E-Business
#DemoAfrica2014, ‘Africa Getting Its Act Together’-Johnson
The DEMO Africa event finally kicked off at the Lagos Oriental Hotel in Nigeria to an expectant audience of top investors, IT buyers, IT consumers, Government officials and IT enthusiasts from across Africa.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Mrs. Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, said the combination of an ‘Africa Rising’ and one that still has to overcome challenges represents a significant opportunity for African start-ups especially those in the tech sector.
Johnson while reflecting on Africa of past and present recalled that, “On May 13th2000, The Economist, an international current affairs magazine, had on its cover page a silhouette of the African continent, within it was the image of an armed guerrilla fighter; its caption read: ‘The Hopeless Continent’.
“Within the pages of that edition, the prognosis on Africa encapsulated the prevailing beliefs held not only by the majority of those living outside its borders, but also by those that considered themselves ‘trapped’ within it. Africa –a starving, poor, disease ridden, fractured, war-torn, corrupt, dying mass of humanity … described by former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, as a “scar on the conscience of the world” .
“Fast forward a decade; December 3rd 2011, the cover page of The Economist bears the image of a boy running across a savannah landscape at sunrise, flying a rainbow coloured kite shaped in the image of the African continent. The caption reads: ‘Africa Rising’. Within its pages the magazine paints a scenario of dynamism, resilient entrepreneurial activity, fledging… yet growing economies, nascent… yet stabilising democracies, a population getting healthier and more educated, an expanding middle class signifying a potential to even out the distribution of wealth.
“An Africa, that is ‘getting its act together’. 54 countries of different ethnicity, culture , language and different levels of development, home to 1.1bn people, the second fastest growing regional economy (second to Asia) and home to more than half of the world’s fastest growing economies”.
She however, noted that in spite the efforts, Africa still has its challenges, which IBM has encapsulated and coined as Africa’s Grand Challenges which include education, access to water, energy, healthcare, financial inclusion, public safety and transport and agriculture.
The Minister said: “The combination of an Africa Rising and one that still has to overcome challenges represents a significant opportunity for African start-ups especially those in the tech sector.
“Mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa are forecasted to exceed 635 million by the end of this year (2014) and predicted to rise to around 930 million by the end of 2019.
The increase in the number of mobile subscribers has fuelled increases in mobile internet use in Africa and we are considered to be at the cusp of a mobile internet revolution. Predictions are that mobile internet use in Africa will increase twenty fold in the next five years … this is double the estimated growth rate in the rest of the world. Lower priced devices (in particular smartphones and tablets), increase investment in network infrastructure, and increase availability of spectrum for mobile broadband, are among the factors that will drive this growth.
“One report that highlights this potential predicts that the Internet can contribute up to 300 billion United States dollars to Africa’s GDP by 2025; and this is from an estimated 18 billion in 2013 .
“This translates directly to opportunities to generate income, to create wealth, to create jobs, new business opportunities, economic expansion etc. … the very opportunities African governments are looking for and need to transform their economies and the economic lives of their populations”.
Over the next two days, the Continent will witness 40 African start-ups pitch their solutions to these great opportunities and challenges with a hope to secure funding and support to take their ideas and innovations to the next level.
She added that the Nigerian government has done and will continue to do her bit to support the software development industry.
The DEMO Africa event finally kicked off at the Lagos Oriental Hotel in Nigeria to an expectant audience of top investors, IT buyers, IT consumers, Government officials and IT enthusiasts from across Africa.
Also speaking, Harry Hare, executive producer of DEMO Africa commended the participants for showing such great enthusiasm towards finding the much needed solutions for Africa.
“It is inspiring to see that, now, more attention is being accorded the pursuit of solutions to problems that are uniquely African. The continent has one of the most diverse and talented pool of young people and finally, we are seeing a real intent by authorities to utilize the massive power within these brains to bring positive change, especially through technology.”
The DEMO Africa forum has seen serious minds put together through various organized forums including the LIONS@frica Summit and the Pan African Angel Investors forum held yesterday.
Ben White, VC4Africa’s CEO and Founder, added: “Going into the third year of DEMO Africa, we are excited to introduce a new exclusive investor-only event as part of the DEMO Africa 2014 event. This is the next step in making sure the leading innovators from across the continent are going to get the backing they need to achieve scale. At the same time, we see angel networks emerging across the continent. Now is the time to bring them together in a shared conversation about how best to move forward.”
This year’s event has been organized in collaboration with the LIONS@FRICA partners such as Microsoft, Nokia, US State Department, DEMO, USAID, African Development Bank, VC4Africa among others) and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies and sponsored by Nigeria Information and Technology Development Agency (NIITDA), Software Giant Microsoft, USADF, Department of State, Evernote, SWELL, Airtel, Bank of Industry, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, Accenture, MTN, Oasis Management Company, Tony Elumelu Foundation and Main One.
E-Business
Paradigm Initiative Flags Rampant Data Leaks, Seeks Stronger Digital Rights Protection in Nigeria
Paradigm Initiative has released a report highlighting the state of digital rights and inclusion in Nigeria, raising serious concerns about the citizens’ data online.
In a media briefing held in Abuja, Nigeria, the organisation called for seriousness from the government in handling the matter, saying there has been a consistent data leak online for three years now, where data is available for sale cheaply.
In his address, ‘Gbenga Sesan, the organisation’s executive director, said: “The data security problem is serious. Data belonging to the President, Vice President, National Security Adviser, top military officials, ministers and other senior government officials are also available online to anyone who knows their full name and date of birth.”
He pointed out that as much as the country has made advancements in tech, digital rights such privacy, online protection, freedom of expression and access to information, are increasingly under threat in Nigeria, with the threats manifesting as arbitrary internet disruptions, weak enforcement of data protection, surveillance, and inconsistent digital policies, which continue to weaken citizens’ trust and hinder the country’s digital growth and potential.
‘Gbenga expressed gratitude to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Mott Foundation, Open Society Foundations (OSF), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Internet Society Foundation, for supporting the organisation’s cause at a time when non-profit organisations were facing challenges.
He highlighted Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS) Project as having been instrumental in delivering immense transformative change, positively influencing Nigeria’s digital rights landscape. The project has combined litigation, advocacy, evidence-building, and capacity strengthening to protect citizens, influence policy, and build durable systems.
One of the major outputs of the STANDS project is the Ikot Ekpene Declaration, a commitment document that provides guidance for judicial officers on integrating digital rights into their rulings and judicial practice. PIN has also trained law enforcement officers on digital security.
On her part Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer, highlighted the organisation’s impact, and how it has transformed the lives of young Africans on the continent, developed reports, digital toolkits and produced award-winning short films. PIN, she added, also provides scholarships for students from Ajegunle, where the organisation started its operations from in Lagos, Nigeria.
Khadijah El-Usman, the Senior Officer Programmes, Anglophone West Africa shared highlights of the 2024 Nigeria Londa Report which evaluates the state of digital rights and inclusion while benchmarking them against the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
The Score Index measures the country’s performance against major human rights issues including Internet access and affordability, freedom of expression and protection against arbitrary arrests, data protection and privacy, content moderation, transparency and access to information, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies and inclusion of vulnerable groups including children and persons with disabilities.
“For Nigeria in 2024, this assessment is not just a research exercise. It directly reflects how over 200 million citizens experience their right to connect, speak, to be protected online and to participate in the digital economy,” Khadijah added.
Nigeria’s total score for 2024 was 36 out of 60, placing it at a moderately compliant level, reflecting both progress and setbacks.
Paradigm Initiative further stated that a considerable number of Nigerians are still battling internet affordability, connectivity, and skills barriers that limit meaningful online participation. As much as there have been advancements, much more needs to be done as the most affected are individuals in rural areas, women, and persons with disabilities, who often face issues related to affordability, access, and digital literacy.
Federal government has announced its plans to achieve 95 per cent digital literacy among Nigerians by 2030, with a specific target of training and empowering at least 30 million citizens by 2027.
The announcement was made on Thursday at the grand finale of the Digital for All Challenge 2.0, an initiative of Tech4Dev funded by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme and implemented in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, NITDA, represented by Aristotle Onumo, director of Stakeholder Management at the agency, said that over 30 million Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, are being targeted for training, with digital champions deployed nationwide to facilitate the programme.
“We are integrating digital literacy into school curricula nationwide, from primary to university level, and partnering with the Head of Civil Service to make digital skills a requirement for civil service progression,” Onumo said.
He added that NITDA aims to achieve 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 as a foundation for reaching 95 percent by 2030.
Onumo called on stakeholders to work together, stressing that digital literacy is for everyone — the young, the old, the employed, job seekers, traders, civil servants, and others.
In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Oladiwura Oladepo, Co-Founder of Tech4Dev, described the initiative as a national movement to deepen digital knowledge and inclusion across all levels of society.
She noted that the programme has already impacted over one million Nigerians drawn from all six geopolitical zones.
Oladepo said the Digital for All Challenge 2.0 is not just a competition but a movement to unlock opportunities and close the digital divide for individuals, families, and the nation.
Representing the British High Commission, Mr. Idongesit Udo, Digital Access Programme Adviser, praised the initiative for creating opportunities for young Nigerians to compete globally, enabling civil servants to deliver better services, and helping children begin their digital journey early.
He highlighted the UK’s broader partnership with Nigeria, which includes initiatives in cybersecurity (Africa Cyber Programme), standardization (British Standards Institute), and entrepreneurship (UK-Nigeria Tech Hub), all aimed at fostering a thriving digital economy.
At the event, participants from all six geopolitical zones competed in various categories.
The first prize winner, Miracle Michael, received N15 million. The second prize went to Chinedu Arisa, who received N12.5 million, while Ismail Adam and Uluchi Chibueze received N10 million and N7.5 million respectively.
Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of State for Labour and Employment, who presented the awards, commended the initiative for equipping Nigerian youth with future-ready skills.
She emphasised that digital literacy is vital not only for job creation but also for national development, and encouraged more young people to take part in programmes of this nature.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued an urgent security advisory, warning Nigerians of critical vulnerabilities in Google Chrome that could expose users to severe cyber threats.
The alert, posted on the Commission’s official X handle, underscores the risks of these flaws and calls for immediate action to safeguard personal devices and data.
According to the NDPC, the vulnerabilities could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on a user’s system, potentially granting unauthorised access to computers.
This could enable cybercriminals to install malicious programs, view, alter, or delete sensitive data, and even create new user accounts with full administrative rights.
Such breaches could disrupt device functionality, compromise personal information, and lead to significant loss of control over affected systems.
“Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Google Chrome. The most severe of these could allow an attacker to take over a user’s system,” the NDPC stated, emphasising the urgency of addressing the issue.
To mitigate these risks, the Commission has advised Chrome users to apply the latest browser updates immediately.
It also recommends operating devices with standard user rights instead of administrative privileges to limit potential damage. Additionally, the NDPC urged Nigerians to exercise caution by avoiding suspicious links, unsolicited attachments, and untrusted websites.
The advisory comes as part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen data protection.
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