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Citad Begins Business Incubator programme

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The Centre for Information Technology and Development (Citad) has flagged off its ICT Business Incubators Programme with a pioneer set of 16 youths. The sixteen youths were selected from the best of the 300 people who participated last year in the Microsoft/USA Government supported Employability Programme that Citad and LEAP Africa are implementing in Kano.
The ICT Business Incubator Programme as conceived by Citad is aimed at nurturing the young people to become ICT businesses entrepreneurs. The Incubator programme consists of three components. The first is a training programme on ICT entrepreneurship, which lasts for three month. During the period the participations are in addition to deepening their ICT skills, given training in such ICT skills as website design, video/film editing, and ICT equipment maintenance among others. They are also to be couched in Small Scale Business Management and Marketing as well as in communication and negotiation skills. During this time participants are also encouraged to sit for relevant professional examinations such as those organized by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

At the end of the three months, they will undergo a 3-month business internship during which they are expected to produce business plans. These business plans would be discussed with a team of Citad business advisers and once agreed upon, Citad would then provide the needed business support on grantorship. The beneficiaries will then at the end of the business internship set up his or her business.
 At this stage Citad would provide business mentoring support, networking, professional upgrading and virtual office space for the participants. Six months following the establishment of own businesses would be used to incubate and it is expected that at the end of the year the participants would graduate to full business Entrepreneurs.

At the core of the programme is the team work and participants are encouraged to work towards setting up partnerships or cooperatives rather individual businesses. The pioneer group of 16 consists of nine (9) male and seven (7) females.

Citad is an ICT-focused non-governmental organization which has offices in Kano and Dutse, and an outreach unit in Bauchi State.

Itan admittance into WITSA to increase FDI
The admission of Information Technology Association of Nigeria, (Itan) into World Information Technology and Services Alliance (Witsa) is expected to open up new opportunities for the Nigerian IT and Services industry in the area of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), partnerships, networking, granting of wide range research and development possibilities across Witsa domain
Dr Jimson Olufuye, president, Itan, disclosed this in Lagos while unfolding the details of the planned visit of Dato Dan Khoo, Witsa chairman and Dr James Poisant the Secretary-General schedule between April 21 and 24, 2009. He noted that the admission also demands the emulation of best practices and effective show-casing of local success stories in the global arena.
“My expectation is that the Chairman’s visit will boost more investments in ICT at the grassroots, the states and the Federal level. My hope is that the visit would provide more capacity to engender the expected boost. And as a visit with long term implication, I’m optimistic that it would be far reaching to making a reality the seven point agenda of the Federal government and the realization of the vision 20 2020. Witsa commands a global mass of expertise on IT matters and Nigeria cannot afford not to tap into this formidable resource base” he said.
The visit of Khoo by April this year, according to Dr Olufuye who has been preaching e-learning through the Old Students Personal Computer (OSPC) Project in the Nigerian foundational education system, will afford stakeholders in the Nigerian IT sector the opportunity to trade ideas on the latest developments in the global community, adding that Itan was admitted into Witsa to represent the Nigerian Information Technology and Services Industry.
The WITSA delegation, he said will also visit some state Governors including Kano, Bauchi as tremendous opportunities exist to share ideas on their ICT projects.  Ministers in charge of ICTs and possibly the President may also be visited.
The admission of Itan into the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (Witsa), Olufuye said ,  has thrown open unlimited business opportunities for its  members in the areas of global partnerships, networking, foreign direct investment, product/service deliveries in global market through reliable channels, among others.  Dr Olufuye also unfolded a new shift in Itan operation paradigm to take advantage of its new role in Witsa for the benefit of its members.
Itan’s robust engagement with Witsa, according to him has opened a new vista for the IT and services industry in Nigeria. “It opens with it opportunity for the Industry to metamorphose into the leading Industry in Africa actively engaging the rest of the world. A major thrust for the achievement of this objective is the evolvement and the empowerment of the Itan Founding Partners, the Corporate Advisory Group (CAG) and the Government Advisory Group (GAG) to consist of IT Advisers to State Governors” he explained.
Leveraging on the opportunities available with the engagement of Itan therefore requires boosting of members capacities in all ramifications.
The World Information Technology and Services Alliance is a consortium of about 70 information technology (IT) industry associations from economies around the world. WITSA members represent over 90 percent of the world IT market.

 


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Dangote Refinery Debunks Speculations on IPO

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

Dangote Refinery Debunks Speculations on 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.


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Descasio Launches “Give to Gain” Leadership Insights Report, Hosts Executive Brunch for Women in Leadership

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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.


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World Backup Day: Research Reveals 84% of Users Store Sensitive Data Digitally

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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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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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