News
Develop ICT For a Better Economy –Akam
Richard Emeka Akam, an accountant by profession is the managing director and chief executive officer of Victory Computer Technologies. Akam who has been in the IT Industry for over 15 years, was in 2007 appointed as the coordinator of Data Information Technologies Association of Nigeria (Ditan). In this interview with nkechi david-iwuchukwu, he spoke of his role in the “Arena” and other industry issues.
Ditan
Ditan simply means Data Information Technologies Association of Nigeria. The association came about because we wanted to bring about professional ethics as entrepreneurs who deal on ICT products, goods and services. Ditan as a voice to its members is an avenue to reach out to the people, an avenue to showcase professional expertise to the world, a platform to showcase activities of members and a channel to drive the wheel of progress of the members to the world at large. The association is open to all those who are in the business of buying and selling of ICT and allied products, consultancy of ICT and those who offer professional ICT services to its clientele. When I was appointed the coordinator of the association in 2007, I championed the course of my members to secure shops at the “Arena”, a multi purpose ultra modern shopping complex at Bolade bus stop, along Agege motor road in Lagos. The Arena is a one stop shopping complex with over 3,500 shops. These shops are segmented into different sections to include; Computer and GSM, Electronics and Accessories, Babies, Clothing, Wares, Beverages and Food Stuffs.
Role of Ditan in the Arena
Ditan as a body helped its members to secure shops at the Arena through a mortgage finance bank. In fact what happened was that Bank PHB financed our members for 100 shops. The 100 shops has been fully paid for by the bank but as I am talking to you now, only 51 shops out of the 100 shops have been allocated to our members and the remaining 49 is yet to be allocated to us. My members are not happy about this development, they are not satisfied with the manner in which the allocation was done in piece meal, hence those members that got allocated at the initial stage could not take off because they want all the members to be fully represented at the Arena since it was a collective project.
On The Part Of Bank PHB
Our members are thankful to the bank for their full financial backing in the Arena project but they are not happy with with the management of the Arena, because the interest from the bank is still running even when the allocation has not been completed. However, we are pleading with bank PHB to try and allocate the remaining 49 shops to our members.
On The Part Of The Arena Management
The management of the shopping complex should look into the cost implication of the project on individuals who have to pay back their loans with the interest on it and try to see that people are not ripped off. The initial cost should not be much, because if it is much, some people might not want to continue with the project and this will affect the take off of the shopping complex.
Missions and Visions of The Association
The missions and visions of the association includes; to foster and promote oneness, progress, equality and social justice among its members, and to promote and protect its members collective interest. Also the association will not relent in its effort to galvanize its members to be good ambassadors and to project its good image positively within and outside the country. Like I mentioned earlier, membership of the association is open to any individual or firm engaged in the buying, selling and distribution of ICT and allied products, ICT consultancy and those who offer professional ICT services to its clientele.
Fake or Substandard Products
In Ditan, we are very transparent in our dealings in terms of products we sell to our numerous customers and the services we offer to them as well. We do not compromise in the quality of goods we sell and the services we render. I can say categorically that we do not indulge in the sales and services of fake or substandard products but generally speaking about fake or substandard products in the country, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), has a greater role to play than individuals and associations, because we are aware that there are goods not meant for this country that comes into it.
Quality of Products and Services
Like I said earlier, we do not compromise on the quality of products sold or services rendered because we ensure that our customers get value for their money. I must confess that a lot of big players in the ICT industry are members of Ditan.
Challenges confronting Ditan
Every association face challenges. In Ditan, the association is facing the challenge of finance, because the Arena environment is very conducive and meant for mature business because there are packing spaces for customers and also for members who bring in their containers, as they will off load without harassment from social miscreants popularly known as “area boys”. Also, There is no issue of traffic congestion, and that of street trading because the complex is strategically located.
ICT Growth
ICT industry is presently driven by private individual and there is an urgent need for the government to look inward, as it will fast track the much needed growth in the industry. The government should develop the ICT industry for a better economy, because if they show more concern in the industry like reducing tariff on ICT products and accessories, so that the cost to final consumers can be reduced. But let us not forget that the ICT revolution has doubled the volume of business transactions in the industry.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
Fact-Check: Elon Musk’s “Tesla Pi Phone” is Internet Rumor
Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy
NDPC Directs DCPMIs to Register with Agency or Face Legal Consequences
Malpass, Ex World Bank Chief Raises Alarm over Nigeria’s Secretive Debt Structures
How and Why Apps Deplete Data – ALTON
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
Tokenization, Blockchain Technology will Transform Financial Institutions – IMF
From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
News3 days agoSee Verified 20 Countries Nigerian Passport Holders Can Travel Visa-Free
E-Business3 days agoReport Says Cybercriminals Deploy Malware to Hijack Crypto Wallets, Monitor Browsers Telegram
Telecom3 days agoNCC, REA Partner to Cut Telecom Costs with Renewable Energy
Telecom3 days agoSubscribers, Telcos Warn FCCPC over Airtime Lending Enforcement
E-Business3 days agoNPC Opens 131 Births, Deaths Registration Centres in Anambra
General News3 days agoAfDB, Nigeria Urge African Control of Mineral Resources
News2 days agoHistory as Lagos Becomes First Nigerian State to Launch Greenhouse Gas Registry
E-Business2 days agoUNN to Partner Firm on AI, Smart Mobility Innovation Centre