General News
ICT Stakeholders Highlight Need for Sectoral Collaboration to Harness Benefits of AI

Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and other stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have underscored the need for collaborative efforts by opinion moulders in the sector to harness the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for economic growth.

A cross section of participants at NITRA ICT Growth Conference 4.0 with the theme: “Impact of AI on National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria” held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The stakeholders stated this at the NITRA ICT Growth Conference 4.0 with the theme: “Impact of AI on National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria” held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Akinsanya who was represented by Peter Oluka, member, Executive Board of Directors, NiRA emphasized that AI has the potential to drive economic growth, improve businesses and public services, as well as enhance the quality of life in Nigeria.
He hinted that realizing these benefits requires careful consideration of the prospects, the formulation of sound policies, and addressing the accompanying challenges.
According to him, “As AI continues to evolve, it’s potential to drive economic growth and improve businesses and public services, and also enhance the quality of life in Nigeria is immense”.
Adding that the complex challenges associated with AI cannot be solved by any single entity rather it requires partnerships, shared knowledge, and collective action that can drive the kind of growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and transformative.
Prof. Obadare Peter Adewale, Founder and chief visionary officer, CVO, Digital Encode, emphasized the need for Nigeria to understand the threat landscape and the critical role of cybersecurity in protecting against these threats.
Prof. Obadare represented by Mr. Oluwakayode O. Olatunji, CISO and Group Head of InfoSec & GRC Advisory, Digital Encode, underscored the importance of driving sub-sectoral digital growth through Artificial Intelligence (AI) while also decrying that many African countries lag behind in cybersecurity.
He further highlighted the potential of AI across various sectors, including finance, health, energy, transportation, defense, medical, and agriculture.
He underscored AI’s ability to predict productivity and its diverse benefits but quickly cautioned against the dangers of AI misuse, stemming from issues such as bias and fairness, security vulnerabilities, data privacy concerns, and ethical and moral dilemmas.
The cybersecurity expert discussed the use of AI in threat landscape profiling, crime detection and prevention, and reporting capabilities.
He stressed the importance of responsible AI usage and the need for continued investment in AI and cybersecurity.
Earlier, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) was displeased with the abysmally low adaptation trend by Nigerians to new technologies.
He urged stakeholders in the sector to lay more emphasizes on technology adaptation, adding that the country is number one in the usage of internet in Africa but lags in connectivity and internet penetration.
According to him, “There has been a known trend in Nigerians’ adaptation of new technology, where usage is higher than implementation.
“For instance, we are number one in the usage of internet in Africa but lags in connectivity and internet penetration.
“Artificial Intelligence has followed the same trend, Google search trends reported recently that searches for artificial intelligence (AI) have continued to rise around the world, with Nigeria experiencing a 130% increase in 2024.
He called on relevant ICT stakeholders in the sector to collaborate with government agencies to fashion out / design a curriculum for school to ensure that the study of AI is included in secondary schools.
He also warned that we should avoid the ugly trend / situation where for instance most students of computer science in our higher institutions do not have the opportunity to have a hands-on experience with a physical Computer throughout their duration in school.
Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, founder of Hyperspace and NeuRal AI, highlighted AI’s challenges and opportunities, reassuring that AI will enhance human capabilities, not replace them.
He showcased AI applications in transcription, translation, and education, demonstrating its potential to drive innovation and inclusive development.
A panel discussion composed of representatives from the NCC, private sector, and media and moderated by Mr. Hillary Damissah, explored how to navigate AI’s dangers in a developing economy.
They emphasized the need for policy frameworks, regulation, and collaboration to mitigate AI’s negative effects and ensure its benefits are equitably distributed.
The conference underscored AI’s significance in Nigeria’s development, urging stakeholders to work together to create an environment conducive to innovation, research, and tech adoption.
As AI continues to evolve, Nigeria must prioritize strategic planning, ethical considerations, and inclusive growth to harness its full potential.
General News
Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, plans to dedicate one-third of his wealth to charity as part of his succession plan, Halima Dangote, his daughter, has revealed.

Aliko Dangote
Halima, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday, saying the billionaire had secured the support of his family to commit 33 per cent of his estate to philanthropy.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s net worth is estimated at $35.1 billion, meaning one-third of his current wealth would be worth about $11.7 billion if his fortune remains at that level.
Halima explained that her father views philanthropy as a key part of his legacy and has incorporated it into the family’s long-term succession plans.
She said Dangote had structured his estate to ensure that charitable giving continues across generations, particularly in areas such as healthcare and education.
“He sort of put all the structure in place whereby we focus a lot on health and education. He actually donated 25 per cent to the foundation. If you look at it, it is what we call in Sharia Code in Islam; it means he has donated 33 per cent of his whole inheritance to his foundation,” she said.
Halima added that Dangote believes giving back is central to the success of his businesses and the family’s values.
She said the billionaire asked her, her two sisters, and his mother to sign the agreement allowing 33 per cent of his inheritance to be dedicated to humanitarian causes.
The planned donation builds on Dangote’s longstanding philanthropic activities through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which was established in 1994.
According to Halima, the foundation received an endowment of $1.25 billion about a decade ago and has since received an additional $700 million in funding.
She said about 70 per cent of the foundation’s spending goes to programmes in Nigeria, while 20 per cent supports projects across Africa, with the remaining funds directed to initiatives in other parts of the world.
The foundation’s interventions focus on healthcare, education, nutrition, and humanitarian support, including partnerships that contributed to the eradication of wild poliovirus in Africa.
Dangote’s planned charitable commitment adds to increasing global attention on billionaire philanthropy.
Although the proposed 33 per cent allocation is below the 50 per cent commitment associated with the Giving Pledge, it would rank among the largest philanthropic commitments announced by an African billionaire.
Earlier this year, Dangote was named among the world’s most influential philanthropists by TIME magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, recognising the impact of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which reportedly spends more than ₦50 billion annually on programmes across Africa.
General News
Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Collaboration on Power Plants

Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), has said that there are plans for Nigeria to begin to generate electricity from nuclear sources.

Mr Anthony Godwin Ekedegwa, chief executive, NAEC stated this when he recently visited Mr Umar Yusuf Girei, acting managing director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA),in Abuja.
He was at NIWA’s office to solicit the support of NIWA in achieving the numerous advantages of using nuclear energy technology in the country.
According to him, the partnership of critical stakeholders in Nigeria will position the country well in developing and maintaining its nuclear power plant.
The NAEC chief said Nigeria intends to begin the generation of electricity from nuclear sources instead of fossil-based power plants and hydro-based power plants, stressing that for Nigeria to develop, there is a need for the country to diversify its energy needs.
In his remarks, Mr Girei assured NAEC of his agency’s readiness to collaborate on the advancement of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria.
He promised the full support of NAEC for the success of a nuclear power plant in the country, saying that as the organisation saddled with the responsibility of regulating and developing Nigeria Inland Waterways, his entity is strategically positioned to play a critical role in the federal government’s quest for sustainable energy through the new technology.
General News
Pan-Africanism: Why Integration is Non-Negotiable for Africa’s Future

In a powerful call for continental solidarity, Ralph Mupita, Group CEO of MTN, has asserted that the future of the African continent depends on the dismantling of xenophobic barriers.

Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar, Mupita framed migration as a fundamental characteristic of the African identity, urging South Africa and other nations to embrace integration over exclusion.
He emphasised that the survival of African enterprises depends on a borderless approach to trade and talent. “The digital economy we’re fast moving to knows no borders.” Mupita declared, noting that the mindset of exclusion is an outdated relic that hinders the continent’s ability to compete globally.
He argued that for Africa to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the psychological barriers of xenophobia must be eradicated.
Providing a stark financial justification for this stance, Mupita highlighted MTN’s own operational reality as a blueprint for Pan-African success. “We earn about 80 to 82% of our earnings from outside South Africa,” he revealed, illustrating that the prosperity of South African-born entities is inextricably linked to their success across the rest of the continent. This figure underscores the interdependence of African economies and the danger of isolationist policies.
Mupita’s stance was strong advocating for unity: “The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us. Governments must set predictable policy and regulations.
Businesses will follow and allocate resources and capital. Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created.”
Analysts observing the seminar noted that Mupita’s remarks come at a critical juncture where economic volatility often fuels nationalist rhetoric. By tying the fight against xenophobia to the balance sheet, MTN is positioning Pan-Africanism beyond the moral imperative to its function as a business necessity. The CEO stressed that “Migration is part of who we are,” suggesting that the movement of people is the primary engine for the movement of capital and innovation.
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