Payments & credit access (Nigeria): Tinubu backs FCCPC licensing of nine firms to break a 12-year Optasia airtime/data credit monopoly, aiming to revive a fintech market worth over ₦3tn and widen inclusion. Credit-led growth (Nigeria): Moniepoint CEO urges Nigeria’s payments system to “layer” credit on top of transaction flows so MSMEs can get financing faster. SME finance & infrastructure (Africa): Africa Finance Corporation raises a record $2bn syndicated loan to scale integrated infrastructure and industrial platforms. Power for households (Côte d’Ivoire): AfDB approves €103.14m for PROSER II to connect about 107,000 households and strengthen grid distribution. Trade & AfCFTA push (Namibia): President Nandi-Ndaitwah urges business leaders to use AfCFTA to expand beyond borders as intra-Africa trade stays low. Creative enterprise (South Africa): V&A Waterfront funds a circular maker space at Cape Town Cruise Terminal to help designers and craft entrepreneurs commercialise products. Diaspora home ownership (Tanzania): TCB and CPS Africa partner to let Tanzanians abroad access mortgage financing for Fumba Town in Zanzibar. Market access & jobs (Cameroon): CEPI roundtable calls for reforms so Cameroonian firms can better use AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. Local business ecosystems (Namibia): Business Summit Namibia in Windhoek lines up DJ Sbu and Legends Barbershops founder Sheldon Tatchell for entrepreneurship networking. Rent pressure (UAE): Abu Dhabi freezes rent increases at 0% until further notice, a move expected to ease costs for tenants and businesses.