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Expert Explains Increased Dependence On Biometrics

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An expert in the biometrics and fingerprints technology, has given explanations on the increased demand for biometrics and fingerprint requests from people on daily basis as witnessed in various homes, workplaces, bank transactions or while applying for certain government documents.

Greg Sarrail, Vice President, Solutions Business Development, Biometrics, HID Global, explained in an email to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, that while not all biometric systems are created equal, however, the relevance of fact harnessed from them play fundamental roles in the criminal justice systems across the globe.

Recall, while the Federal Government has ordered its agencies that have gathered biometrics from the citizens to harmonise same with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), some State Governments’ are warming up to commence same exercise, citing the need for relevant data for economic planning and fighting insecurity, as reasons for the projects that usually cost billions of naira to achieve.

Speaking on the differences between specific systems, their capabilities, the data they access and the data they share,  he said, “Your fingers have never been more important – they can unlock doors, open phones and even secure your savings”.

Fingerprint scanners are considered the second most popular biometric devices by consumers around the world according to research undertaken by the 2016 Future Password Index.

This research was defined by how interested people were in using fingerprints to verify their identity when handling their devices, banking and other forms of security.

According to the Vice President, Solutions Business Development, Biometrics, HID Global, fingerprint biometrics saw a steady rise in popularity from 2014 to 2016 and remains one of the most trusted on the market today.

“It is a trend that isn’t going to change anytime soon and this is further underscored by the rise in fingerprint scanners, ATMs, devices and solutions. Your fingerprint has become a coded key that only you can wield.

“People are being asked for their fingerprints on a daily basis. When you go to work, transact at your bank, and when you apply for certain government documents.  Some biometric solutions are not linked to a shared network, so you could transact at your bank or enter your office park with your unique identity, but this information will not be shared anywhere else. The data is captured and secured by each individual system to ensure absolute security and controlled access”.

He further expatiate on the difference between biometric verification and biometric identification, stressing that as their applications vary, as do their relevance to one’s security.

“When undertaking biometric identification, you are asking – ‘Who am I?’  Whereas with biometric verification you are asking – ‘Am I who I claim to be?’ For example, once your fingerprint has been submitted to a specific database, an identification application would compare it against a larger database of fingerprints that are associated with identities. If your fingerprint is found within that database, then the question of ‘Who am I?’ has been answered.  This is biometric identification in a very simple nutshell” he said.

While advancing relevant agencies in Nigeria to be resolute in biometric verifications, Sarrail told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that when it comes to biometric verification and proving an identity, there is a need to add in some extra factors that can support the process and make it more secure.

“These can be account numbers, credit cards, or even smart devices. The system then pulls up the biometric data associated with your fingerprint and attempts to make a match.

“It’s important to note that the verification process doesn’t examine all fingerprint data for all users to find a match. Instead it checks to see if the fingerprint template that’s presented to the system is the same one that was originally enrolled, and it provides a quick answer.

“Biometric verification is very quick and is often used in commercial applications. It is private and efficient and often requires two-factor authentication – something you have or know plus your fingerprint that identifies who you are.

“Enrolling and verifying individuals using this process doesn’t demand huge processing power and is ideally suited to the growing trend in enterprise mobility. Users can simply store their own biometric data on their own devices for privacy, portability and convenience. Of the two types of biometric application, this is the simplest and most easily found on smaller devices and has recently grown in popularity within the consumer space.

“When you use your finger to access your phone, this is defined as biometric verification. The device uses your singular print stored in its database to confirm that you are who you claim to be, further backed up by passwords and PIN numbers.

“Biometric identification is more complex and requires a system that’s advanced and comprehensive. An example of this would be when you access your bank account using a biometric pad at the teller, or when you are applying for specific government papers and the system checks your fingerprint against a vast database of prints and identities.

“Biometric verification is the hurdle you jump to prove that you are who you say you are, biometric identification is when a system identifies you from within a vast database. Both systems are invaluable when it comes to protecting your identity and assets, but the latter demands a level of sophistication in technology to manage a significantly larger database and it is prohibitive for more basic devices and biometric systems.

“Whether you are about to use biometrics to identify or verify, your fingerprint remains your own proof of who you are. It is unique to you and you alone, and it is your highly personalised key to unlocking your world”, he explained.


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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Check Point Reveals Nigeria as Second Most Targeted African Country for Cyberattacks in November

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The November 2025 Global Threat Intelligence report released by Check Point Research on Tuesday, shows Nigerian organisations faced an average of 3,374 cyberattacks per week.

Making the country as one of the primary targets for cybercriminals in Africa last month, with a record of a staggering volume of digital threats despite an overall decline in attacks across the continent.

The report shows that this figure places Nigeria second among the four major African nations analysed, trailing only Angola, which topped the list with 4,251 weekly attacks per organisation.

While Africa as a whole saw a 13 percent year-on-year decrease in cyber incidents, Nigeria’s high numbers reveal a persistent vulnerability within its digital infrastructure. Kenya and South Africa followed Nigeria with 2,384 and 1,863 weekly attacks, respectively.

The report also identified government institutions and financial services as the most targeted sectors across Africa. Globally, the education and research sector remained the most frequent victim, hit by an average of 4,656 attacks per week.

A significant highlight of the report is the emerging threat posed by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Check Point Research found that one in every 35 GenAI prompts submitted within corporate networks globally posed a high risk of sensitive data leakage.

In Nigeria and abroad, employees are increasingly using AI tools that operate outside of formal security frameworks. The report noted that 87 percent of organisations using GenAI were affected by ‘high-risk’ prompts, which often included the input of proprietary code, customer data, or internal communications into public AI models.

Ransomware continues to be a primary tool for extortion, with global incidents rising by 22 percent year-on-year. While North America remains the most targeted region for ransomware, the impact is increasingly felt in emerging markets like Nigeria.

The most active ransomware groups identified in November were Qilin, Clop, and Akira, which primarily targeted industrial manufacturing and consumer goods sectors.


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JustMarkets Launches Global Boost Contest With Gold Prizes for Traders

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JustMarkets, a worldwide broker with more than 12 years of experience in the online trading realm, is launching the Boost Contest, which represents a large-scale trading activity with the purpose of motivating traders, with the most proficient traders being awarded for their exceptional performance through a number of valuable prizes. This activity will last until the 31st of January, 2026.

JustMarkets Launches Global Boost Contest With Gold Prizes for Traders

JustMarkets

A Competition Developed with the Goal of Providing More Opportunities for Traders Worldwide

Boost Contest competition participants will be traders with Standard, Pro, or Raw Spread accounts of the MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms.

To participate, traders will only be required to have a minimum account balance of $100 with a minimum of 3 traded lots. These were the requirements set for participants. Of course, the purpose of such a competition is for every broker client to participate. At the same time, however, JustMarkets sought to encourage traders to conduct in-depth analysis, different strategies, risk, and discipline. It was with this objective that this form of competition was established.

Multiple-tier rewards system with real gold

What sets the Boost Contest apart is the Weekly Lucky Draws component, in which traders compete for real gold prizes, awarded in three levels, based on their cumulative trading volume achieved through the competition:

Tier I (more than 100 lots): 15 grams of gold (3 winners)

Tier II (50-99 lots): Gold worth 10 grams (5 winners)

Tier III (10-49 lots): 5 grams of gold (7 winners)

This competition design thus provides traders with different levels of activity with the same opportunity of benefiting from valuable rewards.

Weekly Draws to Encourage Continued Participation

Apart from the top-level prizes, the competition also includes a series of weekly prizes. Traders participating in the competition will qualify for entry into the draw if they execute a minimum of three trades per week. Five lucky traders will be awarded $200 every week.

The introduction of the Boost Contest meets JustMarkets long-term obligations in:

Engaging traders through effective rewards programs

Fostering regular and organized trading practices

Enhancing transparency and integrity within all promotion endeavors

Offering a welcoming space where traders with different skill sets can participate

This reflects the purpose of JustMarkets, which is not only to offer traders good trading terms but also opportunities that add value to the entire trading experience.

A Global Platform Built on Trust and Innovation

As a globally recognized trading platform, JustMarkets continues to invest in initiatives that elevate client experience while adhering to high operational standards. The company maintains a robust technological infrastructure, offers multilingual support, and upholds strict security principles, all foundational elements behind long-term client trust.

The Boost Contest shows JustMarkets dedication to create a convenient and transparent trading environment where everyone can reach their full investment potential by clear rules, transparent rewards, and a stable trading ecosystem.


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Microsoft Empowers 350,000 more Nigerians with AI Skills

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Microsoft, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, Data Science Nigeria, and Lagos Business School, today announced a major milestone in its AI National Skills Initiative (AINSI), with more than 350,000 Nigerians reached with AI skills through the programme. This achievement builds on Microsoft’s longstanding partnership with the government, which has delivered digital training to over 4 million people since 2021.

Microsoft empowers 350,000 more Nigerians with AI skills

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The milestone underscores Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive, technology-driven growth and reflects strong progress in preparing individuals and organisations to thrive in the digital economy.

“Nigeria cannot afford to wait,” said Abideen Yusuf, General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana. “AI is reshaping every sector, and the countries that move fastest on skills will lead. We must equip people now, at scale and with intent, so the immense opportunity presented by AI doesn’t pass us by.”

Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, emphasised this point: “AI skilling is no longer optional for Nigeria’s digital future—it is the foundation of our competitiveness. At Lagos Business School, we believe that equipping leaders and citizens with AI capabilities is essential for driving inclusive growth, innovation, and national transformation.”

As it stands, a significant percentage of Nigerian graduates are still to acquire digital skills, highlighting the importance of workforce readiness. Launched in January, the second phase of the Nigeria skilling programme, under Microsoft’s AINSI, aims to reach 1 million citizens over three years, strengthening Nigeria’s AI capability and national competitiveness. AINSI is helping drive a range of different programmes designed to embed AI skills across every sector of the economy.

Empowering organisational leaders

Over the past year, AINSI has advanced ethical and inclusive AI leadership in Nigeria’s public sector. Working with Lagos Business School, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Microsoft has trained 99 public sector leaders, including Members of the National Assembly and senior executives from 58 ministries and agencies. These sessions equipped leaders with strategies for AI-powered reporting and sector-specific roadmaps.

Equipping developers for the future

Developer-focused programmes are creating a strong pipeline of technical talent. Through government-driven initiatives like Developers in Government (DevsInGov) and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, developers in public sectors have gained new skills. Around 645 participants have been trained in analytics and AI integration. Another 1,000 developers learned advanced skills in areas such as DevOps, machine learning and data science. These efforts are helping Nigeria’s workforce prepare for the future by advancing AI fluency across the digital ecosystem.

Bringing AI skills to every tech user

To reach everyday tech users, developers, and business leaders, Microsoft hosted a flagship programme, Microsoft AI Skills Week – engaging over 235,000 participants through AI digital literacy workshops, business leader strategy sessions and an Agentic AI hackathon. Partnering with VISA, TeKnowledge, UNICEF, Data Science Nigeria, and Lagos Business School, the initiative trained more than 11,400 individuals and certified over 1,700. A standout moment was the Agentic AI hackathon, showcasing innovative solutions for document verification, risk assessment, and fraud detection, demonstrating the real-world impact of AI skills in fintech.

“Our collaboration with Microsoft has demonstrated that AI readiness requires coordinated investment across every stakeholder group — government, developers, educators, and communities. By building capacity for evidence-driven governance, responsible innovation, classroom integration, and community adoption, we are laying the foundation for a globally competitive workforce. True digital transformation happens when the entire ecosystem moves forward together,” commented Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, CEO/Founder, Data Science Nigeria.

Looking ahead, Microsoft and its partners will continue driving Nigeria’s digital transformation through targeted upskilling in AI and cybersecurity, expanded access to AI education, and ongoing developer training. These activities aim to build local expertise at all levels and support Nigeria’s young population in taking an active role in Africa’s digital future.

“Nigeria is on track to capture 43% of Africa’s projected $136 billion AI-driven productivity gains by 2030,” concluded Yusuf. “By collaborating with the government to equip leaders, developers, and tech users, we’re building a future-ready workforce and helping Nigerians adopt and adapt the technology, thereby maximising its potential.”


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