Telecom
FG to Focus on Coys, not Codes in Software Development Plan-Johnson
Mrs. Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, said that an assessment of the nation’s software industry landscape has revealed that dual points of innovation process and companies, not code are the critical aspects to tackle in order to tap into the potentials.
She made the remark at the ISPON 2013 National Software Conference and Competition in Calabar, Cross River State.
Johnoson regretted that several billions of naira leave the shores of Nigeria every year as licences and other fees to foreign software companies.
“This doesn’t have to be. Software Strategies for us as a country must be not only about improving productivity because it also provides an avenue for transforming the economy, creating jobs and creating wealth. So we need to tackle the broader challenge of how we take our promising software developers and software engineers and help them to become entrepreneurs that can take advantage of this opportunity?,” Johnson remarked.
While extolling ISPON for this year’s theme, “Software Strategies for Retooling the Workforce”, she added that Software has indeed accelerated productivity in the workplace, “for example the simple word processing tools and spreadsheet tools that we had in the 80’s to the more encompassing office productivity tools such as the Microsoft Office suite .
“From simple accounting packages to the sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning applications that support the entire organisational functions, HR, Accounting, Finance, Logistics, Billing, Procurement etc’, I am sure you can think of many other examples of the impact that software has made to workplace productivity”.
She maintained that with an accepted and well documented failure rate of 90% in the software enterpreneurship space, stakeholders must accelerate and scale up the innovation process.
Johnson said: “Silicon Valley and Israel (a country that has earned the appellation of “start up nation’) have literally thousands of companies in the ideation or start up stage at any point in time, the outcome of which is tens of companies that are either acquired by the bigger players or go on to become big players themselves. (Shopping.com acquired by ebay for $620m, face.com a face recognition software acquired by Facebook for $100m.
“We have made some progress in the short time that the Ministry of Communication Technology has been in existence. There is a thriving ecosystem of innovation hubs with the private sector participating well through the Co-Creation Hub, Venia Business Hub and others.
“The government has also intervened with the set up of the iDEA hubs in Lagos and Calabar (with more to come) which aim to cover both the innovation and ideation process as well as accelerating the process from ideation to business creation. Our first cohort of incubates at the iDEA hubs were drawn from the developers that provided solutions adjudged as having potential by the Oil & Gas as well as financial sectors. Our next cohort will be tasked with building solutions for the Agriculture, industry, an effort being designed together with USAID…
“We are open to ideas as to the what solutions should be tackled next as we believe that software solutions that come out of our industry should be designed to meet particular needs, commercial as well as social and of course be exportable to other countries.
“We would do well to benchmark ourselves against other regional economies like Kenya and South Africa. The global success of the Kenyan Ushahidi platform shows we have a long way to go as we do not as yet have the one (or more) software solutions that have international appeal and are instantly recognizable as Nigerian. The South African software industry, with its exports of homegrown fraud prevention, revenue management solutions, mobile applications as well as an instantly recognized Open Source platform (Ubuntu) drives home this point.
“Ideally, these kinds of hubs should grow organically in Universities, Cyber cafes, libraries as access to the Internet improves but it will be much easier to roll out a clear philosophy through a connected network of hubs started by the government but ultimately will be run by the private sector”.
She added that the philosophy must also instill in the nation’s entrepreneurs the freedom to experiment that will truly free their ideation process. Too many software solutions that are released these days follow the familiar, safe path of former successes in entertainment (for example) or simply put a Nigerian twist on solutions that have succeeded elsewhere.
“While addressing the structural issues that should encourage our entrepreneurs to concentrate on “Companies, not code”, we must also ensure we do not take the technical requirements of this industry for granted.
“Many of our software developers are self-taught and while this is admirable, it also means that any errors in coding can be carried over for several “generations” of developers. To guard against this, the setup of coding schools will be encouraged and supported where necessary by the government – similar to our support and interventions in the innovation hubs/accelerators.
“This is an intense process that requires the all the proverbial hands to be on deck and I call on ISPON to collaborate intensely with us on all these initiatives to achieve their ultimate vision of a vibrant, competitive and world class software industry,” she noted.
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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