Connect with us

News

Hafol’s Partners Showcase Tech Innovations for Reduced Capex

Published

on

Kindly share this post

New technological innovations that offer cost-effectiveness in the areas of reduced capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) for businesses and organisations in Nigeria have been showcased at a customer forum engagement organised in Lagos.

Organised by Hafol Resources Limited, an indigenous Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and managed service solution company, the forum was specifically designed to discuss cutting-edge technological innovations, which Hafol and its various business partners and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can deploy for their clients.

Hafol is one of the subsidiaries of TopTech Engineering Limited, a one-stop shop for all ICT requirements for businesses and other organisations in Nigeria and beyond.

At the forum, partners/OEMs presented the latest innovations in ICT products cutting across ConvergeIT solutions by Siemon; SofGen core banking solution; high-security locking solutions by Abloy; Telergon’s lighting solutions as well as innovative solutions from other OEMs such as Westcon Comsteor.

Meanwhile, the representative of Siemon, Mr. Jide Olagbenro; Country Manager, West Africa, Abloy, Mr. Nkechi Uyanna; Export Area Manager, Telergon, Mr. Jose Perez; Vice President,  East and West Africa, SofGen, Mr. Adam Uyaga, among others, during their presentations, commended Hafol for being a reliable partner in deploying cost-effective IT solutions for businesses.

During his presentation on ‘The Path to Smarter, Greener Building’, he said that Siemon ConvergeIT has positioned itself, working with Hafol to unleash intelligent building solutions to the Nigerian market.

According to him, today’s buildings are infused with communication systems that make them move towards internet protocol (IP) convergence through Power over Ethernet (PoE) described as any of several standardized or ad-hoc systems which pass electric power along with data on twisted pair Ethernet cabling.

On his part, Mr. Adam Uyaga, vice president, East and West Africa, SofGen, encouraged banks in the region to adopt end-to-end banking IT services, both in and around core systems, ranging from requirements analysis and system selection to implementation and beyond, as part of measures to stay ahead of competition.

Uyaga said that technology is the primary means to reach about 70% unbanked Africans, adding that banking and other financial institutions can leverage on the potentials through digital lending: integrated solutions such as online banking, and other sensitive solutions for risks management- like credit lending, collection solution.

All the partners and OEMs at the event said they would deepen their business partnership with Hafol towards ensuring that end-users get Capex and Opex savings.

Mr. Bode Oyesina, managing director, Hafol Resources, explained that the company has transformed into a more vibrant and innovative company, by working with partners and OEMs towards developing solutions that meet the demands of end users.

“The reason behind this forum is to see how we can m get more from investment that clients have made over the years in ICT infrastructure in various organisation.

“As a company, we are involved in managed services in its various categories. We have implemented various IT projects of different budgets and at different levels for organisations; we are also involved in providing technical training, supply of hardware and IT security, among others and we will continue to work with various partners to see how we can deliver more values for businesses,” he said.

In his contribution, Mr. Deji Adeniyi, executive director, TopTech, said, “In the current economic recession in Nigeria, organisations should begin to look at their overheads and other options where their non-critical functions are outsourced to cut cost and this is where Hafol and its partners come in.”

Adeniyi stressed the importance of partnering with Hafol Resources, especially in the ICT solutions and managed services.

“Outsourcing is becoming the in-thing in today’s business and that one of the ways businesses can survive the ongoing recession in Nigeria and Hafol is fully positioned to assist in this area.”

The quality panel session organised and anchored by Hafol Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Oriade Fashoyin, beamed a searchlight on issues on how businesses can survive in the current economic situation by deploying innovative technologies that offer cost-efficiency for businesses.

The panelists, consisting of the Chief Executive Officer of Precise Financial System (PFS), Mr. Yele Okeremi, alongside all Hafol partners, emphasised the need for businesses for businesses to have effective succession plan that guarantees their existence for many years into the future, delivering value to the economy, among others.

 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

News

AXA Mansard Empowers Female SMEs with Financial, Digital Skills

Published

on

Kindly share this post

AXA Mansard, a member of AXA has empowered 200 female Small and Medium Enterprises with financial literacy and digital business skills.

In collaboration with SME 100 Africa, the two-day training, which was held in Lagos, is part of AXA’s lined-up programmes to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.

Speaking, Olusesan Ogunyooye, Head of Marketing AXA Mansard, said the training was aimed to empower female SME owners with skills to improve business output and position them for the increasing economic opportunities available in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Ogunyooye noted that the move was in line with AXA Mansard’s sustainability agenda, explaining that the company was convinced that support for women through its inclusive protection programmes was pivotal to its purpose of acting for human progress by protecting what matters and its mission of moving from being a payer to a partner.

He further said that focusing on digital skills was important because the company realised the importance of digital skills to the growth of the SME sector in Nigeria and wants to ensure that women were empowered enough to be a consequential part of that growth.

“It’s almost trite to say that SMEs are the engine for economic growth, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, where over 45 million adults are business owners. What needs to be continually discussed is how Nigeria is going to unlock that potential for economic development and how much of that potential will be unlocked by women and for women.”

“For us at AXA Mansard, we are aware that digital will play a major role in unlocking these current opportunities and Nigeria’s economic future. So, to ensure that women are equally represented in unlocking these future potentials, that’s why we have collaborated with SME 100 Africa to support them in developing the required skills”.

“Our choice of digital and financial literacy skills is deliberate. We understand the power of the duo. We understand that helping these SMEs with the skills to attract more customers will be a faster means to empower them.

“We see that they have amazing products and services, but they need to understand how to attract value for themselves by attracting the right customers, and you will agree with me that virtually all customer segments are online in one way or another today.

“So, if we can empower them with digital business skills, we would have helped them with the heavy lifting of trying to find and attract customers”. Ogunyooye explained.

According to him, AXA Mansard believes that for the world to experience progress truly, there must be an equitable distribution of creation and access to opportunities for men and women. This quest for balance informed the SHE for Shield initiative, a women-centred inclusive protection programme of AXA Mansard.

SHE for Shield is a group of initiatives designed for the Nigerian woman. The goal is to see them grow, add value, and help them mitigate risks at every step.

According to the company, research has found that access to health care is one of the most important things to Nigerian women, regardless of their economic segment. They desire to be financially independent, secure, and respected in the community.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

IFC Invests in New 4DX Ventures Fund to Support Tech Startups in Africa

Published

on

Kindly share this post

IFC is investing $10.5 million in a new fund by 4DX Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage African technology companies across a broad set of sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, edtech, climate tech, and health tech.

IFC’s investment in 4DX Ventures Fund III will come from IFC’s $225 million venture capital platform, which was launched last year to strengthen emerging VC ecosystems and invest in early-stage companies in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Pakistan.

Africa is among the regions least served by venture capital, receiving just 2% of global venture deal volume in the third quarter of 2023. Access to capital on the continent has been further exacerbated by a slowdown in global venture capital investment.

Tech ecosystems are nascent, or even nonexistent, outside of more established markets such as Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa.

“IFC and 4DX Ventures share the commitment to supporting tech entrepreneurs with innovations that will help Africa leapfrog in critical areas such as climate, health care, fintech, e-commerce, and education,” said Walter Baddoo, Co-Founder and General Partner of 4DX Ventures.

“We look forward to partnering with IFC to help promising tech startups build transformative businesses and realize sustainable development impact on the continent.”

4DX’s new fund will invest in companies with tech solutions that can improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness across Africa. The firm’s first two funds invested in companies such as Egypt-based e-commerce platform MaxAB, an IFC portfolio company; Ghana-based health tech firm mPharma; and Kenya-based B2B e-commerce platform Wasoko, formerly known as Sokowatch.

“By supporting the development of tech ecosystems in emerging markets, IFC’s venture capital platform aims to improve access to key services, boost business competitiveness, and promote job creation through digital transformation,” said Mohamed Gouled, Vice President of Industries at IFC.

“Our investment in venture funds such as 4DX Ventures will help African entrepreneurs access more financing and resources they need to scale tech innovations and bolster sustainable growth across the continent.

In addition to providing capital, IFC will work with 4DX Ventures to implement their environmental and social management system.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

Climate Action Africa Announces CAAF24

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Climate Action Africa (CAA) has announced the inaugural convening of the Climate Action Africa Forum (CAAF24). This international event brings together stakeholders from across the world who drive thought leadership insights on how to encourage collaboration, catalyse actionable solutions, and urge governments, businesses, and individuals to invest in climate-smart initiatives.

The climate-focused event was announced at last week’s Friday international press conference held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Abuja. This marks a significant milestone in Africa’s journey towards a sustainable future. A precursor to the upcoming Climate Action Africa Forum scheduled for June 17-19, 2024, at the Landmark Events Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, this press conference brought together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across the globe. The gathering’s main goal was to discuss the urgent need for sustainable development plans and climate-smart investments in Africa.

Framed by the theme “Green Economies, Brighter Futures: Innovating and Investing in Africa’s Climate-Smart Development,” the international press conference became a vibrant platform for insightful discussions, strategic collaborations, and impactful engagements. It convened an esteemed gathering of leaders, experts, and stakeholders to explore solutions for Africa’s pressing environmental challenges.

The event kicked off with a welcome address by the Executive Director and Co-founder of Climate Action Africa, Grace Mbah, who having announced the commencement of event registration as April 2nd, 2024, made the call for tech-driven solutions and innovations in the fields of emissions reduction, transportation, agriculture, energy, circularity and building and construction to apply to participate in the deal room.

Providing insights to attendees on how innovative approaches and collaborative action is at the heart of CAAF24, she extended an opportunity to like minded organisations who would like to partner by hosting side events and finally, a call for volunteers from across the continent.

“It’s no news that the world stands at a critical juncture, where decisive action is imperative to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. Against this backdrop, CAAF24 serves as a pivotal platform for key stakeholders to engage in meaningful discourse, and forge collaborative pathways towards a greener, more sustainable future.

The essence of CAAF lies in its commitment to shaping a climate-resilient Africa through co-creation, innovation, and sustainable investment. Through this initiative, we aim to catalyse solutions that enhance the sustainability and prosperity of the continent’s natural resources, people, and economies,” Grace stated.

During the International Press Conference, distinguished speakers and thought leaders emphasised the urgent need for collective action in tackling Africa’s climate challenges.

They delved into critical topics like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and climate finance, offering practical insights and inspiring initiatives.

Jummai Vandu, representing the National Council on Climate Change, expressed optimism about the initiative’s outcomes. “Today’s discussions,” she said, “underscore the urgency of our collective efforts to combat climate change. The National Council believes working together is key to driving meaningful action and creating a more sustainable future for Africa and beyond.”

With the International Press Conference complete, the stage is set for CAAF24. Stakeholders will converge to translate ideas into action, forge partnerships, and drive progress towards a climate-smart Africa.

Mrs. Taiwo Fashipe, Head of Media for the Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGi), echoed similar sentiments, stating: “The theme of this year’s Climate Action Africa Forum aligns with our goals, vision, and mission at the Presidential CNG Initiative.

“We look forward to using this platform to advance interest in and investment in greener and cleaner energy sources like CNG.”

Standing at a crucial juncture in Africa’s quest for sustainable development, CAAF24, convened by Climate Action Africa in partnership with the National Council on Climate Change, Channels Media Group, and Founder Institute, emerges as a beacon.

It brings together the private and public sectors, guiding the continent towards a future marked by resilience, prosperity, and environmental stewardship.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending