General News
‘Converging’ ICT Policy Should Toe Existing Guidelines-Asor
Dr. Vincent Asor is the chairman, Education and Manpower Services, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), is the umbrella organization of all Information Technology Professionals, Interest Groups and Stakeholders in Nigeria.
Asor specializes in Solid Dynamics, Mathematical Modeling and Simulation. After 21 years in the oil and gas industry, Shell International, in particular, he retired on February 29, to focus on IT practice covering systems design, development- support and planning.
The dogged IT expert has spent 23 years in the industry.
On the wake of drafting a national ICT policy for the country, spurred by the birth of the Ministry of Communications Technology, he has been vocal on what should form the basics of the process. He spoke with peter ugwu.
National ICT Policy Thrust: Panacea to End Nigeria’s ICT Consumerism
If the policy is clearly stated right from the beginning, it is capital YES!!! That is, the policy document should be used by the government to set goals and to declare government’s intentions.
Your Focus Addressing challenges of Key Terms Like Computer Penetration
I spoke on this during the public forum drawing from the work of Lanre Ajayi. Penetration, Governance and Outsourcing wasn’t obvious and the following submission was made: On Computer Penetration, this must be seen as the measurement index for the nation’s e-Readiness. Every Nigerian can own a computer in the long term. But within the time frame of this policy, let there be a realistic Computer penetration goal. Again, like Lanre Ajayi suggested in his submission which I am drawing largely from, we can set a penetration of say 20 in 100 people which is still less than half of the telephone penetration (telephone density) of about 50 in 100 that we have achieved. To achieve this target, we can then begin to say things like: Government shall ensure that all students from primary to University own a computer and so on using related funding organs like NITDEF, USPF, ETF and PTDF.
Broadband
The policy should be sacrosanct on broadband penetration and a set target made. The set target is realizable as a function of the set goal of computer penetration.
Internet Governance
There was no mention of Internet governance. This should be clearly addressed. By internet governance or e-government is a general term describing the use of technologies to facilitate the operation of government and the disbursement of government information and services. It deals heavily with Internet applications to aid in governments, but also covers a number of non-Internet concerns. In the general sense, e-government can refer to such mundane uses of electronics in government as large-scale use of telephones and fax machines, surveillance systems, tracking systems such as RFID tags, and even the use of television and radios to spread government-related information. In this sense, e-government is not a new phenomenon by any means. The use of radio waves to spread disaster warnings, or to give information on voting, is a facet of e-government that has been in use for many years. In many countries with state-operated media, the entire media becomes a form of e-government, helping to spread pro-government messages. However, internet governance helps in government tracking systems of citizens, omnipresent surveillance and biometric identification are some e-government applications that have many privacy advocates concerned about the growing role of e-government. So, with the growing pervasiveness of the Internet, new opportunities are becoming available for managing the business of government online. The disbursement of social security, the handling of government works projects, and providing information on representatives online are all examples of e-government in action. In essence, internet governance should be perceived as a human right platform in governance; channel of informing the people on the activities of the government, but not without checkmating abuses.
On Outsourcing
On outsourcing, the submission is that there is no outsourcing policy in Nigeria. The opportunity is here and we should create one in this document so that both local and foreign investors can be attracted into this segment with the objective of creating jobs for our people and increasing Information Technology (IT) contribution to our GDP. In fact, is quite expedient that the policy, at its incubating stage addresses the aspect of making the ICT sector become viable for the academia and investors; that is the panacea to ensure we migrate from a consuming nation in terms of ICT products and services to become a manufacturing nation.
Fears and Optimisms of Collapsing Regulatory Bodies Like NCC, Nipost
We must get it right first time, otherwise, we will be messed up big time. A regulatory body is a regulatory body. It is set up by an act of parliament. You cannot for instance say the Computer Professions registration council of Nigeria (CPN) which is the regulatory body for all IT practice is now department of what? No, no. That is like saying the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is now a department in the Ministry of Works, you know. There is something we are not getting right and we must be properly tutored in this thing. Look at two simple cases: Firstly, Convergence is emphasized in so many parts of the document. The draft policy appears to posit that having a converged regulatory structure implies industry convergence. While the enabling environment might be an influencer, convergence as an industry trend is the outcome of the inherent logic of technology innovation and free market dynamics. Convergence in the ministry does not mean convergence in the industry. Secondly, the other case is that of National information Technology Development Agency (Nitda). Sufficient attention must be given to Nitda in our Policy document. It must be recognized that Nitda is the hub for IT Development in Nigeria. Roles must therefore be rationalized and properly defined to strengthen her role for the diffusion of Information Technology in Nigeria. As long as these knotty issues are addressed once and for all, there are no fears. This regulator talk is laughable and people don’t want to be sincere. There is already a regulator. It is Computer Professions registration council of Nigeria (CPN). All we need to do is to rally round the Minister, support her and help her to perform her roles as established by the Act that created the new Ministry. CPN is to the Computer Profession what COREN is to the Engineering Profession. So, what regulator are we discussing again?
Impact of Existing IT Policy Document on the Current Reform
Prior to the creation of the new Ministry, there existed an IT policy document. The ‘converged’ new Policy should start from there and then incorporate others like Communications, Postal, etc. It can also of course be the other way round too. Take the policies from the other arms, remove redundancies and produce a sweet policy document. We shall get there!!!
ICT Ministry Redirecting Mindsets in the Industry
IT rules the world. I have not thought of what can beat this dominance. The Honorable Minister is already telling everyone who cares to listen. Her outreach program is unbeatable. See how she started – open forum; and she has continued in this stead. We are on the right track. Mindsets will change accordingly. She has my unalloyed support and loyalty.
Recommended ICT Benchmark set for the Nation
There is nothing new in benchmarking. Unless you are saying we should create a Nigerian benchmarking which will be absurd. These sectors are global and the acceptable benchmark should be International. We can take redress from UNESCO.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.
Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has renewed its commitment to deepening financial inclusion across the country. At the CeBIH Annual Conference 2025, themed “Reimagining Financial Inclusion through Cultural Shifts in Consumer Credit,” PalmPay’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, urged industry players to deepen financial inclusion by embracing community-aligned solutions and customer-centric innovations that can better serve Nigeria’s underserved and unbanked populations.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Social Inclusion, A Veritable Tool for Financial Inclusion,” Chika Nwosu joined other industry leaders to share insights on strengthening participation among women, rural dwellers, low-income earners, and other financially excluded groups.
Chika Nwosu highlighted PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive finance through its 500,000-strong agent network, which enables seamless cash-in/cash-out services for unbanked users across Nigeria. He also emphasised the importance of PalmPay’s USSD platform, 861#, which allows users with basic phones or limited internet access to perform essential financial transactions.
“Financial inclusion goes beyond access; it must be equitable and tailored to real-life needs,” Chika Nwosu said. He shared how PalmPay leverages behavioural insights to design impactful services, including affordable health insurance, reliable bill payments, merchant solutions, and automated savings features that support financial discipline among users.
The session further examined the role of grassroots agents and community touchpoints in driving last-mile adoption. Chika Nwosu noted that PalmPay’s widespread community presence continues to build trust and encourage excluded populations to embrace digital financial tools.
The session was moderated by Ronke Kuye of the CeBIH Advisory Council and featured representatives from E-Doc Online, SmartCash Payment Service Bank, SANEF, and EFINA.
PalmPay reaffirmed its commitment to driving accessible, secure, and inclusive financial services for all Nigerians. PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
Reality Defender and 1Kosmos have announced a strategic partnership that will see the deepfake detection firm integrate its real-time deepfake defenses into 1Kosmos’ blockchain-based biometric authentication platform.
Deepfake
A release says the integration enhances the platform’s existing PAD capabilities with new signals on both live and pre-recorded AI-generated image and video impersonations: “multimodal deepfake detection” that “enhances ISO/IEC 30107-3 PAD Level 2 performance to counter the growing share of synthetic-media attacks.”
“Deepfake attacks are evolving faster than most organizations can adapt, and detecting them requires specialized, continuously updated models,” says Ben Colman, CEO of Reality Defender. Reality Defender’s models keep pace with regulatory changes like the EU AI Act and upcoming ISO 25456 standards, to ensure seamless compliance.
“Advances in AI-generated impersonations are rewriting the rules of identity assurance and ratcheting up fraud losses,” says Mike Engle, chief strategy officer for 1Kosmos. “By adding Reality Defender as an embedded detection layer, we’re enabling enterprises to verify identity with greater certainty and stop AI-driven impersonation attacks before they result in financial loss, brand damage, or regulatory consequences.”
The product deploys without friction, integrating natively into existing 1Kosmos workflows, identity stacks, and user experiences with no new licenses, retraining or rearchitecture.
Resemble AI heads straight to market with new funding
Resemble AI has raised 13 million dollars in strategic funding to accelerate development on its voice generation and deepfake detection products. An announcement says the investment round includes Google’s AI Future Fund, Okta Ventures, Taiwania Capital, Gentree Fund, IAG Capital Partners, Berkeley Frontier Fund and KDDI – partnerships, the firm says, that “create immediate paths to market distribution and embed our technology within key identity and security ecosystems.”
The company says its deepfake detection model achieves 98 percent accuracy across more than 40 languages with multimodal threat detection across audio, video, images and text, and enhanced explainability for content analysis. It intends to use the investment to “fuel our global expansion and accelerate the development of our AI detection platform.”
FARx releases new multimodal deepfake detection tool
FARx, which bills itself as “the world’s only fused-biometrics company,” has announced the launch of FARx 2.0, its new generation of biometric software which fuses speaker, speech and face recognition for added capabilities in synthetic and cloned voice detection. The software can be integrated into browsers, apps and communication systems, and operates in the background to provide continuous multi-factor authentication without disruption.
A post on the firm’s LinkedIn page says FARx 2.0 “identifies not just what is being said but who is speaking, enabling it to detect and block attempts to spoof someone’s identity using synthetic voices, deepfakes, or cloned audio and video.” Trained on some 55,000 synthetic voices from real telephony environments, it can “reliably distinguish between real and AI-generated voices.”
The Malvern Gazette quotes Clive Summerfield, CEO of the Worcestershire, UK-based firm, who says the new product aims to deliver “an even more sophisticated, flexible biometric multi-factor authentication technology to users across a broad range of industries and applications.”
“Legacy voice biometrics and traditional MFA systems are simply no longer enough to outsmart the new era of AI-powered threats.”
The launch follows a recent investment of 250,000 pounds (about US$337,00) through the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).
Grant funds deepfake tool tailored to South Korea, Singapore
A team from Singapore Management University (SMU) has won a grant to develop a deepfake detection tool. A release says the project will be “the first multilingual deepfake data set that includes dialectal variants such as Singlish and Korean dialects.”
“Many existing tools don’t perform well on Asian languages, accents, or content,” says Professor He Shengfeng, who leads the team. “We’re focused on building something that fits the specific needs of our region.”
Understanding different linguistic, socio-cultural and environmental characteristics was a key requirement for the grant, which comes from AI Singapore (AISG) and South Korea’s Institute for Information & Communication Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP).
The team has dubbed its tool DeepShield, which its proposal paper calls “the first unified interpretable detection system capable of handling diverse and multi-modal manipulations – including object insertions, lighting alterations, background swaps, and voice dubbing – within a single, explainable pipeline.”
Overall, DeepShield wants to position itself as “not merely a detection tool, but a next-generation AI governance layer for digital media integrity – setting it apart from commercial offerings in both ambition and design.” The ultimate goal is a spin-off startup that He imagines licensing services such as deepfake forensics, media authenticity verification, enterprise compliance and digital governance to public and private enterprise.
Work commences in January 2026 with the scouring of large-scale, publicly available datasets such as the YouTube8M dataset.
Ant International’s winning deepfake detector looks to eliminate bias
Ant International has won first place at the NeurIPS Competition of Fairness in AI Face Detection. A release from the company says its entry trumped over 2,100 submissions from 162 teams globally.
The deepfake detection contest challenged participants to develop AI models that “not only achieve high-utility performance but also demonstrate fairness across demographic subgroups such as gender, age, and skin tone.”
“A biased AI is an insecure AI,” says Dr. Tianyi Zhang, general manager of risk management and cybersecurity at Ant International. “Our model’s fairness prevents exploitation from deepfakes and ensures reliable identity verification for all users, supporting our mission to deliver secure and inclusive financial services worldwide.”
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