Telecom
Humanitarian Aid is as Close as Your Phone
The need for connectivity in crises hasn’t gone unnoticed by aid workers There are more than 60 million people in the world today who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and armed conflict. Images of refugees arriving on the shores of Europe have become a grim reality of our 24-hour news cycle.
But instead of reaching out for food or medical attention, they got their mobile phones and began waving them toward the sky, desperately searching for a wireless signal.
We shouldn’t have been shocked. While it’s certainly true that ‘you can’t eat a phone’, mobile connectivity is rapidly becoming both an essential tool of personal empowerment and a catalyst for sustainable global development.
In fact, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, agreed to by all 193 member states of the United Nations, recognised that “global connectivity and information and communication technologies (ICTs) hold great potential for human progress”.
Headlines such as ‘Smartphones bring solace and aid to desperate refugees’ (WIRED) and ‘For refugees smartphones are a lifeline, not a toy’ (CBC News) gives clear recognition of their value.
And this need for connectivity by those fighting for their own survival, hasn’t gone unnoticed by aid agencies and workers who deal with the consequences of humanitarian crises on a daily basis.
Oxfam reports that they use ICTs to deliver life-saving services to those in need in the majority of the countries where they work.
ICTs allow aid workers to increase their immediate impact, broaden their reach, reduce costs and increase speed, responsiveness and accountability – and it is the reason many aid agencies are setting up WiFi networks and distributing SIM cards almost as quickly as they’re distributing food and water.
The need to find new and innovative solutions to providing humanitarian aid, such as those deployed by frontline aid agencies including Oxfam, the World Food Programme (WFP) and UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), is one of the principle reasons that the UN will convene a World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on May 23-24.
The summit has specified three main goals:
To re-inspire and reinvigorate a commitment to humanity and to the universality of humanitarian principles.
To initiate a set of concrete actions and commitments aimed at enabling countries and communities to better prepare for and respond to crises, and be resilient to shocks.
To share best practices that can help save lives around the world, put affected people at the centre of humanitarian action and alleviate suffering.
The ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development is lending its support to these goals by urging summit delegates to recognise that humanitarian challenges can be more effectively addressed by fully harnessing ICTs.
This will require a global roll-out of broadband infrastructure (including mobile and satellite) with relevant applications and services, and the right skills to drive development and enhance humanitarian work around the world.
The Broadband Commission is calling for the summit to make the most of the potential of ICTs as enablers for development; to enhance planning processes for broadband infrastructure so that ICTs and broadband can help improve and facilitate disaster response and prevention; and to develop capacities and relevant content ahead of time, especially for youth.
Additionally, as the UN specialised agency for ICTs, ITU has made specific commitments to support the World Humanitarian Summit. These include:
Achieving the Sendai Framework target to increase people’s access to multi-hazard early warning systems, and disaster risk information and assessments by 2030, through initiatives like the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems.
Investing in national early warning capacity in a disciplined manner that leverages global and regional support structures, is cost-effective, reaches the last mile, and engages the private sector.
Consolidating data in open and accessible databases to guide the efforts of actors nationally, regionally and globally, and generate common analysis of the most pressing risks.
Making the private sector an integral part of all natural disaster response and recovery planning, and to promote business continuity.
Ensuring all critical infrastructure investments is risk informed, and aligned with national preparedness planning and policies.
Joining a new coalition to strengthen the resilience of 1 billion people by 2025.
A mobile phone may never replace food and water as the first priorities for human survival but there is no doubt that ICTs save lives. And as we become more connected, ICTs will only become more invaluable when a crisis threatens our very existence.
The original version of this article appeared in the Thompson Reuters Foundation blog.
Gary-Fowlie (@Sask2NY) is the Head of the ITU Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York, where he actively promotes ICTs as a tool of empowerment and development.
Telecom
VDT Communications Achieves Two Prestigious Certifications ISO /IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27032:2023 Reinforcing its Leadership in Broadband Service Provision
VDT Communications Limited, a provider of Enterprise communication solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management System (ISMS) and ISO/IEC 27032:2023 Cybersecurity Management System certifications.
These prestigious certifications demonstrate VDT’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security and cybersecurity, ensuring the protection of sensitive customer data and maintaining the trust of its clients.
These certifications are a testament to VDT’s dedication to implementing robust information security and cybersecurity measures, aligning with international best practices.
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification recognizes VDT’s ability to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve its ISMS, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of customer information. The ISO/IEC 27032:2023 certification highlights its commitment to protecting its customers’ information assets and preventing Cyber threats.
VDT Communications Limited has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, previously earning and maintaining ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and ISO 20000-1:2018 IT Service Management certifications. These certifications have enabled the company to deliver high-quality services, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
“We are thrilled to receive these two prestigious certifications, which reinforce our commitment to information security and cybersecurity. These certifications demonstrate our dedication to implementing robust security measures that ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer data” said Engr. Abiodun Omoniyi, GMD of VDT Communications Limited.
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27032:2023 certifications bring numerous benefits to VDT’s customers, including:
- Enhanced information security and cybersecurity posture
- Protection of sensitive customer data
- Compliance with international standards and regulations
- Improved risk management and incident response
- Increased trust and confidence in VDT’s services
“We are proud to serve our customers with the highest level of security and quality,” Bimbo Ikumariegbe, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of VDT. “These certifications demonstrate our commitment to excellence and our dedication to delivering innovative communication solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers” – Olufemi Akinola, Head, Information Technology.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued a stern warning to content creators filming and sharing videos of unsuspecting citizens on social media, describing such practices as direct violations of citizens’ rights to informational self-determination.
NDPC
The Commission drew attention to individuals capturing pictures and footage of the general public without consent, breaching Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act).
NDPC specifically flagged a content creator in Lagos State who films unsuspecting passersby at roadsides for a “reality show”. The Commission stressed that processing personal images in this manner demands explicit consent or a justifiable lawful basis under the NDP Act.
Preliminary investigations revealed no public or legitimate interest served by this “wilful invasion of privacy”. Data subjects, the Commission noted, have no reasonable expectation that their images would be captured and broadcast globally by an unknown individual.
National Commissioner/CEO Dr Vincent Olatunji has instructed social media platform owners—including TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta—to intensify enforcement of community guidelines to prevent harm from unlawful and unfair personal data processing.
Platforms failing to act promptly face sanctions under the NDP Act. Individual creators remain personally liable for violations, potentially facing criminal prosecution for infringing citizens’ and data subjects’ privacy rights.
The advisory was signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, Esq. CDPRP, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations.
NDPC emphasised that abuse of rights under the guise of entertainment will not be tolerated, urging compliance to safeguard Nigerians’ data privacy in the digital age.
In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, Techeconomy, a leading business news platform in Nigeria, has unveiled its “100 Women Shaping the Future: Techeconomy Power List 2026,” recognizing exceptional women driving innovation, leadership, and impact across technology and the broader digital economy.
Techeconomy
The annual recognition spotlights women who are transforming industries through entrepreneurship, policy leadership, digital innovation, financial inclusion, media, education, and emerging technologies.
The initiative is part of Techeconomy’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and highlighting female leadership shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem.
The Techeconomy IWD Power List features a diverse group of women, from corporate executives and startup founders to policymakers, ecosystem builders, and social innovators, whose work continues to influence the future of technology, business, and digital transformation in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking on the initiative, Joan Aimuengheuwa, the Managing Editor at Techeconomy, noted that the recognition goes beyond celebrating titles, focusing instead on impact, resilience, and the ability to shape the future through innovation and leadership.
According to her, “the women on the list represent different sectors including fintech, banking, healthcare, agriculture, education, communications, and the creative economy, demonstrating the growing role of women in advancing technology-driven development.
The unveiling aligns with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, which highlights the achievements of women and calls for accelerated progress toward gender equality. Across the world, the technology sector continues to push for greater female representation and leadership as part of efforts to build more inclusive digital economies.
Also speaking, Oluwatosin Aloba, the Brand Manager at Techeconomy, said: “Techeconomy IWD 2026 Power List is specially designed to inspire the next generation of female innovators and leaders by showcasing role models who are breaking barriers and redefining possibilities in the technology landscape.
“Techeconomy encouraged industry stakeholders, institutions, and the broader public to celebrate the achievements of these women while continuing to support policies, programs, and investments that expand opportunities for women in technology”, she added.
The full list of the “100 Women Shaping the Future: Techeconomy Power List 2026” is available on the Techeconomy website or visit: https://techeconomy.ng/techeconomy-iwd-2026-power-list-celebrates-100-women-shaping-the-future-of-tech/.
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