In a landmark development set to reshape Africa’s technology landscape, Zinox Technologies, the continent’s leading manufacturer of trusted technology solutions, and TD Africa, Africa’s largest technology and lifestyle distribution powerhouse, formalized a strategic partnership on Friday at an exclusive press conference attended by industry journalists, key stakeholders, and partners from both organizations.

The event, held to officially announce the collaboration and address stakeholder concerns, marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of indigenous African technology, signaling a new era of continental self-reliance and technological excellence.

The partnership brings together two industry titans whose complementary strengths promise to deliver unprecedented value to the African market. Zinox Technologies has established itself as Sub-Saharan Africa’s premier indigenous technology manufacturer, producing internationally certified devices that rival global brands while addressing Africa’s unique technological needs. TD Africa, with its extensive distribution network spanning 43 nations in the continent and expanding, has become the preferred gateway for leading global technology brands including HP, Microsoft, Dell, and Cisco.

This alliance represents more than a business transaction; it harmonizes Zinox’s precision-engineered hardware with TD’s formidable distribution infrastructure to bridge the digital divide, deliver rugged, energy-efficient innovation to the very heart of Africa’s schools, industries, and homes.

Speaking at the event, Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director of TD Africa, articulated the strategic rationale behind the partnership with evident conviction. “Today represents a moment where Africa meets Africa,” she declared, emphasizing Zinox’s distinction as an indigenous brand that truly understands and produces to meet the unique needs of the continent. Chimere highlighted Zinox’s comprehensive product range and their remarkable efficiency, noting that the company’s Made-for-Nigeria approach addresses challenges that foreign manufacturers often overlook. “We are proud to partner with a brand that doesn’t just import solutions but engineers them specifically for our reality,” she added, expressing gratitude to all stakeholders for participating in this historic collaboration.

The event’s opening address set the tone for what promises to be a transformative partnership. The gathering provided partners and the public with comprehensive insights into how this alliance will enhance market access, product availability, and technological solutions across the continent.

Chioma Nwoke, Executive Director, Human Resources Head at Zinox Technologies, offered a compelling vision of the partnership’s broader implications for African technological sovereignty. She articulated Zinox’s founding vision, to create dependable standards of technology, and traced the company’s evolution from its inception to its current position as a leader in indigenous manufacturing. “This partnership sends a powerful signal to the market that African technology can compete, innovate, and lead,” Nwoke emphasized. She stressed that this collaboration transcends mere commercial transactions, encompassing digital education, enterprise development, and nation-building through technology. “Zinox will continue manufacturing global-standard products, and Africa will be sustained by partnerships like this that demonstrate our capability and commitment to technological independence,” she affirmed.

Moses Edoh, Head of Research and Development at Zinox Technologies, provided technical insights into the company’s diverse product portfolio and the philosophy driving their design approach. He explained how Zinox, iTEC, and iPower brands compete successfully with foreign manufacturers by creating products tailored to specific customer needs. “We were the first to produce and introduce hybrid inverters in Nigeria,” Edoh noted, “and every product in our lineup is designed to address the unique challenges Nigerians face daily.”

The Zinox product ecosystem showcases remarkable breadth and innovation. Their technology lineup features cutting-edge All-in-One Smart Boards, PCs with various specifications, tablets, desktops, monitors, and Point-of-Sale systems. The iPower renewable energy division offers an impressive array of solutions including the Megaforce 125W, GridPro 50KW, Bijimi 30KW, Premium 11KW, Infiniti, Plus, iPower X, iPower Ascend All-in-One, Ascend, Matrix All-in-One, 3KG MPPT Solar Charge Controller, 665 Watts Bifacial Topcon Panel, various monocrystalline panels ranging from 320-550 Watts, multiple battery technologies including lithium, tubular, and gel, solar street lights, and portable power banks. The iTEC brand delivers power generating sets with 100% copper winding, while their consumer electronics range includes AI QLED Smart TVs from 33 to 95 inches, microwave ovens, and rechargeable fans.

Testimonials from existing partners underscored the quality and durability of Zinox products. Engineer Anthony Anigbogu, Chief Executive Officer of Orbit Business, shared his remarkable experience with an iPower hybrid inverter that served him faithfully for twelve years, only requiring replacement when he needed higher capacity. Such testimonials validate Zinox’s commitment to manufacturing products built for longevity. Partners called for increased awareness campaigns, noting that many Nigerians continue relying on foreign brands despite having access to Nigerian-made solutions tailored to their unique needs. They pledged to actively promote these indigenous products within their networks.

With TD Africa’s expansive distribution network now channeling Zinox’s comprehensive product range, customers across the continent gain expanded access to world-class, Africa-optimized technology solutions. Partners of both organizations stand to benefit enormously from this synergy, gaining access to innovative offerings including JOI, or Just Own It, for individual consumers, TaaS, or Technology as a Service, for corporate clients, and PaS, or Product as a Service, among other solutions designed to make technology more accessible and affordable.

For organizations and individuals interested in exploring partnership opportunities or learning more about these innovative solutions, comprehensive information is available on their website. This partnership represents not just a business alliance but a declaration of African technological capability, a testament that the continent can manufacture, distribute, and sustain world-class technology solutions designed by Africans, for Africans.

Europe has taken a significant step toward financial independence by accelerating plans to establish its own digital payment infrastructure, reducing reliance on American companies such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and China’s Alipay.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, recently warned that nearly all European card and mobile payment transactions currently pass through non-European infrastructure. Speaking to Irish radio, she stressed the urgent need for a sovereign European alternative, citing concerns over data control, strategic autonomy, and economic security.

In a major development, the European Payments Initiative (EPI) and the EuroPA Alliance signed an agreement on February 2 to build an interoperable, pan-European payment network. The collaboration aims to connect approximately 130 million users across 13 countries.

At the heart of the initiative is Wero, a digital wallet designed to enable cross-border payments and money transfers entirely within European infrastructure without routing transactions through American-controlled networks.

If successful, the move could reshape the global payments landscape, challenge the dominance of the U.S. financial technology firms, and redefine digital financial sovereignty within Europe.

Analysts say the initiative could potentially impact transaction flows estimated at $24 trillion annually, marking one of the most ambitious financial independence projects in the continent’s modern history.

MTN Group has reached an agreement to acquire IHS Towers in an all-cash transaction valuing the firm at approximately $6.2 billion, marking one of the largest telecom infrastructure deals involving an African operator.

The agreement follows weeks of negotiations between the companies that had been publicly reported earlier this month. Under the merger terms, IHS shareholders will receive $8.50 per ordinary share in cash, representing a 36% premium to its 52-week volume-weighted average price and about a 3% premium to its unaffected closing price of $8.23 on February 4, 2026.

Executive reactions

Chairman and CEO of IHS Towers, Sam Darwish, described the deal as a compelling opportunity for investors to realize value built over the company’s 25-year history.

He said the announcement provides certainty and immediate returns for shareholders and deepens the long-standing partnership between both firms, combining Africa’s largest mobile network operator with one of its biggest digital infrastructure platforms.

MTN’s Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, said the acquisition would strengthen MTN’s strategic and financial position as digital infrastructure becomes increasingly central to economic development across the continent.

According to him, the transaction offers MTN a unique chance to buy back its towers and strengthen its role as a development partner to countries where it operates, while maintaining high service standards for IHS customers.

Board and shareholder backing

IHS Towers’ board has unanimously approved the deal and recommended it to shareholders. MTN, which already owns roughly 24% of IHS on a fully diluted basis, has committed to vote its shares in favour of the transaction.

Long-term investor Wendel has also pledged support, bringing total committed backing to more than 40% of shareholders.

The cash consideration offers investors a defined exit following a strategic review launched amid geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility in key markets.

Background to the transaction

Earlier in the month, MTN confirmed in a cautionary notice that it was evaluating a potential buyout of minority shareholders of the New York Stock Exchange-listed IHS after market speculation.

The company warned that any deal could materially affect its share price and urged investors to exercise caution when trading its stock pending further announcements.

Financing structure and conditions

The transaction is expected to close in 2026, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

Funding will come from a combination of:

MTN’s existing stake rollover

About $1.1 billion in cash from MTN

Roughly $1.1 billion from IHS’s balance sheet

Rollover of existing IHS debt

IHS must also maintain a minimum cash balance of $355 million at closing. Completion partly depends on IHS successfully divesting its Latin American tower business and fibre operations, both announced in February 2026.

Financial advisory for IHS is being handled by J.P. Morgan, while legal counsel includes Latham & Watkins LLP and Walkers (Cayman) LLP.

On MTN’s side, advisers include BofA Securities and Citigroup Global Markets Limited, with legal advice from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

Company profile

Founded in 2001 with an initial focus on Nigeria, IHS Towers has grown into one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of shared telecom infrastructure.

Headquartered in London and listed in New York since its 2021 IPO, the company manages more than 37,000 towers across seven African markets including South Africa, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia as well as Latin American operations in Brazil and Colombia. MTN remains its largest customer.