General News

Published

16 years ago

August 23, 2010

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Mohammed Rudman is the managing director of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN).
In his over a decade experience in the information and communications technology, Rudman has worked as network administrator in Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) from where he moved to Galaxy Backbone.
He spoke to chike onwuegbuchi on how IXPN will help stimulate growth in internet service delivery and local content.

Exchange Point and Nigerian Economy
Our role is to interconnect service providers, Telcos, Universities, financial sectors and virtually almost every organization that deals with information technology so that they can exchange local traffic locally within Nigeria.
This will benefit the economy tremendously, because it will have multiple effects. Apart from the direct benefit; there are other indirect benefits to the economy. When you look at all our service providers, they interconnect right now outside the country and therefore their traffic is being exchanged outside the country, on the process they pay for that interconnection outside the country in foreign currency, so that is capital flight, for traffic that suppose to be exchanged within the country, you now export it for you to bring it back. So, to save the country that capital flight, it means that local traffic should be made local which is the reason behind the establishment of Internet Exchange of Nigeria.
And if you look at issue of our security, because our traffic is no longer going outside the country, it remains local within the country; it means that we are secured to some extent because we are communicating within ourselves. By the time you push those Email outside Nigeria to come back it is possible for somebody to see your own email, it means we are a bit vulnerable, but by the time we are all interconnected such email will not be taken away.
Also if you look at our educational institution, they can interconnect with us, and right now we are working with University of Lagos to have what is called Eko Connect, which is higher educational connectivity project to interconnect higher educational institutions within Lagos towards national research and educational network, so this also will have multiple effect on the economy, because they are training our graduates, and they should be able to collaborate for research. It also promotes local content development, because with us you can start posting content locally, so with this you can promote culture and heritage.
Value Added Services
First, because exchange points are very suitable for centralized infrastructure within the country, we decided to discuss with one of the thirteen global root server operators in the world for them to keep their servers in Nigeria. This will make local translations of names in the internet possible in Nigeria and our discussions have reach advanced level and within the next one month, the root servers will be active in Nigeria, which will be the first root server in West Africa.
Secondly, we are also trying to put time server within Nigeria so that one can synchronize his or her time with us, like if you have a computer at home or in your office you can synchronize it with us so that their timing will be exactly the same because right now there is no public time server for Nigeria, so with that, different network can now synchronize their time from one source. We have already implemented what is called Community DNS in Nigeria. It has been implemented 100% and it is working.
So we are doing other things like that so as to promote local content and provide centralized infrastructure.
ISPs with Foreign Partners
This will not affect our services because this site is very important, we put them in remote places where people can have access to the internet and it will continue because we have so many remote areas that needs internet access.
Also some of them are already thinking in this direction and are relocating their hubs back into the country. They want to localize their traffic and have brought back their hub from US back to the country, for them to be interconnected to the exchange point. By the time all of them bring back their hub, it means that local content within Nigeria remains local and it will also save them some satellite bandwidth.
New Undersea Cable Initiative as Boost to ISPs in Nigeria
This will help to lower the cost of internet access generally, and will promote reliability because it is more than one cable, formally we have only one submarine cable, SAT 3, now Glo 1 is coming Main One is coming and WACS will come maybe next year, so with this, it means that we have multiple redundancy. Because internet is becoming our ways of life, it is becoming also a critical infrastructure just like water, power and so on. It is very good that we are having this many cables coming in so that, we will now have reliability incase one cable fails, and normally when it happens we have back ups because competitors are coming in and because they are many. I believe that due to competition the prices of internet will really drop and it will be available to the common man as long as the distributing channels are there. As they all are coming in through the sea to the landing stations in Lagos, just like you have containers coming in ships to Lagos, now if we don’t have the road to distribute these containers then there is a problem. The distribution network is in terms of fiber network connecting to the most remote part of the country like Sokoto, Maidugri etc., if such infrastructure exists in these locations, I think it will really lower the cost.
Success Made so Far
Formally the progress and the success were a bit small because we are new and people don’t want to change. We are telling them to change, instead of having one direct path to the internet, to start having two interconnections, one to the left and the other one to the right, if you are going to the internet, you go to the left and if you are going to the Nigerian content, you go right. So this means a change from the one single direction to two directions. It was difficult trying to bring competitors to cooperate for the common interest of both parties. It has been difficult, but eventually we have broken that barrier and it is now happening. The service providers are now cooperating. Though they are competing outside publicly, but they are collaborating privately trying to save the country and to promote efficient services to their customers.
The traffic has increased from very small to more than few thousand percent from the time we started. I think we have made a reasonable progress and we are right now at what is called the tipping point, where things will eventually start changing so fast because we have made the progress to this level and there will be tremendous progress because international organization are even coming to join us like Google now is coming to connect to us very soon.
Force on Operators to Interconnect
The answer could be yes or could be no, because there is a say that you will take the horse to the river but cannot force it to drink water. You can force them to interconnect but you cannot force them to exchange traffic, and on the other hand when you force them to interconnect, you might awaken them to see the actual benefit that formally they were not seeing, so it has a good side for the regulators to force them and it also has a bad side.
Required Capacity to Carry theTraffic
We have more than what is required. Right now, we are using less than 5% of our capacity; we have excess capacity that we can accommodate. We can easily handle all the traffics, so I think we have the capacity to handle almost everybody.
Expansion of Operations
We intend to be in six geopolitical zones, and we are partnering with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to add two additional exchange points before the end of this year in two regions within Nigeria.
The Way Forward
We have a program right now; we are trying to move to a better modern facility, and this is where we are going to have the switching equipment, the browsing equipment and this is all because of the support from Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC). They are funding the movement and I want to also use this opportunity to thank them for this; and with this infrastructure we will be able to provide quality service because the international organizations are coming in and they wouldn’t want to compromise on quality. That is why we are providing a high standard world class facility for them and for the entire Nigerian service providers to connect.
IP Version Six
IP version 6 is a new standard protocol for IP communication, right now we are using IP version 4. Because of limitation on size of IP version 4, it is almost going into extinction and it is anticipated that in the next one year it will no longer be available for use that is why globally people are moving into IP version 6. Unfortunately, Nigeria is left behind and that is why we are battling with original internet registry for them to start training in Nigeria for IP version 6.
The first training is going to take place in September, first week of September most likely in Lagos and on the second week in Abuja and we intend to continue this training so we can make the impact, so that the networks here can move from IP version 4 to IP version 6.

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General News

Guinness Rewards Consumers with ₦17 Million in First Week of ‘Open for More’ Promo Draw

Published

5 hours ago

August 8, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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Guinness Nigeria has officially begun rewarding consumers under its nationwide ‘Open For More’ National Consumer Promotion (NCP), with an impressive ₦17 million in rewards to 107 winners during the campaign’s first live draw held on July 31, 2026.

The inaugural draw instantly transformed the fortunes of consumers across the country, producing seven new millionaires, who each received ₦1 million, alongside 100 additional winners, who each walked away with ₦100,000. The milestone marks the beginning of a series of weekly live draws that will see hundreds more Nigerians rewarded throughout the promotion.

The seven ₦1 million winners are Marcus Barieepie, Ani Valentine Ogochukwu, Okafor Sochima, Taiwo Adebola, Zubair Rukayat, Oluwatobi Femi, and Ebubechukwu Okolo.

The live draw was conducted under the supervision of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to ensure transparency and fairness. Representatives of the commission present included Dr. Olubunmi Otti, Zonal Coordinator, FCCPC Southwest, and Mrs. Abosede Ogundeji, Surveillance and Investigation Officer.

Speaking during the draw, Ramanathan S, representing Guinness, said the promotion reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to celebrating and rewarding the consumers who have supported Guinness over the years.

“For decades, Nigerians have made Guinness a part of their milestones and celebrations. Today, we are proud to give back by putting ₦17 million directly into the hands of 107 consumers in our very first draw. This is only the beginning. Over the coming weeks, many more Nigerians will experience life-changing rewards as we continue to celebrate the loyalty of the people who have made Guinness part of their stories.”

He added that all weekly draws will continue to be streamed live across Guinness Nigeria’s official platforms, enabling consumers to witness the winner-selection process in real time and reinforcing the transparency and credibility of the promotion. He also encouraged eligible consumers nationwide to participate, noting that every valid entry presents another opportunity to win.

The ‘Open For More’ National Consumer Promotion offers consumers the chance to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash prizes for 1,000 winners, and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. Altogether, the promotion will reward consumers with more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes.

To participate, consumers simply need to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, locate the unique code beneath the crown cork or can lid, and enter the code via the designated campaign platform.

With ₦17 million already won in its opening draw, the campaign is off to a remarkable start, reinforcing Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumer loyalty through transparent processes and unforgettable experiences that go beyond the product. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and details of upcoming draws.

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NITDA, UniAbuja Partner to Drive Tech Innovation, Research

Published

5 hours ago

August 8, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigerian universities to promote research, innovation and technology-driven solutions to local challenges.

NITDA, UniAbuja

NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stated this when the management of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, paid a familiarisation visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Abdullahi said stronger collaboration between NITDA and tertiary institutions was essential to building a robust innovation ecosystem, developing practical skills and positioning Nigeria for technology-driven economic growth.

He stressed the need for increased investment in research, particularly in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

“We need to invest more in in-depth research with universities to build a robust research ecosystem that will help us develop solutions.

“Research will focus on harnessing AI, IoT, blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud technology, among other emerging technologies, to improve our lives and grow our digital economy,” he said.

The DG described universities as critical talent factories required to achieve Nigeria’s digital transformation aspirations.

“NITDA has a vision to make Nigeria a digitally empowered nation. You (UniAbuja) are the talent factory, and we cannot achieve our vision without talented Nigerians.

“The only way to achieve that is by working with institutions like yours. So, we need to build talent,” he said.

Abdullahi also advocated the integration of AI education across disciplines in tertiary institutions, saying students needed practical digital skills to remain relevant in the evolving world of work.

“We can work together to explore ways of introducing AI across the board as a general study course in tertiary institutions.

“Elements of AI should be included in every field of study to equip our students with the hands-on skills for navigating the real world,” he said.

According to him, NITDA is already collaborating with key education sector stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education.

He said the agency was also working to promote digital literacy programmes across all levels of education to ensure that graduates acquire skills relevant to industry requirements.

Earlier, Fawehinmi said the university’s visit was aimed at seeking NITDA’s partnership and support in strengthening digital infrastructure and technology-based training at the institution.

He expressed appreciation for NITDA’s contributions to the Digital Geoscience Centre at the university.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university was willing to collaborate with NITDA on joint research, capacity-building initiatives and innovation programmes capable of contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

“We could go into partnership with you to provide data, collaborative engagements, staff exchanges and joint research hubs, so that we can produce high-level human resources.

“The university is committed to serving as a strategic academic partner to NITDA by providing academic expertise required to advance your national digital transformation initiatives,” he said.

The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen the link between academic research and industry needs while creating opportunities for technology innovation, skills development and practical solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

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General News

Meta Hit With $567m US Court Order Over Alleged Harm to Children

Published

5 hours ago

August 8, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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A New Mexico court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million to address the alleged harms caused to young people by its social media platforms.

Meta

The ruling by Judge Bryan Biedscheid came in the second phase of a landmark trial concerning the impact of Meta’s platforms on children and teenagers.

The judge said $420 million of the amount would be dedicated to treatment services for young people, while the remaining funds would support awareness and prevention programmes, screening services and other related costs over the next five years.

The latest financial order comes on top of $375 million in civil penalties awarded against Meta in March after a jury found that the company knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed information about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

During the second phase of the trial, prosecutors asked the court to order fundamental changes to Meta’s platforms, including measures to reduce addictive features, improve age verification and prevent child sexual exploitation through stronger privacy settings and increased oversight.

The court subsequently ordered Facebook and Instagram to introduce banner notifications and informational screens explaining their safety features, recommended practices and tools for addressing inappropriate comments.

The platforms must also regularly display the information, while an educational campaign in New Mexico will be subject to review by the state.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the ruling sent a clear message that technology companies could be held accountable when their product designs knowingly exposed children to risks.

“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” Torrez said in a statement.

Meta said it would appeal the ruling.

“We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content,” the company said.

The company said it remained confident in its record of protecting teenagers online and would continue to defend itself against what it described as claims that misrepresented the facts.

On age verification, the court said federal children’s privacy laws restricted Meta’s ability to apply certain verification tools to children under 13.

The court cited the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which limits the collection of personal information from children under 13.

Rather than imposing a blanket age-verification requirement exclusively on Meta, the judge ordered the company to continue improving its age-assurance tools in New Mexico.

The tools include the use of artificial intelligence to estimate users’ ages based on signals such as their social connections and the type of content they post and consume.

Meta was also ordered to attempt to develop a dedicated model for predicting whether users are under 13 within the next two years.

Additionally, the company must request proof of age from Facebook and Instagram users in New Mexico whom it estimates to be under 13.

Where Meta determines that a user is under 13, or under 18 but cannot determine a specific age, it must treat the user as being under the applicable age threshold until the user verifies their age.

The court further ordered Meta to partner with schools or a child-safety organisation to establish a reporting portal through which school officials can flag users suspected to be under 13.

Meta must also delete personal information it has collected from users under 13 and submit progress reports twice a year detailing its compliance with the court-ordered measures.

The ruling comes as Meta faces thousands of lawsuits from families alleging that children have been harmed by social media use.

The company is also preparing for another trial in California amid the growing litigation over the impact of social media platforms on young people.

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