E-Business
Pantami Receive Global Winners from LEAP 2023 Rocket Fuel Pitch Startup Competition in Riyadh

Amidst applause and accolades, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), received the Global Winners in different categories of the LEAP 2023 Rocket Fuel Pitch Startup Competition, WICRYPT by Aronu Ugochukwu and RICE AFRIKA by Maigari Ahmadu.

The Winner of the New World Award category, WICRYPT is a decentralized internet-sharing and monetizing Network which gives everyone the power to become a micro-ISP.
While the winner of the Tech for Humanity category, RiceAfrika, is a tech-driven agriculture optimization service provider in Africa, which provides a platform that connects smallholder farmers in Africa.
While meeting with the Startups, Prof Pantami said that Nigeria is passionate about innovation which is why she developed the Startup Act.
He stated that the challenge of unemployment, underemployment, and un-employability can only be addressed by promoting our digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
“We are more interested in supporting job providers than only supporting job seekers that can even hardly do the work even if they are employed,” he said.
He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for approving Nigeria to be part of a Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). He went further to appreciate the DCO for the full sponsorship of Nigeria’s participation at the event.
“Many countries are contributing, but due to some challenges of funding, we are yet to make any contribution, but DCO sponsored 16 Nigerian Startups to attend the event without a single kobo from us by providing air tickets, accommodation, and everything for them,” Prof Pantami said.
“I want to also commend the National Information Technology Development Agency, particularly the management led by Kashifu Inuwa, for coordinating the event actively on our behalf and for making all our delegates and our startups to be very comfortable,” he said.
The Honourable Minister added, “I also commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the Minister in Charge of Communications and Information Technology, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, for inviting Nigeria to attend the LEAP 2023.
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), while officially presenting the 2 Nigerian Startups that won the cash price of $150,000 each to the Honourable Minister who led the Nigerian delegation to the LEAP 2023 Tech Event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said that, based on the directive of the Honourable Minister, NITDA coordinated the participation of the startups through its subsidiary Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI).
“We worked with them, we guided them, and we were there with them throughout the competition,” he stated.
“Out of the six categories, Nigeria took two, which accounts means almost 33.3 percent of the participants,” he said.
Inuwa said that out of the 220, eight startups from Nigeria were selected. He said in the first round 90 were selected to participate in the semi-final with all eight Nigerian Startups making the shortlist.
Out of the 90, 12 were qualified to move to the final stage and out of the 12 startups, three were from Nigeria. This he said included WICRYPT, under the Into the New World Award category, and the Rise Africa Technology under the Tech for Humanity, and Scholar Limited.
The Winners appreciated the Ministry and NITDA for the platform given to them to blossom and for pushing young people to explore their talents.
E-Business
Study Reveals Majority of IT Professionals Show Openness to Cyber Immunity

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, with organisations seeking more robust ways to protect their digital assets. A recent global study conducted by Kaspersky reveals a growing shift toward proactive security strategies, particularly the adoption of Secure by Design development and Cyber Immunity – an innovative approach that embeds resilience directly into system architecture.

The study highlights that 90% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region are familiar with Secure by Design development. This methodology integrates security into the very fabric of a system from its inception, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Such an approach is already employed in high-stakes industries like aerospace, where security cannot be bolted on later – it must be intrinsic. Despite its advantages, however, adoption has been slow due to challenges related to standardisation and cost.
Cyber Immunity is the next frontier in cybersecurity
Building on Secure by Design principles, Cyber Immunity takes cybersecurity a step further by creating systems that inherently resist attacks without the need for constant patching or additional security layers. The study reveals that most experts are familiar with Cyber Immunity but interpret it differently.
When asked what they associate with the term, 64% of respondents in the META region linked it to Secure by Design systems that remain resilient under attack, while 56% viewed it as a combination of technology and policy measures that block cybercriminal access. Another 48% connected it to highly skilled cybersecurity teams, indicating that while awareness is high, a unified understanding is still developing.
The growing demand for proactive security
One of the most striking findings is the optimism surrounding inherently secure systems. Over half of respondents in the META region (63%) believe it is already possible or definitely achievable to design systems capable of withstanding cyberattacks without relying on additional security solutions.
Another 32% think it might be possible, reflecting openness to this idea despite some uncertainty. This shift in mindset aligns with a broader industry trend: traditional reactive security measures are no longer sufficient.
With AI-powered threats and increasingly sophisticated attacks, organisations need solutions that do more than just detect breaches—they must prevent them by design.
Integrating Cyber Immunity into security strategies
The study emphasises that resilience, expertise, and flexibility will define the next generation of cybersecurity. While Secure by Design provides the methodology, Cyber Immunity represents the ultimate goal—systems so robust that they minimise reliance on external defences.
“For companies looking ahead, Cyber Immunity offers more than just protection — it brings clear business benefits. When systems are built to be secure from the ground up, there’s less need for constant updates, patches, and extra security tools. That means fewer costs, less strain on IT teams, and stronger, more reliable protection over time,” said Dmitry Lukiyan, Head of KasperskyOS Business Unit.
Most importantly in today’s threat landscape, Cyber Immunity offers robust protection against next-generation challenges — including AI-driven attacks capable of outmaneuvering traditional security measures.
When security becomes an intrinsic property of system architecture rather than an external addition, businesses gain more than just protection—they secure a competitive market advantage.
This proactive approach future-proofs critical infrastructure, enabling organisations to operate confidently even as threats evolve. It transforms cybersecurity from a defensive necessity into a strategic differentiator that accelerates digital transformation while mitigating risk.
As the cybersecurity environment becomes more complex, Cyber Immunity is emerging as a vital strategy. Organisations that adopt it now will not only enhance their protection but also position themselves ahead of the curve in an increasingly volatile digital world.
E-Business
Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has launched its inaugural 2026 shopping campaign, Konga Jara, offering 25 per cent discount on Starlink internet kits alongside free nationwide delivery.

Konga
The campaign, drawing from the Nigerian concept of “jara” — the extra value traders add to purchases — aims to deliver exceptional deals across categories, helping shoppers turn new year aspirations into reality through affordable technology and value-driven shopping.
To qualify for the Starlink discount, customers must purchase kits on Konga.com, activate them at starlink.com/activate, and email activation details to [email protected] for verification against Starlink’s records. Discounts are subject to terms and conditions.
Konga said spotlighting Starlink underscores reliable internet’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting work, learning, entrepreneurship and communication for households and businesses.
Mr Onochie Melvin, Head of Commercial Planning at Konga, said: “We listened carefully to what Nigerians said they needed to truly kickstart 2026 on the right footing. Reliable internet connectivity emerged as the foundation upon which other aspirations depend.”
He added: “Students need it for online learning, entrepreneurs need it to scale digital businesses, and professionals rely on it for remote work. This Starlink offer is not just about selling products; it is about removing barriers that prevent Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.”
Beyond connectivity, Konga Jara provides genuine products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with transparent pricing, warranties and authenticity guarantees.
As a composite e-commerce ecosystem, Konga integrates shopping, payments and logistics for seamless nationwide access, with exclusive deals shared via its social media channels throughout the campaign.
Shoppers can explore offers at www.konga.com and follow Konga’s official pages for updates across the Konga Group.
E-Business
Firm Identifies Global Scam Activity Linked to the Release of Avatar 3

The premiere of Avatar 3 has taken place in several countries and has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in online interest. Amid the heightened attention surrounding the release, Kaspersky experts identified an increase in cyber-scam campaigns that exploit the movie’s launch and users’ desire to watch it online. The fraudulent websites target users across multiple regions, indicating attempts by attackers to reach a global audience.

The scam operates as follows: cybercriminals create suspicious websites that offer online access to the Avatar 3 movie. Attackers place particular emphasis on localisation, publishing the sites in multiple languages to attract users from different countries. However, the translations are often poorly executed and contain grammatical errors and inconsistencies, which may serve as indicators of fraudulent activity.
When users attempt to start the video, they are presented with a fake media player and prompted to register in order to obtain “full” or “unlimited” access to the film. As part of the registration process, users are asked to provide personal information, including an email address and mobile phone number.
At later stages, scammers may request additional data, including payment details, under the guise of activating a “free trial.” This creates risks of credential compromise, particularly if users reuse passwords across multiple services, and may also lead to financial losses.
“Cybercriminals consistently exploit major movie premieres to capture users’ attention and increase the effectiveness of their schemes. We advise accessing films only through official platforms and exercising caution when encountering websites that request personal or payment information. It is also important to use reliable security solutions to protect all devices, including mobiles,” comments Olga Altukhova, Senior web content analyst at Kaspersky.
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