Tech

AFC to invest $40m in African Medical Centre of Excellence in Nigeria

Published

8 months ago

February 25, 2024

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has committed $40 million equity investment in the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria.

AFC, which is Africa’s top instrumental infrastructure solutions provider, signed the equity investment term sheet pledging the sum towards the construction of the AMCE hospital.

According to a statement by AFC President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, the agreement will see the visionary 500-bed medical health facility currently being developed by Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London (KCH), become one of the best health facilities in the continent.

Zubairu said the agreement which was signed at the inaugural AMCE African Health Forum in Abuja on Friday, will “strategically harness KCH’s unparalleled diagnostic, clinical, and capacity-building expertise and specialise in three core non-communicable diseases – oncology, cardiology, and haematology – with a commitment to world-class research, education, and development capabilities to establish itself as a leader in clinical services.”

“The AMCE initiative heralds a revolution in healthcare in West Africa. It aims to turn the tide of medical tourism away from the continent by building the first in a series of world-class medical centres of excellence in Africa, thus providing widespread access to critical health care in the region,” the AFC CEO said.

“Africa’s healthcare sector suffers a severe and alarming infrastructure gap and a shortage of qualified medical practitioners.

“We are therefore pleased to partner alongside Afreximbank and King’s College Hospital, London, on this epoch-making project that will transform healthcare in Africa and contribute to a reversal in medical tourism.

“Building a world-class facility that captures medical spend in Africa, promotes specialist skills development, retains and, most importantly, attracts healthcare practitioners in our local communities, aligns well with AFC’s import substitution strategy and we look forward to working with all partners to establish the AMCE as a beacon of medical excellence on the continent.”

Related Topics:AFC AMCE Featured Healthcare Investment

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Tech

Kenya’s auto-tech startup BuuPass expands system to new operators

Published

22 hours ago

October 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan auto-tech startup, BuuPass, has announced the expansion of its Bus Management System (BMS) to new operators in a bid to further enhance transparency and operational efficiency for bus companies in the country.

Founded in 2016 by the duo of Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass has grown from a B2B2C mobility marketplace to become a leader in digital ticketing and transportation management solutions that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

“What we are witnessing is nothing short of a digital renaissance in bus operations. Our Bus Management Service isn’t just a tool—it’s the future of this industry,” said Kabra, who doubles as the CEO of the company.

“So far, BuuPass has sold over 16 million travel tickets and generated over US$100 million in total value of goods sold, while it has also taken part in the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and been backed by the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund. It also acquired counterpart QuickPass earlier this year.

“The BuuPass BMS is designed to address the most pressing challenges faced by bus operators. At its core, the system enhances transparency and control by providing real-time visibility into all aspects of operations, from ticket sales to route performance.

“Among the newly enrolled operators are Abuya, Abandu, Shoreline, and Bin Ibrahim, serving crucial routes such as Nairobi-Garissa, Nairobi-Moyale, Nairobi-Busia, Mombasa-Busia, and Mombasa-Kitui.

“To ensure smooth integration, BuuPass provides these operators with scanning devices, computers, and digital printers, along with comprehensive training for their staff on system usage,” she said.

Tech

Tanzanian fintech Nala secures $40m funding to boost expansion

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Tanzanian payments platform, Nala, has announced securing $40 million in Series A funding from several global investment firms such as San Francisco-based VC firm, Acrew Capital, DST Global and Amplo, as well as other angel investors, which it says will be used for its global expansion and to strengthen its payment systems across Africa.

The startup which has its headquarters in Kenya, is a fintech that enables seamless money transfers from the UK, US, and the EU to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ghana.

Nala’s founder and CEO, Benjamin Fernandes, who announced the new funding in a statement, said it is coming on the heels of a $10 million seed round in 2022 and will further improve the reliability of its African payment systems by establishing its own payment infrastructure.

Fernandes highlighted how the new capital would fast-track the company’s global expansion efforts, focusing on its Nala Money App and its business-to-business (B2B) payment platform, Rafiki API.

“This funding allows us to go beyond remittances and scale beyond Africa, building a comprehensive payments ecosystem. We’re reinvesting to enhance our infrastructure, ensuring affordable, reliable payments for everyone,” Fernandes said.

“With our own payment rails and the growth of our B2B platform Rafiki, we’re not just talking about change – we’re building it. We have bold, ambitious plans, so stay tuned for the next couple of years.

“For the first time, we are profitable and cash flow positive. Our transaction volume has surged 34 times over the last 20 months,” he added.

He noted that the company has expanded from a seven-member team to nearly 100 employees, and is serving nearly 500,000 customers globally.