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Cloud, Platform for Modern Innovation- IBM

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(L-r): Dipo Faulkner, country general manager, IBM West Africa; Uzo Nwani, territory executive global market, IBM West Africa; and, Abiye Koko, group chief information officer, Access Bank at the IBM Cloud Innovation Forum held at Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos  on Tuesday.
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The dynamics around cloud computing is changing hence businesses need to apply cognitive and/or Artificial Intelligent (AI) capabilities to data in order to enhance their digital intelligence exponentially.

This view was shared by Anthony Butler, Chief technical Officer at IBM Middle East and Africa (MEA) during ‘IBM Cloud Innovation Forum’ 2017 held in Lagos on Tuesday, stating that cloud marketing has shifted from offering mere efficient modern application to functioning as re-imagined processes for optimal operations.

Butler during a presentation on ‘IBM: IBM Cloud: The Journey Ahead’, said that businesses in the region need to stay more agile in order to succeed in the new business world.

He said, instead of falling victims of technological disruptions, they should strive to take the opportunities offered in the cloud hence innovators are using cloud and cognitive technologies to transform external experiences.

“Cloud is actually the platform for modern innovations offering seamless opportunities for applications, analytics, middleware and infrastructure that will drive businesses in future. So, for businesses to stay ahead and succeed in the new world, they need to be more agile.

“Innovators are using cloud and cognitive technologies to take advantages of the opportunities in the market and transform external experiences. To win, you need to create smarter apps and services; accelerate data intelligence innovation, optimize your infrastructure with cloud options; you must develop your architecture disruption (rethink business, technology and data)”, he said.

The IBM CIO for MEA explained that technology has gone from being a cost to a source of competitive advantage; citing IBM as example, he said the Company has lasted for so long because it constantly reboot its processes and solutions.

“What is IBM doing today? Connecting despite data types within and outside your walls, create opportunities for unexpected insights”, he said.

On AI, he said, the architecture is not meant to retire humans from work, rather enhancing and amplifying people’s creativity and capabilities for improved productivity.

Zeeshan Mehdi, IBM data and data sales leader also described IBM has having a niche and expertise in analytic approach, understanding outcomes, needs and technology for the future.

“Data can help you understand what you don’t know about your company today. IBM has the competencies to help you understand that,” he said.

Yusuf Assenjee, cloud service leader- Central West Africa, IBM, said the Firm is leading the Shift to strategic IT through IBM Cloud.

He said, that IBM is driving innovation with advanced set of products based on new architecture that drives applications (Watson health, Watson for IoT); AI (Watson conversation, Watson Discovery, Watson Virtual Agent); Data (Watson Data and Watson IoT) and cloud (Object storage, Compute for HPC).

“We’re not just about a platform or a certain technology, we’re about proven and innovative ways of working to help your company succeed and solve real user-needs. We can match your business requirements to the regulatory and security point of view”, Assenjee boasted.

Earlier, Dipo faulkner, country general manager, IBM (Nigeria), said that for businesses in Nigeria and Africa in general, to succeed in the future climate which revolves around cloud computing, they require an understanding on how to develop cloud strategy to help know how and where to adopt the strategy for maximum impact and in a cost efficient manner.


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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E-Business

Galaxy Backbone Celebrates the Federal Government’s Paperless Civil Service Milestone

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Galaxy Backbone (GBB) aligns with and celebrates the successful announcement by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the achievement of a Paperless Civil Service, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s public sector reform and digital transformation agenda.

The milestone was formally highlighted at a press briefing led by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who commended Galaxy Backbone for its sustained support and contribution throughout the implementation of the programme.

GBB has played a critical role in enabling this transition by providing secure, scalable, and shared digital infrastructure that supports the digitisation of government processes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Through the 1Government Cloud, MDAs have been empowered to migrate from paper-based workflows to digital platforms, improving efficiency, collaboration, data security, and service delivery across the Federal Civil Service.

In addition, GovMail, GBB’s secure government email platform, has strengthened official communication, enhanced records management, and reinforced cybersecurity standards—key pillars in sustaining a paperless operating environment.

Galaxy Backbone acknowledges the collective efforts of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of ICT, consultants, partners, and dedicated public servants whose commitment and collaboration ensured the smooth delivery of this initiative.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, was represented at the press briefing by Akintayo Bamisaye, Acting Group Head, Research, Digital Innovation and Skills Department (RDIS).

GBB describes the achievement as a strong close to 2025 and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Federal Government in building a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled public service.


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Jumia CEO says Black Friday Signals Nigeria’s E-Commerce Maturity

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At the close of 2025, Temidayo Ojo, the CEO of Jumia Nigeria, reflected on a year-end shopping season that points to the growing maturity of the country’s e-commerce market. “Black Friday is no longer a single, short-lived spike in activity,” he said.

“It has become a familiar, anticipated moment in the retail calendar, where consumers shop deliberately and with confidence.”

Preliminary KPIs for the two months ended November 30, 2025, show strong year-on-year growth in both orders and Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), with GMV growth outpacing order growth. This indicates that customers are placing fuller, more considered baskets rather than shopping in fragmented transactions. Nigeria ranked among Jumia Group’s better-performing markets, with engagement remaining steady throughout the Black Friday period rather than spiking briefly and tapering off.

A key factor behind this performance is the growing familiarity of consumers with online shopping. Customers are increasingly leveraging platform features such as saved carts, brand stores, and price comparison tools to plan purchases in advance. This trend suggests that digital commerce is becoming embedded in everyday habits rather than being viewed as a one-off event.

Ojo also highlighted the role of Jumia’s JForce network in connecting digital commerce to local communities. “Our agents are critical to ensuring that customers across Nigeria, including secondary cities and smaller communities, have access to variety, consistent pricing, and reliable delivery,” he said. “During peak periods like Black Friday, JForce agents can respond faster, serve more customers efficiently, and build stronger local relationships. This isn’t just a distribution channel—it’s a pathway to sustainable income and inclusion.”

Reflecting on the overall performance, the CEO concluded: “What we’re seeing this year-end is steady engagement across categories, stronger consumer confidence, and partners like our JForce agents benefiting from increased activity.

“It confirms that Nigeria’s e-commerce ecosystem is maturing, growing in a more structured and resilient way. As the December Holiday Sale continues, we expect these patterns of familiarity, trust, and participation to sustain momentum and drive both commerce and community impact across the country.”


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Galaxy Backbone Tops FG’s Website Performance Ranking

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Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has been ranked first overall in the 2025 Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard.

Galaxy Backbone Tops FG's Website Performance Ranking

This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy.

The ranking, conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), is the definitive benchmark for digital excellence and transparency across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, managing director and CEO of Galaxy Backbone, received the award during a ceremony in Abuja.

He described the feat as a validation of the agency’s“Nigeria First”data sovereignty strategy and its relentless pursuit of service excellence.

This recognition comes as the Federal Government intensifies its push to achieve a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025.

GBB has been the primary architect of this transition through its 1Gov Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform, which now hosts the operations of almost all federal MDAs.

The award adds to a growing list of accolades for Galaxy Backbone in 2025, following its recent win of the “International Standard Excellence Award for Best IT Service Provider.”

As the central hub for government shared services, GBB’s performance serves as a blueprint for other agencies currently undergoing digital transformation.

With its expanded fiber-optic backbone now covering over 13 states and its secure cloud solutions, Galaxy Backbone remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s vision to become a leading digital nation by the end of the decade.

 


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