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World Bank suspends Nigerian tech company, Softech IT Solutions, MD, for corrupt practice

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The World Bank has suspended a Nigerian information technology solution company, SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd., and its Managing Director, Isah Kantigi, for alleged corrupt practices.

While the tech company was sanctioned for 50 months, its MD was sanctioned for 60 months.

In a statement published on the bank’s website on Wednesday announcing the debarring of the tech company and its MD, titled “World Bank Group debars SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd. and its managing director,” the bank disclosed that the firm and its MD were being sanctioned for improper payments made to certain officials of the National Social Safety Nets Project, which the bank saw as bribery.

“The World Bank Group today announced the 50-month debarment of SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd., an information technology solutions company based in Nigeria, and the 60-month debarment of its managing director, in connection with corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

Part of the sanctions also stipulates that for the period the suspension will last, neither the company nor Katingi will be able to engage in any project funded by the World Bank.

“SoftTech and Mr. Isah Salihu Kantigi, are now ineligible to engage in World Bank Group-funded projects and operations,” the statement added.

The IT firm which specializes in Big Data and Cloud Solutions, Geographic Information Systems and Mapping, Information Retrieval and Search Engines, according to the bank, had breached the “Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions,” which was signed on April 9, 2010, and as a result, both “are eligible for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks (MDBs).”

It added that Kantigi also worked out a deal with other individual consultants, allowing them to make similar payments to project officials, an act the Bank frowns at and sees as
a corrupt practice.

“This constitutes a corrupt practice under the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines. The settlement agreements provide for reduced periods of debarment in light of Mr. Kantigi’s and SoftTech’s cooperation and acknowledgement of the misconduct.

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Egyptian AI-powered ed-tech startup Sprints raises $3m to scale up platform

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Egyptian AI-powered ed-tech startup, Sprints, has announced raising $3 million bridge round of funding to help it scale up its platform with the aim of “redefining education for the future”.

Co-founder and CEO of Sprints, Ayman Bazaraa, who made the announcement on Thursday, said the platform which is on a “mission to educate one billion learners in 10 years” raised the $3 million bridge round of funding led by Disruptech Ventures with investments from EdVentures and CFYE, among others.

“Our team is the beating heart of this success. We’re a proud force of passionate trailblazers, consisting of over 100 employees and 300 trainers from 12 countries, united by a single mission, to revolutionise education through AI,” said Bazaraa

“This investment is a resounding validation of the team’s tireless efforts and unwavering dedication.

“Today, I stand proud of what we’ve collectively accomplished, and brimming with anticipation for the future we will pave together,” Bazaraa added.

Founded in 2020 by Bazaraa and Bassam Sharkawy, Sprints is the first end-to-end platform in the MENA region to bridge the tech talent gap, spanning talent assessment, customised learning journeys, and top-paying job guarantee.

The startup delivers world-class, agile-based learning journeys that empower organisations to build top-notch tech teams in all tracks, including AI, data science, mobile, web, IoT, cloud computing and cybersecurity, according to a citation on its website.

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Radisson Group targets 25 hotels in Morocco by 2030

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The Radisson Hotel Group says it has set a goal of setting up 25 hotels in Morocco, which will expand its current portfolio of 11 hotels in operation to 36 by 2030.

Erwan Garnier, Senior Director, Development, Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, who disclosed this in a statement, saidMorocco continues to be a crucial market for the group’s development, while also accelerating its expansion in the country which is part of its vision of redefining the group’s expansion strategy for the country.

“I am delighted to lead our expansion efforts in Morocco and take them to new heights. Leveraging our success in the country thus far, our expansion strategy will concentrate on targeting the major cities in Morocco,” Garnier said.

“Our focus will be on strengthening our presence in Casablanca and Marrakech, where we currently operate the conveniently located Radisson Blu Hotel, Casablanca City Center and the highly acclaimed Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech Carré Eden.

“Additionally, we plan to establish our presence in the key cities of Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, and Fez.

“In light of Radisson Hotel Group’s strategic 5-year plan and the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Morocco, we have identified significant potential within these cities to establish a diverse portfolio consisting of ideally located business hotels, efficient serviced apartments, premium mixed-use projects, and expanding our portfolio of exceptional resorts.

“The introduction of the Radisson brand with the imminent opening of the Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle in the vibrant Gauthier district of Casablanca, marks a notable development.

“This new establishment will be the flagship of the Radisson brand in Morocco, marking the entry of a new brand for the group in the country and underlining our commitment to quality and diversified expansion,” he added.

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