Telecom
Mastercard, Thales and Providus Bank Launch a Tokenization and Digitization Initiative in Nigeria
Mastercard, Thales and Providus Bank have partnered to bring the Mastercard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) tokenization and digitization initiative to the Nigeria market.
They are extending the “contactless” payment solution alongside the growth of a low-touch environment, especially as more and more people are seeking safer and more secure ways to transact.
The solution allows Mastercard and Providus Bank cardholders to make use of tokenized transactions online, as well as contactless tap-to-pay transactions via their mobile devices and wearables.
MDES offers consumers, merchants, and financial institutions the much-needed capability for making a payment without touching a physical device at the point of sale.
Thales’ TSH solution is powering up the connection to the Mastercard MDES platform in order to launch on the Providus Mobile application and eMerchants. On behalf of Providus, Thales TSH is managing the flow and internal logic put in place to digitize the card, manage its lifecycle and then use it to make payments.
“Changes during the pandemic have resulted in a consumer behavior shift that have also caused reduced interaction with cash.
“As a technology and digital innovator our responsibility as Mastercard is to bring cost-effective, efficient and reliable solutions that can benefit all stakeholders in the economy. Our MDES tokenization and digitization solution delivers exactly that.
“The innovation behind the MDES tokenization and digitization solution seeks to contribute to a cashless society that works for everyone.
“Our goal is to also provide consumers, merchants and our financial partners with solutions that are effective and relevant in the current environment,” said Ebehijie Momoh, country manager & Area Business Head, West Africa.
Benefits to the consumer
When it comes to payments, convenience is key and the MDES tokenization and digitization solution ensures that consumer cards (whether plastic or virtual) are always accessible to them for payments via their mobile or wearable device, for both card-present and card-not-present e-commerce payments.
MDES tokenization generates a unique 16-digit token that can be used for completing an e-commerce transaction when the card is not present, instead of using their actual 16-digit card. The consumer’s actual 16-digit card number is protected from being exposed online during the transaction.
MDES enables a connected device such as a smartphone to act as a safe and secure payment method just like a physical card. Once the card credentials are provisioned to a mobile device, a cardholder is able to make purchases in three ways: by tapping at a contactless-enabled terminal, buying in-app and with e-commerce merchants.
This makes it possible for people to pay with any payment card, anywhere, on any device – through a simple click, tap or touch method, making everyday payments hassle-free, driving safety, simplicity and convenience.
Furthermore, the MDES tokenization and digitization will enable Nigerian cardholders to make use of their cards when traveling within and outside the country.
“Technology has evolved greatly in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade with the mobile phone technology playing a significant role in that space.
“As a Bank, our collaboration with Mastercard to provide additional value through the mobile device is a strategy to leverage existing infrastructure, while delivering simplified payment through the MDES (tokenization and digitization) offerings,” said Adeoye Ojuroye, chief financial officer and head of Strategy, Providus Bank.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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