The event, taking place on Wednesday, October 9th, and Thursday, October 10th, 2024, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, will bring together some of the most audacious leaders in the global technology industry.

The conference is also introducing a new content track around Government, Policy & Regulation and will be hosting a roundtable on international trade.

Confirmed speakers for the roundtable include Wale Edun, minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy of Nigeria, Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria, and Jonny Baxter, British deputy high commissioner. 

Other notable speakers expected are: Nankling Danfulani, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FDCO); Michel Deelen, consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Florent Mangin, head of Regional Economic Development, France; Augustina Odame, chief executive officer, Ghana Chamber of Technology; Sid Ali, CEO, Algeria Ventures, Sunil Natraj – CEO of Jumia Nigeria, and many other highly accomplished thought leaders.

With Africa’s share of global and intra-regional trade standing at 3% and 13% respectively, this pan-African ministerial roundtable will provide a platform for key trade stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge partnerships that will drive digital trade and economic integration focus. 

A fireside chat on “The Role of Technology in Driving the Growth of the Nigerian Economy” with Dr. Bosun Tijani and Wale Edun; as well as a Ministerial Roundtable with Dr. Bosun Tijani to discuss Nigeria’s digital economy landscape and the ministry’s blueprint, are also lined up.

Acknowledging the growing trend of African startups venturing into global markets, the theme for Moonshot by TechCabal 2024 is: Building for the World, which addresses the challenges and opportunities that African founders and operators face as they navigate the complexities of global expansion. 

Through this event, over 3,500 delegates will gain timely and practical insights from experienced global and African business leaders, who will share strategies for successfully building world-class ventures in various sectors from fintech to commerce, renewable energy, climate change, tech policy, AI, telco, cloud and more.

Headline sponsored by Sabi, a provider of digital commerce infrastructure for Africa, Moonshot is introducing three additional content tracks to the five tracks from last year: The Future of Commerce, Big Tech & Enterprise, Emerging Tech Fest, Startup Festival, and Creative Economy. These new tracks include:

• FUEL: The Investor Conference – Offering opportunities to understand the investment landscape in Nigeria and Africa, and connect with investors and high-quality startups.
• Government, Policy & Regulation Conference – this track will bring together ministers and their representatives from across the continent to discuss and agree on concrete policy actions that will drive the growth of the digital economy and foster trust and collaboration.
• Clean & Climate Tech – Focusing on Africa’s fast-growing climate tech industry and its opportunities. 

In addition, the two-day pan-African conference will introduce new formats, including demos and roundtables that showcase how innovative technology is tackling critical challenges. 

Attendees can also look forward to more investor engagement with sessions in the investor lounge and a dedicated area for startup pitches. 

Furthermore, expanded networking opportunities will be available through various social events, mixers, and off-conference gatherings designed to foster meaningful connections and collaborations.

Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media said “Africa’s vibrant tech ecosystem is breaking boundaries and redefining what is possible on the global stage. As we edge closer to this year’s Moonshot by TechCabal, we are focused on exploring critical questions about how Africa is building for the world and how we can leverage actionable policies to enhance the digital economy. 

“This conference will also shine a spotlight on the booming sectors, such as climate tech, which captured a third of last year’s startup funding – a clear signal of where the future is headed. 

“We’re eager to see the great impact of this gathering, where the continent’s most audacious minds and global actors will come together to drive the African tech ecosystem forward. The discussions and synergies that will take place at Moonshot have the potential to shape the future of African innovation on a global stage.”

TechCabal is a tech publication in Africa which provides reporting, data and context that help investors and professionals globally understand where African tech is and where it is going. 

The inaugural Moonshot event was held in October 2023 in Lagos, attracting over 2,600 attendees and 85 industry-leading speakers from across Africa and beyond. 

Highlights included the TC Battlefield competition, where a total of four million naira in cash prizes was awarded to the winner, truQ, and runner-up, Jamit. 

Additionally, Nigeria’s minister of communications Bosun Tijani unveiled his blueprint to train 3 million technical talents across the country in the next four years.

Speaking on the inspiration behind this year’s theme Muyiwa Olowogboyega, editor-in-chief of TechCabal, said, “Over the last decade, we’ve been at the heart of narrating African tech stories, documenting the challenges, grit, successes and failures. As African startups continue to expand globally, Moonshot is our way of bringing the ecosystem together to confront the complexities of global expansion. 

“The challenges of scaling innovation are universal, and we are committed to not only discuss this evolving disruption but also to present practical takeaways that will enable other players in the ecosystem to follow suit.”

Anu Adedoyin Adasolum, co-founder and CEO of Sabi, said “This year’s Moonshot conference will undoubtedly spur important ideas for how African technology companies can build and service the global markets. Sabi connects African markets with one another and the rest of the world, and we applaud any initiative that aims to strengthen African commerce by fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth across the continent.”

Moonshot by TechCabal is also sponsored by 54 Collective (Formerly Founder Factory Africa), Raenest, Sparkle, Quidax, Meta, Tramango, Budpay, Cardtonic, ZedCrest, Vendy, Heckerbella and Flutterwave, and is open to global and African VC investors, startup founders, top tech CEOs, industry professionals at all levels, students, and tech support organisations. 

Exhibitors will include the continent’s most innovative startups, leading enterprise companies, global tech giants, and a range of service providers. 

Sponsorship information or tickets to attend Moonshot can be accessed here.

The finalists were selected from a cohort of 40 highly competitive Fintechs that made it to the semi-final stage of the competition.

This year’s challenge attracted over 1,550 applications from 70 countries in Africa and other global regions.

The finalists will showcase their innovative solutions at the Ecobank Fintech Challenge Grand Finale, scheduled for 27 September 2024, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lomé, Togo.

The event will be streamed live on Ecobank Group’s social media channels, allowing a global audience to participate. Finalists of the challenge will compete for the US$50,000 ultimate prize during this highly anticipated event.

Speaking at the Semi-Final, Jeremy Awori, chief executive officer of Ecobank Group, remarked,

“The finalists in this year’s Ecobank Fintech Challenge have showcased exceptional talent and innovation; and we look forward to welcoming them to the Finale. At Ecobank, we’re committed to collaborating with these business builders to develop products and services that will benefit our customers and contribute to our continent’s progress”.

Showcasing the future of African fintech, here are the exceptional finalists of the 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge:

• BuuPass, Kenya
• Daba Finance,Ivory Coast
• EasyEquities, South Africa
• Exuus, Rwanda
• Melanin Kapital Neobank, Kenya
• MiaPay, Togo
• PaySika, Cameroon
• PROBOUTIK, Senegal
• Sawport Video Banking as a Virtual Branch, Nigeria
• Sproutly, Nigeria
• Vaultpay, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• YMO Africa, Guinea

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge, a flagship initiative of the Ecobank Group, organised for seven consecutive years, continues to serve as a premier continental platform for promoting innovation and collaboration between Fintechs and the pan-African Bank’s cross-border markets spanning 35 countries.

The challenge remains a significant event, attracting key players within the fintech ecosystem and beyond.

It provides a unique opportunity for fintech entrepreneurs to address challenges such as reaching scale, navigating an uncertain regulatory environment, and managing scarcity of funding.

In addition to financial rewards, the challenge offers Ecobank’s expertise in diversified market operations and the right solutions to scale across its pan-African footprint and international presence.

Since inception, 60 fintech startups have been inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship.

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge is designed in partnership with international advisory firm Konfidants and is supported by various partners including Huawei, Proparco, TechCabal, BlueSpace, Afrilabs, Africa Fintech Network, MEST Africa, Naija Startups, Expand In Africa and Founders Africa.

This year’s Grand Finale will bring together fintechs, regulators, investors, financial institutions, global technology companies, tech hubs, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.

Ecobank invites all key stakeholders within the Fintech ecosystem, and members of the general public to register for the Grand Finale via this link.

Inuwa made the reaffirmation during a fireside chat session, moderated by Alex Onukwue, a reporter with Semafor at the TechCabal’s Moonshot event which held in Lagos State.

While sharing insights into his role and the agency’s transformative vision for Nigeria’s digital landscape, Inuwa analysed the different strategic approaches adopted by the Agency, noting that, with a vision for inclusive growth, NITDA is working towards realising Nigeria’s vast potential in the digital age.

“NITDA, established in 2001 was initially aimed to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria, where less than 500 Nigerians had access to computers but in the early 2000s, only 0.05% of Nigeria’s GDP was attributed to information technology. However, NITDA’s interventions have significantly transformed the landscape, with over 50% of the Nigerian population now having access to computers through their mobile phones”, Inuwa said.

The NITDA Boss explained how NITDA’s mandate shifted in 2019, focusing not only on digital adoption but on leveraging technology for economic growth and development as he highlighted the agency’s new strategy blueprint to encompass five strategic pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, and trade.

“One key focus has been building trust and collaboration between the government and the tech ecosystem, promoting engagement, and co-development of policies and laws”.

“This is important because if the government and the ecosystem are working together with each having their unique strength, when combined, can drive positive change”, the DG maintained.

When discussing the implementation of the Nigeria Digital Innovation Fund, the Director-General reechoed the importance of a smooth transition, stressing that despite some challenges, NITDA is working to reconvene the council and present the funding model to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship.

Another front which engaged the attention of the DG was the emigration of talents from Nigeria, where Inuwa shared a bold vision for retaining talent within the country.

According to Inuwa, “Nigeria can become a talent net exporter by providing opportunities, training, and access to global markets, adding that, with the right policies and supportive environment, Nigeria could retain its talented workforce while also being a source of talent for the world.

“The global demand for tech talents is enormous, and Nigeria has the potential to play a significant role in filling this talent gap, given the competitive advantages, such as a youthful population, advantageous time zones, and a growing tech ecosystem, making it a prime destination for tech talents”, the Director-General added.

The discussion which delved into multiple topics also brought to the fore, local governments’ involvement in the entire process of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship as Inuwa expatiated NITDA’s model for partnering with training providers to reach a broader audience.

“The agency plans to launch a call for applications for training providers and aims to connect participants with job opportunities. Additionally, NITDA is working on digitising government services and developing the digital public infrastructure to create more job opportunities within the digital ecosystem”, Inuwa noted.

Moonshot by TechCabal is a completely physical event brought together the most audacious thinkers and doers on the continent and beyond to brainstorm and collectively find solutions to Africa’s most challenging problems.

Scheduled to take place on August 19 at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, the Trade Lenda Fair aims to empower and connect Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) while fostering economic growth and innovation across Nigeria.

“We are humbled and privileged to have former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Deputy Governor Kayode as our esteemed guest speakers at the Trade Lenda Fair.

Their participation highlights the significance of this event in driving economic development and empowering SMEs across Nigeria,” said Oyindamola Olaniyan, Acting COO at Trade Lenda.

The Trade Lenda SME Fair will also feature experts, thought leaders across the SME industry and successful entrepreneurs.

Attendees can expect to see a dynamic lineup of engaging speaker and panel sessions, masterclasses, pitch competition, networking opportunities, an exhibition showcasing innovative products and even an after party! In addition, they also get free products and exclusive discounts on products.

Registration for Trade Lenda Fair 2023 is still open, and we encourage people to secure their FREE tickets as spaces are limited.

Get your tickets HERE.

Trade Lenda SME Fair is backed by Redcloud, Eazipay Providus Bank, Paystack and supported by Kwara State, LSETF, Lagos Business School, Money Africa, Changera, Techeconomy, TechPoint, Tech Cabal, and Tech Next!

As organizations strive to retain their most valuable talent, the study underscores the significance of health insurance in the Nigerian context and its implications for employees and employers. It provides data-driven insights to determine how health insurance influences job retention among Nigerian employees.

The study employed a robust and comprehensive methodology, encompassing a substantial sample size of 104 employees across various industries in Lagos, Nigeria. By leveraging structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews, the researchers were able to capture the nuanced perspectives of employees, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject. 

More than half of the surveyed employees, specifically 52.5%, work in high-risk sectors such as manufacturing, health, construction & engineering, transport & logistics. 20.2% work in finance with standard health coverage. The remaining 27.3% are employed in retail, tech, media, tech, and education sectors.

The findings of the study are as remarkable as they are revealing. 

According to the survey, 93% of respondents value comprehensive health plans in their job contracts, but only 34% would scrutinize their availability when accepting an employment contract. 64.1% have never considered quitting over insufficient healthcare coverage. While 66% say a lack of insurance wouldn’t affect their decisions to leave or stay. 

Going by the NHIA Act, Nigerian employers with over five employees are legally obligated to provide health insurance coverage. Surprisingly, only 5% of workers in Nigeria had access to health insurance, as of 2019, with the biggest gap coming from the private and informal sectors.  

The findings of this study hold significant implications for both employees and employers in Nigeria. 

Although health insurance is not always the determining factor for employee loyalty, 34% of employees are willing to leave an employer for lack of healthcare insurance. The implication is that companies may suffer a 34-36% employee turnover which is concerning. Therefore, the availability of health insurance can contribute to improved job retention and overall workforce stability.

Hence, employers must strive to strike a balance between employees’ salaries and an optimal level of health coverage to address their concerns about nominal income and real income. This means enhancing the minimum insurance coverage to meet the healthcare requirements of their workers, thus promoting their overall well-being.

Olanrewaju Dunowo, the Lead researcher at TechCabal Insights, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, “Our study underscores the critical role of health insurance in employee job retention in Nigeria. By prioritizing employee health and well-being, organizations can create a more stable and productive workforce.”

Mr. Ikpeme Neto, Founder of WellaHealth, added, “Health insurance is not only an essential component of employee benefits but also a strategic investment in the long-term success of organizations. Our study emphasizes the need for employers to recognize its positive impact on job retention and overall business performance.”

This study offers valuable insights into the ever-evolving labor market, providing practical recommendations, expert analysis, and compelling statistics. It enjoins employers and policymakers to recognize the untapped potential of employee health insurance in promoting job retention and driving workforce stability.

By prioritizing the health and well-being of employees, businesses can unlock a competitive advantage that transcends mere financial incentives.

To delve deeper into the study’s findings, please click HERE to download the report.