Telecom
CPN Applauds FG’s Approval of Computer Professional Cadres in Public Service
The Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) has applauded the Federal Government’s approval for the implementation of a ‘White paper on Scheme of Service for Computer Professional Cadre in the Public Service’.
CPN was established by Act No 49 of 1993. The Act was passed into law on 10th of June and gazetted on the 9th of August that year.
It is a regulatory body charged with the regulation, control and supervision of the computing profession and practice in Nigeria in line with Section 1 (2) of the Act, and is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The President and Chairman-in-Council, Professor Charles Uwadia, hinted on the new development during CPN’s Annual General Meeting, as part of activities for this year’s IT Assembly, held in NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Professor Charles Uwadia, President and Chairman-in-Council of CPN, delivering his Keynote address at the event.
Prof. Uwadia told the members that “the Federal Executive Council has finally approved the creation of Computer Engineer cadre in the Schemes of Service structured on SGL 08 – 17 for graduates”.
This is coming thirteen years after recommendations to that effect were made by the National Council on Establishments.
“Approval was also granted for the re- designation of the Data Processing Officer (Intermediate) and the Programmer / Analyst cadres as Programme Officer (SGL 06 – 14) and Programme / System Analyst cadres (SGL 08 – 17) respectively.
“The re-designation is with a view to aligning the nomenclatures with current global practices especially as regards job contents and definitions.
“We thank the Federal government for this laudable and landmark achievement, which will boost the morale of IT professionals in the public service, attract young and quality professionals into service, and act as a catalyst for the effective deployment of IT in the public service”, he said.
Earlier, the Council inducted 318 new members into the Profession. The President told the new entrants into the burgeoning world of Information Technology (IT), they must not take anything for granted regarding the knowledge of the profession.
“Act 49 of 1993, earlier referred to, makes it mandatory for all persons and organizations seeking to engage, or already engaged, in the sale and/or use of computing facilities, and in the provision of professional services in computing or related computing machinery in Nigeria, to be registered by the Council and licensed to carry out such activities.
“The Act makes it illegal to engage in computing and professional practice without satisfying the above condition -that is, registration and possession of a current valid license”.
The President further urged the new inductees to always display acts of professionalism while discharging their duties, stressing that the Council places high premium on ethical practices.
He said, “One of the hallmarks of professionalism, especially in Information Technology (IT), is training and retraining, given the high obsolescence of Information Technology and the need to be updated on regular basis, It is therefore your responsibility to keep yourselves abreast of current developments in the industry if you are to remain competent, relevant and competitive”.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
Nigerian fintech unicorn Moniepoint Inc. has finalised its acquisition of a 78% stake in Kenya’s Sumac Microfinance Bank, gaining a key deposit-taking licence for credit expansion in East Africa’s biggest economy.
The deal, marked by a Nairobi reception, bypasses the Central Bank of Kenya’s licence freeze, letting Moniepoint rival giants like Safaricom and Equity Group after a stalled Kopo Kopo bid.
It signals Africa’s fintech shift to licensed banking and mergers, equipping Moniepoint to roll out high-speed SME lending via Sumac’s 20-year-old infrastructure and branches.
The acquisition builds a cross-border merchant ecosystem beyond fees, integrating recent Orda buyout (cloud restaurant software) for “business-in-a-box” tools like inventory, payroll, and capital amid Kenya’s digital lending scrutiny.
Moniepoint, which hit $294 billion annualised transactions in 2025, eyes Kenya’s SMEs with Nigeria-honed retail expertise.
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