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FG Lauds Shittu, Pantami as 81Techpreneurs Get N756.3m

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Mr. Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications
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Federal government has applauded the roles played by Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications and Dr. Isa Pantami, director general of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for their roles during the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) 2016.

Similarly, the FG disclosed the approval of N756.3 million for disbursement to 81 young Nigerian innovators as part of the government’s economic empowerment initiatives.

Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Vice President of Nigeria, disclosed this during the grant award ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, stated that the journey of the empowerment initiative started last year as part of government efforts to positioning Nigeria and Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities in Technology to provide local solutions to local problems.

He noted that, “today with the injection of over N750 million naira into 81 Tech SMEs in the country, I want to thank the Minister of Trade and Investment for his support and provision of these funds via the GEM project domiciled in his ministry”.

“I also want to thank the Minister of Communications for the role he played, and the leadership he provided through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) during the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) 2016.”

The Vice President stated that the participants at the AVDD have shown that the future is bright for Nigerian technology.

“One of the participants, Ifedayo Oladapo, is the founder of Grit Systems, an internet-enabled technology that offers a simple way to quantify power consumption from multiple power sources, letting Nigerians make informed data driven decisions about power consumption.

Another participant, Dimgba Kalu, a 28-year old Nigerian, runs a venture that trains software engineers and deploys them to businesses. These are clear indications that we are on the right path” he said.

Osibanjo stated that at the AVDD finale, Mr President welcomed the top 30 participants in the State House.

“I also attended the ceremony thereafter in the company of the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. At that event, we listened to Iyin Aboyeji’s take on growing local Tech companies, Iyin is one of Nigeria’s shining stars and the founder of Andela – a Tech Training firm and Mark Zuckerberg’s first big investment in Africa with an investment of $24 million by the Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Foundation”.

“Today, with government’s first major investment in Technology Start-Up companies, I am confident that we have started the journey to building many more Andelas, Yusufs and Venture Garden Groups. Congratulations to all the grantees and I wish you the best in your endeavors.”

According to the Vice President, “The GEM-AVDD partnership demonstrates Government commitment to celebrate and empower the most promising and highly scalable indigenous technology start-ups who are providing innovative solutions to local challenges in Nigeria” he stated.

On his part, Okechukwu Enelamah, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated that the grant is made possible through the Growth and Employment Project (GEM) financed by the World Bank IDA Credit.

He noted that the young innovators were selected following a rigorous technological innovation competition organized by the Presidency called Aso Villa Demo Day, which targets young Nigerian entrepreneurs with innovative business models that could contribute to the growth of the economy.

According to him, “having awarded grants to the best three innovators that emerged winners from the 2016 AVDD national competition, the Presidency engaged GEM to scale up the programme for wider impact”.

“GEM-AVDD Project invited business plan submissions from 289 shortlisted candidates that participated in the regional AVDD pitch screening events that took place in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja in 2016. After a rigorous evaluation process, 81 of these candidates met all required eligibility and selection criteria and were selected as beneficiaries” Enalamah said.

The Minister said the beneficiaries were drawn from the six geo-political zones based on registrations to date on GEM’s Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) portal and the grants will be disbursed in two separate tranches, after the grant award.

“GEM is about igniting businesses and building their capacity to grow and employ Nigerians. Above all, it helps solve the problem of funding faced by many of our MSMEs” Enelamah noted.

Andrew Gartside, representing the World Bank country Director to Nigeria, said that the country needed to create jobs through the Small and Medium Enterprises as way of ensuring inclusive economic growth.

“If the economy of Nigeria is to grow and the desired diversification of the FG must succeed, the SMEs will have to grow and succeed to harness the economy” he noted.

The GEM Project is a $160m World Bank IDA Credit with a Project Implementation Unit at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. The Project Development Objective is to increase growth and employment in participating firms in Nigeria through provision of technical assistance and grants to qualified existing firms/businesses across Nigeria, operating in five high growth sectors namely: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Hospitality, Entertainment, Light Manufacturing, and Construction.

Over the life of the grant, the GEM Project would verify the achievement of set milestones by beneficiaries and monitor project progress as condition for the second disbursement. Impact evaluation surveys would also be conducted subsequently.

 

 

 


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LG Nigeria Begins Nationwide Search for Oldest Working TV, Rewards Loyalty with AI QNED Upgrade

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LG Electronics has announced the launch of a nationwide campaign aimed at celebrating decades of customer loyalty and technological heritage by searching for the oldest still-functioning LG television sets across the country.

The initiative, themed “The Oldest LG TV”, seeks to honour long-time customers whose LG screens have stood the test of time, while introducing them to the future of home entertainment through LG’s advanced AI QNED TVs.

For generations, LG televisions have been more than an electronic device in Nigerian homes, they have been silent witnesses to family milestones, cultural moments and shared memories.

This campaign bridges nostalgia with innovation, acknowledging the emotional connection Nigerians have built with the brand while showcasing LG’s leadership in AI-powered display technology.

The campaign features a storytelling -driven narrative that highlights community, heritage and the evolution of viewing experiences. Participants are invited to share the stories behind their long-serving LG TVs, transforming everyday screens into symbols of trust, resilience and innovation.

In creative twist, the campaign also introduces LG’s AI-enabled televisions as responsive companions that understand viewer preferences, recommend content and enhance picture quality in real time. This shift from nostalgia to futuristic interactivity underscores LG’s continued commitment to delivering smarter, more personalized entertainment solutions.

To participate, simply visit https://lgsearchcampaign.vercel.app/, upload a photo or video of your old LG TV and share the story behind it – how long you’ve had it and the memories it holds.

The winner walks away with a brand-new LG AI QNED TV, effectively trading legacy for luxury.

At its core, this campaign reminds us that technology is not only about pixels and processors, but about people. It’s about the laughter in the living rooms, the silence during tense match moments and the comfort of family routines.

By celebrating the oldest TVs still standing strong, LG is celebrating the people who kept the on, families who trusted the brand through changing times and evolving technologies. In doing so, LG isn’t just upgrading television, it’s upgrading memories into the future.

According to Mr. Choongbae Seok, General Manager, Media Entertainment Solutions, LG Electronics Nigeria, “The journey from our classic CRT Televisions to today’s AI QNED technology reflects how far both our customers and our innovation have come. Those early sets were built to last, and many are still functioning today, a testament to durability and consumer trust. This initiative allows us to honour that legacy while introducing a new era of intelligent viewing, where the screen does more than show content; it adapts, learns and enhances every moment”.

LG Display 2026 TV Models at InnoFest

LG Electronics (LG), a leader in AI-powered solutions for the home, outlined plans to accelerate growth in emerging markets at LG InnoFest 2026 MEA. The event, held in Abu Dhabi, provided a forum to share LG’s strategic direction and market outlook with regional partners. At the exhibition, LG displayed its premium 2026 AI TV lineup focusing heavily on advanced processing power, smarter picture and sound technologies. The flagship OLED evo G6 and 100-inch Micro RGB evo TVs are powered by the new Alpha 11 AI processor Gen 3 enabling faster and more intelligent performance. The OLED evo W6 Wallpaper TV, an ultra-slim television designed to sit flush against the wall like artwork uses true wireless connectivity, reducing cable clutter and creating a cleaner, minimal setup.


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African Leaders Highlights Africa’s AI Ambitions

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African leaders used the AU Summit in Addis Ababa over the weekend to sharpen the continent’s technology agenda, with Ethiopia positioning artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure and connectivity as pillars of Africa’s economic future.

Opening the 39th African Union Summit, Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed outlined an ambitious vision to place Africa at the forefront of the global AI race, anchored by Ethiopia’s plan to launch what he described as Africa’s first AI-focused university.

“In 2020, Ethiopia established Africa’s first Artificial Intelligence Institute. Building on this foundation, we are preparing to launch an AI university anchored in the philosophy of Medemer, purposeful collaboration, to unite human values with machine intelligence and position Africa as a global leader in the age of intelligence,” Abiy told delegates. “

He framed AI not as a standalone sector, but as a cross-cutting enabler for governance, industry and social development. “Every river we manage, every city we design, and every digital platform we deploy must generate resilience, opportunity and dignity,” Abiy said. He further linked digital transformation to Agenda 2063’s long-term prosperity goals.

Beyond AI, the high-powered AU summit discussions highlighted digital identity, cross-border connectivity and telecom expansion as critical building blocks for an integrated African market. Ethiopia’s Digital Ethiopia 2030 roadmap, including its Faida digital ID ecosystem, was cited as a model for secure, interconnected public services.

Abiy pointed to aviation and telecom infrastructure as key accelerators for economic development across the continent. “Through Ethiopian Airlines, we connect people and markets. Ethio Telecom is expanding partnerships across Africa to bridge the digital divide,” he said.

The Ethiopian leader added that large-scale infrastructure projects are designed to anchor Africa deeper into global value chains.

The broader summit tech agenda also touched on regulatory harmonisation, digital trade and data governance, with leaders emphasizing that continental cooperation is essential to avoid fragmented digital markets.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the need for inclusive innovation, telling delegates that Africa’s digital rise must be “people-centered and opportunity-driven,” while African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stressed coordinated policy frameworks to accelerate adoption.

“AI capability, digital infrastructure and unified regulation are no longer optional ambitions, but strategic imperatives shaping the continent’s competitiveness in the intelligence era,” he said.

 


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NITDA Explores Partnership with Trust Stamp on Digital Trust and Innovation

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By Naeemah Junaid

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has held strategic discussions with representatives of Trust Stamp, a NASDAQ-listed global technology company, to explore potential areas of partnership aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital trust framework and advancing innovation within the digital economy.

The meeting, chaired by NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, focused on identifying collaborative opportunities aligned with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and the Agency’s strategic priorities for building a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem.

Inuwa emphasised that trust remains a critical foundation for the growth of the digital economy, noting that secure systems and strong cybersecurity frameworks are essential for driving innovation, economic growth, and national development. He stated that building trust in digital platforms and services is key to accelerating adoption and unlocking opportunities across sectors.

He reiterated NITDA’s mandate as a regulator to create an enabling environment through forward-looking policies and regulatory frameworks that support innovation rather than promote specific technologies. According to him, government interventions are designed to stimulate markets, create opportunities, and empower both businesses and citizens to participate fully in the digital economy.

The Director General further reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to investments that strengthen digital infrastructure and enhance digital services, stressing that sustainable national development is best driven by private sector participation under supportive regulatory and policy frameworks. He called for continued engagement to ensure alignment with national priorities and effective integration into Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

In his remarks, Trust Stamp Vice President, Jonathan Pasha, highlighted the company’s global experience in secure verification and trust technologies, describing its approach as partnership-oriented and focused on delivering long-term value within local ecosystems. He noted that the company prioritises collaboration with governments and private sector stakeholders to address local challenges and expand access to secure digital services.

Pasha referenced Trust Stamp’s ongoing operations in Nigeria, including its collaboration with a telecommunications provider to enhance SIM swap prevention and fraud detection capabilities. He also outlined the firm’s biometric tokenisation technology, which converts biometric data into secure, privacy-preserving representations, enabling verification processes without exposing sensitive information.

He explained that the technology supports secure verification, fraud prevention, financial inclusion initiatives, and the tokenisation of real-world assets, while being designed to function effectively in low-connectivity environments and on low-specification devices to expand access to digital services.

Both parties expressed interest in advancing technical-level discussions to identify specific areas of collaboration aligned with national priorities and Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives.

NITDA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a secure and trusted digital economy through strategic partnerships, robust regulatory frameworks, and initiatives that promote innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth.


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