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As Africa accelerates its digital transformation, data protection has become a central issue shaping the continent’s digital future. A new report by Yellow Card highlights Africa’s progress in data protection, highlighting how stronger data security frameworks are crucial for safeguarding personal and financial information, protecting consumers, and enabling sustainable digital finance growth.

The 2025 Report on Data Protection in Africa reveals that 39 out of 55 African nations have enacted data protection laws, with 34 establishing regulatory authorities to oversee compliance. This shift marks significant progress in addressing privacy concerns as digital financial services gain traction. However, challenges remain in countries where enforcement mechanisms are still developing, leaving gaps in consumer protection.

As more transactions move online, African governments are increasingly recognizing the need to protect user data. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa have introduced comprehensive data protection frameworks that align with global standards, helping to enhance trust in digital finance. Stronger legal frameworks ensure that financial service providers handle sensitive customer data responsibly, mitigating risks such as identity theft, fraud, and cyberattacks.

Thelma Okorie, Yellow Card’s Group Data Protection and Privacy Counsel, emphasizes the importance of these developments: “Data protection is no longer optional—it is the backbone of trust in the digital space. This report indicates a big stride in the African digital space, and as more countries continue to formalize data protection, backed by effective enforcement, Africa will move towards a more secure digital financial ecosystem. Aligning data protection policies with emerging fintech and Crypto regulations, we will see more innovations built on consumer safety. At Yellow Card, we are demonstrating that responsible data handling can serve as a foundation for long-term growth in Africa’s digital economy, reinforcing the need for businesses and regulators to work together in shaping a secure financial future.”

Companies at the forefront of Africa’s digital finance boom are taking proactive measures to comply with evolving data protection standards. Yellow Card, Africa’s leading stablecoin payments platform, has implemented stringent compliance policies to ensure the security of personal and financial data across its operations. As a licensed entity in multiple African jurisdictions, the company is actively aligning with global best practices to protect its customers and strengthen trust in digital payments.

With African countries like Nigeria leading in cryptocurrency adoption, the intersection of data protection and digital finance is becoming increasingly relevant. While data security laws primarily focus on consumer privacy, they also lay the groundwork for more structured financial oversight.

In the last quarter of 2024, Nigeria solidified its position as a global leader in digital asset adoption, ranking second in the Chainalysis 2024 Crypto Adoption Index. This milestone places Nigeria at the forefront of a financial revolution, but it also raises critical questions about the nation’s sustenance of crypto adoption and use.

Lasbery Oludimu, Vice President of Global Operations and Managing Director of Yellow Card Nigeria, in a recent interview on News Central TV, offers a frontline perspective on this growth and other factors that can either propel or hinder this trend. According to Oludimu, Nigeria's embrace of cryptocurrency can be attributed to several factors, one of which is the rising use cases of stablecoins. Coupled with the challenges most African countries experience with depreciating currencies and foreign exchange issues, businesses and individuals are now looking for alternatives that work,” she explains. “Crypto offers that flexibility and efficiency, particularly for cross-border transactions and everyday payments.”

Nigeria’s vibrant crypto scene is fueled by a young, tech-savvy population and increasing smartphone penetration. Yet, the picture is not without complications. Oludimu points to regulatory uncertainties that can hinder this growth. She believes that the space should be regulated to help push out bad actors and make cryptocurrency more appealing to the public.

Decentralized finance (DeFi) holds promise, but skepticism remains. There is innovation, but education is lagging. Many people still view crypto as a quick profit scheme rather than a long-term solution.

With venture capital pouring into African crypto startups and the push for regulation continues, the question remains: Is Nigeria building a sustainable digital finance ecosystem, or are citizens merely seeking refuge from a struggling banking system?

For Oludimu, the future lies in a hybrid model. “We need collaboration between regulators, innovators, and the public. When that happens, Africa won’t just adopt digital finance—we’ll lead it.”

The last quarter of 2024 marked a transformative period for the global crypto ecosystem, with Africa, particularly Nigeria, commanding significant attention. With the trend of industry-defining milestones and strategic advancements witnessed in the last quarter of 2024, the groundwork for solidifying Nigeria’s position as a key player in the global alternative finance and cryptocurrency landscape in 2025 has been laid.

Nigeria emerged as the 2nd-highest-ranking nation on Chainalysis' 2024 Crypto Adoption Index, this places the nation in a position to solidify its position as the strongest Crypto market in Africa. Central to this momentum are players such as Yellow Card, leading the way in funding, pushing for regulation, and developing innovative solutions for the African market.

Building On The Milestones And Growth In 2024

Nigeria’s high ranking in the Chainalysis report is attributed to its exceptional performance in categories such as DeFi Value Received and Retail Centralized Service Value Received, where it ranked 2nd globally only behind India. This underscores Nigeria’s growing importance as a global crypto hub and its unique ability to harness cryptocurrency for both institutional and individual use cases. In the Sub-Saharan Africa region, no other country made it into the top 20, further highlighting Nigeria’s pivotal role in shaping the continent’s digital financial future.
The African Crypto space also saw substantial funding and investment in 2024, with Yellow Card - the largest Stablecoin on/off-ramp on the continent, with operations in 20 African countries - raising US $33 million in its Series C fundraise. These funds will be used to scale operations, drive growth, and support expansion efforts, with a particular emphasis on the Payments API and Widget products. These products have been highly successful, serving as key gateways for international businesses to access African markets.

Regulatory Insights

Africa is emerging as a global leader in the development of cryptocurrency regulations, making progress at a pace unmatched by most other regions. Take Nigeria, Yellow Card’s largest market, as a prime example. Under the leadership of the new SEC Director-General, Mr Emomotimi Agama, Nigeria has rapidly advanced its regulatory framework since his appointment in March 2023. After two years of stagnation following the introduction of crypto regulations in 2022, Mr. Agama revitalized the landscape by launching the SEC’s regulatory incubation programs just months into his tenure. His leadership is creating a safer ecosystem for crypto customers in Nigeria while supporting critical efforts by the FIU and EFCC to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Additionally, it has contributed to increased tax revenue through improved oversight by the FIRS.

Beyond Nigeria, the continent is witnessing significant regulatory strides. Botswana issued Africa’s first VASP license - awarded to Yellow Card - while South Africa, Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the CEMAC region have also introduced regulatory frameworks. Draft laws and regulations are advancing in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and even Morocco, where crypto remains banned. Notably, Yellow Card secured its Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license in South Africa last year and in Nigeria, we’ve already submitted an application under the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP) and are awaiting approval in principle.
Africa’s regulatory environment for cryptocurrency is not just dynamic - it’s leading the way globally. With Nigeria at the forefront, the continent is setting the standard for innovation and responsible oversight in the crypto space.

The Road Ahead: Driving Innovation and Expansion in Africa

The resurgence of Bitcoin’s value in the final quarter of 2024 and the growing adoption of stablecoins have further sparked renewed interest in the crypto space. With DeFi and crypto trading gaining traction and adoption in Nigeria - as seen in the Chainalysis' 2024 Crypto Adoption Index - 2025 is poised to witness increased integration of blockchain technology into everyday financial activities. However, this growth comes with a mix of curiosity and anticipation as consumers, enthusiasts, and industry leaders speculate on what lies ahead.
No doubt 2025 promises to be a year of unprecedented growth, collaboration, and opportunity for African alternative finance and the cryptocurrency space, and Nigeria continues to be the driver.

By: Lasbery Oludimu: Vice President of Global Operations and Managing Director of Yellow Card Nigeria.
Published on TechCabal.

Yellow Card, Africa’s leading stablecoin-based infrastructure provider, has been issued a Crypto
Asset Service Provider (CASP) licence by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in
South Africa.

Commenting on the FSCA’s decision to issue the licence to Yellow Card Financial South Africa,
Chris Maurice, Yellow Card’s co-founder and CEO, said, “The CASP licence underscores
Yellow Card’s commitment to its customers in South Africa and regulatory compliance across
the continent.This achievement reflects our dedication to providing secure, compliant and
transformative solutions for our customers both in South Africa and across Africa.
Stablecoin adoption is surging throughout Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest
adoption rate in the world at 9.2%. In South Africa alone, where the number of total users of
crypto assets is estimated to amount to 5.8 million people, stablecoins have experienced growth
of 50% month over month since October 2023, displacing bitcoin as the country’s most popular
cryptocurrency. Yellow Card is excited to play a pivotal role in this financial revolution in South
Africa.

Yellow Card, which launched in South Africa in 2020, has facilitated over US$3 billion in
transactions in the last several years and now operates in 20 countries across the continent.
The company recently completed a US$33 million Series C financing, led by Blockchain Capital
and existing investors, including Polychain Capital, Valar Ventures, Third Prime Ventures,
Coinbase Ventures, and Block, Inc. (Square/Cash App), reflecting strong investor confidence in
its mission.

As the stablecoin landscape continues to evolve, Yellow Card is committed to leading the
charge in making digital assets accessible and secure for businesses across Africa. With the
recent licensing and funding, the company plans to expand its B2B offerings by enhancing its
stablecoin rails, upgrading infrastructure, and advancing its B2B API and Widget. These efforts
will empower businesses with seamless solutions for liquidity management and their general
operations.

To learn more about Yellow Card, visit: https://yellowcard.io/.

The round, led by Blockchain Capital, brings Yellow Card to US$85 million in completed
equity financings.

Yellow Card, the largest and first licensed Stablecoin on/off ramp on the African continent,
today announced the closing of its Series C financing. The $33 million equity financing was
led by Blockchain Capital, with participation from Polychain Capital, Third Prime Ventures,
Castle Island Ventures, Block, Inc., Galaxy Ventures, Blockchain Coinvestors, Hutt Capital,
and Winklevoss Capital.

This financing marks a significant milestone for the company and the African FinTech
industry as a whole, as it validates the vision and progress for stablecoins on the continent
and practical applications for the technology worldwide.

“This fundraise not only demonstrates our resilience, but also highlights the vital role of
digital assets for businesses across Africa,” said Chris Maurice, CEO and co-founder of
Yellow Card. “We are excited about the opportunities, partnerships, and journey ahead; and
I'm proud to work with an incredible cohort of investors that share our vision for the industry
and the continent.”

Since its launch in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has established itself as a pioneering force
in the industry, with operations spanning 20 African countries and over US$3 billion in
transactions facilitated across the continent.

This newly secured capital will be applied to fund growth and expansion, particularly
through enhancing Yellow Card’s API and widget products — the gateways for international
businesses (including Coinbase and Block) to tap into African markets and for Pan-African
companies to easily make international payments and manage their treasury via
stablecoins. Additionally, Yellow Card is developing innovative new products for the
continent, strengthening its team and systems, and continuing to lead engagement with
regulators across the continent.

This financing reflects the level of confidence expressed in the business by both new and
existing investors.

“The future of payments lies in fast, affordable rails for everyone, powered by open
networks,” said Aleks Larsen, General Partner at Blockchain Capital, the lead investor in
Yellow Card’s Series C financing. “We couldn’t be more excited to back Yellow Card as they
bring Africa on-chain with stablecoins.”

Yellow Card remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering the continent by making it
easy for businesses of all sizes to make international payments, manage their treasury, and
access hard currency liquidity via stablecoins.

In today’s limitless business landscape, venturing into new markets is not just an option but a necessity for growth and diversification. Africa, with its rapidly growing economy, burgeoning technology sector, and youthful population, is fast becoming a hub for investments. With over 60% of the population under the age of 25, there is a significant market for innovative products and services. Additionally, the rise of mobile money and digital payments has created a thriving ecosystem for financial technology. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa are at the forefront of this digital revolution, making them attractive targets for businesses looking to expand.

However, diversifying into the African market comes with challenges, including navigating different regulatory environments, dealing with currency fluctuations, and ensuring the security of financial transactions. One of the essential aspects of successfully expanding into Africa is the ability to seamlessly onboard customers, receive payments, and disburse funds. This is where payment APIs become integral. They provide the necessary infrastructure to handle transactions securely and efficiently across multiple regions. Therefore, selecting a payment API that aligns with both the operational needs and strategic goals of a business is crucial. It ensures that the business can not only enter the market but also sustain and grow its presence in Africa.

What to Look for in a Payments API

Choosing the best payment API is crucial for businesses aiming to establish and expand their presence in Africa. Here are some key features to consider:
Local Currency Support: The API should facilitate transactions in the local African currencies and support local payment methods. This feature is vital for accommodating the diverse monetary systems across the continent and simplifying cross-border transactions.
Ease of Integration: The API should be developer-friendly, with comprehensive documentation and robust support to ensure smooth integration into existing systems. This reduces the technical challenges associated with adapting to new payment platforms.

Security: With the rise in cyber threats, a payments API must adhere to stringent security standards, such as PCI DSS compliance. It should include advanced security measures like fraud detection and encryption to protect transaction data and customer information.
Scalability and Instant Settlement: As your business grows, the payments API should be able to handle an increasing volume of transactions without performance hitches. Scalability ensures that the payment system can support your business expansion without requiring frequent upgrades. At the same time, you need to consider how long the transaction processing time is and how fast it takes for the funds from transactions to reach your bank account.
Customer Support: Effective and responsive customer support is essential, especially when dealing with financial transactions. Prompt support can help resolve issues quickly, minimising downtime and maintaining business continuity. Additionally, APIs that offer additional tools, such as transaction tracking dashboards, recurring billing, and automated reconciliation, could enhance operational efficiency.
Cost: Payments APIs charge varying fees for using their payment infrastructure. While some may charge a flat fee per translation, others may offer a percentage fee based on the transaction amount. You will need to select a payments API that has fair pricing for your business operations and customers.

Best Payment APIs For Businesses Seeking Expansion in Africa

Considering the crucial factors for a successful payments API, here are the top choices for businesses aiming to expand their operations across Africa. These APIs have been selected based on their ability to meet these criteria while facilitating seamless financial transactions across diverse African markets.

[b]Yellow Card Payments API
[/b]The Yellow Card Payment API is a robust payment solution designed to facilitate business expansions into Africa by allowing customers to easily deposit and withdraw funds in their local currency using multiple local payment options. Understanding the unique needs of the African market, it boasts a user-friendly interface that is easily customisable to reflect your business brand while ensuring seamless instant payment processing. The Payments API is also developer-friendly, including a detailed API documentation, an API sandbox for testing, and 24/7 customer support. As one of the top payment APIs in Africa, the Yellow Card API is PCI DSS compliant and includes advanced fraud detection mechanisms, which ensure secure transactions and customer protection. The best part? Integrating the API is completely free and comes with zero charge-back costs with Yellow Card’s blockchain technology powered by stablecoins.

The Yellow Card payments API’s stablecoin settlement feature is crucial in regions plagued by inflation and currency devaluation—a common challenge with many African currencies. The API simplifies transactions by allowing customers to deposit funds in their local currency while businesses receive settlements in a stablecoin, like USDT, shielding them from the volatility of currency fluctuations. Similarly, disbursements are made in the customer's local currency. The business payments API facilitates payments and supports detailed transaction tracking and management, giving businesses greater control over their financial operations.
You can monitor your transactions and make informed decisions using its treasury management dashboard, reports, and business intelligence analytics. The API also has optimised routing for transactions, which means firms experience fewer failed payments, improving customer satisfaction. With support for several local African payments like bank transfers and Mobile Money across 20 African countries, businesses can be assured of easy collection, disbursement and remittance of funds.

Paystack
Paystack is a prominent payment platform that supports over 200,000 businesses and offers a range of payment options, including cards, bank transfers, USSD, and mobile money. It is only operational in six African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Egypt and South Africa, where it serves as a primary payment facilitator. The platform is celebrated for its robust, user-friendly API, which developers find straightforward to integrate thanks to its comprehensive documentation.

Paystack enhances transaction reliability through advanced technology that maximises success rates and provides detailed reporting features invaluable for accounting, reconciliation, and audits. These capabilities allow businesses to build custom payment experiences tailored to their specific needs, making Paystack a top choice for companies looking to streamline their payment processes efficiently in these key African markets.

Flutterwave
Flutterwave is a pan-African payment solutions provider renowned for its extensive support across a broad range of payment methods and currencies, making it ideally suited for businesses aiming to expand across multiple African nations. The platform facilitates payments through cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and more, catering to the diverse needs of the continent. With its powerful APIs and SDKs, Flutterwave allows businesses to create customised payment solutions tailored to their specific requirements.

Moreover, as a PCI DSS-compliant service, Flutterwave ensures secure transactions and maintains the highest data protection standards. It operates in over 12 African countries and supports 15 African countries, offering versatility for businesses with a broad regional focus. Additionally, Flutterwave enhances its international reach by facilitating cross-border transactions in various African currencies, further simplifying the process for companies operating on a continental scale.

DPO Group
DPO Group offers a comprehensive suite of payment solutions tailored for the African market, supporting a diverse range of payment methods, including card payments, bank transfers, and mobile money. The platform supports transactions in 15 African countries, making it especially powerful for businesses requiring tailored payment services to enhance operational efficiency. As a PCI DSS Level 1 compliant entity, DPO Group guarantees high security for all transactions. Moreover, its extensive API documentation and robust support system facilitate seamless integration, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking to deploy quickly and efficiently across the continent.

Instasend
InstaSend provides a robust payments API designed for developers, supporting a variety of transaction types, including mobile, card, and bank payments. Operational only in Kenya, InstaSend is renowned for its flexibility in handling multiple payment methods and is particularly noted for its successful customer onboarding processes and operational effectiveness in the East African market. The platform is optimised for easy disbursement and collection of funds, featuring a user-friendly interface and quick setup. This makes it ideal for businesses in East Africa looking to streamline their payment processes. InstaSend’s focus on efficient operations and a seamless user experience ensures that it stands out as a reliable and effective payment solution in the region.

Ivory Pay
Ivory Pay operates as a cryptocurrency payment gateway, catering primarily to businesses across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. It empowers companies to accept payments in stable cryptocurrencies like USDT, which can be advantageous in regions experiencing significant currency fluctuations. The platform offers a variety of features aimed at facilitating seamless cross-border transactions, thus positioning businesses to engage customers globally without the hassles of foreign exchange restrictions or conventional banking limitations. Ivory Pay's API is well-documented, supporting developers in creating tailored crypto payment solutions that can range from small passion projects to large-scale financial products. This flexibility is enhanced by features that allow for one-time and recurring crypto payments, instant transfers, and comprehensive retrieval of transaction and customer data, promoting efficiency and scalability​.

Conclusion
Selecting the right payment API is essential for successfully expanding your business across Africa. Each API mentioned provides distinctive features and advantages tailored to meet various business requirements. Whether your focus is on extensive regional coverage, stringent security measures, or innovative payment options, there's an API that aligns perfectly with your business objectives.

For companies particularly keen on incorporating cryptocurrency and stablecoin transactions into their operations, the Yellow Card Payment API emerges as a standout choice. Its versatility and forward-thinking approach can significantly elevate your platform's functionality, simplify payment processes, and enhance the overall customer experience, positioning your business for success in the competitive African market.

Yellow Card, a leading pan-African Fintech company has announced an exciting new partnership with Chowdeck, one of Nigeria's foremost food delivery services. This collaboration, dubbed the "Chow Well with Yellow Card" campaign, aims to offer valuable food vouchers to Nigerian customers, making their lives easier and more enjoyable as the country goes through an economic transition.

The "Chow Well with Yellow Card'' campaign will reward 10 Yellow Card customers each week for 4 weeks with Chowdeck food vouchers worth 20,000 NGN. To qualify, customers must carry out a transaction worth at least 140,000 NGN for the week on the Yellow Card platform. This campaign demonstrates Yellow Card’s consideration of its customers, allowing them to not only perform transactions with ease but also ease the burden of satisfying the daily need of feeding.

Yellow Card is the largest and first licensed Stablecoin on/off-ramp on the African continent, and provides easy, secure, and cost-effective methods to buy and sell stablecoins and send money across borders. Chowdeck, on the other hand, is leading innovation in food delivery, making it a household name in Nigeria’s food delivery market.

Participating in the "Chow Well with Yellow Card" campaign is straightforward; customers need to transact at least 140,000 NGN weekly on the Yellow Card platform. Forty random customers who meet these criteria in the next 4 weeks, will receive a 20,000 NGN food voucher each, redeemable on the Chowdeck app.

By combining financial transactions with food rewards, Yellow Card is not only driving platform engagement but also providing meaningful support to its customers. This highlights the company's innovative approach to customer engagement and its dedication to improving the lives of its customers in Nigeria. For more information on Yellow Card and its innovative solutions, visit www.yellowcard.io

Pan-African cryptocurrency exchange and financial technology firm Yellow Card, through a $3,000 grant, has teamed up with the Web3Ladies mentorship program to empower over 500 Nigerian women with relevant tech and blockchain skills. This move by Yellow Card is part of its YC Social Good, the company's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, aimed at promoting financial freedom and enabling access to tech resources for everyone across the continent.

The Web3Ladies mentorship program is a three-month intensive boot camp designed to train skilled designers, engineers, and managers for the blockchain industry while providing them with the necessary tools and tech resources needed for post-training success. For Yellow Card, the decision to partner with Web3Ladies, a women-centric organization, was driven by the need to provide greater access to training and tech resources for the burgeoning young population of the continent, particularly females, who face significant barriers. An estimated 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030, and UNESCO estimates that only 30% of women receive STEM training, with even fewer girls possessing essential digital skills for the modern workforce in the region. Yellow Card, through its YC Social Good Initiative, intends to close this gap, equipping and preparing young African talents with the necessary skills required to shape the future of the continent.

"We are committed to helping people across the African continent improve their lives through various partnerships and programs that focus on financial inclusion, youth empowerment, education, and innovation," said Jason Marshall, Chief Operating Officer of Yellow Card. Jason further explained that women and girls face significant barriers to technology and digital literacy education, making it an easy decision to grant Web3Ladies the $3,000 for the mentorship program. "This is just one of our several efforts under the YC Social Good, our CSR initiatives, which promote inclusion and financial freedom across the continent," Jason added.

Despite Nigeria's strong entrepreneurial spirit, only 15% of tech startup co-founders in Nigeria are women. A study published by LongHash in 2018 shows that among 100 blockchain startups surveyed, female employees accounted for only 14.5% of the workforce. So, while the digital ecosystem is dynamic and exciting, gender inclusivity remains a growth inhibitor. Yellow Card, through this partnership, has gone beyond mere words and reiterations of the problem to contribute to the empowerment of more women, an investment they believe will yield overall positive results for the African economy in the near future.

Nkechi Enebeli, Associate Program Manager for Web3Ladies, while commenting on Yellow Card's $3,000 grant to power their mentorship program, said, "Yellow Card's commitment to corporate social responsibility is nothing short of remarkable. Their partnership reaffirms the belief that empowering women in tech is not just a matter of equality but an investment in the future". She further explained that “The partnership is more than just financial support; it's a testament to the power of collaboration. We are immensely grateful to Yellow Card for recognizing our mission and offering their hand in our journey towards a more equitable tech ecosystem”.

The Web3Ladies mentorship program runs in four different phases for a duration of three months. During the program, mentees attend live classes and weekly workshops under the guidance of on-site mentors. The workshops are in-depth sessions on specific blockchain topics delivered by industry experts and experienced professionals. There are over 500 registered mentees and an intake of over 200 accepted applicants in the current cohort. We are looking to provide work tools such as laptops, inverters, and MiFis to successfully graduated mentees after the cohort program.

Since its launch in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has contributed thousands of dollars to sponsor various projects and initiatives. This support extends beyond Nigeria and expands across the continent. Yellow Card has supported initiatives such as Generation Empower (GenEm) in support of their mission to educate and empower the youth in Tanzania, a $5,000 grant to the Purple Skills Klinic Foundation, which seeks to empower young people in Uganda, among other projects led by the company.

Despite the shared cultural and socioeconomic similarities among various African countries, their proximity, and coexistence, the continent is starkly divided by a fragmented payment infrastructure. This division has made it exceedingly difficult for small business owners and everyday individuals to smoothly exchange value and receive payments across the continent. For instance, a small business owner in the bustling city of Lagos encounters payment challenges when providing services to customers in the welcoming city of Accra. Similarly, people in the lively cities of Johannesburg face hurdles when trying to send payments to business partners, friends, and family in Kigali or Nairobi, all due to the disjointed payment system. Even when payment solutions are found, the associated fees often discourage repeated transactions.

Africa possesses immense potential for economic growth and development, but it grapples with significant obstacles in enabling trade and financial inclusion. The absence of efficient and cost-effective cross-border payment systems is constantly impeding the flow of goods, services, and capital throughout the continent. Each country operates with its distinct payment system and currency, leaving little room for integration with the broader African community. This situation gives the impression that African countries and their citizens are isolated in economic islands, stifling potential growth opportunities.

According to a McKinsey report, only 5 to 7 percent of all payment transactions in Africa are conducted electronically or digitally, in stark contrast to more than 50 percent in Turkey. This means that a significant portion of cross-border payments still relies on cash or informal channels, which are costly, slow, risky, and often inaccessible to many segments of the population.

However, the situation is rapidly evolving as Africa embraces innovation and technology to reshape its payment landscape. The same report notes that in 2020, Africa's e-payments industry generated approximately $24 billion in revenue, with around $15 billion stemming from domestic electronic payments. The domestic e-payments market is projected to grow by approximately 20 percent annually, reaching about $40 billion by 2025.

With this understanding, Yellow Card introduced a new product at the end of 2022, Yellow Pay, offering a seamless and secure means to send and receive money across African borders instantly using cryptocurrencies. Initially available in a few countries, by January it had gained traction and is currently accessible in 16 African countries, including Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Cameroon, and Kenya.

This product eliminates the complexities of currency conversion and hidden fees when making payments to loved ones in other African nations. With a few clicks, customers can smoothly convert their local currency into crypto and send it to recipients in a different country, who will instantly receive it converted into their local currency.

"This is more than just a money transfer service - it's a powerful tool that will unlock new opportunities for people across Africa," said Chris Maurice, CEO and co-founder of Yellow Card. "By enabling instant, low-cost transactions across borders, we are helping to create a more connected and dynamic Africa."

Yellow Pay leverages Yellow Card's crypto exchange platform to complete customer transactions using USDT on the blockchain. As mentioned in the McKinsey report, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are expected to have a significant impact on the outlook for e-payments in Africa, given their promising use cases and Africa's historical propensity to embrace innovation on a large scale and leapfrog into the future.

Peter Mureu, the Director of Marketing at Yellow Card, highlighted the product's unique value proposition, emphasizing its affordability and speed as game-changers. The product holds the promise of bridging the payment divide within Africa, enabling Emeka to easily connect with Kwame for service exchange and Mhambi to establish stronger business partnerships with Nadia through this seamless payment solution.

The significance and relevance of cross-border payments in Africa cannot be overstated. These payments facilitate international trade, stimulating economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and regional integration. They also play a pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion, enabling individuals and businesses to access financial services, save money, invest in opportunities, and enhance their livelihoods.

As Africa continues to innovate and adopt new technologies to enhance its payment systems, it is poised to become a global leader in e-payments and a model for other regions to emulate. The future of payments in Africa shines brightly with promise.

In a rapidly changing world, digital assets' perception, utilization, and importance in our day-to-day existence is undergoing profound changes. While cryptocurrencies continue to hold many unexplored possibilities, stablecoins stand out for their numerous advantages. The ability to send money effortlessly across borders, mitigating challenges associated with traditional payment methods such as delays and high fees, and being pegged 1:1 against the US dollar safeguarding individuals from currency fluctuations are only some notable benefits.

Cryptocurrency awareness remains a significant challenge across the African continent. In a proactive effort to address this gap, Yellow Card, a pioneering pan-African fintech company, and Circle, the issuer of USDC, a digital stablecoin, have united their efforts to champion financial inclusion. This collaboration has given rise to an engaging Financial Literacy Tour (FLT), aiming to raise awareness and provide educational opportunities on cryptocurrencies for individuals across the continent.

"Education is the cornerstone of unlocking the potential of digital assets and promoting financial inclusion across the continent. Through the Financial Literacy Tour, Yellow Card and Circle have taken a proactive and personalised approach to engage with communities, empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the world of digital assets,” said Chris Maurice, CEO and co-founder of Yellow Card.

The FLT events, held in Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya at the start of June 2023, have served as a platform for attendees to delve into the world of crypto adoption. Through interactive workshops, informative presentations, and engaging discussions, participants gained valuable insights on embracing new technologies, unlocking the potential of digital assets in their daily lives, and even exploring career opportunities within the crypto space. In addition, Yellow Card’s brand ambassadors, who champion crypto adoption in their communities, were on the ground to share their insights with the young professionals, students and entrepreneurs present. Attendees also received their first USDC at the event.

"Yellow Card and Circle share a common passion to actively drive digital financial literacy and realise a more tolerant, functional and equitable planet,” said Mercina Tillemann Perez, VP of Circle Impact. “Selecting Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya to begin the FLT events allows us to help educate, empower and build for a new financial future.”

Yellow Card and Circle are committed to financial education, striving to empower individuals by providing invaluable insights into the world of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
***
About Yellow Card:
Yellow Card is the largest cryptocurrency exchange on the African continent, operating across 16 countries. As a financial services company, Yellow Card offers a crypto exchange, facilitates easy cross-border payments powered by crypto, and provides an API suite for companies to seamlessly onboard and offboard individuals across the continent and beyond.
In 2022, Yellow Card announced a Series B fundraise of $40 million, bringing their total funds raised to over $50 million—the highest capital raised by any African cryptocurrency company to date.

About Circle
Circle is a global financial technology firm that enables businesses of all sizes to harness the power of digital currencies and public blockchains for payments, commerce and financial applications worldwide. Circle is the issuer of USDC and Euro Coin - highly liquid, interoperable, and trusted money protocols on the internet. Circle’s open and programmable platform and APIs make it easy for organisations to run their internet-scale business, whether it is making international payments, building globally-accessible Web3 apps or managing their internal treasury. Learn more at https://circle.com.

Leading Pan-African fintech , Yellow Card, has announced the winner of its "A Whole in your Wallet” global campaign. The lucky winner, Julian Oti, a young Nigerian, has been rewarded with one whole Bitcoin, currently valued at over $30,000. The campaign, which ran from February to April 2023, aimed to give Yellow Card users a soft landing following a rollercoaster in 2022 and a prolonged bear market in 2023. It also sought to empower Cryptocurrency enthusiasts and facilitate their journey to financial freedom through smart trading choices and money moves.

Commenting on his journey with cryptocurrency and emerging as the winner of the “A Whole in your Wallet Campaign”, Julian Oti said "I started trading cryptocurrency in 2016, but got on the Yellow Card App last year. I was attracted to the platform's trading rates and its user friendliness. Last month after getting a message from Yellow Card about the Whole in Your Wallet campaign, I decided to participate in the competition. I increased the frequency of my transactions on the platform and to my surprise I was announced the winner at the end of the campaign". On his plans for the 1 BTC, Julian explained that he will utilise part of the prize money to take care of personal needs, while he will re-invest the rest in trading digital assets.

The Yellow Card “A Whole in Your Wallet” Campaign was created to address the effect of the market landscape on everyday crypto users, especially in light of the global economic and crypto outlook for 2023. Experts have predicted "tougher times" and a prolonged bear market, and Yellow Card understands the need to give back to its users during these times.

The campaign encouraged users to carry out $10 worth of transactions daily on the exchange platform in order to stand a chance to win the grand prize of one whole Bitcoin at the end of the campaign, or $250 worth of cryptocurrency every week. The winner was selected via a transparent lucky draw format, witnessed and audited by an independent legal partner, Legalese, on April 4th, 2023.

Rachael Akalia, Yellow Card's Regional Marketing Manager for West Africa, described the campaign as "giving away a WHOLE bitcoin to fix the “HOLES” in the pocket of Crypto users after a turbulent 2022". She also noted that the campaign aimed to build a community of crypto enthusiasts and assist them in reaching their goal of gaining financial freedom. Yellow Card believes that by giving away one whole Bitcoin, they are not only inspiring hope but also fixing the "HOLES" in the pockets of their users.

Yellow Card is Africa's largest cryptocurrency exchange, offering traders a seamless and simple way to make smart money moves. The exchange enables users to trade Bitcoin and other coins at the best rates, promoting financial inclusion and education on the continent. After raising the largest Series A round for any African crypto company in 2021, the exchange secured $40M in Series B Funding Round in September 2022 - bringing the total raised to $57M. Yellow Card is co-founded and led by Chris Maurice (CEO) and Justin Poiroux (CTO).

With the audacious move to give away over $30,000 worth of crypto in a recovering market, Yellow Card has shown its commitment to its users. The global crypto market capitalization has crossed more than a $1 trillion market, supported by high and stable trading volumes. Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, has crossed $30,000 for the first time since June 2022. Despite the bearish predictions about the Crypto market, Yellow Card remains optimistic about the future and is committed to empowering its users with the tools and resources they need to succeed.

For more information about Yellow Card and its services, visit their website at www.yellowcard.io.
Or contact Rutendo Nyamuda, Public Relations Officer at rutendo@yellowcard.io

mywells:
How does it work,i want to send money to my brother in india

It's quite easy. You need to have a Flutterwave account first tho

GeneralPula:
I can see bank accounts?

You linked your bank account right?

Yes. You have to have a primary bank account linked.

This is good one. I just checked on my Flutterwave dashboard and enabled it. ���

[center]http://www.streethub.com.ng/2018/10/25/ways-nigerians-are-reacting-to-wizkids-fever-video/
Stew everywhere! That is the latest slang in town. Few days back Wizkid dropped the video to Fever, one of his new singles, the video featured Tiwa Savage. The video immediately went viral on social media and in 24 hours the video has already hit over 1 million views on YouTube. The video went viral not because it was so interesting and everybody loved it, or because Tiwa Savage was on it, but because of the X rated display between Wizkid and Tiwa Savage. It got Nigerians talking, so we decided to observe and categorize Nigerians depending on their reactions to the video.[left][/left]
The “It’s a Publicity Stunt” gang
These are the people forming PR Professionals, they believe the video was strictly a professional business relationship, it is normal and there is nothing wrong in it, it is pure art and a successful publicity stunt.
The “It’s a publicity stunt, but…” gang
Here comes the PR guys that are skeptical. They believe it is obviously a PR stunt but there is more to it than just a publicity stunt. They think Tiwa Savage and Wizkid may have intentions to date or may already be having an affair in the background, that is why they feel comfortable shooting such video.
The “I talk am!” gang
These are the guys that believe they cannot be fooled at all. This is not the first time Wizkid is getting involved with Tiwa. After all the noise that was made the first time, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage dismissed any rumour of them having an affair. But this set of people never believed there was nothing between them and they think this Video confirms their suspicion. In fact they believe that this video is the way Wizkid and Tiwa has decided to make their relationship public and official.
The “This is not right” gang
Now comes the morality checkers. This set believes it is wrong for a young man with 3 children from 3 different baby mamas and a married but separated mother of 1 to engage in such kind of explicit display. This category of people are not smiling and believes that video should be banned.
The “Teebillz right now” gang
Here are the guys that believe Teebillz (her separated husband and former manager) will be hurt over the video. Despite Teebillz proclaiming that Wizkid respects him too much to mess around with Tiwa, Wizzy still went ahead to be touching his separated wife anyhow to the pleasure of the whole world, and this category of people believes it will hurt Teebillz bad. There have been times we thought Teebillz and Tiwa will come back together, but that was before Wizkid entered the equation. Tiwa seems to have moved on.
The “which Video is it that?” Gang
Here comes the people that are trapped under some kind of rock. They do not really know what the noise is about, they haven’t seen the video so they do not know where to come in. This is the category of people you will see asking questions like; “please what is this Stew everywhere people are talking about?” or “What has Wizkid and Tiwa done again?”.
The “Who the Video help?” gang
These are the guys who have seen the video, but do not care to give an opinion, because it is of less importance to their life. This is the category where you find people who say things like “whatever Wizkid and Tiwa Savage want, let them do, it is none of my business and e no change price of Garri for market”
***
Note that the above categories are not mutually exclusive, one person can actually fit into different categories.
http://www.streethub.com.ng/2018/10/25/ways-nigerians-are-reacting-to-wizkids-fever-video/
[/center]

The National Association of Lokoja Local Government Students, has reacted to the attack on senator Dino's constituency project, below is the statement released and signed by Denja Hussein the General secretary for the NALLGS.

Attack on senator Dino's constituency projects Condemnable, irrational, barbaric and politics taken too far, NALLGS.

As condemnation continue to trail the vandalization of some school projects undertaken by Senator Dino Melaye for his constituents by unknown arsonists, National Association of lokoja local government students has described the act as most unfortunate, irrational and politics taken too far, we therefore called on security agents to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous and irresponsible act.

The NALLGS president, Comrade Bala Yusuf the entire executives and indeed the entire student's of lokoja local government sympathize with the management, Staff and students of Government Girls Secondary School , Sarki- Noma and that of lokongoma secondary School both in Lokoja, the State capital, whose School has suffered this despicable, callous, barbaric and unacceptable act. The Student's body condemn this act in it entirety.

The students body, therefore give the police and other relevant security agencies one week ultimatum to fish out and bring down those involved in this devilish act to book.

Failure to this notice, the students will have no choice other than to embark on peaceful protest, until the culprits are brought to book.

This is because the said vandalized projects were not personal project of the senator, but projects done with the resources of government to ease and be of high value to the students and the community in general as part of the constituency benefits.

Lastly, the National association of lokoja students wishes to appeal to the affected school students to remain calm and be focus, while we await to see that those involved are caught and prosecuted.

Comrade, Denja Hussein
NALLGS General Secretary.

The National Association of Lokoja Local Government Students, has reacted to the attack on senator Dino's constituency project, below is the statement released and signed by Denja Hussein the General secretary for the NALLGS.

Attack on senator Dino's constituency projects Condemnable, irrational, barbaric and politics taken too far, NALLGS.

As condemnation continue to trail the vandalization of some school projects undertaken by Senator Dino Melaye for his constituents by unknown arsonists, National Association of lokoja local government students has described the act as most unfortunate, irrational and politics taken too far, we therefore called on security agents to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous and irresponsible act.

The NALLGS president, Comrade Bala Yusuf the entire executives and indeed the entire student's of lokoja local government sympathize with the management, Staff and students of Government Girls Secondary School , Sarki- Noma and that of lokongoma secondary School both in Lokoja, the State capital, whose School has suffered this despicable, callous, barbaric and unacceptable act. The Student's body condemn this act in it entirety.

The students body, therefore give the police and other relevant security agencies one week ultimatum to fish out and bring down those involved in this devilish act to book.

Failure to this notice, the students will have no choice other than to embark on peaceful protest, until the culprits are brought to book.

This is because the said vandalized projects were not personal project of the senator, but projects done with the resources of government to ease and be of high value to the students and the community in general as part of the constituency benefits.

Lastly, the National association of lokoja students wishes to appeal to the affected school students to remain calm and be focus, while we await to see that those involved are caught and prosecuted.

Comrade, Denja Hussein
NALLGS General Secretary.

Codeine the new crack: why the ban on codeine syrups will create more problems - Nnamdi Nonso

The BBC produced an undercover documentary of the sinister codeine based syrup trade and its negative effect on young people in Northern Nigeria. This prompted the Nigerian government to place a ban on codeine based syrup in the country. The move by the government, seem like a good one, But then, just simply banning codeine based syrup in the country, is like curing the symptom, but not the problem it self. In fact banning the drug makes the situation worse and this is why; The demand for the drug is very high, it is reported that just in Northern Nigeria alone 3 million bottles of codeine based syrup are consumed daily. That is a market dealers cannot let go just like that - we are in capitalist economy, making money is the primary goal - therefore despite the drug being illegal, it will definitely still be secretly produced and smuggled around, just like weed, crack, cocaine and every other illegal substances. That will also make the drug scarce, and leave addicts more desperate to get it, which will automatically hike the price and make the drug unbelievably expensive. It is important to understand that a drug addict can not just stop taking drugs because it is not readily available or expensive, a void has been created by the drug and it has to be filled, therefore an addict will do anything to get supplied, including engaging in petty and major crimes like stealing, pickpocketing, bag snatching etcetera or even use funds meant for important things to get these drugs. So at the end, we have a new problem, "desperate drug addicts on rampage".
The only solution to the problem of drug abuse in our society, is understanding the root causes of these addictions and abuses and tackling them head on. The possible causes of drug abuse includes, peer influence, excessive medication and depression/frustration caused by personal experiences or by a bad social system like the one we face in Nigeria, so we need to device means to face this epidemic from the root causes rather than curing just the symptoms.
#BanningIsNotEnough #FixTheSystem

i wrote this morning too. it is not that hard, just statements and conclusions, so you will chose the conclusion that best explains the statement. there were also a few "simple" numerical tests. no much brain cracking.

Happening now 13th December 2017: just as promised, NYSC Corps members and ex Corps members in Kaduna state, came out to protest the non payment of their allowances which has been delayed for over 2 months, with the hope that the NYSC authority and Federal Government will come to their aid.

It is over 2 months since some serving corps members in Kaduna state last received their monthly allowance from the federal government, while some ex corps members have not been completely paid their allowances. This unfortunate situation has put these corps members in a tight situation, with most of them having no other source of income to survive on. Several complaints have been made to the NYSC authorities, and other means has been sought to solve the problem, but till today, there have been no positive response. As such serving corps members and ex corps members in Kaduna state have decided to go on a street protest tomorrow the 13th of December 2017, with a hope that this issue will be brought to the notice of the public and relevant authorities will swing into action to salvage the already precarious situation.
Below is the letter of complaint sent to the NYSC authorities and evidences showing the consent of the Police, National Human Rights commission, NSCDC and FRSC to the proposed protest.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

This is serious

watered:
When other schools are busy uploading names of PCMs Unijos is busy pasting Senate Approved List with error on Upload

Today?

gozzlin:


Chai, this guy na complete Olodo. Itiboribo! Happy birthday song is the only song you know? Like seriously!
Which cave did you emerge from?

The cave that enables you to play good football at Arsenal, and earn 50 thousand pounds a week at the age of 20.

Pls, mods. Help take this to the front page

Daniyemi:
So why does my friend own keep saying no record found?

Sorry, I graduated 2016. 2011 is my matriculation year. I among the. Guys that just graduated about 4 months ago. And maybe the slashing affected your friend

Please a bag belonging to Oduka Casmir Ojochenemi, designed tiger skinned, containing all his credentials, including his NYSC discharge certificate, a Camera Canon 70D and few of his clothes in it, fell off from a Marcopolo bus heading 2 Abuja from Aba, please anyone with useful information shld please contact this numbers 08039730953, 08036183476, 07038733313, 08137899993. pls share tnx...

Please a bag belonging to Oduka Casmir Ojochenemi, designed tiger skinned, containing all his credentials, including his NYSC discharge certificate, a Camera Canon 70D and few of his clothes in it, fell off from a Marcopolo bus heading 2 Abuja from Aba, please anyone with useful information shld please contact any of these numbers 08039730953, 08036183476, 07038733313, 08137899993. please share thanks.

Daniyemi:
What year did you graduate pls?

2011.

Daniyemi:
I am asking for a friend.

Are u serious about Unijos releasing the list?
I checked her name it is not in the list.

Yes, am a unijos Alumni, and I saw my name.

Unijos PCMs go and check for your name o, I saw mine. https://nysc.org.ng/nysc3/VerifySenateLists use this link.