Telecom
AfricaNXT 2022: NCC Pulls the Largest Gathering, says 5G is safe
The AfricaNXT Conference 2022, known previously as Lagos Social Media Week, has ended on a historically impressive note for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), having drawn the largest attendance and participation at a single session during the conference, where its team discussed the socio-economic benefits of 5G services.
The conference had scheduled over 200 sessions and about 400 speakers. However, NCC session was oversubscribed as all seats were occupied, while some participants had to stand to listen to the discussion on a topic that patently enthused and electrified the audience, and marked by very rare social networking and participation.
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the NCC team mounted the FutureNow Stage of the Innovation Pavilion of the Conference to inform, educate and rally further support for the Commission’s strides on the preparedness of Nigeria to deploy the Fifth Generation (5G) network and services. Using simple, fact-based examples, the NCC’s 5-man panel, provided necessary clarifications to the audience on the safety of 5G technology and gave copious examples about how the technology will significantly impact life qualitatively and bring socio-economic benefits to the citizens, businesses, the nation, and the continent of Africa.
The panelists extensively discussed 5G technology, focusing on safety, data privacy, the chronology of programmes, actions and activities of the Commission towards the launch of the services, including the issuance of 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum and licence for 5G deployment, the rollout plans, use cases as well as citing concrete socio-economic significance of the expected services.
The NCC team explained to the excited audience how 5G will power a plethora of applications, innovation and creativity. These include smart cities, telemedicine, Internet of Things (IoT), smart agriculture, driverless cars, bolstering of the security governance sector, among others.
The team asserted that 5G is a network of networks because of its huge capabilities, and its derivable benefits can only be limited if humans limit their own imaginations.
Reckoning that 5G technology is a total shift from the internet connectivity people are used to at the moment, the panel stated that 5G would open doors of new possibilities and socio-economic impacts. “With 5G, there is something for everyone. Nigeria is kick-starting these massive benefits with enhanced broadband. 5G will bridge the fibre connectivity gap and with wireless broadband connectivity, Nigerians will enjoy the enhanced broadband.” A member of the panel stated to emphasize enhanced connectivity that comes with 5G technology.
The discussants also agreed that telecom operators will reap huge benefits from 5G in many ways, through network slicing, new revenue streams from IoT, industrial applications, gaming and entertainment as well as live broadcast features supported by 5G amongst others.
The NCC team comprising specialists in engineering, law and communications, also said that 5G will power more than a billion devices in the next two years, and this means there will be upsurge in the manufacturing of related user equipment which is expected to bring down the prices of associated devices and equipment.
The process is also expected to trigger utilisation of raw materials such as rare earth metals that are found in large quantities in Africa, and cities will equally benefit from the 5G enabled infrastructure such as smart street lighting, smart traffic control systems, maintenance services and so on that will deliver huge economic gains.
Explaining NCC’s efforts and plans on consumer safety in the 5G era, discussants recalled that the Commission was already working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to develop a Risk Management Frameworks.
The framework will grow the need for the ethical hacking skill set and allow the use of ethical hacking as part of risk management towards ensuring the cyber space safety during 5G era.
Additionally, the panel informed the audience that NCC had established a sectoral Computer Security Incidents Response Team (CSIRT) to work with the telecoms operators to reduce risks on the cyber-attacks and data breach.
The Centre, inaugurated in 2021, has been collaborating with the national agency, the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), towards enhancing the security of the cyber space and privacy of citizens. These strategic collaboration, for which NCC is noted, will now be boosted by the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, recently established by the Federal Government.
While explaining the security, safety and speed characteristic of 5G, the panel reasoned that, while 4G has a response time of 10 millisecond, equivalent of the capacity of human brain, 5G network is even faster. Therefore, the high-speed feature of 5G will make it unlock greater opportunities that will enhance human productivity for the development.
“The latency of 5G, which measures its response time, is 1 millisecond, while that of 4G is measured at 10 milliseconds. While 4G can accommodate 100,000 device connections in one square kilometre, 5G can connect a million devices within the same space, and thus, power Internet of Things (IoT).
“Also, 5G peak data rate is 20 gigabits (GB) per second for download, and 10GB for upload, which is higher than 100 megabytes (MB) per second download and 50MB upload offered by 4G network.”
The panel allayed fears of health concerns, propelled by “misconceptions, disinformation, misinformation and malinformation”. The panel informed the participants that the apprehension was unnecessary. It cited research-based evidence from the World Health Organization (WHO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Commission on Non-Ironising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), to prove the safety of 5G network to human health.
The panel explicated further that Nigeria can indeed begin to create smart cities, an ecosystem powered by 5G applications. The massive speed of 5G, according to the discussants, will also enhance the capacity of start-ups and other tech entrepreneurs to leverage the enabling environment powered by the fast connectivity, to develop unlimited solutions for the benefit of Nigeria and her citizens.
According to the panel, an enhanced broadband that allows low latency and facilitate billion of connections in machine-to-machine communication certainly holds a big promise for socio-economic growth and development.
When asked if the country was ready for 5G, the panel declared that, “Nigeria is ready for 5G because the NCC has been supported by key stakeholders to make Nigeria ready.
“The Commission has built the regulatory foundation, the deployment plan has been designed and various exercises have been carried out up to the level of handling over 5G Spectrum licences to the operators.”
Meanwhile, the panelists also emphasized the centrality of collaboration among state and non-state actors to drive the ecosystem. They contend that, as with other previous technologies, such as 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G, efforts must be made for all stakeholders to glean and exploit the massive use cases of 5G for socio-economic development.
While rounding off the highly engaging session, the moderator thanked the co-panelists for their diligence and painstaking engagements, and the audience for its interest, enthusiasm and solidarity.
He reiterated the unflinching commitment of NCC to doing all within its regulatory powers to ensure data security and data protection.
He also underscored the need for sustenance of collaborative efforts among tiers of government and all other stakeholders to ensure effective utilization of 5G services across all sectors.
The well-attended panel discussion, which focused on, “Moving Forward Steadily: Socio-Economic Significance of Development of 5G Services” was moderated by NCC’s Head of Online Media, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan. Other panelists are: Babagana Digima, Team Lead, Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS); Usman Aliyu, Head, Space Services; Anthony Ikemefuna, Head, Fixed Networks and Converged Services; and a Senior Manager in the Legal and Regulatory Services Department of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf.
The AfricaNXT Conference is the largest assemblage of innovators from across Africa and Africa’s Diasporan communities. Formerly known as Social Media Week Lagos, the confab and festival, now in its 10th Year, is an annual event that takes place in Lagos, focusing on harnessing Africa’s potentials for her development, using the dual agencies of human creativity and the promises of technology.
The organisers of the Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 5.0) are delighted to announce George Agu, a distinguished technology entrepreneur and executive, as one of the keynote speakers at this year’s edition themed “AI & Sovereign Tech: Building Africa’s Digital Independence.”
Agu, the MD/CEO of ActivEdge Technologies Limited, is an astute founder and technology leader whose illustrious career spans over twenty-five years across core banking systems, enterprise applications, fintech, cybersecurity, and AI-powered e-government services. His experience blends strong technical expertise with strategic business leadership, having successfully built and scaled enterprise and public-sector technology platforms across West, East, and Southern Africa.
A Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Agu is also an alumnus of The Wharton School and the London School of Economics (LSE) through executive education, with specialisations in Entrepreneurship Acceleration, FinTech Revolution, Strategic Innovation, and Public Policy Analysis.
He began his professional journey as a software developer at CSA Nigeria in 2000, later joining Neptune Software, where he rose from Systems Implementation Manager to Managing Director/CEO for West Africa. At Neptune, he played a pivotal role in the success of the Equinox and Orbit core-banking platforms, with Orbit earning the No. 1 global ranking in microfinance core banking by CGAP (Washington DC).
As a serial founder, Agu established ActivEdge Technologies, a pan-African systems integrator delivering solutions in cybersecurity, GRC, enterprise automation, cloud, and core infrastructure, executing projects in more than six African countries.
He went on to found PayEdge, a fintech company addressing MSME liquidity and supply-chain finance challenges, and Introspec, a settlement and reconciliation platform used by banks in over fifteen African countries.
His latest innovation, HarmonyEdge, is an AI-powered e-government platform that digitises workflows, enables analytics and decisioning, supports citizen engagement, and powers payment and e-reconciliation systems — currently being piloted in a leading African nation.
Beyond entrepreneurship, George Agu contributes actively at board and civic levels. He serves on the Abia State Global Economic Advisory Council, chairing a sector committee, and on the board of TN Cybertech Bank, where he leads the Technology and Strategy Committee.
He also chairs the Business Roundtable of the African Bar Association and serves as Deputy President of the South East–South South Professionals.
Speaking ahead of AfriTECH 5.0, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener, described Agu as a “seasoned technology visionary whose work embodies the spirit of African innovation and digital self-reliance.”
“His keynote will provide practical insights on how AI and sovereign technologies can redefine digital transformation across Africa’s public and private sectors”, Onwuegbuchi said.
AfriTECH 5.0 will convene industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to explore the role of AI and indigenous technologies in driving Africa’s digital independence.
The event is supported by NCC with Digital Encode Limited as the Platinum Sponsor. Other Gold sponsors are Galaxy Backbone, itel, Digital Realty, ActivEdge Technologies, Tecom, Tizel Cybersecurity, AfriGoPay Financial Services Limited, SKOT Communications and other ecosystem partners.
Kashifu Inuwa, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called for urgent and strategic investment in Africa’s digital public infrastructure, describing it as the foundation for sustainable economic transformation, job creation, and intra-African trade.
Speaking at the 2nd annual Sustainability Week Africa held at The Westin, Cape Town, South Africa, Inuwa emphasized that Africa’s economic destiny hinges on its own “compute capacity,” which he described as a primary factor of production in the 21st century.
“In the 21st century, compute power is a primary factor of production, and we cannot rely on exporting our raw data to other regions to process it and build products for us,” Inuwa said during a panel session on Digital Infrastructure for Jobs and Trade in Africa.
He urged African governments to emulate Europe’s collaborative approach to building high-performance supercomputers and AI factories by creating policy incentives that attract private sector investment in digital infrastructure.
Digital public infrastructure (DPI), he explained, operates at two levels: the shared physical and technical infrastructure such as connectivity and cloud capacity; and the functional layer, which includes digital identity, payment systems, and data exchange platforms that enable seamless access to services.
Citing Nigeria’s progress, the NITDA DG disclosed that over 130 million Nigerians have been enrolled under the national digital identity system.
He also revealed ongoing efforts to establish a national data exchange platform and a DPI Centre of Excellence to promote interoperability and best practices across all tiers of government.
“The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy in Nigeria, Dr Bosun Tijani, is leading and pushing for establishing a DPI centre of excellence, where we can have people building the actual DPI data exchange well, building APIs, and also coming up with best practices,” Inuwa stated.
On digital literacy, Inuwa reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030 and 70% by 2027 under the National Digital Literacy Framework.
He noted that digital skills have become mandatory for students and civil servants, with partnerships involving Cisco and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train youth, women, and market traders in digital tools and AI-powered applications.
He called for clear policy frameworks to guide AI adoption and technology development across Africa, stressing that digital transformation is not a sector but an enabler for every sector of the economy.
“In Africa, we need to have our digital circuits by building our own capacity for digital self-determination. We should not rely on other countries to be sending hardware and software to us because our goal is to build a better life for our citizens, and technology will help us achieve that,” he said.
Inuwa concluded by advocating stronger coordination between governments, the private sector, and development partners to harmonise digital standards and scale innovation across the continent.
“Africa’s advantage lies in our ability to leap, to build collaboratively, and to design technology for inclusion. If we build the digital rails together, our youth will drive Africa straight into the heart of the global digital economy,” he said.
Sustainability Week Africa is a continental platform that showcases practical ways for governments, businesses, and communities to embrace green growth. The 2025 edition focused on Africa’s role in driving energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms Inc. are set to formally adopt the final terms of a $32.8 million data privacy settlement before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Nov. 3, following months of negotiations over alleged breaches of Nigeria’s data protection laws.
The NDPC had in February 2025 imposed a $32.8 million sanction on Meta, alongside eight corrective orders, for allegedly violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The commission accused the global tech giant of engaging in behavioural advertising without obtaining proper user consent and transferring Nigerian user data abroad without legal authorization.
According to the NDPC, Meta’s practices contravened core principles of transparency and accountability in data processing, prompting the regulator to take enforcement action under the newly enacted data protection law.
Meta subsequently approached the court seeking a review of the commission’s decision and a stay of enforcement. However, the court declined the request, paving the way for both parties to enter into negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute amicably.
At the latest hearing, Meta’s counsel, Mr. Fred Onuobia (SAN), informed the court that both parties had reached a settlement agreement. Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the matter, welcomed the development but emphasized the need for judicial scrutiny of the settlement terms.
“There have been instances where issues not part of the original suit are smuggled into settlement terms. The court must therefore examine the document carefully before approval,” Justice Omotosho stated, before fixing Nov. 3 for formal adoption of the agreement.
The settlement, once adopted, is expected to conclude one of Nigeria’s most significant data protection enforcement cases and could set a major precedent for how global technology firms operate within the country’s regulatory framework.
Legal analysts say the case underscores the growing assertiveness of Nigeria’s data protection regime and signals a shift toward stricter compliance expectations for multinational digital platforms operating in the country.
The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, signed into law to strengthen privacy rights and data governance, empowers the NDPC to investigate violations, impose sanctions, and enforce corrective measures to safeguard citizens’ personal data.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has faced increasing scrutiny globally over its data handling practices. The outcome of the Nigerian case is expected to influence future engagements between regulators and tech firms across Africa.
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