Telecom
Experts Warn of Technology Risks as IT Adoption Increases
Dr.Obadare Peter Adewale, an IT and Cybersecurity expert, has warned stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to be ready for the impending Cyber pandemic, which he said is being accelerated by the rapid adoption of IT, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr.Obadare explained that the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated technology adoption in Nigeria, which he said could cause technology risks that could lead to Cyber pandemic.
Dr. Obadare who is also the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Digital Encode Limited, gave this warning at the 2020 Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture and Awards held on Saturday, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
Giving further insight, Dr Obadare revealed that IT comes with some inherent risks and that with its massive adoption; we may likely witness Cyber pandemic.
According to him, “Technology has changed our lives and the way we do things as a people, COVID-19 also further accelerated the technology adoption in the country.
“With these massive adoptions we are creating digital champions which May likely lead to technology risks, as more people are embracing technology.”
To prepare the country on the looming crises, Dr. Obadare called on both the government and stakeholders alike to start harnessing the potentials of digital natives.
He stated that there’s need for the country to start engaging and harnessing the positive potentials of these young people, adding however, that we cannot produce the next Mark zuckerberg if we keep neglecting the digital natives.
Equally, the Chief Operating Officer of Digital Encode Limited noted that Cybersecurity can take Nigeria out of recession if properly harnessed.
He emphasized that we can change our fortune as a nation with education, especially, if we take capacity building seriously.
Adding that providing specialized capacity education for our digital natives is what will take Nigeria out of the woods.
He enumerated four focal areas which we should focus on in order to take the nation out of recession, while calling on standard organisation of Nigeria to consolidate on the immense intellectual property resource in the country and make it exportable in order to take the country out of recession.
Earlier, Dr. Chris Uwaje, chairman, Mobile Software Solutions Limited called on IT practitioner to ensure that they bestowed IT culture to the upcoming generation.
According to him, “We are here because we believe in this venture called ICT Nigeria.
“We believe in the digital adventure, but we are doing this, not for us but for the future, the coming generation, we must really bestow something to them.”
He noted that as a nation, we neglect ICT sector which he said holds the future of the nation, while adding that the sector must not be allowed to die.
He said, “We must empower the Nigerian ICT sector to be able to spin better than we met it.
“We need to change our mentality in terms of bringing in the digital natives into the industry.”
Dr, Uwaje added that these digital natives speak technology from the inside.
He called on the organizers of BoICT Awards to ensure that their next keynote speaker is a digital native, someone between the ages of 15 to 25 years because they speak technology from the inside.
“If you look at the ecosystem of those who have been able to puncture technology, they are all digital natives with average age of 25 to 32 years, because they speak technology from the inside.
“We must recover the lost talents of our youths in technology; we can only dialogue for one purpose of creating the future so that ICT will not die.”
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3 Limited, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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