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IBM, MTN Deploy IoT Technology to Save Africa’s Rhinos

Ahead of World Rhino Day 2017 this week, IBM; MTN, a leading African telecommunications provider; Wageningen University (WU) in the Netherlands and Prodapt, on Tuesday announced they are harnessing IBM Internet of Things (IoT) technology as part of the MTN Connected Wildlife Solution.
The solution will help predict threats and combat the poaching of endangered rhinos at Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa, with the intent to expand the solution to other reserves in future.
Today South Africa is home to more than 70 percent of the world’s remaining rhino population. Conservationists are battling to protect the dwindling number of these iconic animals that are being killed for their highly-prized horns*.
Over the past decade, more than 7,000 rhinos were killed across the African continent and in 2016, 1,054 were reported killed in South Africa alone.
“One of our primary objectives is to protect wildlife, especially endangered species. We were looking for a solution that would help us better understand possible threats and weed out those coming from poachers so we can react ahead of time and prevent harm to animals,” said Bradley Schroder, chief executive officer of Welgevonden Game Reserve. “This project will be a profound breakthrough in the creation of connected wildlife solutions, a wildlife management concept that aims to harness IoT technology to better manage and protect wildlife and other assets.”
This new predictive capability stems from research performed by Wageningen University. Ranked the best university in the Netherlands for 12 straight years, the university features an animal sciences group focused on research and education related to the health and welfare of animals and people.
According to research conducted on Welgevonden Game Reserve, prey-animals in the wild react in different ways, depending on the type of threat they encounter and the perceived danger from predators such as lion and leopard or the presence of people in the vicinity.
This research has been combined with MTN’s Connected Wildlife Solution which leverages IBM’s IoT technology and the university’s predictive analytics, to create an innovative solution that gives game reserves a powerful new tool in the fight to save endangered species.
Protecting the rhinos begins with fitting collars containing custom sensors onto prey-animals including zebra, wildebeest, eland and impala, which will transmit data about their behavior to the IoT platform.
The data collected from the LoRa sensors is communicated via the LoRa WAN Network Server (LRSC – Long Range Signal & Control) and backhauled over the MTN 3G/4G network.
Through the platform, the solution collects animal location information, movement, direction and average speed of travel, along with other data.
The data is used by Wageningen University to create approximately 20 rule-based patterns based on the animals’ response to threats. As a result, animals such as zebra will act as sentinels with their response patterns becoming an early warning system to protect the rhinos.
The predictive nature of this solution takes away the reliance on game reserve teams to be in the right place at the right time, or to respond to events, such as the distant sound of gunfire; and the teams can take proactive action that keeps rhinos safe.
“Over the years, we have seen that animal tracking technology has been used reactively in game reserves. Welgevonden needed a more proactive solution to take the fight to protect the rhinos further. With the solution designed for Welgevonden, MTN, along with our partners, can better predict and anticipate potential poaching activity. This allows the ranger to take pre-emptive action before any threat happens,” said Mariana Kruger, general manager at MTN Business.
Welgevonden Game Reserve was chosen for its specialist wildlife management expertise, its well-known research and development capabilities as well as its excellent reputation in rhino protection. “Welgevonden is one of the best managed game reserves in the world and we need such skills to ensure the success of a project of this nature,” said Prof Herbert Prins of Wageningen University.
“The Internet of Things is changing the way we live and work, and we are finding new applications for IBM’s IoT technologies in businesses across the spectrum. Now we’re helping curb rhino poaching and preserve endangered species on the African continent.” says Hamilton Ratshefola, country general manager for IBM South Africa. “IBM’s IoT solutions enable businesses to solve industry specific problems and transform their companies and industries.”
MTN is an emerging innovator in the Internet of Things, with hundreds of clients across 22 countries. MTN is building an ecosystem of vertical partners and an ecosystem of over 3 million active M2M connections. Together these connected devices, sensors and systems provide insight whilst solving real business challenges around the continent.
IBM’s IoT technology features powerful cognitive computing capabilities that don’t merely gather and predict but truly understand the patterns and relationships in the massive amounts of data being collected by the sensors in field.
Today, IBM is an established leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) with more than 6,000 client engagements in 170 countries, a growing ecosystem of over 1,400 partners and more 750 IoT patents which together help to draw actionable insight from billions of connected devices, sensors and systems around the world.
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ARCON to Tackle Digital, Recommits to Ethical Standards

Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has declared its full readiness to confront emerging challenges in the country’s dynamic advertising landscape—particularly those arising from digital media proliferation and unregulated content distribution.
Speaking at the 2025 Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Stakeholders Forum held recently in Lagos, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, director general, ARCON, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to upholding ethical advertising standards and protecting public interest, especially in an era where virtually everyone has become a content creator.
“The digital economy has become massive, and the boundaries are no longer defined by geography. Ensuring compliance in this space is one of our greatest regulatory hurdles,” he said.
Responding to criticisms that ARCON and the ASP may be stifling creativity, Fadolapo insisted that regulation does not equate to censorship but rather ensures alignment with national values and cultural sensitivities.
“Creativity is vast and fluid, but it must be exercised within the limits of the law and ethical standards. We won’t allow so-called creativity to ignite social unrest or breach advertising codes,” he noted, citing examples where ads had violated laws under the guise of creative license.
Earlier in his presentation, Dr. Emmanuel Agu, chairman of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), Nigeria’s statutory body for advertisement vetting and regulatory compliance, reaffirmed the panel’s commitment to upholding ethical advertising standards and protecting public interest, especially in an era where virtually everyone has become a content creator.
“The Panel is aware of the challenges that confront it and is taking deliberate steps to address them,” Dr. Agu said. “We are not oblivious to the current advertising realities, including the increasing volume of digital content and the corresponding need for rapid vetting processes.”
Dr. Agu acknowledged that the digital boom and content decentralization have complicated ASP’s regulatory mandate, with social media platforms now flooded with promotional materials that often evade proper scrutiny.
He warned that misleading product claims, unverified influencer content, and the inappropriate use of minors in advertising are among the most pressing concerns currently facing the panel.
“We’ve observed an increase in digital content disguised as entertainment that essentially functions as unvetted advertising. This undermines consumer trust and can negatively affect public morality,” he stated.
Dr. Agu was unequivocal in stressing that all promotional content, regardless of format or platform, must be vetted by ASP before public exposure.
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NGX Group Chairman Seeks Regional Collaboration to Unlock West Africa’s Trade, Investment Potential

Umaru Kwairanga, chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), has called for stronger regional cooperation to harness the untapped potential of West Africa’s trade and commodity markets.
Speaking at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025 held under the theme “Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region”, Kwairanga highlighted the critical role of capital markets and commodity exchanges in transforming the region’s abundant natural resources into organised, transparent capital that fuels industrialisation and inclusive economic growth.
The summit brought together key stakeholders from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for accelerating regional integration, strengthening capital markets, and unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade.
In his remarks during a high-level panel on “Commodities as Capital: Regional Commodities Exchange & Reserves”, Kwairanga noted that despite West Africa’s wealth of raw materials, the region continues to face a paradox of resource abundance coexisting with capital scarcity.
“As a nation and region, we are abundantly rich in raw materials, but often poor in capital outcomes. This paradox is not due to a lack of resources, but due to the way these resources have historically been excluded from structured financial ecosystems.
Commodities, whether agricultural, mineral, or energy, must be seen not just as tradeable goods, but as investable assets capable of powering industrialisation, job creation, and macroeconomic stability,” he said.
Kwairanga emphasised NGX Group’s commitment to building resilient market infrastructure that supports price discovery, clearing, settlement, and investor protection, systems that can underpin thriving regional commodity markets.
He highlighted NGX Group’s role in mobilising capital for commodity value chains through IPOs, bonds, and structured funds, citing the success of NGX-listed companies like Presco and Okomu Oil as models for attracting long-term investment.
On the question of regional versus national commodity exchanges, Dr. Kwairanga advocated for a dual approach that combines the strengths of national platforms with the scale and integration benefits of regional frameworks.
“National exchanges address local needs and build depth, but for West Africa to unlock the full potential of commodity trade, we must connect these markets under a regional structure.
“Regulatory harmonisation will be key, and this is where NGX Group’s experience in governance, coupled with platforms like the African Exchanges Linkage Project and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, can help align standards and enable seamless cross-border transactions,” he stated.
Addressing liquidity challenges, Kwairanga outlined the need for harmonised rules, trustworthy infrastructure, product innovation, and incentives to drive participation. He called for public-private partnerships and regional integration to deepen market liquidity and ensure efficient price discovery.
Beyond the panel discussions, Kwairanga commended the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, for spearheading the summit. “There is power in unity and prestige in size. The great economic powerhouses of the 21st century, such as the United States and China, have risen to prominence partly because of the scale of their markets.
A united West Africa can achieve the same if we work together on initiatives like this,” he said, expressing optimism that the summit would produce actionable frameworks to reduce trade barriers, encourage regional investment, and fast-track economic growth across ECOWAS.
NGX Group, he added, remains committed to supporting cross-border investments, citing its participation in the African Exchanges Linkage Project and the increasing regional footprint of NGX-listed companies such as Dangote Cement, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, and Ecobank.
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DBN Awards N13m in Grants to Tech Startups

Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has awarded a total of N13 million in grants to three standout tech startups at the 2025 Techpreneur Summit held in Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and inclusive growth among Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The winners include: BuyScrap, a digital marketplace for recyclable materials – N6 million; Qiqi Farms, which connects local farmers to hospitality and export markets – N4 million; Eco-Cyclers, a youth-led recycling initiative based in Enugu – N3 million
Alongside the grant awards, DBN also launched a new digital data asset, a first-of-its-kind platform aimed at enabling data-driven decisions within the MSME ecosystem.
The platform offers deep insights into business trends, sector-specific challenges, and growth opportunities—supporting smarter policymaking and targeted investments.
In his keynote address in Lagos, Tony Okpanachi, managing director/ CEO, DBN, described the event’s theme, “CTRL + SHIFT: Tech Empowered Movement for Naija,” as a strategic call to reimagine enterprise development in Nigeria.
“This isn’t just a keyboard shortcut,” he said. “It’s a mindset reset—powered by technology—to build a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient business landscape. From financing to innovation, DBN remains committed to enabling MSMEs to thrive.”
Okpanachi emphasized that the Summit aligns with DBN’s AMPLIFI Strategy, which integrates digital transformation, sustainability, and scalability into its core programs.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Digital Shift Workshops and the Eco-Innovation Challenge as key steps toward embedding innovation in Nigeria’s MSME sector.
Encouraging young innovators, he added: “The future belongs to those bold enough to imagine and build it. DBN is proud to support the ideas that will shape tomorrow.”
A major highlight was the unveiling of the DBN Data Asset—a digital platform designed to provide real-time, evidence-based insights into Nigeria’s MSME landscape.
The platform combines DBN’s proprietary data with external sources like the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to offer a comprehensive view of MSME performance by region and sector.
Jeremy Dan Okayi, DBN’s Head of Strategy, Policy & Innovation, described the platform as: “A reservoir of insight, potential, and direction—built on two years of collaboration and shared vision. This tool will support informed decision-making across the public and private sectors.”
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