E-Business
Incorporating Human-centered Solutions for Workplace Transformation
By Emmanuel Asika
A usual workweek for some could read: Traditional Monday meetings, outfield customer oversite on Tuesday, convene strategic think-tank session with colleagues working remotely from the corporate office, whilst deploying the HP Smart App to print meeting outlines for physical attendees on the go. Just as you go about your day, the relationship with your team is somewhat multi-dimensional with Slack and Teams holding sway.
Incidentally, for over two years, institutions globally have persistently recorded a multifaceted paradigm shift; seeing people getting jobs done on the go – from the comfort of their homes, hotels, in-flight, and in coffee cafés or shared workspaces. While most employees welcome hybrid work, it has its peculiar glitches.
These dynamics – tools and processes driving the engagement and efficiency of in-person work environment is now jaded; hence, businesses ensure productivity is not impeded by striving harder through the adoption of a flexible work model.
One of the noticeable trends in Nigeria in recent times is that HR leaders have identified organizational redesign as a priority and are moving towards building a cross-functional network of teams to become more agile. Efficiency is key to successfully execute organizational strategy.
So, to generate, share, and protect data amongst a mass workforce, business leaders must devise effective strategies. Therefore, whilst acknowledging that ways to handle once-printed material is one struggle, yet for other workflow, the issues reach farther.
Embracing digital transformation rightly is arduous; according to Boston Consulting Group, about 70% of digital transformations fall short of their objective expectations, reasons giving as uncomplimentary company culture not endearing to change or poor data gathering and management methods.
The concept of “human-centered transformation” – which is a tactic that sustains workers at the forefront is one reliable concept being entrenched by HP worldwide. This deals with the needs of employees to work proficiently and successfully today. This, in the workplace, further connotes great understanding of end-user’s behaviour, wishes, and own experiences.
Consequently, whilst you want to imagine employees’ adaptability to stale technologies, tools, and procedures – can be unproductive and unsatisfying for many to deploy, exclusively in our dynamic work world—tools, technologies and procedures essentially must, speedily, meet employees’ needs.
Incidentally, accepting “human-centered transformation” is expressly imperative as employee roles are now more flexible than ever; hence, HP is distinctively determined to explore this as it undergoes its own swing to digital processes, workflows, and systems.
Deepening worker-focused solutions
Nigeria’s remote work scene is thriving, as more and more businesses embrace the hybrid model. Lately, the ‘japa’ syndrome has compelled employers to rethink work conditions and embrace customised work arrangements, new research, Temporal Contexts and Actors vis-a-vis I-deals’ Timing and Creation: Evidence from Nigeria, has found.
Also, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 85 percent of 1,017 Nigerian companies adopted hybrid work arrangements during the pandemic, while at least four percent of those surveyed will operate a fully remote work approach post-COVID. Nigeria also leads the way in the number of organisations in Africa planning a hybrid work model (56 percent) going forward.
HP, as a global corporate citizen, prides itself as more than a manufacturer of discreet products and solutions like computers, printers, webcams, and other peripherals. We aim to provide a holistic, intuitive suite of products and services that are flexible, scalable, and anticipate customers’ needs.
It is layering valuable insights into products and services through advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and crowdsourcing that enable greater problem-solving, faster decision-making, and increased sharing of vital information.
The objective for HP is to inspire customers in line with their own digital transformation paths by providing ongoing, informed decision-making. Thus, for reference, the HP Presence portfolio uses AI for real-time monitoring to guarantee that video calls users perpetually stay in frame, look their best, and are audibly heard by all.
Additionally, HP’s acquisition and integration of Poly broadens these capabilities as we launch our new Workplace Services & Solutions organization. These steps will help HP further expand our device, software, and digital service offerings while providing more insights, manageability, and data security to hybrid workforces.
Resolving end-user demands
Primarily, customer experience is key. HP needs to display good understanding of user journeys, pain points, and their expected results.
Appreciably, we need to get daily direct feedback from our products and services users, like doctors and nurses in hospitals, teachers in classrooms, and field engineers.
Inquire what they require today to work more effectively? Just as having conversations with business leaders, procurement specialists, and IT staffers amongst others.
By extension, how can technology lead the quest for a better hybrid work experience? What will be needed a year, or five years, from now? Technology is assisting us here, too. We are now able to deploy digital innovations to pool everything from a single user’s feedback to crowdsourcing solutions that can apply to specific roles, industries, geographic areas, and much more.
Conclusively, as we push further, we need to have sustainable engagements in this ever-evolving market as we test, experiment, and discover varied means. Though, we may not have all the answers initially, but solutions will continually be vital as we incorporate human-centric evolution.
Emmanuel Asika is Country Head, HP Nigeria
Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has been ranked first overall in the 2025 Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard.
This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy.
The ranking, conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), is the definitive benchmark for digital excellence and transparency across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, managing director and CEO of Galaxy Backbone, received the award during a ceremony in Abuja.
He described the feat as a validation of the agency’s“Nigeria First”data sovereignty strategy and its relentless pursuit of service excellence.
This recognition comes as the Federal Government intensifies its push to achieve a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025.
GBB has been the primary architect of this transition through its 1Gov Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform, which now hosts the operations of almost all federal MDAs.
The award adds to a growing list of accolades for Galaxy Backbone in 2025, following its recent win of the “International Standard Excellence Award for Best IT Service Provider.”
As the central hub for government shared services, GBB’s performance serves as a blueprint for other agencies currently undergoing digital transformation.
With its expanded fiber-optic backbone now covering over 13 states and its secure cloud solutions, Galaxy Backbone remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s vision to become a leading digital nation by the end of the decade.
Okitipi Samuel, a Nigerian man, has been taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force for his alleged role in a global cyberattack on Microsoft 365 users.
Benjamin Hundeyin, Force public relations officer, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of investigations carried out by the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force.
Hundeyin said the centre, under the leadership of Ifeanyi Uche, its director and Commissioner of Police, commenced investigations in collaboration with Microsoft, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.
According to him, investigations revealed that a phishing toolkit known as “Raccoon 0365” was used to create fake Microsoft login portals to harvest user credentials and unlawfully access email accounts belonging to corporate organisations, financial institutions, and educational institutions in several countries.
“This investigation commenced following credible intelligence received from Microsoft USA through the FBI, indicating that a malicious phishing toolkit known as Raccoon0365 was being used to create fake Microsoft login portals, harvest user credentials, and unlawfully access the email accounts of corporate organisations, financial institutions, and educational establishments,” Hundeyin said.
He added that between January and September 2025, several reports of unauthorised access to Microsoft 365 accounts were traced to phishing emails designed to mimic legitimate Microsoft login pages, enabling business email compromise, internal phishing, data breaches, and other cyber-enabled fraud.
Hundeyin said digital forensic analysis and cryptocurrency tracing identified wallets connected to the illegal operation.
He noted that operatives were deployed to Lagos and Edo states, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Joshua, James, and Okitipi Samuel between September 20 and October 4, 2025.
“Following extensive digital forensic and technical intelligence analysis, the centre conducted cryptocurrency tracing that identified suspicious wallets connected to cash-out schemes.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, operational teams were deployed to Lagos and Edo states, resulting in the arrest of Joshua, James, and Okitipi Samuel. Searches at their residences led to the recovery of mobile devices, laptops, and other digital exhibits linked to the fraudulent scheme,” he said.
Hundeyin identified Okitipi Samuel, also known as “0365” and Moses Felix as the principal suspect and developer of the phishing infrastructure.
He added that investigations confirmed Samuel unlawfully used the email details of one of the arrested individuals without consent to register some of the accounts used in the operation.
The police spokesperson said further investigations revealed that the identities of Joshua and James were used without their consent.
“There was no evidence linking them to the creation or operation of the phishing scheme. They were victims of identity theft,” Hundeyin said.
He said a prima facie case had been established against Samuel for identity theft, unlawful access to computer systems, creation and distribution of malicious software, unauthorised interference with network data, and aiding and abetting fraud.
Hundeyin added that the suspect would be charged under relevant provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
He said the suspect would be prosecuted in Nigeria, noting that the country has the capacity to enforce its cybercrime laws, although extradition could be considered if formally requested through due process.
Hundeyin assured Nigerians that the police, under the leadership of Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of Police, would continue to protect the country’s digital ecosystem and urged citizens to practise good cyber hygiene by being cautious when clicking links and sharing personal information online.
Speaking separately, Ifeanyi Uche, director of the National Cybercrime Centre, urged Nigerians to exercise caution online.
Uche advised members of the public to avoid clicking on links from unknown or unexpected sources, noting that such links often contain malware or phishing tools designed to compromise devices and personal data.
He warned that indiscriminate clicking of links or responding to unsolicited emails could lead to unauthorised access to personal and corporate accounts, urging citizens to “wash their cyber hands” by verifying sources before taking action online.
Nigeria has unveiled a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy designed to localise WSIS+20 commitments. This roadmap accelerates national transformation by prioritising robust infrastructure, transparent internet governance, and advanced cybersecurity through deep stakeholder collaboration.
Unveiled in New York at the Nigerian high-level side event titled “Re-Imagining Digital Cooperation for Sustainable Development: From WSIS+20 Vision to Local Action,” the strategy cements Nigeria’s position as a primary architect of the world’s digital future.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE represented by Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Dr. Dimie Shively Wariowei said Nigeria’s approach is deliberately aligned with the four core activity areas identified under the ongoing WSIS+20 review process.
According to him, the focus areas provide a practical framework for translating global digital commitments into measurable national outcomes, ensuring that international resolutions drive inclusive growth and sustainable digital development at the country level.
Inuwa identified digital infrastructure as the foundation of effective localisation, noting persistent challenges in extending connectivity to underserved and remote communities. Beyond infrastructure gaps, he highlighted affordability constraints and digital literacy deficits, stressing that addressing these issues remains central to Nigeria’s digital inclusion drive.
He explained that government alone cannot shoulder the burden of nationwide digital infrastructure deployment, given Nigeria’s vast geographical spread, hence the adoption of collaborative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models. He disclosed that Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Bank, is implementing a major fibre-optic project spanning about 90,000 kilometres nationwide to boost connectivity.
The NITDA DG also revealed that the current National Broadband Plan, which has guided broadband expansion in recent years, is nearing completion, with plans underway to renew and reposition it for the next five years. The renewed plan, he said, will strategically target increased broadband penetration as a catalyst for digital access and economic growth.
On internet governance, Inuwa referenced Nigeria’s active participation in the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), noting that the country successfully hosted its annual national IGF. He said the forum operates on a multi-stakeholder model that brings together government, the private sector, civil society and the technical community to foster cooperation and informed policy dialogue.
Cybersecurity, he added, remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s localisation efforts. He cited the existing Cybersecurity Act and ongoing efforts to strengthen the legal framework through a reviewed version currently awaiting parliamentary approval. These measures, he said, are designed to mitigate risks associated with increased internet use and to protect users and critical digital infrastructure.
Inuwa further stressed Nigeria’s ambition to play a leadership role in advancing digital cooperation across Africa through inclusive, multi-stakeholder engagement. He underscored the importance of coordinated national data collection, noting that reliable, country-specific data is essential for tracking progress and presenting Africa’s digital development story on the global stage.
He concluded that sustained engagement and follow-up actions arising from the WSIS+20 review would strengthen digital cooperation among African countries and ensure that global digital commitments translate into tangible national and regional impact.
Stakeholders commended Nigeria’s efforts in the digital space, acknowledging the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s digital future.
Earlier, Ms. Jennifer Chung, Co-Convener of the Informal Multi-Stakeholder Sounding Board (IMSB), praised Nigeria for convening a broad-based, multi-stakeholder delegation and for its commitment to the meaningful implementation of WSIS+20 outcomes.
Chung stressed the growing demand for localised WSIS follow-up mechanisms, noting that platforms such as the annual IGF, National and Regional IGF Initiatives (NRIs), and youth-led forums are vital for tracking progress towards the 2030 Agenda and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
She described the WSIS+20 review as a critical step toward effective monitoring, reliable data collection and evidence-based evaluation, particularly for developing countries in the Global South. According to her, these measures are essential to achieving WSIS targets and ensuring that no region is left behind.
Drawing parallels with the Asia-Pacific region, Chung noted that challenges around affordable and meaningful connectivity remain widespread across developing economies. She emphasised that expanding broadband penetration and reducing the cost of access are crucial to closing digital divides in Africa, Asia-Pacific and other parts of the Global South.
She also highlighted the need to enable active citizen participation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and future innovations such as quantum technologies, stressing that inclusive digital access is key to maximising the benefits of digital transformation.
Reflecting on the WSIS+20 review process, Chung praised the innovative and inclusive approach adopted through the informal multi-stakeholder sounding board, describing it as one of the first of its kind in global digital governance. She called for sustained collaboration among governments, the private sector, civil society and the technical community to carry the WSIS vision from global commitments to local action.
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