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TD Mobile to #GirlsInICT: The Future is Here, Seize It

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Gozy Ijogun, managing director, TD Mobile.
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An education in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines (STEM) is a necessity for everyone, especially girls who desire to be counted among future global citizens, said Mrs. Gozy Ijogun, managing director, TD Mobile.

Mrs. Ijogun made the remark during in her speech on Tuesday at the 2017 Girls in ICT Day celebration organized by e-Business Life at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, stressing that this is an era in which the world will come to rely, more than ever, on its female population to show the way forward.

“Actually, we are approaching what is being regarded as the age of super-computers and artificial intelligence: a world in which robots will play a greater role in our society and replacing humans in various fields of endeavor including law, warehousing, factories and traffic control: an age in which driver-less cars are expected to come into place, radically revolutionizing society’s dynamics; a world in which many individuals and entire continents will be left behind in the relentlessly fast-paced nature of global digital evolution.

“In this current age that we find ourselves, an education in the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a necessity for everyone if you desire to be counted among future global citizens. This is an era in which the world will come to rely, more than ever, on its female population to show the way forward.

“If you are still in doubt about your role in the emerging global order; if you still regard Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or a career in Information and Communication Technology as one for the boys; if you are still innocently unaware of the sweeping ICT revolution today and if you remain skeptical of your role in shaping the course of Nigeria’s history, then think again”, she said.

According to the TD Mobile boss, women, the world over, are breaking the shackles that have long held them back. “For all of us in this room and other young girls and women in Nigeria, we must wake up from our slumber or stand the risk of being left behind”, she advocated. “Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, a woman, is the most powerful person in Germany today. Hilary Clinton, another woman, came so close to becoming the President of the most powerful country in the world today – the United States of America. Indeed, many believe there was external interference in the elections else she would have emerged winner. And to bring it further home, Amina Mohammed, a woman, a Nigerian, was recently appointed the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations”.

Mrs. Ijogun reiterated that in the corporate world as well, a number of women have taken the bold step of not only embracing the STEM disciplines but also making a successful career in the ICT industry.

“The list is seemingly endless…Sheryl Sandberg is today the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, one of the world’s most popular social media engine. Angela Ahrendts is Senior Vice President of Apple’s retail and online stores – a woman who reportedly earned more than CEO, Tim Cook last year. YouTube, which I am sure many of you use, has a female CEO. Her name is Susan Wojcicki. IBM, one of the world’s most successful technology companies also has a female CEO, Virginia Rometty.

“What about HP? CEO Meg Whitman is a woman. Same goes for Yahoo! The company’s CEO is a woman: Marissa Mayer and Oracle, another globally renowned technology company recently promoted Safra Catz, a woman, to the position of co-CEO.

“Gone are the days when it was said that the world we live in is a man’s world or when certain disciplines, jobs or occupations were believed to be the sole preserve of the men-folk. These days, the world no longer cares about your gender but about your capabilities, your zeal and your capacity to deliver the goods,” she said.

She charged the girls to be ready to stand up and be counted, as the place of young girls and women in the global scheme of things cannot be over-emphasized.

“After all, women make up more than half of the world’s population. In Nigeria, for instance, despite the absence of reliable statistics, current fertility and birth rates indicate that females outnumber their male counterparts by four to one.

“If we have such a preponderance of girls being born, it goes without saying that we must play a much more crucial role in the development of our society. Indeed, no society can achieve any form of significant development without the active involvement and participation of its females.

“According to Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg: ‘No industry or country can reach its full potential until women reach their full potential. This is especially true of science and technology, where women with a surplus of talent still face a deficit of opportunity.’

“Former First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama also toes the same line as Sandberg in her contribution on this issue. In her words: ‘We need all hands on deck, and that means clearing all hurdles for women and girls as they navigate careers in science, technology, engineering and math.’

“Tyler Golden, renowned Talent Manager also had this to say: ‘When you consider that women make up half the world’s population and workforce, but they hold a much smaller percentage of its technology jobs, it’s clear that our industry is missing out on a big potential source of talent,’” she reminded guests at the e-Business Life event.

Citing her background in STEM as crucial in building TD and TD mobile brand in Nigeria, Mrs. Ijogun, said, “To begin with, I do not think that I am more intelligent than any of you in this room. Your generation is more exposed, more aware of information and more open to new ideas and sophisticated learning tools than we had when I was at your age. My little daughter is a very good example of this. Her vocabulary and sense of awareness, even at a very tender age, never ceases to amaze me.

“I must, however, point out that the journey begins from this stage of your lives. I had always fancied the STEM disciplines and as a result, I made it a dream to pursue a career in the sciences. I started out by studying Chemistry in my first degree. I probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve this if I hadn’t embraced the various science subjects in my formative years in High School. After completing my first degree, I had proceeded to enroll for a Master’s degree in Accounting, Organization and Institution which I achieved with distinction from the London School of Economics.

“This educational background certainly paved the way for me to seek a career in the ICT sector where I first started out working with HP before joining my current organization, Technology Distributions Ltd. in 2013. It was while here that we launched TD Mobile in 2014, the entity I currently head, and which within the space of three years, has become the biggest mobile devices distributor not only in Nigeria but in the West African sub-region”.

 


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WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

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World Health Organisation (WHO) at the weekend declared the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a global public health emergency.

WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

WHO said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of Ebola.

At home, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said there is “no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria” but had  tightened surveillance against the deadly virus.

The outbreak, linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already caused dozens of deaths in Congo and spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider transmission across the region.

In response, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that the country remains on alert because of growing movement across African borders.

Jide Idris, director-general said the agency was “closely monitoring the situation” and working with the Port Health Services and other health agencies to strengthen preparedness nationwide.

He added that surveillance has been increased at entry points and within Nigeria’s health system.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has recorded more than 240 suspected cases and about 80 suspected deaths in Congo’s Ituri province, while imported cases have also been confirmed in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The WHO said the outbreak is “extraordinary” because of uncertainty around the true number of infections and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain.

Health authorities advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected persons and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting and bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately.

Nigeria was declared Ebola-free in 2014 after successfully containing an outbreak brought into the country by an infected traveler from Liberia.

 

 


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Digital PayExpo 2026 to Convene Africa’s Most Influential Payments Leaders in Lagos

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Africa’s digital payments ecosystem will take center stage as Digital PayExpo 2026 returns to Lagos on June 17–18, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, under the theme: “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the AI Era.”

At a time when artificial intelligence, cross-border commerce, and financial inclusion are redefining Africa’s economic future, the event is set to convene over 3,000 senior executives, policymakers, fintech innovators, and global technology providers.

The speaker lineup reflects a powerful blend of regulatory leadership, private sector innovation, and pan-African expertise.

Among the headline speakers:

  • Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, Director, Payment Systems Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria — a key architect in Nigeria’s payment system reforms.
  • Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager & Area Business Head (West Africa), Mastercard — a leading voice in digital payments expansion across Africa.
  • Clara B. Arthur, Managing Director, GhIPSS (Ghana) — driving Ghana’s interoperable payment ecosystem.
  • Wacera Maina, Chief Operations Officer, Kenwitch Kenya — an expert in East Africa’s payment infrastructure evolution.
  • Akeem Lawal, CEO, Interswitch Group — a pioneer in Africa’s fintech growth story.
  • Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director, NIBSS — shaping Nigeria’s core payment infrastructure.

The conference will explore:

  • AI-powered financial services
  • Cross-border payment systems and interoperability
  • Cybersecurity and trust frameworks
  • SME financing and financial inclusion
  • Infrastructure for a unified African digital economy

With participation from banks, fintechs, telcos, regulators, and global payment networks, Digital PayExpo 2026 is positioned as a critical marketplace for ideas, partnerships, and investment flows. Register: https://digitalpayexpo.com/register
Sponsorship Enquiries: [email protected]


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Only 1 in 3 Families Fully Secure their Devices, Kaspersky Study Reveals

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On International Day of Families observed on May 15th, a global Kaspersky study* reveals that while 47% of respondents talk about online safety, only 33% secure all their family devices – highlighting the need for proactivity from Family Digital Managers.

As online threats develop and every generation joins the online space, cybersecurity habits have become an essential part of life for every family. Typically, in every family, one or two people become so-called Family Digital Managers, responsible for managing subscriptions, setting up new devices, or thinking about cyber protection. Kaspersky has conducted a survey to find out what measures modern families take to stay safe online.

According to Kaspersky’s data, a significant portion of respondents adopt an educational approach to cybersecurity within their families:

47% regularly coach elderly relatives and children on safe online practices

45% advise family members to adopt password manager solutions

42% encourage the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA)

An equal 42% actively review and adjust privacy settings on both family devices and critical online accounts

Although a growing awareness of the importance of proactive, family-focused digital protection can be observed, when it comes to the implementation of security solutions, the trend is slightly different. 10% of respondents take no measures at all to protect their loved ones online, rising to 21% among those aged 55+.

As for the parental control apps, 67% of families with children under 18 years use this tool to monitor and secure their kids’ online activity. Parental control, such as the Kaspersky Safe Kids solution, can help restrict children’s access to inappropriate content and also gently manage their online habits by limiting access to certain websites and apps, controlling their screen time, and even enhancing their physical security by tracking their geolocation.

The most worrying number is that only 33% of respondents – just 1 in 3 – install security solutions on all family members’ devices. Kaspersky experts highlight that the current threat landscape shows that mobile devices and tablets as well as PCs all require comprehensive cyber protection, as they are often targeted by cybercriminals.

According to the survey, only 30% of respondents set up new devices for their families. Setting up a new device is not often regarded as a step that contributes to cyber safety; however, some actions performed before the device is put into use can significantly enhance its security.

For instance, experts recommend installing a security solution first, to scan the device for hidden threats and make web browsing safe from the first queries. What’s more, reviewing privacy settings on a new device allows you not to share data that you would like to keep private with some applications and services.

The research also shows that the older generation (55+) is generally less included in family security habits. Around 1 in 5 (21%) of this age group globally do not take any measures to protect their family online and only a quarter (24%) install security solutions for family members. The most popular security measure among them turns out to be a password manager, as 40% of this age group recommend their family members to use it.

“We are now using a lot of gadgets and digital services, and with every new device and every additional hour spent online, the potential entry points for cybercriminals continue to grow, exposing us to a wider range of cyber threats. At the same time, not every generation adapts to these rapid changes with the same ease.

“That’s why having someone in the family take on the role of a ‘Family Digital Manager’ can be so valuable, especially when it comes to protecting kids and elder people from digital cyberthreats, give advice and help with the use of trusted security solutions,” comments Brandon Muller, Technical Expert at Kaspersky.

 


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