General News
Huawei Committed to Better Connected Nigeria, Skills Dev- Li
Qualitative health and education as critical sectors of Nigerian economy can be raved up with technologies, especially now the country is transforming to a digital economy.
Huawei as a company believes that with continued support from the Government, ICT industry will continue to transform other sectors, said Mr. Frank Li, managing director of Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, in an interview with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, during the commissioning of Huawei Customer Solution Innovation & Integration Experience Centre in Lagos, recently.
e-Education
“Education, for example we saw a lot of teachers are limited by facilities at their disposal. Knowledge is out there they would want to share from others in developed economies, but it has not been easy for them.
This is part of reason we established innovation and experience centre in Lagos. The digital platform offers users connectivity to technologies and innovations across the globe.
This platform also enables the user to have first-hand practical know-how about their field and even exchange their own ideas, thought, visions and motivations with the outside world. Looking at some rural areas; the classrooms, it is not easy for our teachers to have access to sufficient resources.
“Now, with what Huawei is doing through cloud technology; as the programmes are packaged, they can remotely access the contents. In other words, they can remotely access the e-education and tap into the knowledge and better equip the students with the latest technology.
If we flash back to when President Muhammadu Buhari visited China, there are twenty students who have joined our e-education programme, telling the President their experiences. They were excited about the platform telling the President that at home-base it was impossible.
e-Health
“Also, in health sector, there are issues with the Doctors still attending to health matters in the ‘traditional’ way. It has not been easy for them. Thus, we are initiating an e-health programme so that one can remotely access health solutions. Presently, a patient will first visit the hospital, obtain a card and join a very long queue.
This can be transformed digitally, leveraging mobile phones to attend to health documents and other matters.
The interesting part of the solution we are bringing is that through video chat you can remotely book an appointment with the doctor, and not to presently be there to book.
This will increase efficiency and quality, reducing cost of services too. It will enable the government serve the people more efficiently. Huawei’s major focus is on building a better ecosystem for our clients, and mostly, offer quality services to the citizens of Nigeria while working with the Government.
Technologies and Business Transformation
“This is where the changes have occurred in tremendous ways. In the previous times, the GDP was rated based on the traditional industries’ contributions.
But, nowadays, the global connecting index (GCI) report shows that for every twenty per cent increase in the ICT industry leads to over one per cent increase in the GDP. We do see that ICT domain is globally driving the digital economy.
Before now, raising capital was the main focus for businesses, because it is critical in value creation. But today, capital would become of no effect without knowledge. Knowledge fertilizes capital for growth.
For example, our lives have changed since the advent of mobile internet. Yesteryears, we walk outside to flank down taxies, but look at what companies like Uber, jiji, are doing. With your smart mobile it got easy to book for a taxi through an app; sell and buy online, saving costs and time. This is the way the digital economy has totally changed our lives.
ICT for Agricultural Transformation
As typical example of how the ICT industry changes the whole system in Nigeria. There is this ‘direct project’ that connects the Galaxy Backbone and the datacentre for the Federal Government. If we focus on the farmers at the rural areas, again, we see they lack access to predictions about the future economy; the kind of period to farm or carry out their functions.
But with the kind of projects we are collaborating with the government, these challenges are getting solved. Suffice to say that ICTs have become business enablers; for government to become e-government.
Now, they can have the e-platform in rural areas for farmers to have access to the internet. That means, ICT tools create more job opportunities, values and enhance lives.
Our innovation and experience centre is also a response to the Nigerian government’s call on driving digital economy; therefore, we are assisting the government and out partners to create that ecosystem to build a better connected Nigeria. It will not be long for the initiatives to begin to yield even more results and grow the GDP.
Huawei and Government’s Collaboration to Better Lives of the Citizens
“To me, the government shouldn’t relent on working with Huawei and other partners to have better understand the principles of digital economy.
They shouldn’t discontinue in the quest to understand what is digital transformation, digital economy and the benefits.
Another thing is having the policy to encourage partner-companies to form an ecosystem, because Huawei cannot do it alone. For example, if such policy to encourage more enterprise to embrace the technologies we have, then more private and public organisation will open their doors to more innovations.
Skills Development
“Talent is also key in this industry. We believe that government can open more channels to develop the ecosystem.
Huawei believes that the innovation centre we launched will go along way to showcase the technology we have to as many as would want to improve on their skills.
We are focused on practical realities. That is why we are partnering with universities like the University of Lagos (Unilag).
With government’s support, we have more programmes to train ICT-inclined individuals for skills development in the industry. In this transformation time, the sector needs more time and support to rave up the economy”.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has explained why kidnappers and terrorists are not always traceable despite the country’s expanding digital identity infrastructure.
NIMC explanation pointed to a simple but significant gap in the system.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director-general of the agency said that: “A lot of the time, you find out the kidnappers use the phones of the people they have abducted, which means how do you trace them because they are not using their own phones?” she said.
Coker-Odusote spoke during an appearance on Channels Television, where she was asked to explain why criminals remain difficult to trace despite the mandatory NIN-SIM linkage policy.
She said criminals frequently frustrate investigations by using mobile phones belonging to their victims, instead of their own registered lines.
“We already know the NIN is the foundational identity for the security architecture, but a lot of the time, you find out the kidnappers use the phones of the people they have abducted. Which means, how do you trace them because they are not using their own phones?” she said.
She also suggested that some criminal elements involved in kidnapping operations may not even be captured in Nigeria’s identity database.
“There is a theory that it may be possible that these kidnappers are not Nigerians and are brought into the country 48 or 72 hours before a kidnapping takes place specifically for that purpose. I’m not insinuating anything, but if that were the case, they naturally would not be captured in our database,” she added.
The comments have revived questions about whether expectations placed on the NIN-SIM linkage have exceeded what the system was designed to deliver.
The NIN-SIM linkage exercise was introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in collaboration with NIMC to strengthen identity management, eliminate anonymous SIM ownership and support national security.
Over the years, the exercise resulted in millions of subscribers linking their SIM cards with their National Identification Numbers, while telecom operators also deactivated millions of lines that failed to comply with regulatory directives.
Earlier, the NCC maintained that the policy was aimed at improving the integrity of Nigeria’s SIM registration database, strengthening identity verification and supporting security agencies in criminal investigations.
The regulator also described the exercise as an important component of the country’s digital economy and national security framework.
Telecommunications operators have consistently maintained that while they play a critical role in implementing the NIN-SIM linkage policy, they are not responsible for tracking criminals.
Quest Merchant Bank recently hosted the second edition of the Great Place to Work® Nigeria Study Mission, reaffirming its commitment to fostering a high-performance workplace culture and advancing people-centric leadership practices.
The Study Mission serves as a collaborative learning platform that brings together Great Place to Work® Certified organizations to exchange insights, share best practices, and strengthen workplace cultures.
The event welcomed Human Resources leaders and representatives from FITC, Princeps Credit Systems, Tonic Technologies and Esentry Limited for an engaging and insightful session focused on building thriving workplace cultures, promoting continuous learning, and advancing employee-centric practices that drive organizational success.
Speaking at the event, Tolulope Dayo-Peters, Head of People Management, emphasized the importance of continuous learning and collaboration in building sustainable workplace cultures.
“We are delighted to host the second edition of the Great Place to Work® Nigeria Study Mission. At Quest Merchant Bank, we believe building a great workplace is an ongoing journey rooted in trust, purposeful leadership, and a genuine commitment to our people.
“We are pleased to share the practices that have shaped our culture and look forward to more opportunities to learn and collaborate with like-minded organizations.”
Also speaking at the event, Afolabi Olorode, Acting Managing Director/CEO, Quest Merchant Bank Limited, highlighted the critical role workplace culture plays in driving long-term business success.
“We recognize that a strong workplace culture is fundamental to sustainable business success. Creating an environment where our people are empowered to grow, innovate, and perform at their best enables us to consistently deliver value to our clients and stakeholders. We are proud to support initiatives like the Great Place to Work® Nigeria Study Mission that encourage organizations to learn from one another and collectively raise the standard of workplace excellence in Nigeria.”
The Study Mission reinforced the importance of collaboration among organizations committed to creating exceptional employee experiences.
By providing a platform for open dialogue, peer learning, and the exchange of practical ideas, the initiative enabled participants to explore innovative approaches to employee engagement, organizational culture, leadership development, and talent management while strengthening a growing community of employers dedicated to workplace excellence.
Hosting the Great Place to Work® Nigeria Study Mission further strengthens Quest Merchant Bank’s position as a thought leader in workplace culture and talent management.
It also enhances the Bank’s employer brand and demonstrates its unwavering commitment to creating an environment where employees can grow, innovate, and achieve their full potential.
Quest Merchant Bank remains committed to championing initiatives that promote learning, innovation, and people-centric leadership. Through strategic partnerships and knowledge-sharing platforms such as the Great Place to Work® Nigeria Study Mission, the Bank continues to contribute to the advancement of exceptional workplace cultures and the future of work across Nigeria’s corporate landscape.
Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) has warned of possible floods in parts of Adamawa, Bauchi, Edo, Imo, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Benue, and Borno states within the next seven days.
According to information posted on NIHSA X handle, the Agency announced medium flood advisory in force for the next 7 days across Adamawa, Bauchi, and 11 other States.
“Localised inundation is forecast along the main channel; named communities below sit on the projected footprint. Stations: Saminara on the Karam river, Waya Dam Site on the Waya river, Amber on the Amber river.
“Adamawa; Lemsa, Lamurde, Numan Exposure: 147 comm. 49 schis 40 hith 6 mkts17 relig. Bauchi-Bauchi, Ningi, Shira. Exposure: 4 comm. Kaduna; Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kaura, Kauru, +6 more. Exposure: 1 comm.
“Borno-Gubio, Mobbar. Exposure: 680 comm. 8 schls 6 hith 5 mkts 21 relig. Edo-Akoko-Ed, EtsakoEa, EtsakoWe, Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmw, OviaNort, OviaSo.. Exposure: 3 comm.
“Imo-Aboh-Mba, Oguta, Ohaji/Eg, Okigwe, Owerri North, Owerri West. Exposure: 3 comm. 7 more states affected and severity LGAs”.
NIHSA advised people in the affected areas to “do NOT cross flooded roads, bridges, or fast-moving water on foot or by vehicle.
“Clear drainage channels and river-mouth blockages; avoid building or living in the floodplain and move people, livestock and valuables from the floodplain to pre-identified higher ground,” NIHSA stated.
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