General News
Genuine Software Guards Intellectual Property Smedley -Williams

Richard Smedley-Williams is the sales director at Autodesk. Smedley-Williams has been in the Autodesk industry for 10 years. His work is centered on building Autodesk channels and equipping the channels to have the right skills, capacity and capability to assist customers. He spoke with funmi ilesanmi.
Autodesk Symposium
We started the first design symposium last year and we started it to support our objectives of creating awareness in the market around the new tools that are available. Last year we focused mostly on most of the AutoCAD products and this year we want to take a upper notch from the presentation perspective and show customers the more intricate, more specialized but very interesting design tools. The objective of this symposium is to bring customers together to showcase to them the most innovative design tools so that we can help the Nigerian market become more competitive.
Interest in the Nigerian Market
All the infrastructure are here; oil and gas, architecture. When you drive from the airport to Victoria Island, you see different projects here and there. The population is huge; the Nigerian market is very innovative and very tech savvy. The Nigerian market is probably one of the most technologically savvy markets in West Africa so we feel that it is an obvious choice to work here coupled with the strong professional bodies here like the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is why we think Nigeria is so attractive.
Software Piracy
We would like to eradicate software piracy in a positive way so we would like to accelerate awareness around the benefits of using legal software. If you considered the price – value balance, customers do not complain about a BMW being expensive. We have reached the right point in our pricing strategy and now we want to make customers aware of why it is better to use legal software. We have a relationship with the NCC which is at the early stage. We have not formalized a programme with them yet but we would like to keep it as positive and as meaningful as possible.
Amnesty Period Given to Users
Our experiences in other parts of the continent plus the believe that with an amnesty period, you are giving customers a period of time when there is a lot of education, a lot of discussions, a lot of events, all happening about the same time to give the market a time and give customers a time to get legal software. If we feel that customers are receptive to the positive approach, we might consider a clampdown but we prefer to take the awareness approach rather than clamping down on illegal users.
Extension of Amnesty Period
We feel that people want to use genuine technology and we want to make sure they know where to get it from.
Causes of Software Piracy
I think customers do not know where to buy original software and they do not know what illegal software looks like. I maintain that if a customer does not know where to buy software from, they do not know why they should value it, they have an assumption of how much they think it costs so it is a very holistic school of thought.
Building Information
It is consistent, coordinated approach to modeling the building in 3D to experience their project before it is built. The benefit of that is because you can design your building, you can visualize your building when it s not yet built. Visualization is such a powerful tool. It allows you to simulate. For example, if you have a building with too much glass it is going to have a lot of heat during the day but less heat at night so it allows you to visualize, to simulate and in doing so you can coordinate the building with the architect, with the mechanical engineer and the team in planning heating and ventilation
The benefit of that is to pull everyone together earlier so that you can to build better designs in a short dramatic time.
BSA Report on Piracy in Nigeria
The BSA is the Business Software Alliance which has come together to eradicate illegal use of licenses around the globe and conducts studies all over the world. The BSA is a professional governing body and the most recent software piracy report from BSA which I think was in 2008 indicates software piracy to be at about 80 per cent for Nigeria. How they come to that was through lots of research but it is not about design, it is about software piracy overall. It includes all kinds of software.
Advantages of Using Genuine Software
The first one from a customer perspective is that you can stay on the current version of software. When there is a new release, you get that automatically because it is a part of your subscription. The next is with specific regard to direct support. Then there is increased productivity that you can achieve, there is no loss to your reputation because professionals want to work with professionals and that is part of the third line of the campaign which is to change efficiency. The possibilities are numerous but pirated software tends to crash. Using genuine software is a proactive way of guarding your intellectual property.
Awareness
We have run quite a comprehensive programme with the design symposium, we have got newsletters we send to our customers and in the news letter we include stories on how to check tricks. There is an electronic mail to customers plus the design competition we are doing with the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and then there is the newspaper advertisement. We have also distributed thousands of posters. Predominantly, awareness has been through the channel partners, keeping them up to date and informed of what is going on. They in turn inform their customers. It means they have one-on –one discussions with their customers.
About Autodesk
We have got the broadest and deepest products available. We have products from 2D designs to very high end, to industrial application design. We launched the consumer application design not too long ago. We have over 60 million downloads of consumer application. In the consumer application environment, we have sketching tools. What we found is that a mechanical toy application that even 10 year old boys love and we are finding that changing across the markets dramatically and many people want to make use of designs. And that is available on the App store and it cost few dollars to get those software applications.
Economic Benefit of Using Original Software
I strongly believe that if you look at all the countries that are strong with architecture, engineering, construction and leading the way, for Nigeria to lead the way, you need all those things.
I think Nigeria has come a very long way and it is wonderful. There are buildings going up, refurbishment of buildings so Nigeria has a lot to gain from using genuine software because it will make the country more profitable and more competitive and if you are more competitive, you can be more innovative and if you are more innovative, you can create anything and make the work environment conducive for everyone.
Software Piracy in Nigeria
Obviously piracy is high in developing countries than in more developed countries but I believe that here it will change. If you take the NSE for example, the partnership is brilliant because to be a professional engineer here means something. To be an architect here means something and we are partnering with such institutions because they use genuine software and that means something as well so there is a lot to gain.
General News
Haleon Introduces New Corporate Identity in Nigeria

Haleon, a global consumer health company with a purpose to deliver better everyday health, is introducing its corporate identity across Nigeria in a phased transition. Trusted brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne, Macleans, Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000 and Andrews Liver Salts remain unchanged in formulation, quality, and effectiveness.

Following the formal demerger from GSK, Haleon was launched on July 18, 2022, as an independent company 100% focused on consumer health. Haleon is the new home for brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Centrum and others, trusted by millions worldwide for their proven effectiveness in improving everyday health.
From relieving tooth sensitivity or pain to providing essential vitamins and nutrients, our products are designed to fulfil Haleon’s purpose: to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
This revised corporate identity is a branding change only and does not affect the safety, quality, or efficacy of the products. Haleon is sharing this update as part of its commitment to transparency and consumer confidence, helping consumers continue to choose the brands they know and trust.
Haleon’s collaboration with Fidson Healthcare forms part of this approach, reinforcing the value of local production in supporting trusted everyday health brands in Nigeria.
Panadol Extra 100s and Panadol Pain & Fever 100s are currently being produced and supplied to the market under the Haleon identity. Sensodyne Rapid Action will bear the Haleon corporate identity from mid-June, followed by Andrews Liver Salts later this year.
In due course, additional brands—including Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000, Macleans, and the wider Sensodyne portfolio—will also transition to the Haleon identity.
Haleon remains committed to ensuring consumers can continue to access the same high-quality brands at pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets across Nigeria.
“As Haleon introduces its identity in Nigeria, we want consumers to feel informed and reassured. The trusted products they rely on remain the same in quality, formulation and effectiveness.
“At the same time, our local production approach in partnership with Fidson Healthcare supports reliable access to high-quality everyday health products in Nigeria,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
General News
Kaspersky Warns of “Grey” Scam Websites Exploiting User Trust

Recent research by Kaspersky has shown that the so-called “grey” websites repeatedly target all world regions, and this may be driving both financial loss and large-scale data harvesting.

Grey websites are deceptive online platforms that fall outside traditional phishing definitions but still manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal data. Kaspersky’s new report provides detailed insights into the threats posed by the grey websites on global and regional levels.
Unlike classic phishing attacks, which aim to steal credentials outright, grey websites rely on persuasion, misleading interfaces, and hidden terms to exploit users. They often impersonate legitimate services such as e-commerce platforms, financial tools, AI services, or subscription-based content, making them significantly harder to detect.
Kaspersky analysis shows that the majority of suspicious resources globally fall into several recurring categories:
- Fake browser extensions and “security tools” that actually harvest browsing data and track user activity.
- Fraudulent financial platforms including crypto exchanges, trading tools, and investment schemes promising unrealistic returns.
- Intermediary services (e.g., legal or real estate), charging for low-value or nonexistent services while harvesting sensitive personal data.
- Subscription traps offering low-cost trials that convert into costly recurring payments hidden in fine print.
- Fake online shops that either deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
Example of a grey website.
A notable trend is the emergence of tools disguised as AI services or image-processing platforms, reflecting attackers’ ability to adapt to current digital trends and target younger audiences.
There are proven security solutions that help users to detect grey websites across different types of devices – those running on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. The detection model is based on many factors, including domain name and age, IP reputation, stability of the infrastructure used, DNS configurations, HTTP security headers, digital identity and popularity of the web resource and other criteria.
Regional specifics
Regional variations in grey websites demonstrate how threat actors localise scams based on user behaviour and trending technologies.
In Europe, the threat landscape is dominated by links to suspicious browser extensions and fake “privacy-enhancing” tools.
These resources often present themselves as security solutions, promising safer browsing or anonymous search capabilities. In reality, they function as browser hijackers – intercepting traffic, collecting cookies, tracking user behaviour, and injecting advertisements.
The popularity of these threats reflects a high level of user concern around privacy and security, which attackers actively exploit. Additionally, these regions show a steady presence of phishing intermediaries and crypto-related scams, indicating a blend of technical and financially motivated attacks.
Across African markets, financial scams are the most prominent category of suspicious resources. Fraudulent trading platforms, fake brokers, and investment schemes frequently mimic legitimate financial services, often accompanied by fabricated licenses or endorsements.
These platforms typically prevent users from withdrawing funds, instead introducing additional “fees” or taxes to prolong the scam. The concentration of these threats highlights how attackers leverage growing interest in online investing while exploiting gaps in regulatory enforcement and financial literacy.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, suspicious resources frequently mimic communication (Internet telephony) tools, financial platforms, or betting services. Additionally, Ponzi-style investment schemes and crypto scams are widespread, often presented through polished interfaces that mimic legitimate platforms.
Web browser-based threats also play a significant role, with malicious extensions targeting user data and browsing activity. The regional threat profile reflects a convergence of financial fraud and technical compromise, where users risk both data exposure and monetary loss.
“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance. But they exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click on what looks like a harmless AI image tool, a “secure” browser extension, or a heavily discounted online shop could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.
Instead of direct credential theft, attackers turn to behavioural manipulation – whether that’s subscribing, investing, or installing software,” comments Anna Larkina, Web Content and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky.
General News
MSMEs Paucity of Funds Receives Boost as Senate Backs Bill Seeking to Unlock Cash for them

Businesses across Nigeria, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), may soon be able to convert unpaid invoices and credit sales into immediate cash without relying on conventional bank loans following the passage of the Factoring, Assignments and Receivables Financing Bill for second reading in the Senate.

The bill, which seeks to establish a legal framework for factoring and receivables financing, is expected to improve access to credit, boost liquidity for businesses and enhance domestic and international trade.
It also seeks to provide legal certainty for the assignment of receivables through factoring, promote transparency, modernise assignment laws and facilitate greater access to credit for businesses across the country.
Leading debate on the bill which was sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said on Tuesday that the proposed legislation would create an enabling environment for debt factoring to thrive in Nigeria while defining the rights and obligations of creditors, factors and debtors involved in such transactions.
He explained that the bill provides for factoring contracts between sellers and factors and clarifies the legal relationship among parties in receivables financing arrangements.
According to Bamidele, the legislation has already passed all legislative stages in the House of Representatives and has complied with the Senate’s procedural requirements under Order 78(3) of the Senate Standing Orders.
He told lawmakers that the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Compliance, chaired by Abdul Ningi, had scrutinised and cleared the bill for concurrence.
“The committee confirmed that all procedural requirements for consideration and concurrence by the Senate have been fully met,” he said.
Seconding the bill, Adetokunbo Abiru said the legislation would provide businesses with an alternative source of financing by enabling them to turn credit sales into cash and improve their working capital.
Abiru noted that factoring has become increasingly popular across Africa over the last decade, largely through initiatives supported by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
He disclosed that the African factoring market is currently valued at over $50 billion, but Nigeria’s participation remains below one per cent.
According to him, countries such as Egypt and Morocco have benefited significantly from the financing model, adding that Nigeria risks missing out on the growing market without a clear regulatory framework.
“I think that passing this major legislation will help support our micro, small and medium enterprises in terms of converting most of their credit sales into cash without going through the normal borrowing arrangement,” Abiru said.
In his remarks, Ningi also assured lawmakers that the compliance committee had reviewed the bill and found no legal impediments to its passage.
Following a voice vote, the Senate approved the bill for second reading and subsequently referred it to the Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause consideration.
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