E-Business
ConnectNigeria Panelists Urge SMEs to Leverage Mobile Money, eCommerce
It is an obvious situation that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are confronted with several challenges which hamper their growth and the nation’s economic development.
Chiefly among the challenges that need to be addressed immediately include finding solutions to the high cost of doing business occasioned by poor infrastructure (power, roads, water), multiple taxation, high cost of legal documentation of credit facilities at both the states Lands Registries and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); inadequate capacity building on the part of the SMEs in the areas of entrepreneurship, and skills acquisition, resulting in the perception of the sector as high risk and poor attitude to loan repayment by borrowers in the sector.
With these in mind, Connectnigeria.com recently organized an e-Business Fair for SME owner to engage face-t-face with players in the financial, e-commerce, and telecommunication sector, and to seek palliatives to the challenges.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Fair, Mr. Obaro Osah, head, Lagos Region, SMEs Group at Bank of Industry (BoI) said that the Bank has ben playing critical role by providing grounds for small businesses financing.
He said that the Bank has made the process of accessing funds very easy by reducing the processes to three easy activities to apply for funding now, giving every Nigerian access to funding for business.
According to him, most startups are faced with the challenge of penning down marketable business proposal.
In lieu of that, BOI entered into partnership with 232 Business Development Support Partners (BDSPs) to help the entrepreneurs in drafting presentable proposals to banks for grants or loans.
He also urged participants and other startups to embrace cashless as a means of reducing risks associated with carrying cash around, and means of packaging their activities to partake in the formal sector of the economy.
Also speaking, Mr. Mike Ogbalu, managing director, FirstMonie, the FirstBank mobile money services platform, said that they have been driving innovative mobile payment systems and commitment to continuously deliver innovative products and solutions, part of which includes enhancing the robustness of its mobile banking and mobile payments platforms.
Ogbalu while encouraging participants at the Forum to join other 2.4 million FirstMonie subscribers who enjoy services dispatched through more than 13,000 agents it has established, he said the ultimate aim is to create more value for their customers.
Firstmonie is designed to enhance financial inclusion and cater for millions of Nigeria’s unbanked and the underbanked citizens, while aligning with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy to promote a cashless economy in Nigeria.
Ogbalu said that the Firstmonie solution was provided to entrench e-banking through the use of the mobile phone and to mitigate the challenges of banking services delivery to the vast unbanked market.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek recalled that, in recognition of Firstmonie continued effort to drive financial inclusion, lead innovation in mobile payment systems and support the CBN cash-less policy, the platform was awarded the Best Mobile Money Operator in Nigeria by the EFInA Financial Inclusion Awards.
From Union Bank of Nigeria’s perspective, Mr. Ayodeji Mebude, head of Channels, said that the bank sees support for SMEs growth as critical in the life of a nation.
He said, this inspired the Union Bank and as part of its transformation programmes to launch a number of initiatives targeted at the group.
Apparently, Union Bank launched an enterprise hybrid account that gives growing businesses the flexibility of a current account with the benefits of a savings account.
It is suitable for businesses such as co-operative societies, trade associations, professional bodies, social clubs and Non-governmental organizations.
Some of the features of the UnionEnterprise Hybrid Account include: access to Union Bank’s array of value adding, e-banking products and services; a minimum daily opening and closing balance of N5, 000 only; lodgement of cheques/dividend warrants; as well as provisions for third party over-the-counter transactions across the Union Bank branch network.
Additionally, UnionEnterprise Hybrid Account holders will enjoy accrued interest on their account balance at the prevailing savings account rate, with zero commission on turn over.
Representing Skye Bank, Ayodele Olojede, head, Small Business Group, said that as parts of its contribution towards the development of the real sector of the economy, Skye Bank Plc had introduced a number of products and incentives designed to help Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) grow their businesses through access to finance and effective management of their financial resources.
Olojede said that the bank’s decision to support SMEs is based on the realisation that these small businesses are the major drivers of any economy worldwide.
She also hinted that the Bank will be making a major announcement in that regard soon.
And Femi George, data platform lead, Microsoft Nigeria, added that entrepreneurs ought to foster a culture of business innovation to survive in the present tech-world.
He said, Microsoft recognizes that, “In the digital age, technology has become the great equalizer, giving voice to your customers, partners, and employees and enabling your business to listen and become more responsive to customer needs and opportunities – using the connectedness of the cloud to respond with new business models, expanded channels and improved processes”.
He defined ‘The Microsoft Cloud’ as unique, as the companies that use it.
From a city that streamlines how its people travel through it, to a global outdoor apparel company that connects its teams around the world. See how this cloud has transformed some of the world’s greatest brands, George said urging the participants to leverage the opportunities in the Cloud.
Mr. Emeka Okafor, managing director, Connectnigeria.com, Organisers of the Forum, spoke to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek on the sideline of their decision to host the Forum with over 1000 SMEs in attendance.
He said, “Developing entrepreneurs is a continuous process in the life of a nation. What we hope people got out of the Forum is knowledge that will help them propel their businesses from, maybe, N1,000 to N10,000 daily or from a ten-man business to 100-man business. We looked for the professionals and those that have passed through some rough edges to share their experiences and inspire the young ones; telling them the steps to follow and others to avoid.
“Great countries do not depend on government to grow businesses; individuals do. Bill Gates of this world, and others did things that changed the world. Government may be doing enough in terms of policies, but which country has ever said that government is doing enough? They are individuals who go beyond current trends and break even.
“So, we put the Forum together because of love for the Country. We love this country; it is the only one we have and we want it to grow. We believe that now we are in the digital age, IT moves the world, we have very creative people; surprisingly, God has blessed this nation that close to 80% of the population are youths, therefore, if we are able to make them see potentials in what they do, the nation’s economy will blossom. Imagine where one million young people hired two million people each, we will wipe out unemployment”.
He described various eCommerce platforms introduced in the market as “fantastic; there is nowhere else we can go except up! Gone are the days were like ‘Nigerians are fraudulent, so we cannot do business with them’. They have seen the potentials of eCommerce with the ever growing population, smartphone users, internet growth and other developmental strides.
The fair also featured panel discussions that involved Supermart, Uber, Jovago, among others; exhibitions and networking.
Over the past four years, gold has risen by more than 400%. The precious metal has long been one of the most traded assets in global financial markets. From its role as a traditional store of value to its sensitivity to inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty, gold continues to attract traders seeking efficient and predictable trading opportunities during a period of global uncertainty and high volatility.
JustMarkets
For traders looking to effectively access gold markets, choosing the right trading environment is as important as timing their entry. One of the most popular and effective gold trading platforms is JustMarkets, offering the tools, conditions, and infrastructure to enable traders to achieve their most ambitious gold trading goals.
Tight Spreads on XAU/USD
Cost efficiency is a critical factor in gold trading, especially for active day traders. JustMarkets offers extremely competitive XAU/USD spreads, allowing traders to open and close positions with reduced transaction costs. Lower spreads can significantly impact short-term strategies, where precision and timing are key to effectively entering a trade. By minimizing trading costs, JustMarkets helps traders focus more on market analysis and finding the ideal entry point, and less on overhead.
Fast and Reliable Execution
Gold is recognized for its volatility, especially during the day, especially with economic announcements or geopolitical events. Speed is of the essence in volatile markets. JustMarkets provides high-speed execution of orders, which helps minimize the risks of delays, especially during periods of high volatility. This ensures that traders are able to respond better to market conditions, thereby having better control over trade management.
Flexible Trading Conditions
Each trader has their own approach to gold, ranging from intraday trading to position trading. JustMarkets offers flexible leverage and account types, enabling traders to adjust their exposure based on their risk tolerance and trading style. This flexibility is suitable for both conservative and aggressive traders while still allowing them to access the same global gold market.
Advanced Platforms and Tools
Successful gold trading is based on thorough technical and fundamental analysis. JustMarkets provides access to industry-standard trading platforms equipped with advanced charting tools, multiple timeframes, and a wide range of indicators for recognizing divergences and clear entry points. These features help traders analyze price trends, identify key levels, and plan their trades with greater confidence.
Accessibility via mobile devices and computers via the JustMarkets Mobile Trading app also ensures traders can monitor positions and market movements from anywhere and at any time.
Education and Market Support
Gold is also affected by factors such as inflation rates, central bank policies, and currency fluctuations. Understanding these factors is important for developing a structured trading strategy.
JustMarkets offers resources for traders, which provide information on how global events can impact the price of gold like case studies, daily, bank and weekly analysis. This is a knowledge-based system, which enables the trader to make more informed decisions rather than relying on the price movements of gold.
Trading Activities That Keep Gold Traders Engaged
In addition to the competitive trading environment, JustMarkets also runs various special activities and campaigns that aim to make the trading experience more interesting. At certain intervals, the special activities may include trading contests on specific trading instruments, such as gold, which are highly sought after by traders. This will give the traders an added impetus to keep trading.
The special activities are designed to encourage trading, consistency, and skill-building among the traders, along with the additional motivation for the trading strategies. This is also in line with the overall philosophy of JustMarkets to create a dynamic trading environment where trading, learning, and motivation are linked together.
A Trading Environment Built for Gold Traders
Gold is still one of the most dynamic markets with the greatest number of opportunities in the world. With tight spreads on XAU/USD, fast execution, flexible trading terms, and access to advanced analytical tools, JustMarkets creates an optimal trading environment for those who want to trade gold efficiently.
In addition to the comprehensive educational assistance, JustMarkets continues to position itself as a strong competitor for traders who are looking for professional trading conditions combined with growth opportunities.
Microsoft is stepping up its push to expand artificial-intelligence adoption across Africa as competition intensifies with Chinas DeepSeek for influence in one of the worlds youngest and fastest-growing digital markets.
The company plans to train 3 million Africans on its AI technologies this year through partnerships with schools, universities and other institutions, with a focus on South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco.
The effort reflects Microsofts broader attempt to accelerate adoption of its AI ecosystem across emerging markets where developers and enterprises are increasingly experimenting with generative AI tools.
Alongside the training initiative, Microsoft is working with MTN Group (MTNOY), Africas largest telecommunications company, to distribute Microsoft 365 and its Copilot digital assistant to about 300 million subscribers.
The Elevate program is designed to expand AI literacy and reduce cost barriers that might otherwise limit adoption, according to regional leadership.
The push comes as Chinese technology firms expand their footprint across the continent, with DeepSeeks open-source models accounting for roughly 11% to 14% of chatbot use in several African markets and reaching about 20% in countries such as Ethiopia and Zimbabwe following investments tied to digital infrastructure and telecom networks.
Microsoft is also increasing its infrastructure investment in the region.
In South Africa, the company plans to invest 5.4 billion rand, or about $330 million, to expand its cloud and AI capacity by the end of next year, while it is also exploring plans for a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya.
Early corporate adoption is emerging across the continent, with South African grocer Spar Group using Copilot in ways that save more than 700 employee hours annually and Nigerias Access Holdings integrating AI into daily workflows.
Regional leadership has suggested broader AI adoption could potentially contribute up to $1.5 trillion to Africas gross domestic product by 2030 if governments and businesses continue investing in digital infrastructure and AI skills.
Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) has uncovered a new Android malware campaign in which cybercriminals distributed the BeatBanker Trojan under the guise of the Starlink application for Android.
Threat actors primarily target users from Brazil; nevertheless, Kaspersky experts don’t rule out that users from other countries may also face this threat.
The Trojan employs a Monero cryptocurrency miner and additionally installs a BTMOB remote administration tool (RAT) on the infected devices. To maintain its persistence, BeatBanker uses an uncommon mechanism involving a nearly inaudible looped audio file.
“At first we saw BeatBanker being distributed under the guise of a public services app; it installed a banking Trojan in addition to a cryptocurrency miner. However, our recent detection efforts uncovered a new campaign with another BeatBanker variant that deploys the BTMOB RAT instead of the banker module.
The attackers appear to be using a fresh lure with the Starlink app to reach more victims from different countries. Therefore, it is important for users to stay vigilant and use advanced solutions to protect their smartphones,” comments Fabio Assolini, Head of the Americas & Europe units at Kaspersky GReAT.
Initial vector of infection
Kaspersky experts believe that cybercriminals distribute a fake Starlink application containing the BeatBanker Trojan through phishing pages that mimic the Google Play Store. After execution on a compromised device, the Trojan displays a user interface that also mimics Google Play. Cybercriminals trick victims into granting installation permissions, thus allowing the download of additional hidden malicious payloads.
Crypto mining and BTMOB RAT module
When a user clicks UPDATE on the fake Google Play page, a Monero cryptocurrency miner deploys. BeatBanker monitors battery percentage and the temperature of an infected smartphone, as well as user activity after which a hidden cryptocurrency miner is started or stopped.
The Android Trojan also installs a BTMOB RAT on the compromised device. BTMOB enables full remote control and is sold as Malware-as-a-Service.
It is capable of automatic granting of permissions, hide system notifications and has mechanisms designed to capture screen lock credentials, including PINs, patterns and passwords on compromised devices. The malware also gives cybercriminals access to the front and rear cameras, GPS location monitoring and constant collection of sensitive data.
To ensure persistence and hinder uninstallation, BeatBanker maintains a fixed notification in the foreground and activates a foreground service with silent media playback. This tactic is designed to prevent the operating system from removing the malicious process.
Kaspersky’s products detect this threat as HEUR:Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.BeatBanker and HEUR:Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.Banker.*.
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