Fintech for the informal economy: South Africa’s Pepkor is merging Flash with Shop2Shop to form FintechCo, targeting annual throughput above R200bn and a medium-term JSE listing; Pepkor will hold 57.1% after contributing Flash (valued at R10.6bn) and injecting R1.57bn cash into Shop2Shop. SME cost pressure: Fastway Couriers says it will use a fixed 5% fuel adjustment to shield small businesses from volatile monthly surcharges as fuel costs surge. Digital finance resilience: Nigeria’s digital banking growth is praised, but gaps remain in reliability, rural connectivity, cybersecurity and digital literacy. Cross-border payments push: Nigeria’s renewed focus on PAPSS aims to cut the friction of inter-country transfers that raises costs and slows SME trade. Youth agrifood innovation: GAIN and partners launch NourishNext West Africa 2026, a youth-led fruit and veg challenge across Benin, Nigeria, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, with mentorship and seed funding. Investment climate reform: Ghana’s new GIPA Act streamlines investment procedures and strengthens investor protection, with a mandate to support Ghanaian enterprises. Credit access expansion: Optasia, an AI-driven lender backed by a major South African bank, plans to expand into Ethiopia and Egypt. Energy and jobs financing: Nigeria targets $50bn in investment commitments to be converted into factories, jobs and enterprise growth. Mobility services growth: Yango wins “Most Reliable Ride-Hailing Service Provider” in Southern Africa, highlighting its expansion across multiple countries and added delivery services.