Technology
Interswitch Fosters Innovation Through Technovation Competition

Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch, has successfully concluded the second edition of its Technovation competition, a hackathon aimed at nurturing innovation and creativity among its employees. The initiative showcases Interswitch’s commitment to fostering innovation and creating impactful solutions that address diverse challenges across the African continent.
The competition, which spanned several weeks, provided a unique platform for Interswitch employees to explore their problem-solving capabilities and devise innovative solutions to real-world problems. With a strong focus on technology-driven advancements, this program provided participants with the necessary tools, mentorship, and a platform to develop groundbreaking ideas and transform them into viable prototypes.
Following a review of numerous entries, five teams were shortlisted to compete at the grand finale. The chosen teams include Paystars, The Innovators, Team Spark, Team Flash, and The Pioneers who pitched solutions focused on healthcare, food and financial technology.
At the end of the keenly contested pitch session which took place on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Team Flash emerged winner of Technovation 2.0, receiving N1,000,000. Team Spark followed closely behind in second place, wining N750,000 and Team Paystars emerged in third place, winning the sum of N500,000.
Interswitch recognizes the immense potential within its workforce and is dedicated to unlocking the creative genius of its employees. By providing a conducive environment for innovation, the company continues to harness the collective brilliance and expertise of its staff members to drive positive change in various sectors, including finance, e-commerce, healthcare, oil and gas and transportation, among others.
Speaking on the successful completion of the Technovation 2.0, Akeem Lawal, Managing Director, Payment Processing & Switching (Interswitch Purepay) emphasized the significance of empowering employees to design solutions that address Africa’s unique challenges.
He said, “At Interswitch, we firmly believe that the key to driving meaningful change in Africa lies in nurturing and empowering our talented people. The Technovation 2.0 competition is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our unwavering belief in the transformative power of technology. By supporting our staff members in their pursuit of groundbreaking solutions, we aim to create a brighter future for Africa.”
Throughout the competition, participants were encouraged to avidly explore novel approaches to tackle complex problems. Leveraging Interswitch’s extensive industry expertise and cutting-edge technologies, the developers devised ingenious solutions that hold the potential to revolutionize various sectors and improve the lives of millions of people across Africa.
The grand finale ended on a high note as participants and other Interswitch employees were treated to an exciting after-party.
As an organization deeply rooted in Africa, Interswitch understands the unique challenges facing the continent and is dedicated to playing a pivotal role in developing solutions to these challenges and driving the growth and development of the continent. The Technovation competition serves as a testament to Interswitch’s unwavering commitment to creating innovative solutions that address Africa’s most pressing needs, ultimately contributing to the continent’s overall advancement.
Technology
It’s finally here! Introducing Instagram for iPad, designed for bigger screens
Today, we’re excited to announce we’re bringing Instagram to iPad. People have asked for this for a while, and we’ve taken the time to design an experience that optimizes your favorite parts of Instagram for a bigger screen.Sit back, relax, and watch Reelsimage.pngInstagram has always been the place where people connect over creativity, and Reels has become a primary way people discover and share entertaining content. With Instagram for iPad, we’ve redesigned the experience to reflect how people use bigger screens today – for lean back entertainment. Now, when you open the app, you’ll drop into Reels, so you can get the entertaining content you love on a bigger screen. You’ll also see Stories at the top, so you can easily connect with the people that matter to you, and messaging is one tap away.image.pngWe’ve heard your requests for easier ways to make sure you’re not missing updates from your favorite accounts, so we’re introducing a new “Following” tab on iPad, which gives you multiple ways to see the latest and greatest from the accounts you follow:All: Recommended posts and reels from accounts you followFriends: Recommended post and reels from accounts you follow, that follow you backLatest: Chronological posts and reels from accounts you follow, with the most recent posts appearing first.You can choose the order of these feeds to prioritize what you want to see first.
Technology
Meta Hosts its First Youth Summit in Nigeria to Drive Innovation and Empowerment
A cross-section of some of the attendees and the Meta team.November 26, 2024 – Lagos, Nigeria: Meta recently hosted its first Youth Summit in Lagos, Nigeria, bringing together over 200 young professionals, students, recent graduates, creatives, tech enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs. Themed ‘Empowering Youth Through Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship’, the summit included a series of thought-provoking panel discussions, a mentoring session and an interactive workshop designed to equip young Nigerians with the skills, insights and networks needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world. Commenting about the event, Phil Oduor, Head of Policy Programs, Sub-Saharan Africa said, “At Meta, we believe that today’s youth are tomorrow’s change-makers. Through initiatives like the Youth Summit, we aim to foster innovation, promote digital literacy and empower young Nigerians with the tools and opportunities to realise their potential and contribute to Nigeria’s growing digital economy.”Delivering the keynote address, Femi Aluko, CEO/Co-Founder, Chowdeck, shared his journey of breaking barriers to achieve success in tech. He encouraged attendees to embrace the limitless opportunities within today’s technology ecosystem. A panel discussion, led by Chinny Francis, Public Policy Manager at Meta, featured panellists Nifemi Akinwamide, Head of Operations, Alt School; Adaora Mbelu, Co-Founder of Lumination Global and Obaloluwa Adeagbo, Marketing Lead at Talstack. They shared valuable insights about the future of work, emphasising the importance of storytelling to build a personal brand, practicing self-awareness, developing soft skills, lifelong learning and honing problem-solving skills to thrive in a digitally transformed world.Francis Sani, Technical Adviser for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, spoke at the event. He highlighted the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, emphasising that the program aims to build Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to drive the digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter. He encouraged youth to take advantage of this opportunity.Another panel of industry experts took the stage during the ‘Lunch and Learn: Navigating Entrepreneurship in a Rapidly Changing Landscape’ session, moderated by Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa at Meta. Seye Bandele, CEO of PaidHR and Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, Head of Platform and Networks at Ventures Platform Fund, shared their invaluable insights. Seye highlighted the importance of grit, curiosity and candour, while Damilola reinforced the need to understand one’s target audience, deliver value through their business and embrace data-driven decision-making in the dynamic entrepreneurial landscape. The event also featured inspiring conversations with leading figures in the creative industry. Miss Techy, an award winning tech content creator and Salem King, a creator, storyteller, author and speaker, shared their experiences and advice on achieving long-term success. Attendees also benefited from an interactive workshop and a mentoring session, where industry experts shared practical advice and strategies for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts.Meta’s Youth Summit 2024 highlights a commitment to driving positive change, championing youth empowerment and advancing economic opportunities in Nigeria. Through investments in key areas—such as the creative industry, digital literacy, economic impact and youth job training—Meta is dedicated to empowering young Nigerians to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.A group of people posing for a photoDescription automatically generatedCross-section of some of the attendees at the Meta Youth Summit 2024 in LagosA group of people standing on a stageDescription automatically generatedL-R: Chinny Francis, Public Policy Manager, Meta; Nifemi Akinwamide, Head of Operations, Alt School; Adaora Mbelu, Co-Founder of Lumination Global and Obaloluwa Adeagbo, Marketing Lead at Talstack.A group of people sitting on a stageDescription automatically generatedL-R: Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa, Meta; Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, Head of Platform and Networks, Ventures Platform Fund, and Seye Bandele, Chief Executive Officer, PaidHR during the Lunch and Learn: Navigating Entrepreneurship in a Rapidly Changing Landscape panel session.A person and person standing on a stageDescription automatically generatedSalem King, a creator, storyteller, author and speaker and Miss Techy, an award winning tech content creator A group of people sitting at tablesDescription automatically generatedDuring a mentoring session workshopA person standing on a stageDescription automatically generatedFemi Aluko, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Chowdeck.A person standing at a podiumDescription automatically generatedFrancis Sani, Technical Adviser to the minister of communications and digital economy of Nigeria
Technology
Introducing Filters and Backgrounds for Video Calls
Conversations on WhatsApp should always feel fun and expressive and today, we’re rolling out filters and backgrounds to make your video calls even more engaging. With these new effects, you can now change your background or add a filter during a video call for a more personal touch.
Filters are designed to help you create a more playful atmosphere, whether that’s adding a splash of color or creating a more artistic feel for your video. With backgrounds, you can keep your surroundings private and transport yourself to a cozy coffee shop or comfortable living room for a more clean and polished look.
With 10 filters and 10 backgrounds to choose from, you can select and mix a wide range of options to create a unique look. Filter options include Warm, Cool, Black & White, Light leak, Dreamy, Prism light, Fisheye, Vintage TV, Frosted glass and Duo tone. Background options include Blur, Living room, Office, Cafe, Pebbles, Foodie, Smoosh, Beach, Sunset, Celebration and Forest.
We’re also adding Touch up and Low Light options that can help you feel more confident and comfortable by naturally enhancing the look and brightness of your environment, making your video calls more vibrant and enjoyable.
To access these during a 1:1 or group video call, select the effects icons on top right of the screen to see the selection of filters and backgrounds and choose the one that suits your mood.
These effects will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
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