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Moniepoint Secures $110 Million Funding Round Led by Google, Becomes Nigeria’s Latest Unicorn

Moniepoint, a Nigerian fintech company, has announced a successful $110 million funding round to scale its digital payment and banking services across Africa. Among the investors in this round are notable new supporters like Google’s Africa Investment Fund, as well as existing investors Development Partners International and Lightrock, a private equity firm. This investment reportedly places Moniepoint’s valuation above the $1 billion mark, officially granting it “unicorn” status, a prestigious milestone in the tech sector.

Founded in 2015, Moniepoint initially focused on building payment infrastructure for banks and financial institutions. However, it has since expanded its offerings to include personal banking services, which it introduced last year. Today, the company processes over 800 million transactions each month, with a transaction value exceeding $17 billion.

The latest funding will enable Moniepoint to further its footprint across Africa, where digital banking and payment services remain essential for economic growth and financial inclusion. With plans to develop a comprehensive platform for businesses, Moniepoint aims to offer solutions spanning digital payments, banking, foreign exchange, credit, and business management tools. 

Nigeria, Africa’s largest fintech market with over 200 million people, represents a promising landscape for financial innovation. By expanding its services, Moniepoint hopes to bridge the gap for millions who still lack access to traditional banking, positioning itself as a major player in Africa’s digital finance ecosystem.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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