Telecom
Durability and Reliability of Nokia Phones in the Past are Still the Core of Our Promise Today – Umunakwe
Joseph Umunakwe is the General Manager, HMD Global: West, East and Central Africa. He spoke to chike Onwuegbuchi about HMD Global’s commitment to building on its heritage and delivering trusted and secure Nokia smartphones that are built to last, in 2021 and beyond.
How did HMD Global deal with the effects of the pandemic, the quietness and the launch of its new products?
2020 did change the entire global business operating landscape and shifted mind-sets on ways of working. We are proud of the team at HMD Global – we came together and pulled through an extremely challenging year. Now, we are stronger than ever.
In 2020, we were the first brand to launch a truly universal 5G device capable of global roaming and optimized for the future. In a world that is now more dependent on virtual, seamless, always-on connection, the ability to connect from anywhere has become vital to so many Consumers.
Nokia smartphones led the Counterpoint Research 2020 trust rankings based on the four pillars of software, security updates, build quality, and devices recommended for enterprises for the second year running.
In August 2020, as an affirmation of their trust in us, our partners – this includes Google, Qualcomm and Nokia – invested 230 million in our business.
Despite the challenges of an extremely difficult year, we were able to strengthen our position and commitment to delivering trusted devices that are secure and built to last, across our range of Feature phones and Smartphones.
Improving Nokia brand market share and visibility in Nigeria
Nokia Mobile is well known in the Nigerian market. Our Finnish heritage of quality, durability and trust continues to resonate with our fans. We believe that mobile technology can enhance the lives of consumers everywhere and we continue to focus on bringing the best innovation that will usher in digital inclusiveness in Nigeria and other markets in our region.
We give consumers reason to choose us by focusing on eliminating their pain-points, offering premium experiences at affordable price-points and lowering the cost of ownership. Consumer experience is at the heart of our strategy. We innovate for the benefit of the consumer.
For example, we are expanding our affordable 4G smartphone range and working hard to ensure our fans get top specifications at the right price point because 4G is the new baseline, leaving users of 2G and 3G more vulnerable to uncertainty.
Uniqueness of Nokia mobile devices from other smartphone brands in Nigeria
Simply put, Nokia devices are trusted, secure and built to last. The durability and reliability that you remember from Nokia phones in the past is still the core of our promise today. Your Nokia phone stays with you for longer.
Each Nokia smartphone receives three years of monthly security updates and two years of software upgrades. In addition, we offer our standard one-year product warranty thereby giving peace of mind to our fans.
Our devices have a purposeful Nordic design characterized by functionality. With our signature two-day battery life, the latest Android operating software – we recently released Android 11 on our Nokia 8.3 5G, our customers can unleash their creative instincts and stay connected to what matters most to them.
In fact, in October 2020, Counterpoint Research revealed that Nokia phones led the trust rankings based on the four pillars of software, security updates, build quality, and devices recommended for enterprises for the second year in a row.
We deliver the fastest and most regular software and security updates among Android devices. We have released over 1000-plus software updates in the past four years to ensure phones are updated longer than the industry average.
Engagement with dealers some of whom also market other phone brands
We are a company built on a unique partnership model. Our dealers are our partners and partnership is very important to us. They are an extension of our promise to enhance the lives of our consumers.
As a result, we place a priority on building close relationships with each of them, working to understand their businesses. Our market representatives are almost constant fixtures at their stores, seeking to understand and clarify their needs.
It comes back to our values of trust and building on our heritage of reliability. Nokia is a brand people already trust. We intend to maintain that across the spectrum, whether with our partners or our fans.
Support to dealers with the required advertisement and promotions, considering the possible conflict of interest that would exist
We take the responsibility of supporting our partners seriously. Our various marketing and communication activities are aimed at creating awareness and driving foot traffic to our local partner stores.
We support our dealers through our communications activities, including them where necessary in our promotion content and signposting them. Our priority is to develop and build win-win relationships that will stand the test of time. As mentioned earlier, trust is an important value for us as a business.
As our fans trust us to deliver quality devices, we trust our partners to deliver our promise to the last mile consumer anywhere they may be. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic and the attendant lockdowns, we stayed close to our channel partners and continued to deliver much needed products to both people on the frontlines and our consumers.
What Nigerian consumers should expect from Nokia mobile this year
Our focus on enhancing the lives of our consumers remains core to our business. Therefore, we will continue to deliver on our strategic pillars in both 5G, and affordable 4G.
We want to make mobile technology accessible to Nigerians. Our fans in Nigeria can certainly expect to see affordable smartphones with premium features that provide them with innovative experiences.
We will continue to innovate across multiple platforms and business segments to deliver value to our fans both in Nigeria and elsewhere.
Telecom
VDT Communications Achieves Two Prestigious Certifications ISO /IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27032:2023 Reinforcing its Leadership in Broadband Service Provision
VDT Communications Limited, a provider of Enterprise communication solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management System (ISMS) and ISO/IEC 27032:2023 Cybersecurity Management System certifications.
These prestigious certifications demonstrate VDT’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security and cybersecurity, ensuring the protection of sensitive customer data and maintaining the trust of its clients.
These certifications are a testament to VDT’s dedication to implementing robust information security and cybersecurity measures, aligning with international best practices.
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification recognizes VDT’s ability to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve its ISMS, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of customer information. The ISO/IEC 27032:2023 certification highlights its commitment to protecting its customers’ information assets and preventing Cyber threats.
VDT Communications Limited has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, previously earning and maintaining ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and ISO 20000-1:2018 IT Service Management certifications. These certifications have enabled the company to deliver high-quality services, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
“We are thrilled to receive these two prestigious certifications, which reinforce our commitment to information security and cybersecurity. These certifications demonstrate our dedication to implementing robust security measures that ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer data” said Engr. Abiodun Omoniyi, GMD of VDT Communications Limited.
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27032:2023 certifications bring numerous benefits to VDT’s customers, including:
- Enhanced information security and cybersecurity posture
- Protection of sensitive customer data
- Compliance with international standards and regulations
- Improved risk management and incident response
- Increased trust and confidence in VDT’s services
“We are proud to serve our customers with the highest level of security and quality,” Bimbo Ikumariegbe, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of VDT. “These certifications demonstrate our commitment to excellence and our dedication to delivering innovative communication solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers” – Olufemi Akinola, Head, Information Technology.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued a stern warning to content creators filming and sharing videos of unsuspecting citizens on social media, describing such practices as direct violations of citizens’ rights to informational self-determination.
NDPC
The Commission drew attention to individuals capturing pictures and footage of the general public without consent, breaching Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act).
NDPC specifically flagged a content creator in Lagos State who films unsuspecting passersby at roadsides for a “reality show”. The Commission stressed that processing personal images in this manner demands explicit consent or a justifiable lawful basis under the NDP Act.
Preliminary investigations revealed no public or legitimate interest served by this “wilful invasion of privacy”. Data subjects, the Commission noted, have no reasonable expectation that their images would be captured and broadcast globally by an unknown individual.
National Commissioner/CEO Dr Vincent Olatunji has instructed social media platform owners—including TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta—to intensify enforcement of community guidelines to prevent harm from unlawful and unfair personal data processing.
Platforms failing to act promptly face sanctions under the NDP Act. Individual creators remain personally liable for violations, potentially facing criminal prosecution for infringing citizens’ and data subjects’ privacy rights.
The advisory was signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, Esq. CDPRP, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations.
NDPC emphasised that abuse of rights under the guise of entertainment will not be tolerated, urging compliance to safeguard Nigerians’ data privacy in the digital age.
In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, Techeconomy, a leading business news platform in Nigeria, has unveiled its “100 Women Shaping the Future: Techeconomy Power List 2026,” recognizing exceptional women driving innovation, leadership, and impact across technology and the broader digital economy.
Techeconomy
The annual recognition spotlights women who are transforming industries through entrepreneurship, policy leadership, digital innovation, financial inclusion, media, education, and emerging technologies.
The initiative is part of Techeconomy’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and highlighting female leadership shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem.
The Techeconomy IWD Power List features a diverse group of women, from corporate executives and startup founders to policymakers, ecosystem builders, and social innovators, whose work continues to influence the future of technology, business, and digital transformation in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking on the initiative, Joan Aimuengheuwa, the Managing Editor at Techeconomy, noted that the recognition goes beyond celebrating titles, focusing instead on impact, resilience, and the ability to shape the future through innovation and leadership.
According to her, “the women on the list represent different sectors including fintech, banking, healthcare, agriculture, education, communications, and the creative economy, demonstrating the growing role of women in advancing technology-driven development.
The unveiling aligns with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, which highlights the achievements of women and calls for accelerated progress toward gender equality. Across the world, the technology sector continues to push for greater female representation and leadership as part of efforts to build more inclusive digital economies.
Also speaking, Oluwatosin Aloba, the Brand Manager at Techeconomy, said: “Techeconomy IWD 2026 Power List is specially designed to inspire the next generation of female innovators and leaders by showcasing role models who are breaking barriers and redefining possibilities in the technology landscape.
“Techeconomy encouraged industry stakeholders, institutions, and the broader public to celebrate the achievements of these women while continuing to support policies, programs, and investments that expand opportunities for women in technology”, she added.
The full list of the “100 Women Shaping the Future: Techeconomy Power List 2026” is available on the Techeconomy website or visit: https://techeconomy.ng/techeconomy-iwd-2026-power-list-celebrates-100-women-shaping-the-future-of-tech/.
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