Telecom
Tech Experience Centre excites Corporate Nigeria
Thursday 1st October, 2020 was celebrated in Lagos with the launch of the Tech Experience Centre, a revolutionary technology project spearheaded by TD Africa – Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost tech, lifestyle and solutions distributor – aimed at bridging the gap to cutting-edge technology for millions of Nigerians.
The Tech Experience Centre houses a convergence of globally renowned tech giants such as Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Zinox, Schneider Electric, Samsung, Apple and Bosch, among others, all under one roof to create an immersive experience of the latest technologies.
Equally important, the official unveiling of the centre provided a unique opportunity for invited guests to witness first-hand some of the amazing devices, gadgets and cutting-edge tech solutions being exhibited by the tech giants occupying the centre.
The event, a highly successful one, attracted a number of dignitaries from both the public and private sector to the high-rise Yudala Heights on 13 Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, venue of the high-profile commissioning.
Also present was a strong representation from Corporate Nigeria, with a number of Chief Executives from various sectors of the economy on hand to witness the unveiling of the unprecedented technology initiative.
The quality of attendance by corporate eggheads gave immediate endorsement to the launch. Some of those who experienced it described the Tech Experience Centre as the birth of a New Nigeria, while affirming the ambience, tech-infused set up and demonstration witnessed as worldclass.
One of the attendees, aformer Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman, Agrited Nigeria Ltd., Ernest Ebi hailed the launch of the Tech Experience Centre as a commendable initiative, even as he congratulated the management of TD Africa and the Chairman, Zinox Group, for the successful birthing of the landmark project.
‘‘The Tech Experience Centre is a place worth visiting. The ambience and layout of the centre is amazing and the various technologies on display are exciting to see. I congratulate TD Africa and Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh on the successful launch of this project.
‘‘Indeed, it is a thing of pride that such a wonderful initiative can originate from Nigerians. This is another aspect of the Tech Experience Centre that makes it all the more delightful,’’ he said.
On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo hailed the Tech Experience Centre as a very impressive concept.
‘‘I trust TD Africa and the Zinox Group to always lead the way. So, I am not surprised with the world class Experience Centre that was unveiled. It is a very impressive concept.’’
Also expressing her thoughts on the launch of the Tech Experience Centre, Group President, YGroup Holdings Ltd., Fatumata Soukouna Coker described the innovation as an excellent statement of Nigeria’s emergence in the global tech space.
‘‘It was a privilege for me to be present to witness the launch of the Tech Experience Centre. It is a laudable project which will boost Nigeria’s profile in the global technology space.
“I will definitely be visiting the Tech Experience Centre after this launch. I was excited by all I saw on the day of the launch, especially some of the smart home appliances and kitchen piece displayed on the second floor.’’
In addition, another bank CEO, who spoke on condition of anonymity,was effusive in his encomiums when asked his experience about the Tech Experience Centre.
‘‘Sincerely there is nothing missing here from what you see in Silicon Valley and in other advanced climes. This Tech Experience Centre has shown that things can happen properly in Nigeria.
“I commend TD Africa and the Zinox Chairman, as well as other key players who visualized this project for executing it to worldclass standard,’’ he enthused.
The Tech Experience Centre was officially commissioned on Thursday, October 1, 2020, the occasion of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary, by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who was the Special Guest of Honour. Also present as Chief Host was the Lagos State Governor, represented by Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
In addition to providing access to latest technologies for Nigerians and reducing the decision-making cycle for CEOs as well as Chief Information/Technology Officers in the public and private sector, the Tech Experience Centre will also play a very essential role in building capacity among Nigerian youths.
Head of the Tech Experience Centre, Chidalu Ekeh says the centre will expose many to advanced trainings and certifications in the area of Information Technology, with many of them subsequently expected to build apps, crafts and other solutions that will address peculiar challenges in Nigeria and solve global problems.
Among the attendees at the event was the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), InuwaKashifu Abdullahi; Commissioner for Science and Technology, Lagos State, Dr. Hakeem Fahm; Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Founder/CEO, MainOne, FunkeOpeke; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, PetersideAtedo; MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. SegunOgunsanya; MD/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, LaminManjang; Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings, U. K Eke; MD/CEO, Ecobank, Patrick Akinwuntan; Managing Director, Polaris Bank Ltd., Innocent Ike; former Chairman of Accenture, Mr. Dotun Suleiman; Chairman, Officine Gullo, Alhaji Usman Mohammed; MD/CEO Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr. FunsoAkere; Executive Director, Access Bank, Mr. Victor Etuokwu; MD/CEO, Providus Bank, Mr. Walter Akpani; CEO, CWG Plc., AdewaleAdeyipo; Chairman, Aso Savings and Loans Plc., Alhaji Ali Magashi; former CEO, Diamond Bank, Mr. EmekaOnwuka; Founder/CEO, Britannia Oil and Gas, Mrs Catherine IjuIfejika and her husband, Mr. Emmanuel Ifejika; media entrepreneur and ace blogger, Linda Ikeji; renowned fashion couturier, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, just to mention a few.
The Tech Centre is widely expected to boost Nigeria’s relevance in the global technology race and shore up the country’s march to technology independence.
For the first time, Nigeria will play host to the latest global technologies including those not normally available in Africa, offering all classes of visitors a first-hand experience of new gadgets, solutions and infrastructure that would have previously required a visit abroad, thereby saving corporate organizations, government establishments and individuals money or scarce foreign exchange expended on these trips.
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced the launch of an Inter-Agency Innovation Competition and Awards to stimulate creativity and technological advancement among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
NASENI
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, NASENI said the initiative was designed to harness innovative ideas from public servants that can drive indigenous industrialization, job creation and national progress.
According to the agency, the competition will provide a platform for MDAs to propose solutions in critical sectors such as health, agriculture, education and infrastructure, leveraging science and technology to improve public service delivery and enhance the quality of life for Nigerians.
“The competition seeks to promote collaboration and creativity among MDAs while addressing pressing national challenges through innovation,” the statement said.
NASENI urged interested MDAs to submit their entries through its innovation portal at naseni.gov.ng/innovation.
The agency reiterated its statutory mission “to develop and maintain a dynamic infrastructure to drive Nigeria’s indigenous industrialization, job creation and national progress,” adding that the competition would further strengthen efforts to unlock the nation’s potential through science and technology.
Users of satellite internet service provider Starlink in Nigeria are being required to complete a biometric Know Your Customer (KYC) process as a precondition to continue enjoying their services, according to .biometricupdate.
According to local reports, more than 66,000 Starlink subscribers in the country had a December 31 ultimatum from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to complete the biometric verification or have their connection discontinued.
The process essentially entails linking a Starlkink account with the subscriber’s national digital ID.
The NCC, which is Nigeria’s telecoms industry regulator, is said to have first issued the directive in August last year, setting a three-month deadline which was to elapse on November 19, TechCabal reports.
The body however later extended it to December 31 after consultations with industry stakeholders. The internet account-NIN linkage, the NCC said, is to enhance identity verification and strengthen security within the country’s telecoms space.
Just a few days to the December 31 deadline, Starlink’s Nigeria office sent an email to its subscribers reminding them of the KYC requirement, and warned that all those who fail to comply would be disconnected.
And that once disconnected, reconnection would depend on network capacity in the concerned area.
The service provider said in its email that the process takes less than two minutes and users can complete it by logging in to their account via an app.
One user, quoted by TechCabal, said one needs to upload their selfie biometrics, provide their national identification number (NIN) and then give their consent for the account to be linked to their ID information.
Starlink’s internet service is present in about 155 countries with nine million users, as of 2025. Its growth in Nigeria is said to be rapid, making it the second largest internet service provider in the country, according to The Traffic.
Biometric identification for Starlink subscribers could become a continent-wide trend given that some countries have expressed reservations in opening up their internet space to the company over security concerns.
There’ve been fears that jihadists in countries like Mali and Nigeria may have exploited Starlink terminals to coordinate terror operations, and cybersecurity experts have also warned of risks related to weak regulation, digital sovereignty and data breaches.
The requirement for Starlink internet users to have their accounts linked with the NIN is similar to the SIM-NIN linkage policy which the Nigerian government battled to implement for many years, with many deadline extensions.
In October last year, the NCC, which is was at the forefront of the policy implementation, announced that all active SIM cards across all network providers had complied with the directive which was issued in 2020.
The idea, the federal government argued, was to strengthen security and curb criminality such as kidnappings which are aided and abetted by improperly identified mobile phone numbers.
Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has urged Northern Nigeria to pivot urgently from traditional commerce to an innovation-driven digital economy for sustainable growth.
NITDA
Inuwa issued the call at the Future Map Foundation Roundtable 1.0 (North-West Edition) in Kano, attributing the region’s sluggish digital adoption not to talent deficits but to the lack of deliberate, coordinated strategies.
He stressed deeper collaboration across academia, private sector players, entrepreneurs, and government, positioning the private sector as the primary innovation engine while government supplies robust policies and an enabling ecosystem.
Inuwa advocated for people-focused, locally tailored innovations that tackle regional challenges head-on, enabling global competitiveness by transitioning from mere technology users to creators of homegrown solutions.
The roundtable convened policymakers, tech founders, and ecosystem stakeholders to forge a comprehensive roadmap for North-West digital transformation, yielding firm commitments to bolster regional innovation policies and public-private synergies.
Inuwa’s push dovetails seamlessly with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which sets an ambitious target of 95 per cent nationwide digital literacy by 2030, fostering inclusive economic empowerment.
Participants hailed the forum as a pivotal step toward unlocking Northern Nigeria’s tech potential, with NITDA poised to lead implementation through strategic interventions and partnerships.
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