General News
Banks Should not Manage Risks Alone – Agu
Mr. George Agu is chief executive officer of ActivEdge Technologies Limited, a Pan African Information Technology Company, focused in development, Integration and Support of a wide range of Strategic and Transformational IT solution for the public and private sector. Prior to founding ActivEdge Technologies in Nigeria, George was the managing director of Neptune Software in the West African where he achieved remarkable success in over 2 years. He spoke to chike onwuegbuchi on the drive for the company and other issues.
IT Capacity
Nigeria is our country and we all share a responsibility of giving it the best possible. It is not a dumping ground and we must all wake up from our slumber to attend to issues bothering on value realization and optimization from every investment and spending particularly IT investments. Government is investing in IT, the private sector is investing in IT, each of these parties are investing with a mindset that certain set of values and objectives will be achieved. Our portion in the entire equation is to ensure that values are realized and optimized out of every cent spent by the stakeholders on projects. We must move from an environment where everyone can play to an environment where only well qualified and vetted experts can play which is why we would rather start by representing industry leaders and ultimately learning from it to built world class products.
If you look at the list of our partners which include ContinutySA, Avalon Biometrics, Experian, Mincom, Shaya Infosec, you would have formed a certain picture of reputation and quality in your mind, picture of achievements and authorities in various areas. The various partner companies are authorities in their own fields and there is only one reason for that: Projects are meant to succeed and they are not meant to be used as a learning ground.
These partners have made tremendous success in their various fields of specialization. ContinuitySA with over 21 years of leadership in BCM is the largest and foremost Business Continuity Management Company in Africa and to date, the only African based company who Exco sits on the board of BCI in the UK; Experian Decision Analytics with over 30 years of operations has over 20 credit bureaux globally, over 2000 customers, assist over 2 billion credit decisions yearly. Similarly, Avalon Biometrics are behind many voter registration projects, a simple example will include their projects in Philippines, Bangladesh and several others handled for the UNDP, the EU, and so on. We have chosen to operate this way because if it works out well in Nigeria, we are an immediate beneficiary in every way.
We want to leverage on the pedigree, the proven skill set, the capabilities, and the track record of those who have tried it and succeeded many times in delivering certain IT projects. We do not want to experiment with projects because projects are not toys, it must succeed. The purpose of projects, particularly government or private projects is economic development. In other words, success must rob off on the investment made and touch the lives of people for whom these investments have been made.
The success of projects must be felt by the stakeholders above and beyond reports and sign offs by the vendors and stakeholders; it must be felt. If the results are not felt, then you cannot really say that there is project success’.
Use of Biometrics
Biometrics has a wide range of uses and applications from homes, medicals, schools, telecoms, elections to anything because you cannot beat what it brings if well applied. Biometrics also comes in different forms, be it fingerprints, finger vein, palm vein, iris, thumbprints, retina scan, DNA, typing patterns, hand geometry, among others. Many countries have for example attained credible elections in recent times, thanks to Biometrics technology. According to Bruce Schneider, ‘Biometrics is seductive. Your voiceprint unlocks the door of your house. Your iris scan lets you into the corporate offices. You are your own key. Unfortunately, the reality isn’t that simple. Biometrics is hard to forge: it’s hard to put a false fingerprint on your finger, or make your iris look like someone else’s. Some people can mimic others’ voices, and
Hollywood can make people’s faces look like someone else, but these are specialized or expensive skills. When you see someone sign his name, you generally know it is he and not someone else’.
Focus of the Company
Active Edge Technologies is a is a multi faceted, multi expert IT company that is specialized in a wide range of solutions including Business Continuity Management, Risk Assessment and Analytics, Managed Security Services and Patch Management, Business Process Management and Biometrics.
Our role in this economy can be considered transformational. In business continuity management for instance, we have developed a short term, medium term and long term strategic plan aligned with goals for addressing BCM requirements of medium to large sized organizations. Failure to implement BCM by organizations can amount to reputation loss, increased operational costs and values; these are the issues that we intend to address. We are currently engaging organizations to provide information on the benefit of this exercise. I need to clarify that BCM and Basel2 share some common characteristics both in gain and deployment models. I say this because in most cases organizations embark on the two exercises due to regulation. In the same way, implementing BCM with a mindset of leveraging its benefits gives you a different result from implementing it because the regulatory authority has issued an order that compels organizations to do so.
So, we are engaging several organizations, banks, insurance companies, etc and providing them with as much information as we possibly can. We also use the same opportunity to know their various stages of implementation of BCM and where we can be of help. This will be followed by a training program which will be driven mainly by ContinuitySA. They will also be providing advisory, consulting and training services to individual organization based on request.
Our long term plan which we share with ContinuitySA is to build a world class business continuity management facility in Nigeria capable of hosting as many as 15 to 20 banks together should a disaster incidence occur. In the event of such an incident, we should be able to take host of these clients to the tune of 3,000 staff in a place. This facility once built should be able to have conference centres, contact centres, IT recovery centres, work areas recovery centres and so on. When you bring banks together and make them share a common business continuity management facility, what you have done is to save them from individually investing in houses, generators and people. This simply reduces their overall operational cost. This plan is a replica of a similar facility built by ContinuitySA in South Africa and a few other countries. They have operated it for several years now and they have the requisite skills to replicate the same facility here. We are very confident to work with ContinuitySA because they are the largest in that space in Africa today and they well understand some sensitive issues integrity and confidentiality of customer information mean.
Risk Analytic and Assessment System
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 65 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft. With over 30 years, Experian has developed its best practice analytical, consulting and product capabilities to support organizations to manage and optimize risk; prevent, detect and reduce fraud; reduce debt; meet regulatory obligations; and gain operational efficiencies throughout the customer relationship. We are working with Experian purely on account of our evaluation and assessment of the value that they can bring to the financial institutions in particular at this crucial time.
The work performed by most Risk Managers entails managing existing Risks. In that situation, less effort is invested in predictive Risk Assessment and Analytics, which ensures that new risks are detected and prevented from onset. A unique offering from Experian us is to give banks and other organization that grant any form of credit: Telcos, Insurance, etc a solution that ensures that they are able to detect and prevent risks even before it becomes part of the organizations and if they must allow it, they will have controls in place to be able to manage and control it. This is simply the strength of Experian’s Decision Analytics.
Vision for ActiveEdge Technologies
We want to be a recognized IT leader in Africa and beyond, an industry leader that delivers quality services and result to its customers. We want to be a choice organization for both customers and employees. A company that advances the capabilities, skills and employability of its staff, a company that benefits the social society, which is a dream that we have and where we are headed. We want to start from the point of representing industry leaders to innovating our own solutions and services. A few years from now, we are looking at having some unique products that will be patented on the African continent and globally. We want to look back and see real automation done in Nigerian, not just computerization. We would like to see more automation in the payment space, in the invoicing space, in the biometrics and identification space, in the banking space, in the finance and insurance space and the infrastructure space. These are our aspirations.
Breathe Life Foundation partnered with Teach Nigeria Fellow, Ms Bunmi Rotimi, to deliver a respiratory health awareness session for over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos.
The session equipped students aged 15–19 years with practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha, while challenging the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education. By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the Foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
Breathe Life Foundation is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
Nigeria’s technology retail landscape reached another significant milestone on Monday, August 3, 2026, as global technology giant ASUS, in partnership with Konga, officially commissioned its first flagship experience store in West Africa.
Strategically located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos; the heartbeat of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, the state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in customer experience, product accessibility, and digital innovation.
The launch also reinforces Konga’s growing reputation as a preferred gateway for leading global technology brands into the Nigerian market.
The landmark event attracted Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who officially commissioned the store.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Chief Operating Officer of Konga, Dave Omoregie; VP Omni-channel & Commercial Planning, Melvin Onochie; and Head of Marketing and Communications at Konga Group, Victor Oluwaleye.
The ASUS team was led by E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, alongside Business Development Manager, Sunnie Chen; Sales Manager, Mohammed Kazim; Gaming Product Manager, Joy Chen; Marketing Manager, Adeola Odeleye; and Sales Specialist, Williams Okenna.
The Honourable Minister described the facility as a defining achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that it is far more than the opening of a retail outlet.
He called it a strong vote of confidence by a global technology brand in Nigeria’s innovation, science, and technology ecosystem and the immense potential of its market.
He noted that his presence underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, describing such partnerships as essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy driven by private enterprise and enabled by government.
The Minister paid tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh, describing him as one of the foremost architects of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He announced that Ekeh had recently agreed to champion the Federal Government’s Youth and Students in Innovation initiative, a flagship programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with entrepreneurial and technology skills.
According to him, Ekeh’s decades of visionary entrepreneurship have played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s technology ecosystem and attracting prominent technology companies into the Nigerian market.
Using the occasion to address the international business community, the Minister encouraged global investors and brands to look beyond establishing commercial operations in Nigeria and actively partner with the government in driving national development.
He assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that safeguards investments and delivers sustainable returns.
Speaking at the event, ASUS E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, expressed appreciation to partners, government representatives, and customers for their support.
He explained that the flagship store was conceived to provide consumers with direct access to authentic ASUS products, and expressed confidence that the partnership with Konga will further accelerate the brand’s growth and strengthen customer engagement in the region.
The experience centre features dedicated sections showcasing ASUS’ complete portfolio of premium laptops, gaming devices, AI-powered PCs, and cutting-edge innovations. A standout attraction is an interactive digital display that allows visitors to explore ASUS’ latest technologies virtually before making purchase decisions, creating a more engaging and informed customer journey. Plus, every ASUS device purchased through the flagship store or online on Konga comes with a special one-year replacement warranty at no extra cost.
In his remark, Chief Operating Officer of Konga Group, Dave Omoregie, said the flagship store reflects Konga’s deliberate strategy to give Nigerian consumers a seamless blend of online and offline retail.
He noted that Konga’s logistics network, payment infrastructure, and nationwide retail footprint uniquely position the company to support global brands like ASUS at scale, while ensuring customers enjoy authentic products backed by reliable after-sales service.
According to him, the partnership demonstrates what becomes possible when world-class technology brands trust Nigerian platforms to deliver exceptional experiences, adding that Konga remains committed to setting the operational standard for authentic technology retail across the country.
The launch further reinforces the enduring partnership between ASUS and Konga, built on shared values of innovation, authenticity, and customer satisfaction.
It also highlights Konga’s continued evolution beyond traditional e-commerce into a comprehensive omnichannel technology ecosystem that combines online convenience with physical retail experiences.
For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the new ASUS Flagship Experience Store represents more than a retail outlet; it is a symbol of confidence in Nigeria’s technology market. It highlights Konga’s commitment to bridging the gap between global technology brands and Nigerian consumers. With its robust logistics infrastructure, digital payment solutions, and nationwide physical retail presence, Konga continues to set the standard for authentic, accessible, and reliable technology retail across Africa.
The flagship store opening featured guided product demonstrations, immersive technology experiences, exclusive launch-day offers and customer engagement activities celebrating this historic milestone.
Customers can begin shopping immediately at the ASUS Flagship Experience Store, located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos. Visitors can explore authentic ASUS products, experience live product demonstrations, receive expert guidance, and access dedicated Starlink customer-support services.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice; Olatunji Rilwan Disu, inspector-general of Police, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion in public funds were missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The allegations are contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, the organisation urged the government to ensure that anyone implicated in the report is prosecuted and that all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition are recovered.
“Anyone suspected to be responsible—including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report—should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
SERAP described the Auditor-General’s findings as a serious breach of public trust.
“The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition.”
The organisation also expressed concern over allegations involving missing firearms, unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, and poor storage of weapons.
“The report also raises serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.”
According to SERAP, the alleged diversion of funds meant for policing and the reported irregularities have weakened the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
The organisation said the Auditor-General’s report documented several alleged financial irregularities, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, irregular procurement, unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims and payments for services allegedly not rendered.
“The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
“The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”SERAP further cited allegations of missing firearms and ammunition, failures to properly account for recovered weapons and exhibits, and insecure storage of firearms.
“The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its demands, warning that it would pursue legal action if no response is received.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP also argued that the allegations, if left unaddressed, would violate constitutional provisions requiring the government to combat corruption and safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Among the specific findings cited from the Auditor-General’s report were allegations of payments for abandoned and unexecuted police projects worth hundreds of millions of naira, inflated contract values, unretired cash advances, irregular procurement processes, unsettled insurance claims exceeding ₦681 million, over ₦1 billion in uncleared insurance policy liabilities, missing firearms and ammunition, unauthorised release of police exhibits, and contracts allegedly awarded without due diligence by the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
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