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Digital Africa Global Consult, NDPC Partner on Ground-Breaking “Nigeria Data Challenge” Initiative
In a bold and forward-looking move to embed a culture of data privacy in Nigeria’s educational landscape, Digital Africa Global Consult (DAGC), a leading technology advancement firm, on Friday, entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at launching the Nigeria Data Challenge, a pioneering, education-focused initiative designed to inculcate data protection awareness among secondary school students across the country.
The Nigeria Data Challenge is more than a knowledge dissemination campaign. It is a structured, competitive learning program that introduces students to the fundamentals of data protection and digital privacy.
By engaging learners through curriculum-based activities, practical challenges, and assessments, the program seeks to nurture a generation of data-responsible citizens well-prepared for the demands of Nigeria’s digital future.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, applauded Digital Africa Consult for initiating the challenge, which he described as timely and transformative.
He noted that the project complements the Commission’s existing Privacy Club Initiative in tertiary institutions and aligns with its broader mandate to cultivate a privacy-aware culture throughout Nigerian society.
“This partnership is a natural extension of our mission to build a data protection-conscious ecosystem in Nigeria. We are excited about the opportunity to reach young minds early, and this program promises to be a cornerstone in our awareness strategy,” Dr. Olatunji stated.
In his remarks, Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult and a seasoned advocate of digital transformation in Africa, expressed appreciation to the NDPC for embracing the vision of early-stage data literacy.
He underscored the strategic importance of data as the “new oil” of the digital economy and emphasised the need to build data consciousness from a young age to prepare Nigeria for a competitive global digital environment.
“The future belongs to nations that understand and manage data responsibly. By starting from our secondary schools, we are planting the seeds of a resilient data economy,” Dr. Woherem said.
Adding further insight, Nneoma Ofodile, General Manager of Digital Africa Global Consult, highlighted the novelty and global relevance of the Nigeria Data Challenge.
“This is the first data-focused challenge of its kind anywhere in the world, making it not only a national milestone but also a global precedent. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 9, and 16, promoting quality education, industry innovation, and strong institutions,” she stated.
She also noted the urgency of addressing the indiscriminate ways data is shared and mishandled by young people, often without their full understanding of the consequences.
“This initiative comes at a time when even students are becoming both victims and agents of data breaches, consciously or unconsciously. Awareness is not optional; it is essential,” she added.
Nigeria, like many nations in Africa, is rapidly digitizing across public and private sectors. With this digital evolution comes the imperative to protect personal data and promote ethical digital practices.
The establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission in 2023 signalled a new era of regulatory oversight in line with global data protection trends, including the EU’s GDPR and similar frameworks adopted in countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda.
Yet, awareness of data rights and responsibilities remains low, particularly among the youth. Initiatives such as the Nigeria Data Challenge help bridge this critical knowledge gap by bringing data education into mainstream educational curricula.
The project is expected to scale through state-level rollouts and regional contests, eventually culminating in a national championship that will showcase top-performing schools and students.
This initiative arrives at a time when the digital economy is estimated to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP, and data-driven innovation, spanning fintech, e-commerce, health tech, and AI—continues to surge. However, this growth is threatened by weak data protection compliance and poor digital hygiene among users.
The NDPC and Digital Africa Global Consult are optimistic that this partnership will ignite similar collaborations and inspire a new frontier in civic education, one that recognises data as both a right and a responsibility.
As Nigeria positions itself to be a digital leader in Africa, the Nigeria Data Challenge may well become a benchmark model for other countries aiming to develop grassroots data governance awareness.
In a move to reaffirm his commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, UBA Group and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, has announced 3,200 beneficiaries for the 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Tony Elumelu
The announcement, made in Abuja, coincides with the philanthropist’s annual reflection on impact, purpose, and the transformative power of entrepreneurship across the African continent.
In his annual letter, Elumelu emphasised that opportunity and prosperity can be intentionally created and scaled, saying, “Hope is not just a feeling, it is a system we can build”. This underscores his long-standing belief in Africapitalism, the philosophy that Africa’s private sector must drive economic and social development.
This year’s cohort of 3,200 young entrepreneurs, selected from across all 54 African countries, will each receive $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, alongside access to mentorship, business training, and TEF’s proprietary digital platform, TEFConnect.
Highlighting the programme’s growing impact, Elumelu noted that the Foundation has now disbursed over $100 million in funding to more than 24,000 African entrepreneurs since its inception. The programme continues to demonstrate strong outcomes, with 80 per cent of supported businesses scaling beyond the early stage, significantly outperforming global averages.
Collectively, TEF-supported entrepreneurs have generated over $4.2 billion in revenue, created 1.5 million jobs, and lifted more than 2.1 million Africans out of poverty, impacting over four million households across the continent.
A notable feature of this year’s selection is the strong representation of women, who account for 51 per cent of the cohort. According to Elumelu, this reflects merit-based selection and highlights the increasing leadership of African women in entrepreneurship. “When opportunity is accessible, African women do not simply participate, they lead.”
Reflecting on the Foundation’s journey since its launch in 2010, Elumelu reiterated the vision to democratise opportunity and scale impact across Africa by investing in its most valuable resource, which is its people. He also expressed gratitude to partners, mentors, and stakeholders who continue to support the Foundation’s mission of building a self-sustaining Africa.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries. Through its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme, TEF provides training, mentorship, funding, and access to networks, driving inclusive economic growth and transforming Africa’s development narrative from aid to investment and partnership.
Entrepreneurs backed by the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) have generated more than $4.2 billion in cumulative revenue since the organisation began its grant programme in 2015, according to Somachi Chris-Asoluka, chief executive officer of the foundation.
Chris-Asoluka, revealed this during a virtual media briefing, where she also stated that over $100 million has been distributed to nearly 24,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa.
She noted that the beneficiaries of the programme have gone on to create about 1.5 million jobs, both directly and indirectly, across various sectors of the continent’s economy.
The performance, she said, has strengthened the resolve of the foundation and its partners to scale up financial support for emerging businesses.
Chris-Asoluka emphasised that the foundation’s interventions are anchored on the conviction that entrepreneurship is central to reducing poverty and reshaping Africa’s economic future.
She explained that selected participants receive a $5,000 seed capital grant, in addition to structured business training and mentorship designed to help them either expand existing enterprises or establish new ones.
Highlighting operational challenges faced by entrepreneurs, she identified inadequate electricity supply as a major constraint.
According to her, many small businesses spend as much as 60 per cent of their earnings on alternative power solutions, including generators and inverters.
To mitigate this challenge, she disclosed that Tony Elumelu, TEF founder, alongside the foundation’s leadership, has been engaging governments across Africa on the urgent need to improve power infrastructure.
She further stated that investments by programme beneficiaries cut across critical sectors such as agriculture, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and technology innovation.
Chris-Asoluka also announced that the foundation’s 2026 cohort of entrepreneurs will be formally unveiled by Elumelu in Abuja.
A new financial operations platform, Morney, has officially launched in Nigeria to help businesses face growing pressure to digitise their finance processes as the country’s shift towards electronic invoicing.
Developed by Morzoe Technologies Inc. and introduced locally through its partner, BuySimply Services Limited, the platform is designed to help organisations streamline and automate financial workflows.
Speaking at the launch, Head of Growth at BuySimply, ‘Mide Olubi, said many Nigerian organisations still depend on fragmented systems such as emails and spreadsheets to manage expenses, supplier invoices and payments.
According to him, this approach often results in inefficiencies, delayed processes, weak oversight and a higher risk of errors.
He noted that Nigeria’s increasing adoption of electronic invoicing and tax digitisation frameworks is accelerating the need for structured and transparent financial systems. Businesses, he said, must move away from manual processes and adopt platforms that provide clear visibility into financial operations.
Morney integrates payments, procurement, expenses and invoicing into a single system, enabling finance teams to automate approvals, monitor transactions in real time and maintain accurate records.
The platform also supports supplier onboarding and invoice processing, helping organisations better manage operational spending.
The company revealed that businesses across sectors such as FMCG, manufacturing, energy, banking and telecommunications are already adopting the solution to improve efficiency and strengthen financial control.
It added that the partnership with BuySimply reflects a broader trend of digital transformation, as organisations respond to evolving regulatory requirements and the demand for more efficient financial management systems.
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