E-Business
Google Heavily Influencing 3rd Platform Transition

Google Strategic Advisory is one of the ultimate services influencing 3rd Platform, built on big data and analytics, cloud, mobile, and social technologies..
Although International Data Corporation (IDC), through Scott Strawn hired as Program Director for new Research Offerings has yet to make open its findings on the subject, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that Google has been rated high in IDC’s new competitive intelligence research program focusing on companies that are competing in and heavily influencing the transition, leading covered.
Unlike IDC’s traditional research programs, which focus on established markets and technologies, the Strategic Advisory Services provide an in-depth analysis of a few companies that are redefining technology, competition, and business models.
The research focuses on company developments, product strategies, partner and alliance ecosystems, and competitive insights. The research is designed to help clients understand what these companies are doing, what it means for them, and how best to proceed as a partner or competitor.
In his new role, Strawn will be leading IDC’s Strategic Advisory Service, which includes Google Strategic Advisory as well as a number of other company-centric programs to be announced in the coming months. Strawn is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and comes to IDC with experience as an investment analyst for several companies.
His professional experience also includes two technology startups, one of which he founded, and one financial startup that has grown to be among the largest boutique wealth management firms in the United States.
He has also held key positions with Redstar Ventures and Deutsche Asset Management. In addition, he worked as an independent consultant to IDC from 2008 to 2010. Strawn is based in IDC’s San Mateo, Calif. office.
“We are excited to have Scott join IDC to drive these new company-centric offerings,” said Danielle Levitas, Group Vice President, Mobile, Consumer, and New Media at IDC. “Scott’s training as a financial analyst combined with his startup experiences demonstrate a strong knowledge and skill base that can be focused on the companies that are reshaping IT, telecom, retail, and other industries. Scott will work closely with other IDC analysts across the organization to partner on various research efforts where their market depth along with Scott’s expertise can create the industry’s most competitive insights.”
E-Business
Transcorp Hotels Delivers Stellar H1 Results, Declares Over ₦1Bn Dividend

Transcorp Hotels Plc has delivered a stellar performance in the first half of 2025, recording a 60% year-on-year surge in revenue to ₦47.57 billion, up from ₦29.72 billion in H1 2024. Gross profit climbed 71% to ₦36.21 billion, maintaining a strong 76% margin despite inflation and operational headwinds.
The hospitality giant, a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc, also announced an interim dividend payout of ₦1.024 billion — offering ₦0.10 per 50 kobo ordinary share to shareholders.
In a bold move, the company unveiled Nigeria’s largest corporate venue — the 5,000-seat Transcorp Centre — staking its claim as the new leader in event hospitality. Chairman Emmanuel Nnorom described the results as proof of Transcorp Hotels’ transformative strategies and unwavering investor commitment. MD/CEO Uzo Oshogwe attributed the success to relentless execution and a resilient business model.
Transcorp Hotels, renowned for iconic assets like Transcorp Hilton Abuja and its digital platform Aura, says it isn’t just leading Nigeria’s hospitality sector — it’s redefining excellence across Africa.
E-Business
Microsoft Servers Hacked by Chinese Groups

Chinese “threat actors” have hacked Microsoft’s SharePoint document software servers and targeted the data of the businesses using it, the firm has said.
China state-backed Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon as well as China-based Storm-2603 were said to have “exploited vulnerabilities” in on-premises SharePoint servers, the kind used by firms, but not in its cloud-based service.
The US tech giant has released security updates in response and has advised all on-premises SharePoint server customers to install them.
“Investigations into other actors also using these exploits are still ongoing,” Microsoft said in a statement.
The firm said it had “high confidence” the hackers would continue to target systems which have not installed its security updates.
It added that it would update its website blog with more information as its investigation continues.
Microsoft said it had observed attacks in which hackers had sent a request to a SharePoint server “enabling the theft of the key material by threat actors”.
Charles Carmakal, chief technology officer at Mandiant Consulting firm, a division of Google Cloud, told reporter, it was “aware of several victims in several different sectors across a number of global geographies”.
Carmakal said it appeared that governments and businesses that use SharePoint on their sites were the primary target.
A number of adversaries who stole material encoded by cryptography were then able to regain ongoing access to the victims’ SharePoint data, he said.
“This was exploited in a very broad way, very opportunistically before a patch was made available. That’s why this is significant,” Carmakal said.
Carmakal said the “China-nexus actor” was deploying techniques similar to previous campaigns associated with Beijing.
Microsoft said Linen Typhoon had “focused on stealing intellectual property, primarily targeting organizations related to government, defence, strategic planning, and human rights” for 13 years.
It added that Violet Typhoon had been “dedicated to espionage”, primarily targeting former government and military staff, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, higher education, the media, the financial sector and the health sector in the US, Europe, and East Asia.
Meanwhile, Storm-2603 was “assessed with medium confidence to be a China-based threat actor”.
E-Business
NIMC Warns Nigerians of Fake NIN Website

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a public warning that it is not associated with NINcard.com.
According to the commission, the website has been circulating online to offer services for Nigerians seeking National Identification Number (NIN) services.
NIMC, in a post on its official X account on Wednesday, said, “NINcard.com is not in anyway affiliated to NIMC. Stay vigilant!”
The warning was accompanied by screenshots of fake payment receipts and OTP request pages from the website, both of which were boldly stamped “FAKE” by NIMC to alert the public.
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