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Efficient Bandwidth Drives Cloud Computing- John

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Sony Mathew John is a senior research analyst with International Data Corporation (IDC) Middle East, Turkey, and Africa and is responsible for conducting research on IT services and contributing to services and software consulting projects across the region.
Before joining IDC, John worked for Capgemini Consulting as a senior consultant. He also worked as a research analyst at Corporate Executive Board and as a software engineer with Satyam Computers.
 John has experience in IT application development, market sizing, competitive analysis, new business identification, and market entry strategy across industries.
 He spoke to peter ugwu during the IDC cloud Computing 2013 Roadshow held in Lagos, Nigeria, recently.

IDC Cloud Computing Road Show
Basically, we are an IT advisory company and we do a lot in IT modernization across the region. The essence is to increase awareness of the emerging technology by inviting vendors and ask them to talk about existing solutions.
 Before then, we had to lay the foundation by sharing with the participants, results of our recent studies as regards cloud and other IT solutions in relation to the market.
We are confident that the roadshow is one of the lee-ways to inform them on how to leverage on the emerging technology and grow their businesses.
The moderation is to educate people on the emerging technology and how to engage customers appropriately.

Companies in MEA and Cloud Computing
The reactions of organisations show they believe in the cloud despite challenges. We are encouraging them to take advantages in the cloud by moving their operations there.
 They will definitely achieve efficiency and virtualization. On the other hand, we are aware that not everybody will move the cloud at the same time.
So there are those organisations that are very reluctant about it; unless they see concrete evidence that cloud is working properly for those that have embraced it, they may not move there. We are seeing such skepticism in Africa, especially in Nigeria, but with time they will embrace it like every other solution that has been developed in the industry.

Basic Requirement to go into the Cloud
From the user perspective they have to look at their existing system like what leads to redundancy in their environment or look at their line of application and the workload in their line of business or computing system gadgets.
They can also look at their idle systems and areas that need improvement or virtualization. The second step is on the workload identification; that will help them determine which type of cloud to embrace, whether public, private of hybrid cloud environment.
After the segmentation against acceptable cloud model, they will choose reputable vendor that will give satisfactory service and ensure security.
 
Critical Factors that Determine Virtualization to the Cloud
First, the motivation for most companies is efficiency. The cloud will give every other operation in the organisation especially in the virtualization; they will see the benefits immediately.
The public cloud organisations will have the tenacity to access the latest software technology which will beef up their resources, because these international cloud service providers have the best in technology class and the personnel which local companies do not have access to.
They usually depend on the channel and local partners. So cloud offers them the opportunity to access the best in class resources.
There is also the process of standardization. In the new environment you have so many discrete ideas that make things easy to manage and reduce costs.

Cloud and Security Threats
Absolutely, the cloud will drastically take care of issues on security threats to systems and processes. Both in public and private clouds there are number of things companies can do to contain cyber threats to data.
There are basic things like having strong password and having a grip on their system.
They also need to have strong or strict security policies and implementing them. The private cloud will also offer them opportunity to secure their own end of the process and implementation.

Vendors Perspective on Growing Cloud Computing Adoption
So far, the customers like showcased by Vodacom business, Cyberoam, Schneider Electronics, etc are happy. However, what the vendors need to improve on is do more local case studies and highlight the local successes so that companies can believe by seeing the level of testimonials as regards the cloud implementations.
Right now, there seem to be low turnout of local cases studies on the successes and implementations. They need to get companies share their stories, because whether we like it or not, the cloud has since begun and the earlier companies get to embrace it the better for their operations.    

Bandwidth Challenges
Some companies have become smart that they are finding several means of overcoming the bandwidth challenge.
During a discussion, a representative from a particular company said they request for bandwidth upfront from the internet service provider (ISP).
That will serve as measure to ensure there are delays in their operation. And they take the advantage of cloud to move on seamlessly.
Some other companies work with multiple internet service providers, while others save their bandwidth by compressing whatever data they are sending.

Cloud Computing Success Stories
Globally, cloud computing has recorded success stories. We have studies on that, though they are not public at the moment.
 Globally, there are case studies that companies have made tremendous returns from cloud computing implementation.

Assessment of Nigeria IT Market
We have seen tremendous growth. It is one of the fastest growing markets in Africa.
Companies, government and even individuals are spending on developments of different components of IT, and these will pay off in different.
However, areas like education should be brazened up so that available skill will be commensurate with IT gadgets in place. And the government needs to support local software companies to thrive.

 

 


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Cellulant Taps Freddie Oduro to Lead Enterprise Payments Expansion in Ghana

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Mr. Freddie Oduro, New Country Manager for Ghana.
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Cellulant, a leading Pan-African payments company enabling seamless digital transactions across Africa, has appointed Mr. Freddie Oduro as its new Country Manager for Ghana.

Cellulant Taps Freddie Oduro to Lead Enterprise Payments Expansion in Ghana

Mr. Freddie Oduro, New Country Manager for Ghana.

Freddie’s appointment is a key step in Cellulant’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in priority markets by accelerating the acquisition of in-country enterprise businesses and strengthening its position as the payments partner of choice in Africa.

Freddie brings over a decade of commercial and strategic leadership experience in the telecommunications and financial services sectors, with expertise in  sales, business operations, and market expansion.

In his new role, he will drive merchant acquisition, strengthening partnerships, oversee collections and payout operations, while ensuring strong internal controls and regulatory compliance.

He joins Cellulant from Payaza and previously served as Sales Director at Cellulant, where he helped significantly expand the company’s footprint in Ghana.

Cellulant has been powering payments in Ghana for leading brands in sectors like e-commerce, utilities, oil and gas and retail, helping them offer their customers a wide range of secure digital payment options.

“We are happy to welcome Freddie back to the Cellulant family,” says Richard Gesimba, Chief Revenue Officer at Cellulant. “Ghana remains a critical market for us, with immense potential driven by rising digital payments adoption.

“As we sharpen our focus on in-country enterprise customers, Freddie’s leadership and industry insight make him the ideal person to steer our Ghana operations.”

The appointment comes at a transformative time for the company. Following a strategic shift between late 2023 and early 2024, focused on streamlining operations, doubling down on enterprise payments, and strengthening customer intimacy, Cellulant achieved profitability in 2024 and continues to build on this momentum.

The company now processes close to 4.5 million transactions daily for businesses across Africa, reinforcing its position as a fintech leader.

“I am honoured to return to Cellulant and lead the Ghana team at such a defining moment,” says Freddie, Country Manager for Cellulant Ghana. “Ghana presents a tremendous opportunity.

“We will ramp up our efforts to sign on more local merchants, strengthen our compliance and control frameworks, and introduce innovative solutions like Tingg Edupay, our automated school fee management solution that eliminates reconciliation delays by validating payments in real time and instantly updating student accounts.

“We will build on Cellulant’s strong foundation to deliver real value, reliability, and economic impact.”

Ghana’s digital payments sector continues to grow steadily, supported by increased mobile money usage and a progressive regulatory environment. Between January and October 2025, the value of mobile money transactions hit about GH¢ 3.6 trillion, up sharply from GH¢ 2.37 trillion in the same period of 2024.

Registered mobile money accounts now exceed 79 million, demonstrating strong consumer and business confidence in digital financial services and in turn creating many opportunities for payment innovation.

This leadership appointment underscores Cellulant’s commitment to building a resilient, high-performance organisation geared towards playing a pivotal role in the next era of Africa’s digital economy.

Looking ahead to 2026, Cellulant plans to further enhance the user experience on its payment platform, Tingg, and expand its  footprint across Ghana.


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Top Nigerian Startups Secure Funding Boost @ iHatch Demo Day Awards

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Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.

The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.

The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.

The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.

After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:

Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.

Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.

Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.

Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.

Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.

 


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Fidelity Bank to Host Virtual Masterclass on New Tax Law

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Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.

Fidelity Bank to Host Virtual Masterclass on New Tax Law

Fidelity Bank

The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.

Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.

The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.

These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.

The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.

“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.

“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.

“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.

Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .


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