Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite (IMAGE CREDIT: space.com)
Yassas,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you:
- Nigeria to launch satellites to tackle insecurity
- Why content creation is leading in Africa
- Inside JAMB’s epic scoring glitch
Nigeria to launch satellites to tackle insecurity
Nigeria’s federal government has just approved the launch of four new satellites to boost surveillance and tackle the country’s rising insecurity. The decision, announced by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is a strategic move to support military operations, especially in hard-to-reach areas like the Sambisa Forest. The satellites — three Earth observation and one radar satellite — will offer around-the-clock imaging, even in bad weather.
This comes at a time when the military is raising concerns about terrorists in the northeast using armed drones similar to those seen in conflicts like Ukraine and Israel. The drones have been linked to increasingly sophisticated and deadly attacks, prompting security officials to push for better tech tools to stay ahead. The new satellites are expected to help in identifying hidden enemy positions, tracking movements, and cutting down the time it takes to respond to threats.
During the 22nd National Council on Innovation, Science and Technology held in Abuja, Nnaji emphasised that President Tinubu’s administration is focused on solving real problems through innovation. The satellite project reflects a push to reduce dependency on foreign data and ramp up local surveillance capabilities.
But there’s more to this than just satellites. The minister also called out the long-standing disconnect between research and real-world impact in Nigeria. For years, groundbreaking work from local universities has sat idle, with no connection to industry or government use. Nnaji wants to change that by pushing for a National Research and Innovation Fund to back projects with commercial potential.
He stressed that the country is brimming with bright, young innovators but lacks structured systems to turn their ideas into market-ready products. Mentorship, funding, and policy support are key areas that need urgent attention if Nigeria wants to compete globally in technology and innovation.
To wrap things up, the government’s move is about more than launching satellites; it’s about building a stronger, tech-savvy economy. From security to innovation policy, Nigeria is trying to shift gears and use science and technology not just as buzzwords, but as real tools for national development.
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Why content creation is leading in Africa
Think being a content creator is all glitz, filters, and viral dances? Think again. In Africa, content creation has grown into a full-blown industry, worth over $5 billion as of March 2025, with projections hitting nearly $30 billion by 2032. As Internet penetration deepens across the continent, creators are at the centre of Africa’s digital revolution, churning out content that’s fresh, relatable, and uniquely local.
What started as a side hustle for many is now a demanding full-time job. Influencer Hauwa puts it simply: “Content creation is a job like no other.” From sunrise to well past sunset, creators juggle filming, editing, writing captions, managing communities, and staying ahead of the algorithm game. And without a team behind them, most are learning SEO, photography, trend analysis, and marketing on the fly.
The pandemic gave content creation a major boost, turning platforms like TikTok and Instagram into career launchpads. But that wave didn’t come with a manual. Newcomers face steep challenges, from slow growth to burnout. TMCon’s latest report reveals that nearly half of African creators have been at it for less than three years, and most still have under 10,000 followers.
Consistency is key, but even that can feel like a moving target. As creator Mr Embarrazzment told Techpoint Africa, “At some point, what works just stops working.” Between algorithms constantly shifting and audience expectations evolving, creators must adapt or fall behind. And that takes more than a good ring light, it takes strategy, stamina, and serious storytelling chops.
Then there’s the often-overlooked part of the job: building community. That means replying to DMs, managing feedback (not all of it kind), and making every follower feel seen. It’s part content, part customer service, part brand management, and it never really stops.
So, how are African creators making money from all this hustle? Who are the big names leading the charge? And why is content creation leading in Africa? Dive into Delight’s full story to find out.
Inside JAMB’s epic scoring glitch
Imagine studying for months, writing your Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and then seeing a score so low it makes no sense, only to find out later that it wasn’t your fault at all. That’s exactly what happened to nearly 380,000 Nigerian students this year, after a shocking error from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The 2025 UTME results dropped on Friday, May 10, and chaos followed. Social media exploded with complaints, as students shared screenshots of surprisingly low scores. At first, people blamed TikTok addiction for the poor performance. But days later, it turned out JAMB’s own tech glitch was to blame.
A technical review uncovered the truth: JAMB had upgraded its exam system, but not all the servers got the memo. Specifically, servers in Lagos and the Southeast didn’t receive the critical updates needed to score students accurately. That meant thousands were scored incorrectly due to a mismatch between shuffled questions and answers.
The updates were actually supposed to be helpful, ensuring every student had a unique exam and fair scoring based on the exact version of the test they received. But without the new software installed across all servers, the system couldn’t grade those papers properly. Massive fail, literally.
JAMB has now admitted the error and apologised. The board says affected students will retake their exams starting Friday, May 16. While that’s a step forward, many are still asking how such a big blunder slipped through the cracks and why such critical updates skipped major regions.
Want to know why Lagos and the South East were left out of the update? And how the error really happened, including more answers to questions you might have? Bolu has the full lowdown in this must-read breakdown. Click here to dive in.
In case you missed it
- Airtel Africa to buy back $55M in shares after postponing IPO
What I’m watching
- The AI Revolution Is Underhyped | Eric Schmidt | TED
- Why Did It Take So Long to Understand Evolution By Natural Selection?
Opportunities
- Techpoint Africa is excited to be a media partner for World Product Day Lagos on May 21, 2025. Join us for workshops, hackathons, and fireside chats focused on bold African innovation. Apply here.
- Want to exhibit or attend the Lagos Startup Expo in June? Visit this website here.
- Moove is hiring Data and Operations Specialist, Nigeria. Apply here.
- Airtel is recruiting an Area Sales Manager in the North-East region. Apply here.
- Building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
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Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
