General News
Big Data is Transformative -Otiti

Taiwo Otiti, country general manager, IBM West Africa is an accomplished technology and financial services professional with vast change management and business transformation experience.
He is the current chair of the Nigeria Institute of Bankers Information Technology Technical Committee, and a member of several Government, Banking and Technology industry associations and think tanks.
Otiti told peter ugwu in this interview how Government and corporate organizations can leverage on Big Data era and IBM’s contributions towards Nigeria and Africa’s economic development.
Big Data Concepts and Application
Big Data is basically structured and unstructured data. The concept refers to ability to collect and analyze the vast amounts of data we are now generating allover the world. We generate about 2.5 quintillion bytes of data from a variety of sources daily – from climate information, to posts on social media sites, and purchase transaction records to healthcare medical images.
It would be interesting to know Africa’s share of this global data mix, especially mobile communications adoption on the continent continues to grow.
Examples of structured data are financial records, medical records, identity records and everything that has been configured into a format that we can easily understand, while unstructured data is usually information which exists in some sort of random format, for example, information harnessed from business and social media platforms; things like text messages, mobile chats, tweets, voice, sound or music files, videos and pictures which people share and circulate online.
We also now have scenarios where data is collected through cell phone recording, industrial and domestic devices and gadgets with cameras, sensors and other types of equipment like climate control instrumentation, pipeline monitoring instrumentation, and so many other data harnessing tools and technologies.
So, we are not just referring to the data sets that we have programmed to deal with; there are also data sets that come in without any formal structure.
The application of analytics enables us to make use of these data, as we extract fresh insights from the analyzed data. The Big Data concept is applicable in any sector – agriculture, aviation, banking, retail, healthcare, media, marketing, in fact, there is no industry that the Big Data concept does not have a potential impact on.
The Impact of Big Data on Organizations
Big Data is no longer confined to the realm of technology. Big Data will provide organizations with new insights and previously unrealized know-how which will aid quality decision making across all strata of an organization.
The adoption and impact of Big Data concepts in Africa should be of particular interest to Nigerian businesses as we now have a borderless business environment where technology has ensured that customers anywhere can access a company at the click of a mouse.
So with Big Data , Africa-based organizations are poised for an exciting future. With Big Data and analytics, we will begin to see the intersection of local and global information, and this should further add to the continent’s transformation story as new forms of knowledge, new forms of business and government services and innovation which is indigenous to Africa begin to evolve out of Africa.
It is important that Nigerian companies begin to apply Big Data principles. They need to be proactive in managing the evolution of their relationships with their customers and stakeholders.
They need to begin to leverage their information assets to gain a comprehensive understanding of markets, customers, products, distribution channels, regulations, competitors, employees and more.
In addition to providing solutions to companies’ long-standing business challenges, Big Data solutions offer the power to transform processes, organizations and entire industries.
Sectors in Nigeria with more Interest in Big Data
I would say that currently the telecommunications and financial services institutions, especially Nigerian banks have shown relatively deeper interest in Big Data usage than other sectors.
These two sectors are more interested in harnessing their business and social networks. The local retail sector is just beginning to wake up to the Big Data idea. These three sectors would benefit tremendously from the insights provided by Big Data and Analytics technology.
In the financial sector, I know for a fact that Big Data and analytics technology will increasingly be a powerful asset for building much needed trust and transparency between the banks, their customers and the regulatory authorities.
This Big Data management will become more crucial as customers’ access banking products and services online and through hand held devices like tablets and mobile phones.
Governments and state-owned institutions at various levels are also showing interest in addressing their information archiving and Big Data management issues.
Making Meaning out of Unstructured Data
Data is a constantly fermenting, constantly growing resource. Remember that any insights, information diagnostics or prognosis that can be garnered from this constantly expanding data resource is always going to be dependent on how the resource itself is mined.
Data analytics tools and technology therefore allows companies to galvanize value from the coupling of structured and unstructured data.
Take the very common Point-of-Sale transaction, for instance. A retailer can decide to plug in structured data like a shoppers’ debit or credit card number with unstructured or semi-structured information like variable transaction volumes and shopping details for more customer insights.
Retails shops can use insights from this merged information constructs to offer personalized services to shoppers, for example.
The Nigerian insurance sector would also do well to adopt Big Data analytics solutions. This is one sub-sector of the financial services sector that really needs to expand and perhaps re-design product portfolios in order to attract more customers, as many Nigerians are yet to inculcate the concept of insurance into their lives.
I am sure that analyses of the historical and current data resident in various insurance firms would certainly help companies foment a stronger bond with their policy holders, helping them grow their market share, and by extension the industry. The insurance industry globally has already adopted Big Data principles.
A recent IBM study involving global executives in the insurance industry found that 74 percent of insurance companies surveyed report that the use of information (including Big Data) and analytics is creating a competitive advantage for their organizations, compared to 35 percent of insurance companies that reported a Big Data advantage when the same study was conducted in 2010.
Analysts have referred to the advent of Big Data and analytics as the era of constructive disruption to the way we currently conduct business.
Emerging Trends in Big Data
Several trends are helping to advance Big Data. One major issue about Big Data is that it will change the way private and public sector institutions operate and engage with their stakeholders.
Big Data and analytics will usher in deeper levels of market segmentation or customization. Analytics technology is getting better everyday and this is one area IBM is providing leadership for the rest of the global tech industry.
You must also remember that we are now in the era of mass digitization, where many things can be monitored or tracked in real time.
Most courier companies now give customers a unique number they can use to track their parcels in transit, for instance.
Use of the social media is now more widespread. This trend has really shattered distance and made the global community to seem local; people around the world are communicating and interacting via social networks in ways that were unimaginable only a few years ago.
Data transmission and data storage technology has also advanced, helping to edge the Big Data industry forward. Organizations are now able to store, access, and analyze huge new streams of data. It wasn’t always like this.
These trends are converging to usher in a new era of Big Data globally and even in Nigeria where we tend to be quick adopters of global tech trends.
Measuring Return-on-Investment (RoI) Using Big Data & Analytics Technology
It is certainly possible to measure ROI using Big Data tools. By collecting, filtering, and analyzing data, organizations can actually identify and solve many of the inefficiencies which plague their day-to-day operations – including externalities like fraud and corruption which can threaten the organizations’ very reason to excite.
For instance, in a manufacturing company where products are not doing well, with Big Data insights you can make informed decisions about the future of that product. It affords you the ability to manufacture using just in time manufacturing techniques.
Nigerian companies need to begin to become more efficient in the use of their assets and resources. With the application of analytics to data we can begin to predict or pre-empt market trends, customer behaviour and emerging patterns in the entire supply chain.
Is IBM Helping to Develop Big Data Analytics Skills In Africa?
Yes, IBM is engaged in several human capital development projects on the continent. We have IBM ‘Big Data bootcamps’ and bigdatauniversity.com.
These are online platforms where Africans currently access Big Data analytics case studies and global best practice.
Earlier in the year, our Chairman Ginni Rometty announced the decision to give out free IBM software to universities across Africa.
This will allow students and academics to learn not just about Big Data and analytics concepts but also other computing technology areas like cloud, mobile, software security and programming skills.
This particularly project also involves helping to upgrade the curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses at tertiary institutions allover the continent.
The IBM Research Africa lab in Nairobi, Kenya is also helping to grow the continent’s army of Big Data and analytics experts. You know, IBM spends over $6 billion annually on technology research and development, and the lab is IBM’s 12th lab globally and represents a massive commitment to the future of technology innovation in Africa. Scientists and researchers at the lab will be collaborating with other IBM lab around the world, designing innovative solutions to tackle some of Africa’s most pressing challenges: issues like energy and power management, transportation, financial and economic inclusion, agricultural productivity, healthcare, water and sanitation.
Professionals and academics in the Nigerian IT industry can also improve specific computing skills, including Big Data and analytics skills at the new IBM Nigeria Innovation Centre in Lagos. This new facility is one of over 41 IBM innovation centers in 33 countries around the world.
Globally, I think so far IBM has invested about $24 billion in its Big Data and Analytics capabilities, We have probably one of the world’s deepest portfolio of analytics R&D, solutions and software: and more than 40,000 Big Data and Analytics client engagements.
General News
IHS Nigeria, United Nations Global Compact Host High-Level Dialogue on Sustainability and Greener Business Practices in Nigeria

IHS Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, hosted a high-level private sector dialogue themed “Collaborative Strategies for Greener Business Practices, Innovation and Sustainable Development”.
The event, held in Lagos, brought together key players from different sectors including finance, law, telecommunications, biodiversity, and corporate sustainability to explore actionable pathways to achieve meaningful environmental stewardship in Nigeria.
The panel session offered bold perspectives on integrating sustainability into business frameworks across different sectors, whilst dispelling myths, and highlighting opportunities for organizations, and calling for collective action from all players within the business value chain.
Delivering a keynote address, Titilope Oguntuga, Director, Sustainability at IHS Nigeria, emphasized the urgency of environmental consciousness: “Sustainability is not a destination — it’s a collective journey.
“It requires courage to transform, vision to lead, and collaboration to scale. Nigeria stands at a crossroads. We can either be overwhelmed by the risks or rise to become a beacon of green innovation and inclusive growth in Africa. The choice is ours — and the time is now.”
Sylvie Josel, Lead, Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions at the United Nations Global Compact, joined virtually from New York and spotlighted nature as a strategic asset:
“Nature must no longer be treated as an afterthought. It underpins everything, from human rights to supply chains. Embedding biodiversity into a company’s core strategy isn’t just a risk mitigation measure; it’s a smart, future-forward business imperative”.
Lanre Babalola, Group Head, Climate Finance and Sustainability at the Bank of Industry (BOI), provided insights into how BOI is funding sustainable ventures and driving innovation: “We look beyond profitability; we look at environmental and social impact. Whether it’s plastic roads, biogas, or solar transitions, we support businesses that are not only bankable but capable of reshaping the future.”
From the legal perspective, Oyeronke Oyetunde, General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Group, drew attention to the regulatory challenges hindering sustainability adoption: “Our legal frameworks are trailing behind today’s sustainability realities. We need forward-thinking laws, reduced regulatory silos, and incentives that reward the right behavior. Sustainability can’t thrive where enforcement is weak, and taxation is excessive.”
Abimbola Agbejule, Head, Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility at Wema bank, spoke passionately about inclusiveness in sustainable development: “You don’t need to start big to make impact. MSMEs make up a huge part of our economy. Sustainability should be embedded in their day-to-day activities, and we must democratize access to knowledge, tools, and partnerships.”
The session was moderated by Gloria Okorie, Head of Programs at the United Nations Global Impact Center.
The event closed with a resounding call to action for stronger legal frameworks, deeper collaborations, and inclusive capacity building across sectors. The event further reinforces IHS Nigeria’s position as a leader in corporate sustainability and innovation in Nigeria.
“At IHS Nigeria, we recognize that true progress happens when sustainability is not an obligation, but a culture, lived every day, across every unit,” Titilope Oguntuga added.
Through initiatives like this dialogue, IHS Nigeria and its partners continue to champion solutions that protect the planet, empower people, and ensure long-term business viability.
General News
Bridging the Digital Divide: Over 700 Young Africans Empowered by Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a leading digital rights and inclusion nonprofit, has revealed in its 2024 Annual Impact Report that over 707 young individuals across 11 African countries have been empowered through its flagship LIFE Legacy Programme.
The initiative delivers training in life skills, ICT, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship—transforming underserved communities across the continent.
In 2024, the LIFE Legacy Programme ran 25 training cohorts across Cameroon, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Sudan, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Senegal, 60 laptops were distributed to local partners, while digital literacy programmes were launched in schools in Cameroon and Tanzania through the LIFE@School initiative.
PIN advanced its advocacy by supporting 29 legal cases in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. A notable success was the landmark judgment in Molehin v. UBA, where the bank was found guilty of violating data privacy laws.
PIN’s research and media efforts made powerful waves. The Londa digital rights report, covering 26 countries, was downloaded 8,457 times. Its fourth short film, Undersight, recorded nearly one million views on YouTube. PIN also developed an AI strategy report with TrustLaw and collaborated with the Centre for Democratic Technology to assess content moderation policies for Kiswahili across Kenya and Tanzania. A separate report highlighted the troubling deployment of surveillance technologies across Africa, which was referenced in direct advocacy engagements with a telecom operator.
The organisation’s advocacy also contributed to the adoption of the African Commission’s Resolution 580, which urges governments to avoid Internet shutdowns during elections—strengthening digital freedom across the continent.
Meanwhile, the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) convened in Accra attracted 1,004 delegates from 61 countries, strengthening regional collaboration and amplifying the voice of civil society. PIN’s strategic communications pushed its media reach to 1.43 billion and social media engagement to 8.8 million.
Alongside training and policy efforts, the organisation inspired young changemakers through youth-focused campaigns and hosted seven fellows under the Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL) fellowship.
Crowning a year of impact, PIN earned the maiden PrivCon Privacy Award in Nigeria and was recognised in the Social Innovation Category at the Nigeria Innovation Awards for its work connecting African youth to digital opportunity.
General News
PalmPay’s Bold Move For Social Impact in Northern Nigeria

In the busy Fagge Market in Kano, Zahra Bello, a middle-aged entrepreneur who runs a fabric store, speaks about her experience with mobile banking and how this has simplified business transactions and improved her small business.
Behind the growth of these resilient women entrepreneurs lies a story of transformation powered by technology.
“My name is Zahra Bello, I’m from Dambatta in Kano State, and I’m a fabric trader. I first heard about PalmPay from my elder brother in March 2024. He told me how he used the PalmPay Target Savings feature to buy new machinery for his farm and even earned interest. That inspired me to try it too.”
Zahra downloaded the PalmPay app that very day. By December, she’d used the Target Savings plan to restock her shop with new fabrics, an achievement she never thought possible within such a short period. “I was so happy,” she smiles. “The interest I earned on my savings motivated me to save more. PalmPay has become my savings box. I use it for all my transactions now.”
Her story, like many others, is the inspiration for PalmPay’s evolving vision of inclusive banking in Nigeria’s underserved communities.
Women, SMEs, and Technology
Financial exclusion remains a critical challenge in Northern Nigeria. According to EFInA’s 2023 Access to Financial Services survey, an estimated 28.8 million adults in the North are excluded from the formal financial system, with exclusion rates as high as 47% in the Northwest.
Among women, especially those in rural areas, the figures are even more concerning, as these numbers represent the daily reality of millions of women who run informal businesses and contribute to household income without access to banking, credit, or digital tools.
PalmPay’s initiative addresses this gap directly. 5,000 female entrepreneurs in Kano and Kaduna will receive hands-on financial literacy training on mobile payments and their shops are rebranded with signages, aprons, and other kits that will enhance visibility for their businesses.
“I used to write down every sale in a notebook. Now I track everything with my PalmPay account,” says Rabi Abdullahi, a trader in Kano. “Customers trust me more now that I have a business name and branded store.”
PalmPay has done its due diligence to understand the challenges and has offered a tailored approach to solving these issues which includes this social impact initiative.
Social Impact and Strategic Growth
With over 35 million users in Nigeria, the company is keen to expand in regions where smartphone adoption is rising but digital finance penetration remains low.
Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing and Communications, explains: “We see this as long-term ecosystem building. When you give small business owners the tools to grow, you don’t just gain users, you build loyalty, trust, and sustainable impact.” This also aligns with Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Strategy goal to reach 95% inclusion by 2025, a benchmark that can’t be reached without focused efforts in the North.
The project has earned the support of traditional leaders, most notably His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, who praised the initiative and called for greater collaboration between the private sector and community stakeholders.
With the success of this initiative, PalmPay has continued to expand its solutions in these regions offering support to even more women.
In Northern Nigeria, where the need is great and the gap wide, PalmPay is proving that true impact goes beyond offering products to providing support and meeting the needs of its users at the grassroots.
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