Williams Fatayo, co-founder and CEO of Nigerian logistics startup truQ, has resigned following a serious internal crisis at the company. Williams announced his resignation on X (formerly Twitter), citing deep internal conflicts involving financial transparency, leadership struggles, and administrative breakdowns. He co-founded truQ in 2020 with Foluso Ojo to improve mid-mile logistics across Africa. The startup gained recognition in 2023 after winning the TC Startup Battlefield competition with a ₦2.5 million prize. According to Williams, tensions rose when he confronted Foluso about debts nearing ₦100 million. He proposed changing her role or bringing in a logistics expert to strengthen the business. However, he alleges Foluso responded with sabotage, including shutting down his work email and calling a questionable shareholder meeting to remove him as CEO. Legal frameworks in the US and Nigeria protected his position, as Foluso’s vote alone was insufficient for his removal. Efforts to resolve the conflict through mediation failed, prompting Williams to choose resignation over prolonged litigation. He said walking away was necessary to protect the company and their relationship. Williams will remain involved as an advisory board member and investor, while Foluso will resume as CEO. Since launching in 2022, truQ has powered thousands of logistics operators and facilitated millions in transactions, making it a promising player in Nigeria’s tech-driven logistics sector.
Air Peace plane skids off runway at Port Harcourt Airport, all passengers safe
An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt slightly veered off the runway after landing at Port Harcourt International Airport on Sunday, July 13, 2025. The airline confirmed the incident in a statement by spokesperson Osifo-Whiskey Efe. Flight P47190 experienced a minor runway excursion but came to a complete stop without any damage to the aircraft. All passengers disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported. Air Peace said safety procedures were promptly followed by the crew, ensuring a calm and safe evacuation. The exact cause of the runway excursion is still under investigation by aviation authorities. This incident adds to recent minor safety events involving Nigerian airlines. Recall on June 30th, Daily Tech Nigeria reported that a similar incident occurred with the Rano Air’s plane with registration 5N-BZY, which experienced a malfunction on its number 1 engine. Smoke was detected in both the cabin and flight deck, prompting the crew to activate emergency protocols and to use oxygen masks. These events have led to increased attention on airline safety and emergency response protocols in Nigeria. Air Peace continues to assure the public of its commitment to safety as regulators conduct their review. The aviation sector and passengers await the findings to prevent future occurrences.
Pump.fun raises $600 million in 12 minutes, fueling Memecoin comeback
The blockchain platform Pump.fun sold $600 million worth of its memecoin tokens in just 12 minutes, signaling a fresh surge in interest for meme-inspired cryptocurrencies. Over the weekend, Pump.fun completed one of the fastest and largest crypto token sales ever, raising $600 million during its public offering on Saturday. The tokens, built on the Solana blockchain, were sold at $0.004 each, with 150 billion tokens offered to the public. This follows a private sale of 180 billion tokens to select investors at the same price, bringing total funds raised to $1.32 billion, according to co-founder Alon Cohen. The sale excluded investors from the US and UK due to regulatory reasons. The rapid success of Pump.fun’s token sale reflects a renewed excitement in memecoins, cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes and pop culture. This trend has attracted both retail and institutional investors chasing quick profits, with some high-profile figures, including former US President Donald Trump, launching their own memecoins. Pump.fun, launched in 2024, allows users to create their own speculative tokens easily. The platform has generated nearly $800 million in revenue since its debut. This event also marks a comeback for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), a fundraising method that had declined after 2018 but is now seeing renewed interest amid looser market conditions and a hunger for high-risk investments. Zaheer Ebtikar, founder of crypto investment firm Split Capital, noted how quickly market sentiment shifts in this space, saying, “You go from max fear to max FOMO very quickly.” The new tokens are expected to start trading within 48 to 72 hours after the sale ended, boosting activity on the Solana network and confirming that memecoins remain a hot sector in crypto.
PocketLawyers raises the bar for legal tech in Africa with Nubia Capital investment
PocketLawyers, a Nigerian legal-tech startup, has secured major backing from Nubia Capital to expand its digital platform for lawyers across Africa. Ngozi Nwabueze, founder and CEO of PocketLawyers, never planned to be a tech entrepreneur. After launching her virtual law firm in 2020 due to COVID-19, she quickly saw a bigger opportunity: help lawyers run their practices online, without the high costs of traditional offices. PocketLawyers now offers an all-in-one platform where solo lawyers and small firms can build no-code websites, generate legal documents using AI, manage client consultations, payments, and invoicingand also create transparent profiles with services, prices, and client reviews Described as “Shopify for lawyers,” the platform aims to make legal services more accessible and efficient, especially in places where many lawyers have little or no digital presence. In 2024, PocketLawyers switched from a service-based model to a full SaaS (Software as a Service) platform. This move is already paying off, with over 250 lawyers signed up in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. A standout feature, PocketAI, helps lawyers with research and document drafting, saving time and boosting service quality. Nubia Capital’s new investment will help PocketLawyers secure intellectual property, form partnerships with legal associations across Africa, and grow its product team. The exact funding amount remains undisclosed, but industry insiders say it’s a strong vote of confidence in African legal tech. Davidson Oturu, general partner at Nubia Capital, said, “PocketLawyers is reimagining how Africa’s founders access the tools to build compliant, scalable, and investor-ready businesses.” The startup is part of the FirstFounders venture studio, which supports African tech startups from idea to investment. David Lanre Messan, CEO of FirstFounders, called the deal “a win for the venture studio model and a big step for PocketLawyers.” PocketLawyers is also onboarding 1,000 new lawyers, known locally as “new wigs,” as part of a grassroots push to grow its user base. “African lawyers often have zero digital footprint,” Nwabueze told Technext. “PocketLawyers gives them that presence, along with tools for communication, productivity, and even payments. Our goal is to let lawyers practice independently, efficiently, and at scale.” On the investment, she added, “This shows they believe in the product and its impact on the entire ecosystem, not just for lawyers, but also for businesses looking to expand across borders. We are building for AfCFTA and beyond.” PocketLawyers plan to reach at least 10 African countries by the end of 2025, starting with Anglophone regions and then expanding into Francophone markets. The team’s long-term goal is to become the go-to legal infrastructure for Africa and emerging markets worldwide.
Peller wants master’s degree for cameraman job – Nigerians not happy
Nigerian TikTok star Peller has caused quite a stir after saying that anyone who wants to be his cameraman must have a Master’s degree. This was surprising because Peller himself has said before that he struggled with school. During one of his livestreams, he announced that the cameraman job pays ₦500,000 a month but only people with a Master’s degree should apply. Many Nigerians quickly reacted online, saying this demand doesn’t make sense. They argued that for a job like camerawork, skills and experience matter more than fancy certificates. Lots of people pointed out how hard it is for many young Nigerians to even get a university degree, let alone a Master’s. So asking for such a high qualification for this kind of job felt out of touch with what most people go through. One Twitter user wrote, “How can you expect a Master’s for a cameraman when so many graduates are still looking for jobs? Skills should be what counts.” Another said, “Peller’s demand shows he doesn’t really understand the struggles Nigerian youths face.” This whole thing has started a bigger conversation about what qualifications really matter in today’s job market and how employers can help create more chances for young people.
Mastercard drops Afrobeat Anthem to win over young Nigerians
Mastercard has launched a new Afrobeat Sonic Anthem called “Wami” to connect with Nigeria’s youth and boost its brand presence in the country. The company worked with top Nigerian music talents, LeriQ and Mayorkun, to create the track. Their goal is to tap into the energy and creativity of young, digitally savvy Nigerians, using music as a bridge. Mastercard says this move is part of a bigger plan to evolve from just a payments company into a lifestyle brand that feels more local and relatable. The Afrobeat genre, which started in West Africa, has exploded worldwide and is now a major influence on music, fashion, dance, and digital content. Global streaming of Afrobeat music grew by more than 550% between 2017 and 2022. The new anthem builds on Mastercard’s global sonic identity, which the company introduced in 2019. By choosing Afrobeat, Mastercard wants to show it understands what matters to Gen Z and millennials in Nigeria. The company believes that sound can help brands stand out, especially in Africa’s mobile-first markets where young people are always online. According to Mastercard, brands that use audio branding see big results: a 76% jump in brand power, 138% better ad effectiveness, and 17% higher ad recall. The company hopes “Wami” will help it break through the noise and become part of everyday life for young Nigerians. “Wami” is now available on all major streaming platforms. Mastercard says this is just the start, as it plans to keep using music and culture to build deeper connections with its audience in Nigeria.