E-Business
IT Meets Business as IDC Hosts 2015 West Africa CIO Summit
The much expected International Data Corporation (IDC) 2-day CIOs West Africa Summit 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria was attended top leaders in the company who inundated close to 200 Chief Information Officers (CIOs), drawn from the IT, banking, aviation, technology decision makers, and government advisors from across the region.
With the focus firmly placed on the event’s ‘Where IT Meets Business’ theme, a roster of expert speakers were on hand to drive home the importance of closely aligning IT and business functions at a time when the region’s IT leaders are coming under mounting pressure to enhance operational efficiencies through the implementation of transformative new tech solutions.
Bola Adisa, IDC’s country manager for West Africa, got the day’s proceedings underway by stressing the need for ICT chiefs and line-of-business executives to invoke the spirit of cooperation as they embrace ICT in their quest to facilitate key corporate objectives. “There can be little doubt that the 3rd Platform of computing is now in full swing, with cloud, big data, mobility, and social business set to account for one-third of all IT spending in 2015 and 100% of the market’s growth,” said Adisa.
“But the focus of CIOs across the region is already beginning to shift to the new wave of disruptive technologies that are heading their way, with unprecedented opportunities to drive innovation and value creation across all facets of the organization. This will not only require a new breed of CIO leadership, but also a whole new era of collaboration right across the CxO value chain.”
Stephen Elliot, IDC’s global vice president for research, collaborated Adisa’s views with an in-depth assessment of what the future has in store for the enterprise IT budget, offering pragmatic guidance on how business and IT leaders can effectively work together within a new budgetary paradigm.
Elliot said, “The rapidly transforming nature of today’s IT landscape is changing all the rules associated with buying, influencing, evaluating, and implementing technology,” said Elliot. “The evolving relationship between the IT department and the business, the shifting role of capital expenditure, and the increasing ease with which IT can be purchased outside of formal IT channels are all raising questions around the percentage of technology purchases that are truly funded from within the IT budget. In light of all this, it is critical that CIOs develop a clear understanding of precisely how much of their organization’s technology procurement sits within their sphere of influence and how much resides in the shadows cast by other departments.”
Also, Jyoti Lalchandani, IDC’s group vice president and regional MD for MEA, then addressed the need for businesses to sense and respond to their customers and markets faster than ever before.
“Ultimately, this calls for cross-functional agility, and the CIO is perfectly positioned to help facilitate such a state,” said Lalchandani.
“This can be achieved by ensuring that all departments have access to data and are able to collaborate efficiently and effectively, and by creating high levels of transparency and disassembling unproductive and ineffective silos. By enabling true cross-functional agility, companies and their employees are able to achieve better levels of performance, and it is crucial that the IT department is seen as the enabler of this shift in organizational culture.”
The delegates in attendance at the West Africa CIO Summit 2015 were drawn from a diverse range of industry sectors, with senior IDC analysts from across the globe available for private one-to-one meetings throughout the course of the event, offering strategic advice on the most pressing concerns troubling the region’s business and technology leaders today.
The event also played host to an exclusive workshop based on IDC’s IT Executive Program, with Stephen Elliot returning to assess the significance of the DevOps movement to organizations in West Africa and provide timely advice on leveraging collaboration to achieve optimal business outcomes.
Other sessions played host to senior representatives from some of the world’s foremost technology vendors as they offered strategic advice on a broad range of issues like delivering cross-functional agility, working with CxOs to achieve IT and business objectives, embracing the evolution of enterprise mobility, and understanding the IT transformation innovations that will drive true business value.
The final presentation of the day brought the curtain down on another hugely successful West Africa CIO Summit by outlining IDC’s top decision imperatives for the 2015 CIO agenda.
Aimed at helping CIOs step up to the next stage of leadership, this session provided the strategic context required for them to transform their enterprises through the creative application of technology to everyday business challenges.
To ensure the very latest technologies are covered at the West Africa CIO Summit 2015, IDC partnered with some of the world’s foremost ICT players, including EMC and Vodacom as Summit Partners; Dell, Intel, Sunnet Systems (in co-partnership with IBM), SAP, Samsung and Oracle as Platinum Partners; Netapp, Mainone and Cyberoam as Gold Partners; Magic Software and FVC as Exhibit Partners; and Winnigroup as Lunch Partner.
IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets.
The Company has been helping IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community makes fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy.
Apparently, more than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide.
For more than 51 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives.
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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