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NITDA Tasks Local IT Companies on Standards, Commissions Software Testing Lab‎

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If Nigeria most play actively in the global Information Communication Technology space then the nation’s IT regulatory body has to strategically evolve process to enable Nigeria position herself for this.

The National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA which was established to create a frame work for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, co-ordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of information technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria is without doubt leaving no stone unturned towards achieving this mandate.

As part of the agency’s role is to develop information technology in the country through regulations, standards and requisite guidelines and policies, NITDA has further demonstrated its resolve to ensure Nigeria IT companies can compete favourably with other global organizations through best international practices.

This formed the basis of NITDAs recent certification and accreditation of some IT companies in Lagos.

Similarly, the Agency c‎ommissioned a software testing center which is the first of its kind on the continent.‎

According to ‎Mr Peter Jack,‎ Director General of NITDA,  “after rigorous process spanning over a period of one year plus and having met the required conditions and necessary international professional certification, NITDA has decided to formally present certification of accreditation to Nigeria’s first so certified Business Process Outsourcing Academy to help train and facilitate the needed human capacity in the vastly untapped sub-sector of Nigeria’s economy”.

Peter Jack stated that I.T products and I.T training certification programme was a necessity as it would save Nigeria from being a trash house for inferior products and sub-standard services in Nigeria especially with respect to BPO and Original Equipment Manufacturers.

The NITDA Director General added that the agency’s mission was therefore born out of the shared desire to strategically position the outsourcing and local OEM as a major contribution to the Nation’s gross domestic product through the provision of skilled workforce to take up responsibilities in the I.T industry and as well attract international I.T companies to Nigeria.

With the accreditation of BPO Academy, NITDA in partnership with the training centre according to the Mr Obiora Madu, chief executive officer of BPO wil help Nigeria’s quest to bridge the gap in the outsourcing industry as it has taken a bold step to accredit Business Process Outsourcing Academy as a training provider for the industry.

‎Obira added that “the choice of the Academy is due to its pioneering leadership status as the first Pan Nigerian BPO training organization and consulting firm in Nigeria”.

Statistics from the international trade center indicate that by 2050, 80% of the workforce worldwide will be working in services sector.

The growing competitive business environment has positioned Business Process Outsourcing as a key source of competitive advantage.

In a related development, NITDA also pointed out that the local OEM need constant certification and recertification in order to put them on their tools.

The Director General of ‎NITDA said, the previous focus of NITDA was on the development of I.T but today, NITDA is focusing on guidelines and policy formation by ensuring quality of locally made I.T products to compete with globally made products. 

In ways like never before, Nigerian companies are on the rise taking on huge challenges and overcoming after sales support services.

Peter Jack said, the road to insurance license for OMEs was tasking and tedious because the agency had to subject RLG products to various regulatory tests before the certification was approved.

Indeed, with the rise of such events in the economy of Nigeria, the country is on her way to taking her rightful place as the giant of Africa.

Responding, ‎Mr Tosin Ilesanmi‎, regional dpirector, RLG West Africa,  praised NITDA’s efforts and pledged the companies resolve to keep up with its innovative edge will promising to sustain the highest quality standards of its products.

So‎ftware Testing Centre‎
NITDA also commissioned the software testing centre in order to test software designs and provide business solutions as well as ensuring that all software developed in Nigeria are certified at the centre to ascertain their dependability.

The‎ Director General said, “the whole essence of the centre is to provide a hub for younger developers and ensure that any software developed in Nigeria will be tested and as a spill off provide market opportunities for the software sub sector” .

The industry has been delivering its mandates through human capacity programmes such as scholarship schemes for graduates and under graduates, and also job opportunities just as this software building is also aimed at creating jobs for Nigerians.

The occasion was graced by cream of ICT sector who shared their views and suggestions.

According to Mr. Rowland Omoseremi, project consultant, by this singular act NITDA no doubt has demonstrated its readiness to place Nigeria as a hub in software development.

He said his organisation with huge international experiences in the United States and other parts of Africa was adopt a marketable approach for the sustenance of the facility through privately driven approach.

While lending his voice to the initiative, Mr Pius Okigbo, president Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria said, NITDA has taken a bold step towards writing Nigeria’s name in gold given the potentials of the centre to help engage youths and provide job opportunities.

Peter Jack, director general, expressed NITDA\’S drive to promote innovations and create job opportunities through ICT in Nigeria.

He observed that the current software policy which was developed over 10years ago has become outdated and no longer relevant to today\’s exigencies given the dynamics in technological evolution over time.


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Access Holdings, Coronation Partner Tate Modern to Spotlight Nigerian Modernism

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Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group have partnered with Tate Modern to commemorate World Art Day with a virtual session highlighting the global significance of Nigerian modernism.

Access Holdings, Coronation Partner Tate Modern to Spotlight Nigerian Modernism

Access Holdings

The event, titled “In Conversation with Osei Bonsu: Inside Nigerian Modernism,” featured a virtual tour of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition and discussions on the evolution of modern art in Nigeria.

The session brought together staff members across both organisations, reflecting growing institutional engagement with arts and culture as a driver of societal development.

Speaking at the event, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer of Coronation Group, Ngozi Akinyele, emphasised the role of art in shaping identity and national development.

She said that beyond financial capital, cultural and intellectual capital are essential in defining a nation’s prosperity and inspiring dialogue.

Akinyele noted that both organisations were committed to democratising access to art, ensuring it is accessible to a wider audience rather than a select few.

The discussion also featured insights from Tate Modern Curator, Osei Bonsu, and art expert Daniel Wallis, who examined the development of Nigerian modernism and its global relevance.

Bonsu said Nigerian modernism represents an independent reimagining of global art, rooted in the country’s diverse cultural heritage and expressed through unique visual languages.

According to him, the movement challenges narrow, Eurocentric definitions of modernism and highlights the richness of African artistic expression.

The session further underscored the growing international recognition of Nigerian art, particularly through exhibitions at Tate Modern.

Participants also reflected on the visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the exhibition, described as a milestone in promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage globally.

In his closing remarks, Chief Communications Officer of Access Holdings, Amaechi Okobi, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing African narratives on the global stage.

He said the collaboration with Tate Modern aligns with broader efforts to promote dialogue, preserve cultural identity and support the creative sector.

The event reinforced a shared commitment by Access Holdings, Coronation Group and Tate Modern to elevate African art globally and ensure Nigerian cultural narratives continue to shape international conversations.


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NDPC Issues Critical Advisory as Hackers Target Nigeria’s Key Digital Systems

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Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued a regulatory advisory to data controllers and processors across the country following what it described as escalating threats to Nigeria’s data security architecture.

NDPC Issues Critical Advisory as Hackers Target Nigeria’s Key Digital Systems

NDPC

In a statement signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, lead of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, the commission said its technical assessment revealed that some shadowy threat actors were engaged in coordinated operations targeting financial systems and critical digital infrastructure in Nigeria.

The commission urged public institutions to comply with the presidential directive of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasises the strategic importance of data in national development.

According to the NDPC, the President had declared that “data is the new oil,” stressing the need for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to rigorously capture and safeguard information in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

The commission therefore advised all data controllers and processors to urgently strengthen their technical and organisational measures to protect personal data and ensure compliance with the law.

It listed key measures to include the appointment of trained and certified Data Protection Officers, implementation of comprehensive privacy policies and information security standards, as well as conducting Data Privacy Impact Assessments.

Other measures recommended by the NDPC include deployment of robust identity and access controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication, adoption of zero-trust security architecture, prompt remediation of system vulnerabilities, and continuous patch management.

The commission also emphasised the need to secure cloud infrastructure, application programming interfaces (APIs), databases and access credentials, alongside real-time monitoring, logging and threat detection systems.

Further recommendations include encryption and secure credential handling, regular vulnerability assessment and penetration testing of critical systems, as well as routine backup and resilience testing.

The NDPC warned that organisations that fail to implement appropriate data protection measures in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 risk legal liabilities.

It reiterated its commitment to providing regulatory support to organisations while ensuring the protection of personal data and strengthening institutional resilience across all sectors.


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Africa’s Forex Market in 2026: Key Trends Every Trader Should Watch

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The forex market across Africa is witnessing more participants and more regulatory attention than it did just a few years ago. This growth is part of a bigger picture: Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to expand by 4.3% in 2026, while global forex turnover already hit an estimated $9.6 trillion daily in April 2025. However, there’s more to it than macroeconomic figures.

Africa's Forex Market in 2026: Key Trends Every Trader Should Watch

The trends reshaping the market are happening from within. Here are six worth paying close attention to.

1. Trading Has Moved to the Phone

The number of people accessing the market via mobile phones exceeds those accessing it via traditional bank systems. GSMA states that in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are more than 1.1 billion registered mobile money accounts.

The International Monetary Fund states that digitalisation and increased usage of the internet are changing payment systems in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Mobile access changes traders’ behavior. It lowers the barrier to entry and speeds up deposits and withdrawals. Therefore, brokers who can provide a quality mobile trading experience will have a huge advantage.

2. Regulators Are Watching

The market is becoming more structured and more transparent. In South Africa, the FSCA regulates market conduct for financial institutions. In Kenya, the Capital Markets Authority regulates capital markets and maintains a licensing system that includes online forex brokers.

Nigeria’s SEC has publicly warned that online retail forex trading can be subject to abuse when unregulated. It also provides tools for investors to check operators’ registrations.

As a result, in 2026, more traders are likely to favour brokers that can show clear licensing, transparent operations, and stronger investor safeguards.

3. Volatility Varies by Country

A common mistake is perceiving the African market as one entity. In reality, according to RegTech Afrika, there are 21 countries out of a total of 54 that have a chance of seeing their currencies depreciate in 2025, with some of them losing value by as much as 6% or more.

A trader watching the rand, naira, shilling, or cedi, regional headlines needs more than regional headlines. Country-level macro data, central bank moves, and the US dollar will still play a major role.

4. Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure Is Quietly Improving

Platforms like PAPSS are helping make payments across African countries faster and easier to complete in local currencies. According to official announcements of PAPSS, it has become operational in 18 countries across Africa, with its latest launch in Algeria in 2025. It has also become operational in Kenya through a partnership with KCB Group, as well as in Rwanda through a partnership with Bank of Kigali.

Step by step, Africa is becoming a more financially connected continent.

5. Execution Quality Is the New Standard

Data from the BIS shows that in April 2025, three-quarters of FX trades were intermediated by the global centers of the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Therefore, the best liquidity and best prices are still linked to global conditions.

For local markets, this raises the bar. Forex traders are becoming increasingly aware that tight spreads, while important, mean little without reliable prices and execution. Brokers like JustMarkets that can bring all of these elements together are in a much stronger position than competitors.

6. Education as a Necessity

Regulatory disclosures from major global brokers illustrate how tough it is to trade without proper knowledge. According to publicly available disclosures, between 70% and 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

Forex traders who understand risk management and which financial news to follow have a better chance of surviving the market. Brokers who invest in education are more likely to be seen by traders as valuable partners rather than mere facilitators.
The Market Rewards the Prepared

Africa’s forex market in 2026 is shaped by volatility, stricter rules, and mobile-first trading. The traders who combine market knowledge with the right tools and the right broker will find real opportunity here, while those who don’t adapt will find the market increasingly unforgiving.


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