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Local software Vs foreign software

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It is for this reason that the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) recently held a Stakeholders’ Summit on "Nigerian Content Development in the ICT Sector" The event took place at the Golden Gate Chinese Restaurants, Ikoyi, Lagos.

ATCON organized the meeting because it was of the opinion that for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria to develop and level up with leading ICT nations of the world, concerted efforts have to be made towards developing some amount of local contents both in the software and hardware components of ICT infrastructure. It also felt that our local ICT infrastructure providers should be granted some measure of protection against their multinational counterparts whose corporate strength and investment could pose serious threat to the survival of local players.

The Association believes that the establishment of an enabling environment will encourage existing and potential local investors to venture into the development of Nigerian content in our ICT sector. This will eventually register Nigeria in the league of global leaders in the ICT sector.

The summit elicited passionate reactions from experts and stakeholders that came for the event. Of particular reference was the open challenge thrown to foreign software developers by Dr. Chris Uwaje, Managing Director, Connect Technologies Limited to come for an open competition to determine who was better at the job. He was quite confident that Nigerian software developer would not be found wanting nor underdogs.

Experts say that the software industry in Nigeria is worth over 20 billion dollars and over a trillion dollars worldwide.

The industry generally exudes much optimism but there is a pervading air of disillusionment which developers blame on absence of government support for the industry.

Government has never indicated interest in the local industry and it only seems to be interested in IT consumption. The Nigerian computer society with over 15,000 memberships is a strong advocate of government investing in software development in Nigeria. They have also advocated for the establishment of a software research institute.

There are thousands of indigenous software in the Nigeria market but they all get swallowed up as foreign brands. Nigerian made software provide solutions for school management, cyber café management, human resources, banking and micro-finance, the stock market and many other areas of human endeavours. Though a few have enjoyed patronage in the banking sector, stock market, and micro finance institutions. However, they still suffer discriminations when compared to that of their foreign counterparts even as foreign software is still dominant in the market.

Those from abroad get the lion share while local software are still lagging behind.

Foreign solutions practically dominate corporate Nigeria, particularly the banking and oil sector where IT has been remarkably integrated into their operations. Where local applications are in use, they are built into the architecture of the foreign solution as one of several modules. For instance, where the module for personal management of the offshore package does not fit into the local environment, it is replaced with a locally written module that reflects the unique traits of the local business environment.

Several banks in Nigeria are guilty of this practice. This means that the local developers are perpetually relegated to the background while their foreign counterparts take the driver’s seat of the national economy. Our local developers are never part of the major software platform, which drives the economy.

Though, there are areas where local software developers need to improve on their products, as many industry analysts say most local developers are yet to realise that software is both research and business. This is because they lack commitment to the business angle of software development. Also, they complain that most local software is not user friendly as the graphical user interface are not there.

They also complain that some software applications are difficult to understand when compared to those from say India, China or some western countries.

They submitted that developers must know that it is not always how good the software is that matters but how it can easily be understood and used.

Mr. Austin Okere, Group Managing Director, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) once told his audience at a software forum organised in Lagos that local software developers are either unwilling to run the distance to keep to global standards or they are just being lazy to make their products global. He maintained that there are standards that must be reached if they want their solutions to compete favourably with foreign brands.

"Software has no tribe or race, the man who wants solutions would go for what can solve his problems,"he said.

Others believe that the mortality rate of local solutions is very high. Be that as it may, there are many who believe that there are some local solutions which could compete favourably with their counterparts from anywhere in the world.

Many believe that if our local software developers are encouraged, they would do better that they are doing presently. This is because many Nigerian developers lack the fund and necessary support. Some because of the socio-economic factors in the country are more concerned with their physiological needs than with the exigencies of their profession.

Though, the government have in the past pretended to be doing much to encourage the local software industry but industry watchers see these as just a flash in the pan. For instance, in 2004, the government inaugurated a 16 member task force for the development of software in Nigeria as part of its IT policy implementation strategies, an IT park worth N2 billion to be financed by Zenith bank was also promised. However, four years on, this project is yet to take off. To put it more succinctly, it is as good as gone with the administration that proposed it.

The 16 member committee was to among other things develop a blue print or strategies for promoting software development in the country and creating an enabling environment for software development to thrive in the country. This too still remains a dream which in the typical Nigerian parlance is still in the pipeline.

Dr. Chris Nwannenna, former president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) speaking on the challenge confronting software developers in Nigeria, said lack of patronage was one of the greatest problems confronting the industry in Nigeria. "It is only in the last couple of years that Nigerians started patronising the software industry in Nigeria. Software is quite unlike other products. You conceive the product, do the analysis, design, code, package, test, before you even present it to anybody. All these will take a minimum of six months to develop a total commercial appreciation. Sometimes, it takes more. Also, marketing it becomes very difficult because of the economic situation in the country. So all these things discourage people from going into software development. The gestation period is quite long. Also, you need somebody to back up. You need support, so you can concentrate on the job.

He continued: "We have always said that the government can promote the private sector to become more effective. Well, government should come out open to say before any Nigerian agency, ministry or government institution buys any software from outside Nigeria; it must make sure that there is no indigenous equivalent. That will be the first step that will galvanise the Nigerian software industry. This will serve as an impetus to the local software industry.

"We want a clause that will make it difficult for any buyer of software to just purchase anything they see or hear about outside Nigeria without first checking what is available locally. Because you know Nigerians have a penchant for foreign things even when they are not good.

Perhaps if the government at all levels will heed to these wise words of an expert in the industry that as it were has seen it all. The software industry in Nigeria maybe on its way out of the woods and the practitioners may just get a new lease of life that may help them in their line of duty.

It is on record that the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has continued to grow beyond bookmakers’ predictions. However, despite the high number of ICT professionals in Nigeria, adequate attention has not been given to the issue of developing and building local contents.


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BoI, MTN Foundation Launch N1Bn Fund for Women Entrepreneurs

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Bank of Industry (BoI) and MTN Nigeria Foundation have launched a N1 billion Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund to support women-owned businesses across Nigeria.

BoI, MTN Foundation Launch N1Bn Fund for Women Entrepreneurs

The fund was launched at the official unveiling of the BOI–MTN Foundation Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund held in Lagos.

Dr Olasupo Olusi, managing director of BoI, said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.

Represented by Oluwatoyin Edu, executive director, MSMEs, Olusi, said the partnership has grown from a N100 million youth programme in 2018 to a N1 billion fund, financed equally by both institutions.

“Today, we are pleased to deepen this collaboration with the launch of the N1 billion Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund.

“This programme aligns strongly with BoI’s 2025–2027 strategy for enterprise development and economic transformation,” he said.

Olusi said 1,000 women entrepreneurs would receive structured training, while 200 women-led MSMEs would access loans of up to N5 million each.

The BoI boss added that the programme targets sectors including agro-processing, light manufacturing, fashion, energy, waste management and digital services.

Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga, chairman of MTN Nigeria Foundation, said the initiative highlighted women’s critical role in economic development.

According to her, the foundation now treats women’s empowerment as central to nation-building, rather than a corporate social responsibility obligation.

Belo-Olusoga said over 5,700 women had been trained, with the programme designed to bridge economic gaps limiting women’s participation.

“This fund provides equipment financing, enabling women to transition from small-scale operations to industrial-level businesses,” she said.

She stressed the need for greater awareness, especially in rural communities, to ensure inclusiveness.

Mrs Odunayo Sanya, executive director of the foundation, said the initiative combined capacity building with access to capital.

Sanya said beneficiaries would undergo a five-week training programme by Pan-Atlantic University Enterprise Development Centre, ending with business growth plans.

She said the foundation aimed to build 30,000 female-led businesses in five years, with 10,000 expected to receive funding.

“We believe this partnership with BoI opens the door to scaling women-owned businesses through working capital and equipment financing,” she said.

Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of Lagos State governor, described the initiative as timely in tackling unemployment and unlocking women’s economic potential.

Represented by Mrs Oyinlola Agoro, she said equipping women with skills, mentorship and planning tools is vital for resilient enterprises.

Sanwo-Olu commended earlier phases, which trained over 5,700 women and supported 122 beneficiaries with equipment.

“This shows that when women are empowered, families thrive, communities prosper and the economy grows stronger.

“The N1 billion matching fund will deepen financial inclusion and promote women-led enterprises,” she said.

She reaffirmed her commitment to initiatives promoting women’s empowerment, economic independence and inclusive development.


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NSIA Sign MoU with UK’s Asset Green Ltd to Develop $496M Integrated Dairy Livestock Production Platform in Nigeria

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L-r: Rod Bassett, Asset Green Ltd Director & Agrium Capital Ltd CEO; Albrecht Frischenschlager, Group CIO, United Green Group; Aminu Umar-Sadiq, MD and CEO NSIA; and Tayo Ajayi, Vice President Head Climate & Sustainability investments. at the signing ceremony in London this week
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The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK‑based Asset Green Ltd to advance the development of a large‑scale integrated dairy livestock production and processing platform set to transform Nigeria’s dairy industry and strengthen national food security.

Signed on Tuesday in London ahead of the State Visit, the MoU outlines the framework for collaboration and the project‑development cost commitments leading up to the formal shareholders’ agreement.

This initiative represents one of the most ambitious integrated dairy investments ever undertaken in Nigeria. It will combine 20,000 hectares of climate‑smart, regenerative crop and forage production with a modern 10,000‑milking cow dairy operation, supported by a state‑of‑the‑art processing plant capable of producing fresh milk, milk powders, butter, cream, and up to 15,000 metric tonnes of infant formula annually.

Designed to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported milk powder, the project will modernise agricultural practices, improve nutrition, and integrate up to 10,000 rural households into the supply chain through inclusive out‑grower schemes. Once operational, the platform is expected to generate over US$620 million annually and create 2,500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs nationwide.

British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, said: “Over a decade ago, the UK provided pivotal support to Nigeria in establishing the NSIA, offering legal and financial expertise that helped lay the foundation for its successful launch and strengthening its governance and credibility.

“That early institutional investment has paid dividends, helping to build a resilient Nigerian institution capable of creating jobs and driving transformational, long‑term development.

“The NSIA and Asset Green partnership is a powerful example of how that groundwork continues to deliver impact – a full‑circle moment that reflects the long-term economic cooperation between the UK and Nigeria and the shared commitment to deepening sustainable, private‑sector‑driven growth.”

NSIA Managing Director & CEO, Aminu Umar‑Sadiq, said: “NSIA is pleased to partner with Asset Green on this transformative investment. With a project size of almost US$500 million, this is one of the most ambitious initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s food and nutrition security in a generation.

“By combining climate‑smart farming, advanced processing capacity, and inclusive out‑grower participation, we are laying the foundation for a modern, competitive dairy sector that reduces import dependence, creates meaningful jobs, and delivers long‑term value for Nigerians.”

Asset Green Ltd Director & Agrium Capital Ltd CEO, Rod Bassett, said: “This partnership between NSIA and Asset Green is the business and investment innovation required to unlock the potential of the agriculture sector in Nigeria, with the development of such a future (dairy) food system.

“The foundation of the approach is one of collaborating with NSIA and their shared vision and purpose to establish a platform to catalyse the development of such a national strategic priority. We are incredibly proud to partner with Nigeria’s premier investment institution.

“The development of greenfield projects have consistently played a major role in our history, establishing industries or nurturing young businesses that are able to deliver catalytic transformation.

This US$500 million greenfield investment in Nigeria’s dairy industry allows for the development of advanced and necessary infrastructure spanning the full production and supply system to enhance local production, reduce the reliance on the huge imports of dairy goods into Nigeria, deliver environmental services and strengthen national food sovereignty and nutritional resilience.”

 


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Kaspersky Discovers Infostealers Mimicking Claude Code, OpenClaw and Other AI Developer Tools

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In March 2026, Kaspersky Threat Research has identified a new malicious campaign targeted at developers looking for installation instructions for Claude Code, a development agent created by Anthropic. When searching for “Claude Code download”, sponsored advertisements appear at the top of the search results.

One of these ads redirects users to a malicious webpage that closely imitates the official installation documentation for Claude Code. As a result, users are tricked into installing malware which harvests sensitive information including credentials, crypto wallet data, browser sessions, and other confidential files. Similar malicious campaigns mimic other popular AI tools, including OpenClaw.

The fake documentation page is visually identical to the legitimate one and is hosted on the website-building and hosting platform Squarespace. Because the page precisely copies the original instructions, users may not notice the difference when copying and executing installation commands.

However, instead of installing the developer tool, the commands deliver malware to the victim’s system. Depending on the operating system, the malicious commands deploy different infostealers:

.  Windows systems receive Amatera, an information-stealing malware that collects data from user directories, web browsers, and cryptocurrency wallets before sending the stolen information to a remote server. Amatera has previously been observed in campaigns using the ClickFix distribution technique and is operated under a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) model.

 .  macOS systems receive AMOS, another infostealer previously documented in several malware campaigns targeting Apple devices. It has been described by Kaspersky before.

Kaspersky researchers also identified similar malicious campaigns targeting other popular AI tools, including OpenClaw and Doubao. Using the same approach, attackers registered multiple domains and distributed files containing the Amatera infostealer while disguising them as legitimate downloads for these tools.

“The campaign poses significant risks because AI development tools such as Claude Code and OpenClaw are widely used not only by hobbyists and automation enthusiasts but also by professional developers working in large organisations.

If infected, victims may unknowingly expose source code from active projects, confidential corporate data, authentication credentials, and private accounts. This makes such campaigns particularly dangerous for businesses whose developers rely on AI-assisted coding tools,” comments Vladimir Gursky, cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky.

In December 2025, Kaspersky detected that attackers spread a macOS infostealer using Google Ads. A specially generated chat interface designed to resemble a ChatGPT tutorial pretended to guide users through installing the Atlas Browser. The malicious instructions appeared to be hosted on a legitimate site associated with OpenAI, helping attackers gain users’ trust.


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