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Jega, Technology Keys to Successful 2015 Elections- Zinox Chairman
Mr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, chairman, Zinox Group on Thursday said that Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the technological inputs were keys to the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections in the country.
Ekeh made the remark at the median quarterly seminar organised by the Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) held in Lagos.
He however said that Jega deserves commendation for his role in ensuring that individuals did not scuttle the process, adding that IT sector was ready for full implementation of electronic voting system in the country.
On technology evolution in Nigeria, he said, Zinox, now a Group, saw the future of the industry close to two decades ago, citing the Abacha regime as setting the pace and subsequent regimes have continued to bring transformations to the industry.
He said that they at Zinox Group have been focused since then on the trajectory.
Ekeh also described the seminar as adding value to the industry through discussions and as a way of assessing how it has faired.
The Zinox Chairman who also chaired the occasion, was particularly elated that the industry regulator, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), gave room for local partnership in the early days of telecom licencing which spurred the revolution now evident in the sector.
He said, “Let me start by making reference to the just concluded general elections; technology and Prof. Jega’s integrity were key in rescuing the country from envisage breakdown of law and order.
“In particular, those who were prepared for massive rigging met their waterloo, as technology empowered electorate got even live recordings and videos of some abnormalities exhibited in some quarters. Technology, apparently has deleted massive rigging; except in few cases”.
Zinox Computer was among the first group of companies that started the revolution about 5years ago when they supplied the first 17,500 card-readers for data capturing.
“As part of the impact of technology on the society, integrity is been enhanced and foreigners can conveniently and confidently do businesses with Nigerians because authentication, applications and other solutions have made businesses to be at apar with counterparts in the world,” he said.
On employment generation, he said that Zinox Group believes government should be bold enough to invest about $500m on just four Nigerians, they can build multi-billion dollar companies that will take millions of young people out of labour market; even more than Dangote and some other sectors have done.
He further commended Etisalat Nigeria for taking the bold steps to supporting the seminar.
According to the Ekeh, Etisalat’s role changed the face of communication, advertorial, consumer engagement and other transformation they brought.
On NCC, he said, “The nation’s telecoms regulator has done credibly well, exhibiting passion, and desires for excellence. Worthy of note is NCC’s ability to rebuff personalities and authorities and have gone ahead to sanction operators when necessary with the sole aim of enhancing quality to service.
He said such actions by NCC have been yielding results as quality of service in the country can be rated even better in some parts of Europe.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
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