🚀 TechCabal Daily: Standard Bank Sets Sights on Major Takeover!

Standard Bank Group’s Kenyan branch is currently negotiating to acquire NCBA Group, a prominent retail and digital bank in Kenya. Should this transaction be successful, it would establish the third-largest banking institution in the country, boasting assets close to $8.5 billion, based on recent financial disclosures.

Indicators of progress: Sources reveal that Stanbic has secured internal approvals, and the stock market is responding accordingly. NCBA Group, valued at over $970 million, has seen its shares surge by 74% over the past year, suggesting that investors may be anticipating the merger. While the deal is not yet finalized, both parties aim to complete it in the coming months.

Synergistic potential: Combining NCBA’s extensive consumer base with Standard Bank’s continental reach could forge a powerful hybrid institution. This alliance would enable financing for regional enterprises while maintaining dominance in mobile lending, leveraging NCBA’s expertise in digital retail banking.

Position in the market: Even after merging, the new entity would trail behind Kenya’s top two banks-Equity Group Holdings with $13 billion in assets and KCB Group with $15 billion. Nonetheless, this partnership would intensify competition and might gradually narrow the asset gap.

Broader perspective: This acquisition aligns with Standard Bank’s strategic objective to expand its presence in East Africa and capture a larger share of Kenya’s rapidly growing financial sector.

Yango Group, a UAE-based technology firm known for its ride-hailing, delivery, and super-app ventures, has injected capital into Zanifu, a Kenyan fintech specializing in working capital loans for SMEs. This undisclosed investment was made through Yango Ventures, the company’s $20 million venture capital arm, reflecting its ambition to deepen its footprint in Africa’s fintech and digital infrastructure sectors.

Closer look: Earlier in July, Yango invested in BuuPass, a Kenyan startup digitizing travel bookings, to broaden its mobility services. The Zanifu deal marks a further step into financial services, signaling Yango’s intent to integrate itself into everyday African commerce and mobility.

Significance: By weaving together travel, payments, and its own offerings, Yango is positioning Kenya as a testing ground for its layered service ecosystem. Additionally, Uber’s exit from Côte d’Ivoire in September 2025 opens up new opportunities for Yango in mobility and related sectors.

Outlook: Yango’s dual focus on small businesses and daily commuters could provide it with a competitive advantage across multiple industries.

The enthusiasm of global electric vehicle manufacturers for South Africa is palpable, sparking envy among those outside the country. This is a positive development for Africa, where skepticism about EV viability has often centered on inadequate infrastructure. Forward-thinking companies are prioritizing infrastructure development before expanding EV adoption.

Current developments: Chinese EV leader BYD announced plans to construct a 1-megawatt charging network in South Africa by 2026, the largest in the nation. These stations will enable multiple EVs to recharge up to 400 kilometers in just five minutes, according to executive vice president Stella Li. Construction will commence in Q2 2026, initially focusing on BYD dealerships before extending to highways and urban centers.

Strategic context: This initiative coincides with BYD’s launch of the Dolphin Surf compact EV in September and a partnership with Eskom, South Africa’s main electricity supplier, to promote electric mobility. The charging stations will utilize both grid and solar energy, facilitating expansion beyond metropolitan areas.

Importance: BYD’s investment could accelerate South Africa’s EV market transformation faster than government policies have. High import tariffs on EVs have kept prices elevated, but such infrastructure projects may prompt regulatory reconsiderations and increase competitive pressure on traditional automakers slow to electrify.

Long-term vision: BYD is betting that establishing charging infrastructure first will stimulate demand that current policies have yet to unlock. South Africa, Africa’s largest vehicle market, serves as a testing ground before BYD expands to Kenya, Nigeria, and other countries where it already operates.

The resilience of Nigeria’s small business sector is being tested. A recent Moniepoint report reveals that 38% of small and informal enterprises generate less than ₦10,000 (approximately $7) in daily profit. Even more concerning, 70% earn under ₦50,000 ($34) per day.

The 2025 Informal Economy Report, which analyzed data from five million businesses and conducted field surveys across Nigeria, found that many businesses remain in survival mode. Rising costs for fuel, transportation, and supplies have eroded profits, even for those with higher revenues. About 79% of respondents reported increased operational expenses over the past year, while only 47% experienced profit growth.

Gender disparities: Women entrepreneurs are disproportionately affected, with 41% of women-led businesses earning below ₦10,000 daily compared to 34% of men. Although the naira has stabilized recently, the lingering effects of currency depreciation continue to impact profitability.

Declining savings: The proportion of business owners saving money has dropped from 92% last year to 74% currently. Most savings are allocated for inventory or expansion, but borrowing has become more difficult due to high interest rates and stricter lending policies.

Small businesses contribute over 80% of employment and 48% of Nigeria’s GDP, yet many are being squeezed out of growth opportunities. Effective policy must move beyond fragmented efforts to provide coordinated support that enables scaling rather than mere survival.

Coin Name	Current Value	Day	Month
Bitcoin	$108,475	– 2.19%	– 7.29%
Ether	$3,903	– 2.32%	– 13.32%
Roam	$0.05182	– 12.91%	– 55.69%
Solana	$192.49	– 5.79%	– 18.62%

* Data accurate as of 06:45 AM WAT, October 20, 2025.

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