News
High-quality Packaging of Counterfeit Software Pose threat to Businesses
The Nigerian Copyright Commission has said high quality packaging of counterfeit software signals a new threat to Nigerian Business.
The Commission raided the premises of Plum Telecom, a computer reseller based in Computer Village at Adejoke Plaza Ikeja, following a petition on behalf of Microsoft Nigeria.
During the raid, which took place on 15 October 2009, the Commission recovered multiple copies of counterfeit Microsoft software.
This raid was particularly significant as the packaging of the counterfeit software seized was of a very high quality and, as such, difficult to differentiate from genuine software even to the most experienced computer user. To make matters worse, this counterfeit software was being sold at the same price as genuine Microsoft software.
“In a large number of cases the counterfeit software we find is of a very low quality, cheap to make and easy to identify as fake,” said Akeem Aponmade, speaking on behalf of Adebambo Adewopo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
“In this case, however, we are dealing with a much more sophisticated kind of criminal who deliberately purchased high quality counterfeit software, which could dupe even the savviest of customers into spending money into purchasing a product they believed to be genuine.”
Microsoft became suspicious of the activities of Plum Telecom and carried out a test purchase of software from the reseller. This provided irrefutable proof that the company was offering and selling counterfeit software to customers disguised as the original. With this proof in-hand Microsoft approached the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
During the raid, multiple counterfeit versions of some of Microsoft’s most popular products were found including Microsoft Office Professional, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition and Microsoft Server Standard Edition.
“People usually make a conscious choice to purchase low grade counterfeit software knowing it is not genuine in order to pay less,” added Uzo Okpaka, Channel Compliance Manager for Microsoft Anglophone West Africa.
“This case represents a new threat to businesses and consumers across Nigeria as even those who would never consider purchasing fake software are being tricked into doing so by unscrupulous resellers.”
Mr. Ogboru from the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) welcomed the raid of Plum Telecom’s business adding “Piracy is not a victimless crime. The activities of Plum Telecom put the businesses of legitimate resellers in jeopardy and impact the credibility of the Nigerian IT reselling community as a whole”.
Although the law is very clear about prescribing penalties for buying and possessing stolen goods, users cannot be held liable if there was no intention to buy counterfeit software.
“If it can be proven that the computer or software reseller ‘‘tricked’ you into buying counterfeit software, then the reseller is the one who will face prosecution, not you,” said Uzo Okpaka from Microsoft.
Before a customer purchases Microsoft software they should ask themselves questions such as, Is the computer reseller a certified Microsoft partner? Did they receive the correct versions of the software they paid for? Were they given the original software media (i.e. the CD, DVD or recovery disc) associated with the software? Did they receive all the original supporting documentation for the software including user manuals and warranties? Does the computer have original certificate of authenticity stickers placed on the side of the tower case or under the laptop for each piece of software pre-loaded on the hard drive and if the reseller is prepared to offer after-sales service and support for your software.
“A ‘no’ answer on any of these questions should immediately raise your suspicions about the authenticity of the software being given to you. If you’re in doubt, make sure that you contact your local Microsoft office for help and advice,” concluded Okpaka.
Olatunji Solicits Support for Facilities’ Upgrade
Dr. Oluwole Olatunji, the director-general of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos has called on the National Assembly to assist the institute to provide funds for the replacement and upgrading of obsolete facilities.
Olatunji made this appeal when Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology paid a working visit to the institute.
He said most of the equipment used for research purposes were old and non functional, adding that the results obtained with such equipment would not be respected.
“It is hoped that the visit of this honourable house committee will help in the quest to rightly position Science, Technology and Innovation Systems (STI) to drive the national economic and technological development of our dear country.”
Olatunji said his organisation embarked on major repairs, especially the laboratories and it gulped a lot of money. “We need to rehabilitate all the laboratories, it is very important. We have 46 and we still have a long way to go, we are changing our equipment gradually, we need more equipment and we need funds to buy the equipment. Facility without style is not complete,” he said.
According to him, the institute was training its staff to enable them get acquainted with the technology and translate their research products into commercial purposes, saying, “we have a department that conducts training and they also go to the grassroots, but what we are saying is that we have to increase the tempo at which we go there and by next year, we want to make sure we cover as many areas as possible.”
Hon. Akinlade stressed the need for the institute to create awareness about its products and partner with the local government so that its products would not only get to the end users, but would contribute towards the development of the economy. “In terms of research and development, the institute still has to do more in the areas of awareness because it is not enough to do a research and keep it in the cupboard,” he said.
He said the House would appropriate funds for the institute in the 2010 appropriation bill to enable it carry out its operations, adding that there was need for the institute to write a proposal, which would show all research findings so that members of the committee would assist in making them popular at their various constituencies.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
Cisco is exploring artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria, as part of efforts to expand digital inclusion and technology adoption.
The initiative focuses on improving agricultural productivity through accessible, data-driven tools.
The move aligns with growing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States under the Commercial and Investment Partnership, which prioritises the digital economy, agriculture and infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2026 World Business Chicago, Brian Tippens, chief social impact and inclusion Officer at Cisco, said the company is assessing practical AI applications to help farmers combine local knowledge with data insights.
He said Cisco is exploring tools such as AI-enabled WhatsApp communities, geospatial mapping and weather intelligence to support day-to-day farming decisions.
The approach reflects a shift towards low-cost, mobile-first solutions suited to rural environments.
Tippens added that the Cisco Foundation is investing in early-stage startups developing technologies for local agricultural challenges.
Industry analysts note that AI adoption in emerging markets depends on locally relevant solutions, rather than large-scale enterprise deployments alone.
Beyond agriculture, Cisco plans to expand digital skills development in Nigeria through programmes such as the Cisco Networking Academy’s One Million Learners initiative.
Tippens said the programme also supports partnerships with organisations working with persons with disabilities, including those developing tools for people with visual impairments.
He added that Cisco’s social impact strategy aims to improve access to technology and promote inclusion, including in conflict-affected regions such as Borno State.
Cisco’s initiatives form part of broader efforts to link digital skills, connectivity and AI adoption to economic development in Nigeria.
Federal Government has launched a nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity-building programme for teachers in Federal Unity Colleges, with about 11,700 educators set to acquire digital skills aimed at improving classroom instruction and preparing students for a technology-driven future.
The initiative advanced with the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, paving the way for the nationwide implementation of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.
The programme, to be implemented through the ministry’s Education Support Services Department, is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise Nigeria’s education sector, strengthen teacher professionalism and equip students with skills required in the digital economy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Director of the Education Support Services Department, Gabriel Amudipe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s teaching workforce and the future of education.
He said the nationwide rollout followed the successful completion of a pilot phase conducted in selected Federal Unity Colleges.
According to him, the implementation model developed by ICEDT Consult Limited will ensure effective coordination and quality delivery of the programme across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Amudipe urged officials responsible for monitoring the project to ensure strict compliance with the implementation guidelines and maintain the standards achieved during the pilot phase.
“The ministry remains committed to supporting innovative initiatives that strengthen teacher professionalism, improve learning outcomes and promote the responsible integration of emerging technologies into education,” he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Education Support Services Department, Oladele Fapohunda, described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to deepen digital innovation across Federal Unity Colleges.
He stressed that collaboration among all stakeholders would be essential to achieving the objectives of the initiative nationwide.
Also speaking, the Head of Strategic Partnerships and Learning Scientist at ICEDT Consult Limited, Dr Abdulrahman Orosanya, said the Federal Government approved the national rollout after the successful pilot implementation in six Federal Unity Colleges representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Orosanya, the pilot demonstrated the potential of Artificial Intelligence to improve lesson planning, classroom delivery, assessment methods and teachers’ productivity.
He said the nationwide implementation would strengthen teachers’ digital competencies, improve instructional delivery and support the government’s vision of building a technology-driven education system capable of producing globally competitive graduates equipped with 21st-century skills.
The ceremony ended with the formal signing of the Terms of Reference by officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, signalling the commencement of preparations for full implementation across all Federal Unity Colleges.
The ministry said the programme would directly train about 11,700 teachers, while thousands of students across the country’s Federal Unity Colleges are expected to benefit through improved classroom instruction, increased digital innovation and the responsible application of Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to modernise Nigeria’s education system, improve teacher quality and deliver inclusive, equitable and future-ready education nationwide.
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