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E-Business

Chams Consolidates Business, Focuses on Improving Shareholder Value

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(L-r): Sir Demola Aladekomo, outgoing group managing director, Very Reverend Ayo Richards, chairman of the Board of Directors, Olufemi Williams, newly appointed group managing director, and Luqman Balogun, newly appointed, deputy group managing director, all of Chams Plc at its 31st Annual General Meeting held in Lagos recently.
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Chams Plc, a leading identity management firm, has announced the successful restructuring and consolidation of its operations to focus on the business of identity management.

 

Very Reverend Ayo Richards, chairman of Chams Plc, who disclosed this at the company’s 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos recently, said Chams and its subsidiaries, including ChamsAccess and CardCentre, have further entrenched their relationships with clients as well as local and international trade partners to ensure a sustained growth trajectory and market dominance in identity management.

 

Richards said “In spite of the tough market conditions in the 2014 financial year, we recorded improved performances. Indeed, the last 12 months have been a period of consolidation for us as a Group. We entrenched our business relationships with our clients and restructured our operations by laying more emphasis on our core business.”

 

Chams Group posted impressive financial results across key parameters as reflected in its revenue growth of 20 per cent from N3.44bn in 2013 to N4.12bn in the 2014 financial year. Operating profit rose by 22.5 per cent to N392.30m compared with N320.10m in 2013.

 

Profit after tax rose strongly by over 48.7 per cent from N188m in 2013 to N280m in 2014.

 

Shareholders’ fund also improved by 26.5% per cent from N4.7bn at full year 2013 to N5.9bn in the 2014 financial year.

 

Explaining the strategic thrust of the business in 2014, Richards said, “To consolidate the achievements we have recorded in the last three years and foster our aspiration of dominating the identity management space in Africa, we partnered with a renowned consulting firm to forge a corporate strategy that would serve as a roadmap for the medium term. This has resulted in streamlined organizational structures and processes, offering of higher-margin, value-added services, and the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs. And we are indeed poised to release innovative products that will have major impact in the Identity Management space and make life more secure and convenient for our customers.”

 

At the AGM, shareholders approved payment of dividend of 2 kobo per ordinary share of 50 kobo held translating to N93.921m as proposed by the company.

 

Reverend Richards thanked shareholders for their understanding, adding that the board and management of Chams Plc are working assiduously to improve dividend payout. 

 

On his part, Demola Aladekomo, outgoing Group Managing and Chief Executive Officer, Chams Plc, said “Our ability to deliver growth across major financial indicators further attests to our strong market positioning and industry leadership. In the last financial year, we achieved some major milestones on our existing projects and also fostered numerous new business partnerships. This year, our objectives are based on a ‘PMR’ model, citing focus on people, increase in market share and improving return to shareholders.

 

The 31st AGM also heralded a major leadership change in the company with Mr. Demola Aladekomo, founding group managing pirector, proceeding on terminal leave ahead of his retirement in September.

 

Aladekomo handed over to Olufemi Williams who takes over as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in alignment with the board of directors’ ratified succession planning which emphasizes promoting capable internal candidates to leadership positions.

 

Until the announcement of Aladekomo’s retirement, Williams was the Deputy Managing Director, and a Chams Plc veteran having joined the company in 1990 as a Computer Engineer.

 

He rose to the position of General Manager in January 2001, and held same until he joined SuperCard Limited as Managing Director in March 2004. Olufemi was appointed Deputy Managing Director, Chams Plc in January 2012 after the merger of SuperCard Limited with Chams Plc.

 

Luqman Balogun, managing director of CardCentre Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chams Plc, has been named the Deputy Managing Director.

 

Prior to joining CardCentre in June 2013 as MD/CEO, Balogun spent 22 years in the banking sector in a career spanning retail and commercial banking, banking operations and Information Technology, credit and relationship management, cards and electronic banking, and project management.

 

 

 


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E-Business

NITDA Ignites a Revolution for Gender Inclusion in Nigeria’s AI and Digital Economy

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In a powerful stride towards an inclusive digital future, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is spearheading a transformative drive to empower Nigerian women in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital economy.

This commitment was resoundingly reiterated by NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, at the “Innovate Her 25” conference, the 10th National Conference and 11th Annual Meeting of Nigerian Women in Information Technology.

Speaking at the event themed “Women in AI: Unlocking Resilience, Fostering Innovation and Leadership,” Inuwa, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, emphasised that true innovation blossoms not in isolation, but through synergistic partnerships and collective endeavor – principles deeply embedded in NITDA’s operational ethos.

Highlighting Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, Inuwa added that inclusivity is embedded as a core objective: “Our strategic roadmap mandates that at least 40% of our programmes directly benefit women and underserved groups. We have also developed a Gender Inclusion Strategy to guide interventions in areas such as training and infrastructure,” he explained.

Further underscoring Nigeria’s leadership in the digital space, Inuwa excitingly announced that in September 2025, NITDA will proudly host a Leadership Summit on AI. This landmark event will convene stakeholders from across the African continent, fostering a collaborative environment to forge a unified AI vision for Africa.

In alignment with the conference’s focus on empowering women in technology, the DG detailed NITDA’s diverse capacity-building initiatives spanning AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. “We work with partners such as the Renew Hope Initiative to train thousands of women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones,” he revealed, highlighting the agency’s broad reach.

NITDA stands ready to collaborate with organisations like the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIT), actively encouraging proposals for bespoke programmes that cater to specific community needs. “We focus on targeted training with measurable outcomes, rather than generic approaches,” Inuwa affirmed, emphasising a results-oriented methodology.

He further spotlighted NITDA’s “Digital Literacy for All Initiative,” which seeks to equip 70% of Nigerians with digital literacy by 2027. Through strategic partnerships with the NYSC and the integration of digital literacy into national school curricula, the agency plans to train over 30 million Nigerians — with a dedicated focus on underserved communities and public servants.

Addressing critical concerns surrounding ethical AI, Inuwa emphasised the importance of developing indigenous datasets and large language models reflective of Nigeria’s unique realities: “We are working closely with stakeholders to build local datasets that safeguard Nigerians’ digital rights and ensure ethical AI use,” he assured.

NITDA is also championing mentorship for women in technology through impactful initiatives such as Women Innovate. The agency warmly welcomes collaboration with NIWIT to design structured mentorship programmes and is open to formalising such partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

“NITDA is committed to fostering inclusive economic growth through innovation. Partnership and collaboration remain the way forward,” Inuwa declared.

The session concluded with a resounding call to action, urging women-focused organisations to leverage NITDA’s open-door policy and unite in advancing digital inclusion across Nigeria. The future of Nigeria’s digital economy is inclusive, and women are at its forefront.


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E-Business

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

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Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon

“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon  wrote in an email to employees.

He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.

According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.

Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.

However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.

“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.

“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.

The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.

Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.

The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.

 

 

 

 


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BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

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Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.

BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.

He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.

“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.

Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.

He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.

“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.

He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.

According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.

He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.

Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.

He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.

Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.

Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.

 

 


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