Hujambo,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Meta begins monetising WhatsApp users directly
- Flutterwave pushes back on $75M Nigeria deal reports
- Terra builds Africa’s largest drone factory in Ghana
Meta begins monetising WhatsApp users directly
WhatsApp just did something it has avoided for years. The platform is testing a paid tier. On April 20, 2026, a new subscription called WhatsApp Plus started rolling out to a small group of Android beta users, offering extra features like custom themes, more pinned chats, and chat organisation tools for a monthly fee. The core app isn’t changing: messaging, calls, and encryption all stay free.
What this really is, at least for now, is a cosmetic upsell. WhatsApp Plus doesn’t unlock new ways to message people; it just makes the experience more personalised. But the bigger signal is that Meta Platforms is now leaning fully into subscriptions across its apps, after already testing similar models on Instagram and Facebook.
That shift matters more in Africa than almost anywhere else. In countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, WhatsApp isn’t just a messaging app; it’s how people run businesses, talk to family, and stay connected cheaply. The subscription itself is optional and relatively affordable, but it raises a bigger question: what parts of the experience might eventually move behind a paywall?
This isn’t entirely new territory. WhatsApp actually charged a small annual fee years ago before dropping it after its acquisition by Facebook (now Meta). And across the industry, platforms like Snapchat+ and Telegram Premium have shown that users will pay for extras, even if the main product stays free.
Zoom out, and this is part of a larger play. Meta still makes most of its money from ads, but it’s been trying to diversify, with messaging now central to that plan. Between subscriptions, ads in Status, and business tools, WhatsApp is slowly becoming a layered product: free at the base, but increasingly monetised at the edges. For Africa, where the app functions almost like infrastructure, that evolution is worth watching closely.
Flutterwave pushes back on $75M Nigeria deal reports
Yesterday, Flutterwave shut down a story about itself. Reports had claimed that the Nigerian government, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approved a $75 million investment in the company ahead of a planned IPO. But Flutterwave quickly pushed back, saying the figures were wrong and, more importantly, that it isn’t anywhere near going public.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
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That denial matters because this isn’t coming out of nowhere. For months, there’s been a visible back-and-forth between Flutterwave and government stakeholders, especially through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI). Meetings had already happened, signals had been sent, and by late 2025, reports of a possible government-backed IPO were already circulating.
So now the question isn’t just “Is the deal real?”; it’s “What exactly happened here?” Either the talks fell apart quietly, the information got ahead of where things actually are, or someone jumped the gun publicly. None of those scenarios is particularly clean, especially when a presidential aide was involved in sharing, and then deleting, the claim.
Zoom out, and the bigger story is what this could have meant. A government-backed investment in a fintech IPO would be a big moment for Nigeria’s capital markets. It could have pulled in retail investors, given the local stock exchange a much-needed tech listing, and created a rare high-profile exit moment; something the ecosystem hasn’t really seen since Paystack’s acquisition by Stripe.
Still, the direction of travel hasn’t really changed. Since its founding in 2016, Flutterwave has gone through regulatory issues, expansion, and cleanup and more recently picked up a banking licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Add its acquisitions, growing transaction volume, and tighter regulatory alignment, and it still looks like a company heading toward an IPO, just not one ready to confirm the details yet.
Terra builds Africa’s largest drone factory in Ghana
Terra Industries, a Nigerian defence tech startup, says it’s about to open what could become Africa’s largest drone manufacturing facility, a 34,000-square-foot plant in Accra, Ghana. The new factory, called Pax-2, is in its final construction phase and is expected to go live by June 2026.
What this really signals is scale. Terra isn’t just building drones anymore; it’s trying to industrialise production across the continent. By 2028, the company says Pax-2 could produce up to 50,000 units annually and create around 120 engineering jobs, making it a serious bet on Africa-based manufacturing rather than imports.
The timing isn’t random. Across parts of the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, security threats are evolving, with non-state actors increasingly using modified drones. Terra is positioning itself for that shift, building systems that combine surveillance and interception, including newer high-speed defensive drones designed for counter-drone operations.
The expansion also follows fresh capital. Terra recently raised $34 million across two rounds, with backing from firms linked to Joe Lonsdale’s network and Lux Capital. It has also signed a joint venture with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, pointing to closer alignment with government-backed defence manufacturing.
For co-founder and CEO Nathan Nwachuku, the bigger idea is “Pax Africana,” a future where Africa builds and controls its own defence systems. Whether that vision holds will depend on execution, regulation, and geopolitics, but with a Ghana base now in play, Terra is making a clearer case that the continent’s defence tech future could be built locally
In case you missed it
What I’m watching
Opportunities
- Qore is hiring for several roles, including Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Lead Product Manager, Full Stack Software Engineer (.NET framework & React), and Software Engineer (.NET framework), in Nigeria and Ethiopia. Apply here.
- Rayda is recruiting People & Culture Manager, Legal & Compliance Officer, and Technical Product Manager. Apply here.
- Source Bank is looking for a Product Analyst. Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles in Nigeria, the UK, and the US. Apply here.
- LemFi is looking for a Head of Financial Crime Operations in the UK. Apply here.
- Cognition is hiring a Developer Community Manager. Apply here.
- Chess dot com is looking to hire a Product Designer. Apply here.
- Bujeti is currently expanding operations and hiring across several roles. Apply here.
- Prenetics is hiring a remote Email Marketing Specialist. Apply here.
- InterviewReady is looking for a Software Developer, a Product Associate, and a Marketing Associate. Apply here.
- Flutterwave is recruiting for several roles. Apply here.
- Briter is hiring a Commercial Director, a Senior Research Associate, and an Insights and Market Intelligence Associate. Apply here.
- Opay is currently recruiting for these roles: Partnership Manager (Fintech Experience), Junior Accountant, Junior Product Manager (Research), and IT Manager.
- Oyster is looking to hire a Risk Analyst. Apply here.
- Circle is looking to hire a Lead Product Designer (Remote). Apply here.
- SafetyWing (YC W18) is hiring a Product Manager Intern (fully remote). Apply here.
- Paystack is hiring a Performance Marketing Specialist. Apply here.
- VOYA (visa travel tech startup) is hiring an Operations and Admin Director (fully remote). Apply here.
- MTN MoMo TechSpark Graduate Programme is open. Apply here.
- MAX is looking for interns. Apply here.
- McKinsey is hiring for several roles, including Junior and Senior roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is hiring a Business Development Partner. Apply here.
- Zenith Bank is recruiting a Junior Software Tester Quality Control. Apply here.
- UNICEF Abuja is looking for a National Consultant (Immunization Programme Monitoring and Evaluation). Apply here.
- Standard Chartered Bank is hiring an Executive Research Partner. Apply here.
- e-Tranzact is looking to hire a product marketing officer. Apply here.
- Bumpa is hiring for several roles, including Bumpa Expert Lead (Account Management) – Customer Success; Product Designer; and Mid-level Motion/Graphic Designer, Mid-level Full-stack Engineer (Commerce), and Senior Fullstack Engineer (Commerce). Apply here.
- ABDS 2026 will take place April 29–30, 2026, in Lagos, gathering founders, investors, developers, and policymakers shaping Africa’s blockchain and Web3 ecosystem. The summit focuses on industry insights, partnerships, and investment opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto markets. Secure your pass or sponsorship here.
- Paga is hiring a Sales Manager. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring senior sales executives. Apply here.
- Paga is looking for sales executives. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting Senior Key Account Managers. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring Account Managers. Apply here.
- As one of Techpoint Africa’s most engaged readers, you have a direct hand in shaping what we publish next. Take our quick, 3-minute survey to tell us the stories and features you value most. Your responses are anonymous, and your feedback will help guide our editorial focus in the months ahead. Fill the survey here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here.
- Building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect? You can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link.
- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
