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Analyst Says Apple, IBM Partnership Good for Enterprise Mobility

John Delaney, associate vice president, Mobility at IDC while analyzing the strategic partnership between Apple and IBM will provide a formidable platform for enterprise mobility to thrive.
The strategic partnership announced on Tuesday indicates that IBM will sell iPhones and iPads to its business customers, and will develop cloud services optimized for Apple’s iOS.
Apple on the other hand will provide hardware support for devices through a dedicated large-enterprise AppleCare programme.
Delaney commenting on the strategy said that Apple’s need to develop the enterprise market for iPhones is imperative – and the same applies to iPads, albeit to a lesser extent.
“The consumer market for these devices mainly comprises affluent people in developed economies, and that is now a mature and highly competitive smartphone market.
“In search of additional markets, Apple cannot look to developing economies, or to the mass-market in developed economies, without making mid-price and low-price iPhones. This is a move that Apple has resisted so far, and that would run counter to its very successful product strategy. Therefore, for future iPhone sales growth, Apple will rely increasingly on enterprise customers.
He added that strong inroads to the enterprise have already been made by Apple, initially in combination with solutions for mobile device management (MDM) to make the devices sufficiently secure and manageable for enterprise adoption.
“More recently, iPhones have become more inherently enterprise-friendly, through the security and management capabilities that were built into the platform with the release of iOS7. Doubtless there will be more of that to come, with upcoming new releases of the product and platform”.
Commenting further, he said, “But the market for mobile enterprise management (MEM) is evolving, as IT departments move into a more mature phase in their approach to mobility. Rather than the heavily device-centric approaches that have predominated so far, enterprises’ mobility developments are becoming increasingly application-centric.
“The fundamental reason for this is that as their attitudes mature, enterprises increasingly seek to use mobility to build competitive advantage. Devices themselves are not a source of sustainable competitive advantage, because the same devices that are available to an enterprise are also available to its competitors. Instead, competitive advantage stems from the things that an enterprise does with its devices; that is, from applications.
In this more mature phase, enterprises need to integrate mobile devices and applications with existing enterprise applications, software infrastructure and back-end systems.
“This leads to an increasing importance, as indicated by IDC’s enterprise research, of IT service companies as preferred sources of supply for MEM solutions.
“Therefore, to continue its strong progress in selling iPhones and iPads to enterprises, Apple will rely on channel partners who can offer enterprises the “heavy lifting” that will increasingly be required in areas such as mobile application development, lifecycle management and systems integration.
“In IBM, Apple has forged a relationship with one of the strongest such partners around. As well as its cast-iron credentials as an enterprise IT brand, IBM brings to the partnership an increasingly mature set of capabilities in the area of enterprise mobility.
“IBM’s capability in mobile application development is founded on Worklight, which it acquired in early 2012; and its more recent acquisition of Fibrelink adds MEM to the mobility toolset that IBM has at its disposal. The combination of IBM’s mobility competencies, and the large investments in marketing that IBM is making in its “Mobile First” practice, will provide Apple with a solid platform upon which to build and extend its enterprise business.
“What does IBM get out of the deal? Most of all: huge end-user pull. This is an increasingly important asset when pitching to the enterprise, partly because bring-your-own-device (BYOD) has, in effect, devolved some of the selection and procurement of devices to end users.
“But even in enterprises that have not embraced BYOD, IDC’s research indicates that IT departments place increasing weight on end-user preferences in their mobile selection and procurement processes. There are two main reasons for this.
“Firstly, if end users do not like the mobile tools their employer gives them, they have a lot of ways at their disposal to work around them. Secondly, rollout and adoption of mobile systems is more likely to be successful if the systems use devices and applications that end users like, and with which they are familiar.
“The Apple/IBM deal may itself have an impact on BYOD trends. Already, in Europe, IDC’s enterprise research indicates that interest in BYOD may have reached a plateau. In our most recent Enterprise Mobility Survey, the percentage of enterprises saying that they have not adopted BYOD, and do not intend to, is almost the same as in the survey that we conducted a year previously (at just over 40%).
“This deal between Apple and IBM may further attenuate future demand for BYOD, both in Europe and elsewhere. One of the main drivers of interest in BYOD is that end users want to use iPhones and iPads for their work. If your employer gives you an iPhone and/or an iPad, as a result of a joint sale from Apple and IBM, why would you want to bring your own?
“It is likely that Apple will seek partnerships with additional IT services players, perhaps looking next at some of the systems integrators that are developing mobility practices. But with this IBM partnership, Apple has made a very strong start in evolving its go-to-market strategy in alignment with the current, more mature phase of mobility adoption in the enterprise”.
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UK Minister for Africa Visits Nigeria to Deepen Strategic Partnership

The United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, has concluded a three-day visit to Nigeria, aimed at reinforcing the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership.
He reaffirmed the UK Government’s strong commitment to deepening trade and investment ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
During his visit, Lord Collins met with senior Nigerian government officials, business leaders, civil society representatives and United Nations agencies.
These engagements underlined the UK’s long-term drive to support Nigeria’s prosperity and stability while deepening bilateral cooperation for transformative growth across our shared priorities.
A key highlight of the visit was Lord Collin’s bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in which both parties reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to strengthening economic ties and promoting regional security. The Minister was joined by the UK’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi MP.
Lord Collins also met with Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen engagement between UK’s parliament and Nigeria’s National Assembly and the importance of furthering women’s participation in politics.
Speaking on his visit, the UK Government’s Minister for Africa, Lord Collins said: “Nigeria and the UK share a rich, ambitious relationship: one that is deeply rooted in respect.
“Our Strategic Partnership is at the forefront of this, and my visit has focused on how our countries can continue deepening our cooperation on key issues such as trade and investment to drive economic growth and deliver prosperity for us all.”
The Minister held discussions with United Nations representatives on the ongoing reform of the UN system, its implications for Nigeria and how the reform can effectively support those most in need, particularly in Northeast Nigeria, whilst also contributing to global humanitarian efforts.
Lord Collins also met with civil society leaders to discuss electoral integrity and governance reforms, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to democratic values and community empowerment.
He later visited Nigeria’s Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell: a key security initiative supported by UK expertise through the National Crime Agency and the Integrated Security Fund, which plays a vital role in enhancing local safety and combating serious crime.
Also commenting on the visit, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, said: “Driving growth is central to the UK’s foreign and development policy. Lord Collins’ visit to Nigeria underscores the UK’s unwavering commitment to deepening our shared prosperity through expanded trade and investment. We are proud to stand alongside Nigeria as it forges a resilient and dynamic economy.”
This visit underscores the UK’s enduring partnership with Nigeria – built on mutual respect, shared goals, and a vision for a prosperous future for both nations.
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PalmPay Launches CSR Initiatives to Empower Women, Foster Financial Literacy in Northern Nigeria

In a strategic move to expand financial inclusion in Nigeria, leading mobile banking platform, PalmPay has launched a series of CSR programs across Kano and Kaduna. The CSR initiative named “Passing the Baton” represents the brand’s commitment to passing on knowledge and providing the resources individuals and businesses need to achieve financial independence and drive economic empowerment.
This initiative is a bold move by PalmPay to bridge the opportunity gap in the North by providing financial literacy training and micro-business branding support to 5,000 women-owned businesses in Kano and Kaduna. This strategic initiative reaffirms PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive development and economic empowerment, particularly in underserved regions.
“At PalmPay, we believe that real financial inclusion must be far reaching and cover the grassroots,” said Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay. “Our new CSR program is focused on supporting gender equity by equipping women with the knowledge, tools, and visibility they need to thrive as entrepreneurs in their communities.”
Through this initiative, beneficiaries will receive free health insurance, hands-on training workshops, enhanced store branding to boost visibility, and branded merchandise to strengthen their business presence.
The initiative is part of PalmPay’s broader strategy to extend its innovative solutions, expand its footprint in Northern Nigeria, while building sustainable partnerships with local stakeholders for long-term impact.
In a show of support, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, has endorsed the initiative, calling on other stakeholders to join forces with PalmPay in ensuring the North benefits fully from the growing digital economy. PalmPay has received commendation from community stakeholders, as the initiative aims to serve as a model for similar projects across other northern states.
As PalmPay continues to scale across Nigeria, the company remains committed to bridging the financial inclusion gap and empowering underserved groups, particularly women and youth, through its innovative solutions and impact initiatives.
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