Nigeria's oil and gas sector, a cornerstone of its economy, faces challenges despite the launch of the new Dangote Refinery. The industry is under pressure to integrate information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems to boost efficiency and overcome past under-investment.

• Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of crude oil and holds substantial natural gas reserves.
• The sector contributes over 85% of export earnings and approximately 30% of budget revenue.
• The Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 aims to restructure regulations and attract investment for growth.
• Vertiv emphasizes the importance of IT-OT convergence and offers digital infrastructure solutions, including critical power and thermal management, to support the industry's digitalization.

Applications are now open for the SAIS Investment Readiness Programme 2026, a fully funded and equity-free program designed for African Agritech start-ups. The program, backed by GIZ, BMZ, and the Gates Foundation, aims to help innovative agri-focused companies scale their solutions.

• Successful applicants can receive up to €20,000 in technical assistance and low-interest loans of up to €50,000 at 1.5%.
• The program includes funded travel to events like the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi in February 2026 and 2027.
• The application deadline is September 28, 2025, with final selections announced by November 14, 2025.
• Eligible start-ups must be registered in an African country (excluding South Africa-only companies) and demonstrate existing traction in the agricultural sector.

M-PAYA Energy, a Kenyan prepaid electricity submetering company, has migrated its core business systems to Servercore’s cloud infrastructure in a strategic move to boost scalability and operational efficiency.

• The move enables M-PAYA Energy to achieve improved responsiveness, predictable costs, and enhanced control over their IT resources.
• According to Mwai Mworia, CEO of M-PAYA Energy, the ability to self-service and scale resources independently was a decisive factor.
• Servercore expressed that the transition allows M-PAYA’s team to concentrate on delivering real-time services without concerns about migration challenges or system downtime.