News
Attending Events Like GITEX Shows The Gaps, Encourages Us To Do More- Isa Ibrahim

By chukwuemeka fred agbata
Nigeria is one African country that puts on a good outing at each edition of the GITEX Technology Week, one of the world’s technology events that holds in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE.
Isa Ibrahim, the director general, DG, of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, led other government officials, both at the Federal and State levels, to tour the Dubai Pavilion at the just concluded GITEX Technology Week 2017, in order to learn from their experiences. After the tour, I had a discussion with him to know what his experiences were as well as other issues.
He stated that he learnt some lessons, which he will be bringing to Nigeria in order to help grow the IT industry in Nigeria. “One of the lessons we have learnt, is that other nations are not sleeping. They are progressing. They are developing and as long as we want to remain relevant, then, we need to progress in ICT”, he maintained. He also observed that, between the last GITEX Technology week in October 2016 and this year’s GITEX Technology Week 2017, it was obvious that the UAE had progressed tremendously in ICT. “This is an indication that, if we are sleeping, other nations are not, so, we have to wake up and ensure that we try to increase our pace”, he asserted.
The NITDA DG stated that, since the event last year, NITDA has been at the vanguard of monitoring our Startups. He also stated that NITDA had established strategic partnerships through IT regulations, improvement of standards and government digital services.
On whether the right environment is being created for the Startups to grow in Nigeria, the DG stated that the best is being done to assist the Startups, working within the constraints of resources, etc.
He stated that, in spite of these constraints, NITDA was always there for the Startups, through mentoring, guidance and counseling. “secondly, we usually support them with seed funding. It could not be sufficient, but it is a clear indication that, we are willing to do more, as long as the resources are available”, he explained. He stated that, another assistance that NITDA does for the Startups, is the annual sponsorship of them to the GITEX Technology week events and this year, 10 Startups were sponsored, 100%, to the GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, in spite of the constraints.
Answering a question on whether investors are interested in partnering with our Startups, the NITDA DG responded in the affirmative and explained that, as he speaks, Google has indicated interest in partnering with some of the Nigerian Startups that were taken to GITEX Technology Week 2017.
He emphasised that, our Startups are dong wonderfully well and some countries and Multinational companies, MNC’s, are also looking for ways of taking up for mentoring or partnership.
In the opinion of the NITDA DG, organising events like the GITEX Technology Week is relevant to Nigeria because, no nation can develop IT alone without sharing their experiences with others as they need to engage in strategic partnerships professional collaboration and many more. He stressed that, by attending events like GITEX all over the world, gives the Nigerian IT industry the opportunity to see what other nations have achieved compared to what we have achieved, note the gap and encourage os to do more.
“NITDA came in touch with many MNC’s and up till now, we maintain our contacts and relationship with them. Recently, some MNC’s are even supporting us to develop some standards and guidelines, based on their experience and expertise as well”, he he noted, on the importance of attending such events.
On how these foreign partnerships will not be for only the importation of products and services, but also include the increase in our local content input, the DG stated that NITDA always emphasises at meetings with these MNC’s that, Nigeria is interested in them coming to domesticate their products in Nigeria and not for Nigeria to be importing from them.
“The advantage to be derived from this, include the reduction on the pressure on our local currency, reduction in unemployment in Nigeria and also improvement in the image of our country”, he observed. The idea, he further stated, is to encourage our local manufacturers to learn from these MNC’s to develop our local content.
On his personal assessment of himself in office in the past one year, the DG stated that, third parties are in a better position to assess his work at NITDA in the past one year. He, however, noted that NITDA has, so far, achieved a lot, but there are still many more things to be done.
News
Dangote Refinery Debunks Speculations on IPO

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has debunked recent circulation of unauthorised information regarding a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO).

In a statement, DPRP noted that several online platforms and unofficial sources have published unverified, and in some instances inaccurate, information relating to a potential offering.
“Such reports do not originate from DPRP and should be treated with caution. All official updates regarding any potential transaction will be communicated strictly through DPRP’s formal public disclosures and announcements issued by its appointed advisers, in line with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
“Accordingly, the public, investors, and all market participants are strongly advised to disregard speculative commentary and rely solely on verified information formally issued by DPRP or its authorised representatives,” the statement said.
The firm assured stakeholders that, when appropriate, comprehensive, and accurate details regarding any proposed transaction will be made available through official channels, including regulatory filings, authorised press releases, and coordinated communications by the Enterprise and its appointed advisers.
News
Descasio Launches “Give to Gain” Leadership Insights Report, Hosts Executive Brunch for Women in Leadership

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Descasio hosted an intimate executive brunch bringing together distinguished women leaders from its customer community for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, partnership, and shared growth.

Centered around the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” the gathering created space for accomplished women in enterprise leadership to reflect on mentorship, collaboration, and investing in people as key drivers of sustainable growth.
Held in Lagos, the event convened leaders from organizations including Honeywell Group Limited, Finchglow Travels, NGCOM, and Eroton Exploration & Production Company.
Guests were personally welcomed at the start of the gathering by Mr. Dele Nedd, CEO of Descasio; who greeted each of the women leaders and expressed his appreciation for their presence before leaving the session to allow the women lead the conversation among themselves.
The gesture reflected Descasio’s leadership culture; one where women are not only recognized, but actively supported and empowered. It also underscored the company’s belief that meaningful progress in leadership requires partnership and allyship across the organization.
Rather than a traditional panel discussion, the brunch was designed as a candid and reflective exchange among peers navigating leadership in complex industries. Throughout the conversation, participants shared perspectives shaped by experience, responsibility, and the realities of leading teams and organizations.
A recurring theme in the discussion was the role of execution and accountability in leadership. For many organizations, strategy alone is not enough; consistent delivery is what ultimately builds credibility and trust.
Reflecting on this, Josephine Adebola, Data Compliance & Process Automation Manager at Finchglow Travels, emphasized the importance of reliability in leadership and the discipline required to translate vision into results. “Get it done on time and in full.”
The conversation also explored the role of curiosity and continuous learning in shaping effective leaders. In rapidly evolving industries, the ability to ask questions, remain open to new perspectives, and keep learning is often what enables leaders to grow alongside their organizations.
Sharing her perspective, Tomi Otudeko, Chief Operating Officer at Honeywell Group Limited, reflected on how curiosity has shaped her leadership journey.
“Asking questions and continuously learning have always stood me in good stead as a leader.”
She also spoke about the importance of leading with empathy and understanding the people behind the roles within organizations.
“Everyone has multiple dimensions to who they are. Leadership has taught me to see people in their totality. That awareness doesn’t make a leader weak; it makes them more effective.”
Another important theme that emerged from the conversation was authenticity in leadership. In an environment where leaders often face pressure to conform to traditional expectations, remaining true to one’s identity while continuing to evolve is essential.
For Helen James-Eziashi, General Manager at NGCOM, authenticity and curiosity remain key guiding principles. “Be yourself, keep learning, and stay curious.”
The discussion also highlighted the role of self-awareness in sustaining leadership journeys, particularly in complex and high-responsibility environments. Understanding one’s values, motivations, and support systems often becomes the anchor that allows leaders to navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Reflecting on this, Ifeanyi Onyejekwe, IT Manager at Eroton, emphasized the importance of knowing what grounds a leader.
“Know who you are and understand what supports and sustains your leadership journey.”
According to Descasio, the event reflects its broader commitment to building strong partnerships and fostering meaningful leadership conversations across its enterprise customer community.
“For us, this was about more than marking International Women’s Day,” said Umama David-Ogebe, The HR Manager at Descasio. “It was about creating a space where leaders could learn from one another and reflect on the kind of leadership that builds strong organizations. The most meaningful partnerships grow from conversations like these.”
To extend the impact of the discussion, Descasio has published “The Give to Gain Leadership Report: Insights from Women Leading Enterprise Organizations,” a curated publication capturing key reflections and leadership lessons shared during the session.
The report highlights themes including:
- The role of curiosity and continuous learning in leadership
• Building stronger teams through empathy and accountability
• The importance of authenticity and self-awareness in navigating leadership journeys
• How investing in people drives stronger partnerships and resilient organizations
The Give to Gain Leadership Report is now available for download Here.
News
World Backup Day: Research Reveals 84% of Users Store Sensitive Data Digitally

Ahead of World Backup Day, Kaspersky reveals the most popular ways to store important data and gives practical advice on how to keep it safe. Global research shows that zoomers and millennials keep nearly everything electronically, while almost one‑in‑three respondents over 55 y. o. still prefer good old‑fashioned paper.

Where do we store what matters?
Research* conducted by Kaspersky’s Market Research center shows that most people prefer to keep important info stored digitally.The majority of all respondents (84%) claim they store sensitive personal data like ID, financial details, healthcare related info or photo archive in electronic format.
When it comes to digital data storage, more than half (56%) say they keep their important records on a computer or a hard drive, 45% use cloud solutions and 20% entrust their data to government digital services.
Does digital mean safer?
Each storage method has its own advantages and limitations. Physical media can be lost or suffer damage, external hard drives are not always convenient to use on the go and cloud services, while being accessible, are vulnerable to unauthorised access. To maximise digital data security, Kaspersky experts advise adhering to the following best‑practice recommendations:
- Develop a backup strategy
There is no universal approach to data storage, nor is it necessary to back up every single file. Nonetheless, cultivating a regular backup routine is strongly recommended, particularly for sensitive data or files that cannot be regenerated or recovered through other means.
According to the popular 3-2-1 backup strategy you should have at least three copies of important data, store it on two different storage types, and make at least one copy off-side (cloud or external physical location).
The most sensitive data like passwords, ID or financial details requires special attention. Use a dedicated security solution like Kaspersky password manager, which apart from securely keeping users’ credentials and bank cards, has a special secret vault functionality aimed at storing important documents, for example, scanned Passports/IDs and PDF files, addresses and notes.
- Protect your vaults
According to Kaspersky’s data, 98% of all respondents take at least some measures to protect their personal data storages, which is a good sign. However, 36% of respondents use quick-to-remember passwords to safeguard their personal data.
Relying solely on simple passwords leaves your digital vaults vulnerable to brute‑force attacks. That’s why experts recommend enabling two‑factor authentication (2FA) wherever it is available or adopting passkey technology. Passkeys can be stored securely in a password manager and accessed seamlessly from any authorised device.
- Set up automatic backups where possible
Continuously remembering to perform backups can be cumbersome. To streamline the process, enable the built‑in backup service on every device you use (e.g., iCloud for iPhone/iPad/Mac, Google Drive/OneDrive for Android/Windows).
Test it once a month or two by restoring a single file, just to be sure the backup works. Kaspersky Premium allows users to make regular backups and restore information on Windows devices. Backup copies of data can be easily saved on removable drives or in cloud storage in an encrypted format.
“We all know backups are important, but most of us never do them because we try to back up everything at once and it gets overwhelming. The smarter approach? Treat backup like any other workflow. Tag your files – critical, important, low‑priority.
Automate real‑time backups for the critical stuff, schedule weekly or monthly backups for the rest. And for sensitive data like passwords and IDs, use our dedicated solution with a secret vault to keep it secure. When you automate and prioritise, you protect what really matters without getting overloaded,” comments Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business in Kaspersky.
The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research center in November 2025. 3000 respondents from 15 countries (Argentina, Chile, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, United Arab Emirates) took part in the survey.
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