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Booking.com Partners iamtheCODE.org in Search of Tech Solution to Human Trafficking in Africa

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  • Chowberry Inc. wants food waste curtailed

By peter oluka

Human trafficking has been identified as one of the major challenges in the tourism sector in Africa.

To curb the trend and related vices on the Continent, Booking.com, and IamtheCode.org, recently organised a hackaton event in Lagos, in collaboration with Chowberry Inc.

Seventy application developers participated at the ‘women-focused hackaton’, with intent to create meaningful work opportunities for younger women and girls.

Through that opportunity they will be empowered; they can access jobs, which reduces the risk of them been trafficked.

The developers were meant to ideate and develop technological solutions that will assist in tracking human traffickers.

Yimika Fagbenro, senior account manager, Booking.com (Nigeria & West Africa), said he was confident that applications from the coders will meet world standards and scalable to solve societal problems.  “We are really excited about the knowledge and skills of Nigerians.

“I am happy to be part of this Hackaton in developing talents in Nigeria with special focus on the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Truly, Nigeria has fantastic talents. We are recruiting people for Nigeria to grow our operations in this economy and really contribute to the country and the world at large, especially with regards putting to an end the issue of human tracking. It is a sin against humanity and technology is what will enable us tackle the issue urgently”, he said.

On her part, Marieme Jamme, founder of iamtheCODE.org, said hackaton was part of the Initiative’s plans to grow one million women and girls coders around the world, but for Nigeria they are focused on addressing sustainable tourism.  Jamme continues to say that Artificial intelligence can stop girls being trafficked as we now have the data”

“We are in Nigeria to organise a Hackaton with Booking.com on Sustainable Tourism.. I Am The Code is on the mission to grow one million women and girls coders- around the world by year 2030 and Nigeria should be part of the global data. So, we are here to engage with coders- to look into the  back/front ends coders, test their skills on JAVA, Python; to be part of this global network where we are building Africa’s largest database of coders. The plan is to fill the skills deficit we have across Africa. A pioneer in Tech in Africa, Marieme Jamme is a coder herself, having not gone to school but learnt 7 coding languages in under 2 years”

“We are focusing on all the UN Sustainable Development Goals because they are totally interlinked. However, we want to educate on all goals, from zero hunger to goal number five and eight which dwells on gender equality and ending human trafficking. We want to address human trafficking that is hurting young girls across the world.,”, Marieme Jamme said.

Nodding in agreement, Oscar Ekponimo, Founder/CEO of Chowberry Inc., said that a social enterprise that does two things: reducing food waste and providing affordable nutrition to underserved communities in Nigeria, they are on a mission to foster sustainable tourism by including women and girls.

“Human trafficking is a big problem in the country and the continent at large. So, we must be able to do two major things- create meaningful work opportunities for younger women and girls. Through that opportunity they will be empowered; they can access jobs, which reduces the risk if them been trafficked. Also, we must find a way to track human traffickers. Those are areas we hope the developers should ideate and develop solutions to them via technology”, Ekponimo said.

He further explained that to curtail the trend, technology industry must leverage machine learning, artificial intelligence, data mining to create solutions for the tourism sector to reduce human trafficking (girls trafficking) and all kinds of challenges associated with travel and tourism.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

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Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has denied reports that the federal government has introduced a new tax on vehicles.

NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

The clarification follows the circulation of a viral message online claiming that all vehicle owners would be required to start paying a new tax from July 1, 2026.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NRS said the information in the message is false and did not come from the agency or any official government institution.Nigeria Travel Guides

According to Dare Adekanmbi, spokesperson for the NRS, the viral message was designed to mislead the public. He explained that it was made to look genuine by using official government logos and formatting.

The message reportedly instructed owners of private, commercial, and corporate vehicles to pay an unspecified fee either online or through approved banks and agencies. It also included a website that was wrongly presented as an official government platform.

Adekanmbi stressed that the website mentioned is not connected to the government and warned Nigerians not to make any payments based on such information.

He said the NRS has not introduced any new vehicle tax and that any official policy or tax change would be properly announced through verified government channels.

The agency urged citizens to ignore the fake message and avoid falling victim to possible fraud. It also advised Nigerians to always confirm such information through trusted and official sources before taking any action.

The NRS further encouraged the public to follow its official communication platforms to stay informed about genuine tax policies, updates, and government directives.

 


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NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

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National Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed that piracy remains a major threat to the nation’s creative economy, vowing to intensify its nationwide crackdown on illicit networks to protect intellectual property.

NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

Pic credit…soundcloud.com

Dr. John Asein, director-general of the NCC, disclosed this in a statement to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day.

The commission noted that piracy remains a major threat, undermining legitimate enterprise and eroding the economic value of creative works.

Asein lamented that inadequate distribution systems and limited access to books also constrain the growth of readership.

He described the event as an important occasion, which showcased the enduring value of books as foundations of knowledge, instruments of cultural preservation, and drivers of national development.

He described the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Read Books, Respect Copyright,’ as a call on Nigerians to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, while recognising that respect for copyright is essential to sustaining creativity and rewarding authors.

The commission noted that Nigeria’s book industry has evolved significantly, from the post-independence emergence of indigenous publishing to today’s digitally driven ecosystem.

“Nigerian authors continue to gain global recognition, while publishers are expanding capacity. However, challenges persist,” he said.

The commission commended the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, describing it as a bold step toward repositioning intellectual property as a driver of economic transformation.

The policy, according to him, provides a roadmap for revamping the book sector for the benefit of authors and publishers, and is accessible at ippolicy.ng.

The NCC also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive access through the Marrakesh Treaty, as reflected in the Copyright Act, 2022, enabling accessible formats such as Braille and audio texts.

It urged Nigerians to respect copyright and purchase books only from authorised sources.


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Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

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Fusewall Holdings, founded by Azeez Amida, has announced the acquisition of a 100 percent equity stake in Coloplus Worldwide Service Limited, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure space.

Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

Fusewall Holdings

The deal marks a significant milestone in Fusewall’s broader strategy to build an integrated and future-ready platform across key sectors, particularly within the country’s fast-evolving digital economy.

The transaction was led by Amida, whose role in structuring and executing the deal was described as pivotal. According to the company, his leadership helped align stakeholders and navigate complex negotiations to ensure a successful close while positioning the business for long-term growth.

A spokesperson for Fusewall Holdings said the acquisition represents “a deliberate step forward” in the company’s expansion strategy, noting that the focus remains on building platforms that combine operational efficiency, resilience, and scale.

Coloplus brings a substantial operational footprint to the deal, including access to about 900 partner locations and roughly 20 owned sites. This combination of reach and infrastructure control is expected to give Fusewall a strategic advantage as it scales operations nationwide.

Fusewall said it plans to deploy capital, strengthen governance structures, and enhance operational execution as part of the integration process. The move is expected to improve service delivery, boost infrastructure reliability, and support expansion into underserved and high-demand areas.

The acquisition also aligns with the company’s broader ambition to help bridge Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure gap by expanding connectivity, improving network resilience, and advancing digital inclusion.

Fusewall Holdings said the deal reflects its commitment to disciplined execution and long-term value creation as it continues to grow its footprint in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.


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