as opposed to just viewing it.

Web3: Read, Write and Own. Ownership is one of the key differentiators between the web2 and the web3, where users would have ownership over Personal Data, money, and virtual assets. In this world, NFTs will give true ownership of digital assets online; wallets will replace bank accounts. In a nutshell, decentralization begins here.

The State of Crypto: Analyzing the landscape

Peer-to-Peer: Africa accounts for a much larger share of the P2P trading market globally. In 2021, we saw a massive spike in P2P when the Nigerian Government banned Crypto in Nigeria and sent us all a love letter on the 5th of February 2021. P2P had blown up since then and has not locked back. Informal P2P trading is huge in Nigeria.

Trades on WhatsApp and Telegram are the order of the day. I have seen young people and Business owners in these groups carry out transactions for several millions of dollars within their small circles.

As of April 2022, cryptocurrency exchange Kucoin reported that 33.4 million Nigerians trade or own crypto assets despite restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions by the CBN, using peer-to-peer networks. While Binance is the undisputed leader in P2P in Africa, Paxful, Localbitcoins and Remitano are doing pretty well in this space. Whoever thought of the escrow system, we owe you one.

Political Instability: The instability of national politics and unstable government systems has also been a challenge confronting the progression of the continent. Political instability directly impacts inflation and currency volatility and has far more significant effects, such as forced migration, GDP collapse, and wealth confiscation. Wealth confiscation has been particularly thriving in African Nations.

Blockchain can help mitigate or reduce the level of these challenges by offering transparency in government processes through the open system it offers. We can have transparency in voting processes, validation of records and government data, and accountability back in the system. This will increase the confidence of the citizens and foster peace and development.

Unbanked Citizens: Aside from economic and political instability, traditional financial services underserved most of Africa, having a high number of unbanked indigenes.

The number of commercial banks per 100,000 adults is 61% lower across Sub-Saharan Africa than the global average. As of 2018, 66% of those living in Sub-Saharan Africa have no access to a traditional bank account.

Although, I do not believe Blockchain would Bank the unbanked immediately, as I believe that will be many years of transition from banking the lady who sells groceries in the Kazi (South African term for corner store).

However, if any technology stands a chance, a handshake between Blockchain and traditional finance stands a chance. As a critical innovation, crypto wallets can serve as safe storage for assets and are more secure and accessible than a traditional bank account to re-bank the banked.

Remittances and cross-border payments: The cost of cross-border payment and the lack of infrastructure to facilitate it is both a financial worry and an economic problem.

Currently, remittances below $200 to Sub-Saharan countries cost an average of about 9% compared to the global average of 6.8%, while payments between countries are even more expensive. For example, according to the World Bank, sending money from South Africa to Zambia costs 18%.

These overburdensome costs are due to a combination of inefficient policies from the central banks, an uncompetitive banking market, and a reliance on legacy financial communications systems such as SWIFT.

Cryptocurrencies are a possible solution to these problems, especially the solutions that prioritize lower fee payments, one of the reasons why the Tron Blockchain is used mainly in Africa. Regardless of the high costs, remittances are hugely important in Africa and key to state revenue. Unlike other regions, most African countries have leapfrogged traditional finance entirely, going straight to mobile banking and now Neo-banking. This trend is also ideally suited to cryptocurrency adoption, which is suited to mobile devices. Mobile payment is already significant. Yet cross-border payment is still a huge pain point; for a few, Cryptocurrencies are the answer, and stablecoins are the choice tokens.

Stable Coins: Stablecoins are cryptocurrency stabilizers and, definitely Africa’s favorite tokens, are Loved by Crypto bros and Crypto traders. From hedging against Ravaging inflation rates, Cross border payments stablecoins are the type of crypto asset that aims to provide stability for users.

Tether was the first Stablecoin, launched in 2014, and it remains the model for those that have followed it. Tether remains the most popular type of Stablecoin, with Tron being the most popular Blockchain for Stablecoins.

From the Chinese community using Stablecoins for Arbitrage, The Foreign Exchange Traders using Stablecoins as an alternate source for US dollar, and Africans who struggle to send or receive money across national borders; Stablecoin has had an enormous impact on the African space.

Mining: Mining activity in Africa is almost non-existent; I do not see that increasing, especially now that most Crypto protocols are moving away from Proof of work protocol which directly impacts electricity usage, the climate, and high gas fees are becoming more of an issue than ever before. Now we see the Proof of state slowly becoming the most preferred protocol, as we see with the Ethereum blockchain successfully migrating over.

Funding: The Blockchain industry in Africa is not slowing down; mega crypto deals rock the continent. Metaverse Magna (MVM), a blockchain gaming platform, has raised a $3.2 million seed sale token round, and Mara, a pan-African crypto exchange platform, raised $23 million. In contrast, Jambo, a Congo-based startup, raised $30 million; most recently, Yellow Card raised $40 million. Despite the continued investment in the crypto ecosystem in Africa, the continent accounted for just 0.5% of total global blockchain funding, offering plenty more upside to potential investors.

Although Africa’s blockchain and cryptocurrency funding numbers are still small compared to other regions, they are doing the most and are not slowing down.

NFTS: Non-fungible tokens, aka NFTs, are digital currencies that can be traded and transferred just like real currency. They are bought, sold, and transferred from one person to the other, and ownership of these items, such as art, music, and real estate, can be transferred securely and recorded on the Blockchain.

The Degen craze was not as active in Africa as in other parts of the world. However, we did have our fair share of celebrities jumping on the craze; Nigeria’s foremost Music executive Don Jazzy jumped on the Bored app and was an evangelist for NFTs.

A few notable collections have come out of Africa, with Owo Anietie — a Nigerian digital Afrofuturism artist rising to fame with his work Afrodriods.

Afrodroids had 12,117 digital collectibles that got sold out quickly to 3500+ holders. What is most interesting about this project is that 20% of all profits went to charity, and he built a free art and dance academy in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. Talk about Impact.

Unfortunately, The Market has since plummeted alongside the cryptocurrency market capitalization, following the worldwide trend. According to data from Dune Analytics, NFTs and collectibles recorded on blockchains — have tumbled 97% from a record high in January this year.

Open Sea remains the most popular spot to trade NFTs in Africa.

Government Exploration of Cryptocurrencies: Recently, the Government has made efforts to understand the cryptocurrency and, predominantly, the blockchain sector to develop projects that are part of the digital economy. However, these efforts have not yielded desired results yet; because the Government, instead of supporting existing frameworks, has decided to go on a sole voyage and has not been practical in approach.

For instance, CBDCs were built to the specifications and ideas of the Government and not to suit their users’ use case and pain points. In a nutshell, it does not give value to its users, so it is not counter-productive.

The launch of the E-Naira raised hopes and anticipation of a digital currency for all, but due to mismanagement and no practical roadmap, the adoption and use of the E-Naira are non-existent. Recently, I saw the Nigerian Government via the Central bank hosting a hackathon themed “Got what it takes to move the eNaira forward.” While that is a sound initiative, It could have been avoided altogether; real sustainability can only occur if there is a handshake between the private sector and the government part starters

The Government must understand that they cannot shut down the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Blockchain is the future, and any effort to ban them or even excessively intervene in its operations; would be futile. Moreover, restricting cryptocurrencies at the moment, when they are facilitating innovations and brimming with potential, would undermine the financing of critical sectors. Blockchain will play a critical role if Africa is to meet its Sustainable Development Goals by 2023.

While decentralized finance and blockchain technology is scalable and operationalized in other countries and regions, African policymakers have struggled to reconcile cryptocurrencies with their existing monetary system. Many countries in Africa have overlooked this financial innovation, and some even went as far as criminalizing it.

Competition: The future is moving very quickly in the blockchain community in Africa. Locally owned exchanges like Patricia, Buycoins, Quidax, and Tradfada are growing fast. Internationally owned exchanges Yellowcard, Binance, and Paxful, have a solid presence in the space. Blockchain technologies are proving to be effective for a multitude of uses. Hence competition is getting a lot stiffer. The Battle for supremacy in the African market is for the deep-pocketed and, simultaneously, for the brave. The international community flooding into Africa does not make it a more accessible landscape for local players to compete in.

However, this dexterity of the local players in the space exhibit may tip the curve. Patricia, Quidax, and Tradefada are examples of locally owned exchanges redefining the face of Crypto in Africa. The race will get tougher; rumors of 9-digit deals linked to Global Crypto exchange flocks around town. I believe as adoption gets deeper, so will competition too.

My Vision

I have a dream ‘In Martin Luther King’s voice’.

I have a dream where Africa becomes the HQ for Blockchain globally, where we OWN and dominate the industry, and we rule with no fear. I believe this is possible because we are already doing so with little or no infrastructure and government regulation. Nigeria is the fourth country with the most use for crypto today, with 22million users.

Africans can do this, but first, we must choose to do that; as you know, flowers never pick themselves. We need to take this seriously; I mean Government and privately owned firms here. I put the Government first because most of the issues we face are real policy issues; many startups are only in Business because their solutions are walking around inefficient government policies.

The Government has to choose to tackle infrastructure. We cannot flourish when we still have to deal with the infrastructural deficit; I dream of an Africa where Internet connectivity, the High cost of internet Data, and electricity are not at the forefront of challenges. I envision innovation hubs and free trade zones carved out to address technology.

I have a Vision where Africa does not depend on fossil fuels or resources from the ground. However, we depend on the intellectual prowess of Africans and tenacity to conceive an idea and execute it to the highest possible standards.

I wrote this memo and intentionally did not turn it into a sales pitch for Patricia. Why? Because I want to focus on increasing the share size of the African Pie, as opposed to who has the largest piece of pie. Africa is jam-packed with some of the world’s biggest things, the largest desert in the world, the Sahara Desert, The longest river in the world, the Nile River, and many more. Africa can be known as the continent with the largest number of blockchain Unicorns in the world. This is the Africa I want to help create and be a part of.

The future is changing, and so are we. It will not happen overnight, but Blockchain will unlock new opportunities for African communities in Africa and globally over time.
I have a vision for Africa, where we create the products and not buy the products.

PREDICTIONS

I think we are in the middle of the fifth revolution; when the fourth revolution was underway, it faced similar criticism Blockchain, and crypto currently faces today. Companies like Paypal and Amazon were seen as facades, but they ruled the world many years later. Today almost everything has changed except money.

As Elon musk and Jeff Bezos race to conquer outer space, it becomes more evident to me where we are going. I believe at some point, humans will become a multi-planetary species. When that time comes, what would we spend on Mars, South African Rands, Dollars, Chinese Yuan, Euro, or Naira? I do not think so; I believe we would go digital. We would spend crypto. These are a few predictions I foresee happening within Africa and the entire Blockchain space within the next years and decades.

Ethereum to become a Market leader: Judging by Ethereum moving to the Proof of Stake Consensus Mechanism, the Ethereum network has addressed a lot of the bias’s on Green energy, also based on the utility that Ethereum provides, I predict Ethereum to become a market leader and surpass Bitcoin. There is an excess of over 50 million active Ethereum users today, and I do not see it slowing down anytime soon.

Crypto Regulation: I get it; Crypto is volatile, you cannot control it, it can be exploited, etc. My granddad always says you should not throw the baby and the bath water out. Crypto has been struggling for legitimacy in Africa. However, Africa is going to have Crypto regulations. Ultimately, Africa must look to curtail the spread of scams while also developing regulations that promote the fair use of digital assets. It is inevitable; I also foresee more traditional players getting into the space, verticals like Neo banks, payment processors, and switches offering crypto infrastructure.

Stablecoins: While the pros and cons of stablecoins may be debatable, their rise is not. So far, More than $113 billion in coins have already been issued. Stablecoins provide a simple solution for a complex solution; as long as users seek stability, the rise and rise of stablecoins in Africa are almost a given.

The Tron blockchain would continue to scale because of the cheap fees it offers its users. There are over 113,000,000 wallet addresses, and I predict its continual growth.

Crypto Payments: These will rise, especially once favorable regulations begin to fall in place. Right now, Businesses are scared of infringing on their respective Central Bank’s stance on crypto. The advantages of crypto payments outweigh the downsides; no chargebacks or PCI compliance to worry about. Accepting crypto payments gives businesses, whether small or big, access to a global market and reach; in addition, it could attract Business from crypto enthusiasts. I foresee the rise. Patricia has also positioned itself rightly with Patricia Business to lead on this frontier.

Crypto for Content Creators & Content Creation: I predict a massive shift in this space. Why? Numbers. The take rates of web2 giants are extortionate; web3 platforms offer fairer economic terms. Suppose we compare Meta’s nearly 100% take rates across Facebook and Instagram to NFT marketplace OpenSea’s 2.50%. The difference is quite clear. If we delve deeper into Apple store’s 30% fee across the ecosystem, we will begin to see that the web 3 space offers higher value to content creators. Over time they would begin to notice this, which would spur more web 3 projects to emanate. Web3 is tiny but mighty.

FUNDING: What I find most interesting in this ecosystem is that most startups kick off without funding and, surprisingly, move to success. It is such an African thing. Startups like Patricia and Jet pay by Blord group are clear examples of this. The sheer tenacity of Africans to succeed and excel does most of the work.

However, to compete and become dominant, funding is necessary. Funding is a crucial enabler and necessary catalyst for startups to supercharge and experience hyper-growth.

Funding will flow into the African space; daily international investors are seeing the relevance and intrinsic value in the continent.

I also predict more and more acquisitions of local companies as larger and more established international firms would want an inroad to Africa, as was the case with Stripe and Paystack.

Gaming & Gaming Guilds: Gaming has never been more interesting as it has been in recent times. Gaming Guilds are gaming groups, or a community that connects gamers, investors to games and Gamefi projects. Where gamers get scholarships to play games by renting out NFTs with the promise of splitting profits when players earn. Gamers build a community and stay in touch with themselves while playing games. The more important thing is the reward system that the introduction of Blockchain provides to gamers.

Games adapted to the crypto space have allowed gamers to connect directly with other players, stream games, earn and trade in-game items even more transparently. The catch here is to earn. Based on Statista numbers, Africa has over a 650million population 17 years and younger. Gaming guilds will present a massive shift in wealth creation as the African population is young and ready to take on new wealth creation schemes.

With the launch of guilds like African Gaming Guild. Key players are already seeing this opportunity and

Decentralized Finance: Decentralized Exchanges are still very novel to the African community, as only a few persons would even know of Metamask or Uniswap. However, I believe this has the most use case and poses the real opportunity to get loose of the current choke held by traditional finance.

A quick intro to Decentralized exchanges (abbreviated DEXs), Decentralized exchanges are alternative payment systems that do not rely on banks, or brokers, to name a few, but use smart contracts on the Blockchain. DEXs are not huge now, but when they do take off, there will be no stopping them.
Gambling: Blockchain in gambling is another industry shaker and potential game changer. Crypto Casinos, Traditional Betting companies, adopting crypto as a means of on-ramping & off-ramping, anonymity, Dapps, and gambling have existed since the beginning of human history. However, the wave about to come would be unlike anything else.

With Blockchain technology, traditional Betting companies would be able to payout wins and accept payment from anybody in the world with a crypto wallet. New concepts like no-risk betting would emanate; utilizing Defi technology, people can place bets without the fear of losing a dime but still with the upside of a large pot win. The African industry has been slow to accept this primarily because of the regulatory bottlenecks, but this area is up-and-coming, and I see it flourishing.

Metaverse: Virtual lands, NFTs, and Meta, formerly Facebook, are the usual suspects when the Metaverse comes to mind. Africa is still very, very much behind in creating and building this immersive, universal virtual world. The Metaverse would be massive for brands and Marketers, African and international brands; simultaneously, the possibility of reaching over 10 million people at a go is quite juicy.

I envision Metaverse concerts and virtual meetings moving to the Metaverse (watch out, Zoom). I suspect Africa would trail behind in this for a while because of the skill set, technical know-how, and capital needed to build a thriving virtual reality world.

Can Africa enter the Metaverse? Meta predicts that $40billion could be added to Africa’s economy via the Metaverse. If this is true, then best believe Africans would be hopping on this train. I like to think about the Metaverse as a continuous evolution and journey.

Thus, the continent and its people would figure out how we will participate in this evolution. Simply put, the Metaverse will give us a new way of being.

Crypto in real estate: Fractionalized/tokenized ownership. One of the most exciting developments in real estate is the idea that properties can be sold and managed in a blockchain-based marketplace.

Already it is a concept I hear whispers of here and there in the land. This concept can help create more liquidity in property and reduce barriers of entry and ownership by creating digital tokens that represent fractional ownership of real estate assets.

We have seen marketplaces like Canadian-based Liquid collectibles by Logan Paul launched internationally, which is built around this concept.

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain would become more visible players in the real estate sector. It is not only the technology that makes this concept so unique but the concept of giving the regular low/middle-class earner access to an investment they would ordinarily not have ever found an entry point into.

Blockchain in real estate can revolutionize the industry through advanced fast, intuitive, and secure transactions. With smart contracts, consumers can buy or sell real estate quickly and easily through Blockchain.

Crypto inclusions in traditional trading asset classes: There has already been a breakthrough on this front, with the first Bitcoin ETF making its debut on the New York Stock Exchange. The development represents a new and more conventional way to invest in crypto. The Bitcoin ETF allows investors to buy in on cryptocurrency directly from traditional investment brokerages they may already have accounts; this is but the beginning.

Once this concept gets introduced into the African space, I see large conglomerates like GTbank co and investment houses emulating this.

Crypto Pricing & Bull run: My final prediction is this, we would see Bitcoin crossing over the $500,000 threshold in this lifetime.

Bitcoin is a good indicator of the crypto market because it is the largest cryptocurrency by market cap and the rest of the market tends to follow its trends. Hene other cryptocurrencies would follow.

Key Takeaways

Crypto, Blockchain, and web3 are still in their infancy in Africa.

Web3 gives people property rights: the ability to own a piece of the internet. The Fifth revolution, as I like to call it. Read, Write and Own.

Blockchain is growing faster than the internet did. Since the official release of Bitcoin in January 2009, the growth of this technology has been exponential, growing at a much faster rate than the internet did back in the early 80s.

• There is a huge market opportunity at the intersection of web3 and gaming.
• Bitcoin is a good indicator of the crypto market because it is the largest cryptocurrency by market cap and the rest of the market tends to follow its trends.
• A gaming guild (play-to-earn) allows gamers to start playing crypto games without investments. Gamers, or managers, give scholarships to new members, essentially renting out their NFTs for gamers to use in the game.
• Peer to Peer trading is King in Africa.
• Crypto is traceable.

Africa has a young population and is ready to lead Blockchain adoption.

Conclusion

Africa has the potential to become a leading player in the Blockchain by investing in her talent, education, leading crypto and blockchain adoptions, and making tight regulations that have the effect of encouraging people to get into the space.

While no one can predict the future of cryptocurrencies, I know that the novelty requires an equally nontraditional regulatory approach — one as invested in the virtues of experimentation and entrepreneurship as the practices it aspires to oversee.

There is a chance to position Africa as the bedrock of crypto in the world, and this is the future I am banking on.

Stay doing the most of my best as always.

Notes from Fejiro Hanu Agbodje

This marked Patricia’s first-ever partnership with Africa’s biggest reality TV show, a decision that was spearheaded by Ifemide Adekanbi, the Head of Sales & Retention at Patricia Technologies Limited.

As a dynamic sales and business strategist, Ifemide played a pivotal role in securing and closing the sponsorship deal, recognizing the massive brand exposure and market penetration that BBNaija could offer Patricia.

With a keen eye for high-impact partnerships, she led negotiations, aligned stakeholders, and structured the sponsorship strategy, ensuring that Patricia’s debut on the BBNaija platform would not only enhance brand awareness but also position cryptocurrency as a mainstream financial solution.

“This sponsorship was more than just a marketing play—it was a strategic investment in the future of digital payments in Nigeria,” Ifemide Adekanbi stated. “We saw an opportunity to bring cryptocurrency into everyday conversations, and BBNaija gave us the perfect platform to do that at scale.”

BBNaija has evolved into a multi-billion-naira advertising goldmine, offering brands access to a massive, engaged audience across Africa.

Ifemide recognized the potential of the show to drive digital finance adoption, particularly among Nigeria’s tech-savvy, mobile-first youth demographic.

Under her leadership, Patricia’s sponsorship went beyond traditional brand placements, incorporating interactive in-show tasks, engagement challenges, and immersive storytelling to introduce millions of viewers to Patricia’s crypto-powered financial solutions.

By securing this partnership, Ifemide not only elevated Patricia’s brand visibility but also positioned cryptocurrency as a viable alternative for everyday transactions.

The sponsorship allowed Patricia to integrate its messaging into a cultural phenomenon, making cryptocurrency more relatable and accessible to a wider audience.

“The fintech space is evolving rapidly, and as a company at the forefront of innovation, we needed to be where our customers are,” Ifemide added. “This partnership was a bold statement that digital payments—and more specifically, cryptocurrency—are not just the future; they are the present.”

Beyond brand awareness, the ₦1 billion investment in BBNaija provided Patricia with a significant competitive advantage, reinforcing its leadership in the Nigerian fin tech and crypto ecosystem.

The sponsorship served as a launchpad for new customer acquisitions, driving a surge in sign-ups, product adoption, and transactions on the Patricia platform.

Ifemide’s ability to identify high-value opportunities, negotiate strategic deals, and execute large-scale partnershipshas solidified her reputation as a top-tier sales and growth leader in the fintech space.

Her vision and execution ensured that Patricia maximized the commercial impact of the sponsorship, setting a new benchmark for how fintech brands can leverage entertainment platforms for industry-wide disruption.

Patricia’s debut sponsorship of BBNaija under Ifemide Adekanbi’s leadership is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships, bold marketing decisions, and innovative customer engagement.

The impact of this collaboration continues to shape the conversation around digital finance and cryptocurrency adoption in Africa, proving that fintech and entertainment can be a game-changing combination for business growth.