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Access, Others Hobble Mobile Money Revolution

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Dr. Eugene Juwah, EVC/CEO, Nigeria Communications Commission (NC
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Issues around access and sundry matters have conspired to threaten the roll out of mobile money services, dampening excitements, after initial hype touted mobile money as the next big thing, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
In effect, operators licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are still struggling with mass access channels to reach all market segments.
Though, the licensees are  actively rolling out services, building agent networks, deploying services to gain market share, the absence of telecom regulatory framework is a major challenge for the effective take off of the industry estimated at some N150 billion.
Other issues such as inadequate distribution or agency networks, lack of proper awareness and poor mass education have also served to hobble the burgeoning industry.
Peter Ilabuya, an internet marketing expert who has also done a lot of work on mobile money industry said there is no commerce without the community the products and services are meant for.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that mobile money service is the transfer of monetary value via the mobile phone. The system fundamentally rides on mobile networks.
But despite the ubiquity of the mobile phone, critical mass access channels are still in short supply.
And for mobile payment industry to change the way consumers interact with financial services and make payments, regulatory authorities must compel mobile network operators to up mass access channels like subscriber identification module toolkit and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) for mobile money providers.
The SIM application toolkit allows for the service provider or bank to house the consumer’s mobile banking menu within the SIM card. 
The SIM application toolkit is a standard of the GSM system which enables the SIM to initiate actions which can be used for various value added services.
Emmanuel Okoegwale, principal associate, MobileMoney Africa, said that without opening up of the access channels by network operators, it will be an uphill task to reach the masses and provide an easy and convenient means to access the service.
According to him, if services are unable to reach the targeted people, how will they use the services?
Nodding in agreement, Ilubuya said mobile money service must be like the mobile phone where with just a click of the phone button, calls can be made to anybody with a handset connected to any network around the world.
Both Ilubuya and Okoegwale, agreed the industry needs to address the challenges if their quest to sign up millions of unbanked population on the mobile payment platform would be successful.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered since December last year when mobile money service effectively took off in Nigeria, there has not been any appreciable uptake recorded.
Okoegwale blamed the slow uptake on the providers’ mistakes of deploying services that are suitable for mid range and high end devices users while the main target of the scheme- the bottom of the pyramid and their peculiarities are ignored.
Elsewhere, server-side technologies built on a server; away from the consumer’s SIM or Mobile handset poses its own problem.
Examples of server-side technologies are SMS, IVR, USSD2 and WAP while client-side technologies are those applications, solutions and service offerings built or embedded on a consumer SIM or mobile handset. Examples of client-side applications are J2ME (JAVA).
On the other side, because mobile network operators power the infrastructure that are the primary back bone to network access for mobile money providers, they are either not ready technologically or in some cases do not have the commercial justification for such investment to develop infrastructure that may not deliver value to them since they are not directly licensed to provide mobile money services in Nigeria.
Okoegwale said that going forward; providers need to understand their target market and which devices they use as a way of mitigating the access issue.
They also need to articulate the best user experience and value proposition sufficient in the target market.


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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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WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

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World Health Organisation (WHO) at the weekend declared the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a global public health emergency.

WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

WHO said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of Ebola.

At home, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said there is “no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria” but had  tightened surveillance against the deadly virus.

The outbreak, linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already caused dozens of deaths in Congo and spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider transmission across the region.

In response, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that the country remains on alert because of growing movement across African borders.

Jide Idris, director-general said the agency was “closely monitoring the situation” and working with the Port Health Services and other health agencies to strengthen preparedness nationwide.

He added that surveillance has been increased at entry points and within Nigeria’s health system.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has recorded more than 240 suspected cases and about 80 suspected deaths in Congo’s Ituri province, while imported cases have also been confirmed in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The WHO said the outbreak is “extraordinary” because of uncertainty around the true number of infections and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain.

Health authorities advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected persons and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting and bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately.

Nigeria was declared Ebola-free in 2014 after successfully containing an outbreak brought into the country by an infected traveler from Liberia.

 

 


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Digital PayExpo 2026 to Convene Africa’s Most Influential Payments Leaders in Lagos

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Africa’s digital payments ecosystem will take center stage as Digital PayExpo 2026 returns to Lagos on June 17–18, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, under the theme: “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the AI Era.”

At a time when artificial intelligence, cross-border commerce, and financial inclusion are redefining Africa’s economic future, the event is set to convene over 3,000 senior executives, policymakers, fintech innovators, and global technology providers.

The speaker lineup reflects a powerful blend of regulatory leadership, private sector innovation, and pan-African expertise.

Among the headline speakers:

  • Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, Director, Payment Systems Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria — a key architect in Nigeria’s payment system reforms.
  • Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager & Area Business Head (West Africa), Mastercard — a leading voice in digital payments expansion across Africa.
  • Clara B. Arthur, Managing Director, GhIPSS (Ghana) — driving Ghana’s interoperable payment ecosystem.
  • Wacera Maina, Chief Operations Officer, Kenwitch Kenya — an expert in East Africa’s payment infrastructure evolution.
  • Akeem Lawal, CEO, Interswitch Group — a pioneer in Africa’s fintech growth story.
  • Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director, NIBSS — shaping Nigeria’s core payment infrastructure.

The conference will explore:

  • AI-powered financial services
  • Cross-border payment systems and interoperability
  • Cybersecurity and trust frameworks
  • SME financing and financial inclusion
  • Infrastructure for a unified African digital economy

With participation from banks, fintechs, telcos, regulators, and global payment networks, Digital PayExpo 2026 is positioned as a critical marketplace for ideas, partnerships, and investment flows. Register: https://digitalpayexpo.com/register
Sponsorship Enquiries: [email protected]


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Only 1 in 3 Families Fully Secure their Devices, Kaspersky Study Reveals

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On International Day of Families observed on May 15th, a global Kaspersky study* reveals that while 47% of respondents talk about online safety, only 33% secure all their family devices – highlighting the need for proactivity from Family Digital Managers.

As online threats develop and every generation joins the online space, cybersecurity habits have become an essential part of life for every family. Typically, in every family, one or two people become so-called Family Digital Managers, responsible for managing subscriptions, setting up new devices, or thinking about cyber protection. Kaspersky has conducted a survey to find out what measures modern families take to stay safe online.

According to Kaspersky’s data, a significant portion of respondents adopt an educational approach to cybersecurity within their families:

47% regularly coach elderly relatives and children on safe online practices

45% advise family members to adopt password manager solutions

42% encourage the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA)

An equal 42% actively review and adjust privacy settings on both family devices and critical online accounts

Although a growing awareness of the importance of proactive, family-focused digital protection can be observed, when it comes to the implementation of security solutions, the trend is slightly different. 10% of respondents take no measures at all to protect their loved ones online, rising to 21% among those aged 55+.

As for the parental control apps, 67% of families with children under 18 years use this tool to monitor and secure their kids’ online activity. Parental control, such as the Kaspersky Safe Kids solution, can help restrict children’s access to inappropriate content and also gently manage their online habits by limiting access to certain websites and apps, controlling their screen time, and even enhancing their physical security by tracking their geolocation.

The most worrying number is that only 33% of respondents – just 1 in 3 – install security solutions on all family members’ devices. Kaspersky experts highlight that the current threat landscape shows that mobile devices and tablets as well as PCs all require comprehensive cyber protection, as they are often targeted by cybercriminals.

According to the survey, only 30% of respondents set up new devices for their families. Setting up a new device is not often regarded as a step that contributes to cyber safety; however, some actions performed before the device is put into use can significantly enhance its security.

For instance, experts recommend installing a security solution first, to scan the device for hidden threats and make web browsing safe from the first queries. What’s more, reviewing privacy settings on a new device allows you not to share data that you would like to keep private with some applications and services.

The research also shows that the older generation (55+) is generally less included in family security habits. Around 1 in 5 (21%) of this age group globally do not take any measures to protect their family online and only a quarter (24%) install security solutions for family members. The most popular security measure among them turns out to be a password manager, as 40% of this age group recommend their family members to use it.

“We are now using a lot of gadgets and digital services, and with every new device and every additional hour spent online, the potential entry points for cybercriminals continue to grow, exposing us to a wider range of cyber threats. At the same time, not every generation adapts to these rapid changes with the same ease.

“That’s why having someone in the family take on the role of a ‘Family Digital Manager’ can be so valuable, especially when it comes to protecting kids and elder people from digital cyberthreats, give advice and help with the use of trusted security solutions,” comments Brandon Muller, Technical Expert at Kaspersky.

 


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