News
Beyond Local Content in Oil & Gas: ICT-Knowledge Export Call

By Chris Uwaje
Can Nigeria export het tested Software Application Solutions? Yes, this has been happening unannounced for some time! Today, our innovation potential is weakened by the wedge of global financial Aid.
It is therefore time to restore trust in the ability and audacity of Software Applications developed in Nigeria, by Nigerians wherever they may be anywhere in the world.
In my professional assessment, the cumulative potentials of ICT Solutions, processes and services currently developed and supported by Nigerians all over the world is worth over 200billlion USD – including unaccounted patents and IP missing in digital action (MIDA).
To avoid emerging catastrophes in Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s digital future, rethinking our national ICT strategy – beyond local content in Oil & Gas – has become a matter of critical urgency, for many cogent reasons.
The first sustainable reason is that our digital destiny and national survivability should not be constructed on financial Aids as is the case presently at almost all levels of development and national security.
In the last 60 years, Africa and Nigeria in particular has been going cap-in-hand, in search of and receiving insignificant financial Aids from Donors all over the world.
However, Nations of the world that have attained constructive and sustainable development have not only done that through the mastery of science and technology, but conscious access to reasonable financial Grants for national development – but definitely not through Aids.
Secondly, the supersonic speed of digital evolution has accelerated the need and compels us to rethink national development strategies beyond Oil & Gas revenue generation.
This can be done by advancing a National Software Strategic Plan, overhauling her inter-generational wisdom-database recourses and applying Innovative and creative ICT knowledge armory for global competitiveness.
More than ever before, empowered by her youthful population of more than 65% of the Continent’s 1.28billion people, Africa/Nigeria is presented with an awesome opportunity to conquer knowledge poverty at all levels and enthrone astonishing prosperity beyond Oil & Gas, and devoid of financial Aids.
And thirdly, above all, the diminishing patriotism, audacity of merit and trustworthy content in our national development attitudes and social engagement agenda has become worrisome and constitute a multi-dimensional burden to sustainable development – especially within the ICT Ecosystem practically propelled by digital centrifugal force.
Whereas, all the answers we have been searching for driving our sustainable development over the past 60 years have always resided in our skilled human resources and not on financial Aids.
With the TSA (Treasury Singly Account) and similar ICT solutions and services delivered to Nigeria by Nigerians, the nation has indeed arrived at the threshold to embark on the life-time business of knowledge export and support services to many parts of the world.
This is why the promotion of inter-generational knowledge solutions – with particular reference to harnessing the National ICT Ecosystem should be our core strategic imperative.
Numerous evidences abound and vividly illustrate why this is the wisdom roadmap to our collective destiny and prosperity.
In my professional assessment, the cumulative potentials of ICT Solutions and services currently developed and supported by Nigerians all over the world is worth over 200billlion USD – including unaccounted patents and IP missing in digital action (MIDA).
Problem is, we currently don’t have the commensurate data to proof this, due to the seeming neglect of critical Baseline studies and blatant appointments of non-professionals to deliver the IT-Profession-of Things at many critical levels. The following are glaring example:
The revenue of the Indian ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector is expected to reach an approximate value of about INR 14,42,839.5 crores (US$ 225 Billion) by the end of 2020 from current level of INR 10,53,434 crores (US$ 164.3 Billion) growing at CAGR of about ~11.1%, reveals the ASSOCHAM-RNCOS study.
The study jointly published by ASSOCHAM and RNCOS has stated that since cloud, mobility, social media and big data analytics are playing significant role in driving growth of software products and continue to drive the need for investments.
Singapore ICT Industry – Outlook. Contribution to Singapore’s Economy. • $167.1 billion Industry Revenue (2014). • 30.3 % Domestic Revenue of Industry https://www.austrade.gov.au › Countries and economies › Singapore..
Malaysia: Te National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Association of Malaysia, or PIKOM, aims to grow the industry’s revenue to RM95 billion by 2017 with its new “5-year strategic direction”. Last year, the national ICT revenue stood at RM57 billion while this year’s projection is expected to be around RM62 billion, according to a study by PIKOM.
Pakistan: The country’s IT industry is set to double by 2020, said the CEO of Pakistan’s national technology fund, increasing from the current worth of $3.5 billion to $7 billion. (source: Express Tribute Sat 19tha may 2018)
.IRELANS: Ireland has become the global technology hub of choice when it comes to attracting the strategic business activities of ICT companies. This has earned Ireland the reputation for being the heart of ICT in Europe.
The industry employs over 37,000 people and generates €35 billion in exports annually. The drive is supported through Ireland’s 25% R&D tax credit and generous grant support from the IDA. (Source : IDA, Ireland)
CHILE: Johannesburg – Multinational ICT group Datatec’s [JSE:DTC] Logicalis plans to acquire Chilean ICT services and solutions provider, Coasin Chile SA, for up to US$20.8m in cash.
On Tuesday, Datatec announced that a subsidiary of Logicalis Group had signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Coasin Chile, which also has operations in Peru. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.
TAIWAN: Taiwan’s science parks are designed and administered to provide ideal conditions for high-tech business operations.
The parks also provide excellent environments for developing powerful synergy among clusters of related enterprises, some in nearby industrial parks, and public R&D institutions.
Taiwan ranks first in the “state of cluster development” index of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competiveness Report 2013- (Source: Taiwan Republic of China –Government Year 2016).
Many smarter countries have realized that the effect of local-content legislation and policies in the oil and gas industry is not enough, recognizing that the core interface to ensuring maximum results reside in making ICT as the key driving force and critical linkage for promoting progressive and sustainable Local Content agenda.
The Software-Nigeria knowledge frontier more than ever before, requires a National Software Strategic Plan and forward-looking legislation as roadmap to the creation of more employment, improved GDP, National Security, Youth empowerment assurances, global competitiveness and national survivability.
News
NBS May Release Rebased Figures for Nigerian Economy July 11

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) may launch its rebased Gross Domestic Product figure on July 11, according to reports by the Nation.
In economics, rebasing refers to the process of updating the base year used for calculating economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This is done to reflect changes in the structure and price levels of an economy, making the indicators more accurate and relevant to the current economic situation.
Folorunso Alesanmi, head of Public Relations, NBS, deferred his response to today (Monday) when asked to confirm the information.
In a terse text message reply to our inquiry, he said “I will reply you on Monday when I get the final information about it.”
Recall that the country changed the year of its GDP from 1990 to 2010 in 2014, when the figure was raised by 89 per cent.
The much awaited July 11 figure is expected to increase economic indicators such as per capita income, debt-to-GDP ratio and tax revenue outlooks.
News
Lagos-Calabar Highway Gets $100M Push from ECOWAS to Drive Regional Growth

ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has committed $100 million to support the development of a key section of Nigeria’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
This funding covers a 47.7-kilometre stretch, marking Section I, Phase I of the project, which originates from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos.
Work on the highway began in March 2024, with Hitech Construction Company Limited appointed as the main contractor.
The announcement was made during EBID’s 92nd Ordinary Session held in Lagos, where the bank outlined a series of development financing commitments amounting to €174 million and $125 million, targeted at infrastructure and social development across the ECOWAS region.
The investment in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to boost intra-regional connectivity by linking nine Nigerian states. It will also enhance access to strategic seaports, support agro-industrial development, and improve logistical networks along Nigeria’s southern corridor. The highway is further expected to contribute to the formation of a regional supply chain, economically empowering coastal communities.
“The bank also approved $100 million in funding for the Lagos-Calabar coastal motorway project in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It said that this project, which spans 47.7 km, would link nine Nigerian states and improve access to seaports and isolated agro-industrial areas. EBID noted that the funding would also contribute to the emergence of a regional value chain to support coastal communities.”
Other EBID-backed initiatives include €50 million earmarked for the establishment and outfitting of six technical and vocational education centres in Togo. These centres aim to provide skills training for up to 3,480 youths annually, focusing on high-demand trades.
In Guinea, the bank allocated €28.9 million to revamp four agricultural high schools, and an additional €95.16 million to build three hydroelectric micro-power plants with a combined generation capacity of 30 megawatts, aiming to expand rural access to renewable energy.
Côte d’Ivoire will benefit from a $25 million facility directed at financing clinker imports by Société de Ciment de Côte d’Ivoire—a move expected to support local cement manufacturing and alleviate raw material shortages in the construction sector.
EBID noted that its latest funding initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 9, which advocates for advancements in industry, innovation, and infrastructure. With these latest disbursements, the bank’s cumulative investment across the West African region has surpassed the $5 billion milestone.
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently disclosed that the Federal Government has signed off on contracts exceeding N3 trillion for multiple sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, extending through Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
The Lagos segment—Section I—was awarded at N1.068 trillion, with 30 percent of the contract sum already paid.
Section II, which includes multiple bridges and traverses difficult terrain en route to the Dangote Refinery, has been contracted at N1.6 trillion.
Sections III A and III B, covering parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, were jointly valued at N1.33 trillion.
President Bola Tinubu officially inaugurated the first completed segment of the coastal highway in May 2025, signalling the project’s steady progress.
News
LG Launches “Radio Optimism” Campaign to Spread “Life’s Good” Through Music

LG Electronics has launched a new brand campaign, “Radio Optimism,” designed to help strengthen meaningful human connections and spread optimism through shared musical experiences.
This initiative aligns with LG’s brand promise, “Life’s Good,” and addresses the growing challenge of forming genuine relationships in a technology-driven world.
The Radio Optimism campaign seeks to counteract the disconnection often felt in an era dominated by superficial interactions, such as likes and comments on social media. By harnessing the power of music, LG aims to foster deeper bonds among individuals, promoting a more fulfilling life.
“As technology advances, meaningful human connections become increasingly vital to enrich our lives. LG continues its commitment to bringing optimism into customers’ daily lives, staying true to our enduring brand promise of ‘Life’s Good,’” said Kim Hyo-eun, head of LG’s Brand Management Division.
This campaign reinforces LG’s commitment to creating enriching experiences in digital spaces where today’s consumers spend significant time. Building on this mission, LG has continuously engaged with younger audiences through participatory campaigns that bring the Life’s Good philosophy to life.
Last year’s “Optimism your feed” campaign leveraged social algorithms to foster positivity on social media. This new initiative specifically seeks to address the paradoxical disconnection in an era of hyper-connectivity.
“One of the most reliable predictors of happiness is having deep and meaningful relationships,” said Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University. “Yet today, many people are spending more time online and less time connecting in person. Social media in particular tends to create shallow relationships rather than the deep connections people need.
“It’s common for people to have hundreds of followers but no one to talk to in real life if they need support. We need to build more meaningful connections with those around us. That might turn around the pronounced decline in happiness that’s occurred over the last decade.”
A new global study* from LG on social connection reveals that 68 percent of people find it harder to make real friends, and a third reported having one or fewer meaningful connections in the past month, with 8 percent experiencing none at all.
Inspired by traditional radio’s unique way of connecting people through music and storytelling, the Radio Optimism campaign transforms this concept into an interactive platform where participants can create and send personalized songs to their loved ones.
Users can easily create new songs using AI-powered tools, which are thoroughly trained on a curated music dataset. These tools interpret user prompts to produce unique musical pieces and generate matching album art, providing an engaging and personalized experience. Once generated, these songs can be sent to recipients to deepen their connection and made available for others to discover worldwide.
According to the survey, nearly 9 in 10 respondents believe that meaningful connections lead to a more optimistic outlook on life. By providing a platform for individuals to express their feelings, this campaign aims to foster deeper connections and help individuals enrich their lives while spreading optimism in their own ways.
The campaign website is available in English and Spanish, with plans to support additional languages in the coming months to enable broader participation. The official website can be found at RadioOptimism.lg.com.
- E-Financial3 days ago
Court Affirms NIBSS Authority to Manage BVN
- Telecom3 days ago
MTN, 9mobile Commence Ground-breaking National Infrastructure Partnership
- E-Financial3 days ago
Nigerian Banks End Years of Embargo, Resume Intl Transactions on Naira Cards
- E-Business3 days ago
NIMC Says NIN Services Back Online
- General News3 days ago
Cybervergent Selected as World Economic Forum’s 2025 Technology Pioneer Company
- Telecom3 days ago
Karl Toriola Champions Digital Education for Employability @Sigma Club Lecture
- E-Financial3 days ago
Flutterwave Secures 20 more US Money Transmitter Licences
- E-Business3 days ago
Report Reveals African Organizations Dangerously Overestimating Cyber defences