Hello Venturer,“Where there is data smoke, there is business fire.”- Thomas RedmanFrom Nigeria to South Africa to Zambia, more and more African countries are employing data and AI to improve businesses and stimulate economies.Through advanced data science and artificial intelligence, JUMO, a South African fintech startup, is bridging the SME lending gap in West Africa by accurately predicting the risk profiles of SMEs and matching them to affordable bank capital.In Nigeria, Blacklist, a new startup, aggregates data to assist fintech companies, money lenders, and other financial institutions identify debtors and frauds to make better credit decisions.And in Lusaka, data is being used for urbanisation efforts to promote prosperous and inclusive urban settlements that are resilient to support economic growth. Interested in learning about the unique ways data are used in the aforementioned stories? Stay with me.😁Adekunle AgbetiloyeStaff Writer.