E-Business
IBM SmartCamps Initiative for African IT Entrepreneurs Begins

The IBM SmartCamps program which kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya this week will begin in Lagos tomorrow, as part of IBM’s Global Entrepreneur initiative, designed to stimulate innovation and build skills for a Smarter Planet.
Charles Olumuyiwa Moyela, external relations leader for IBM West Africa told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that, the programme has gained more than 50 partners since being launched three years ago, “proving that Africa’s start-up ecosystem is flourishing”.
He highlighted the impact of these entrepreneurs as transformative, for businesses and everyday citizens alike.
Olumuyiwa said: “One of Kenya’s most famous start-ups – MoDe, named IBM’s Global Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 – delivers microcredit to prepaid phones when Africans most need it. Today MoDe is adding credit lines and liquidity to Africa’s mobile payments ecosystem, expected to be worth more than $160bn by 2016.
“Take your startup to the next level. If you’re a privately-held, early-stage tech startup less than five years old, we want to team with you to help you change the world and build a Smarter Planet.
“Beat the odds. Most tech startups fail. But with 600+ expert mentors and an IBM Relationship Manager to give you one-on one advice, you’ll have the support you need to succeed.
“Get access to 300+ top venture capital firms while keeping infrastructure costs down on free IBM software
“Tap into new markets with IBM’s vast global network of 100,000+ IBM sellers and Business Partners. Get the chance to participate in IBM SmartCamp competitions”.
He added that this year’s winner in Africa will claim a position in the regional finals of IBM’s Global Entrepreneur of the Year competition, pitching their unique technology business idea to a panel of industry experts.
Speaking further, Olumuyiwa shared reasons startups need to join IBM Global Entrepreneur to include; provision of support and resource in the areas participants and startup need most: software, expertise, and promotion.
He said, ““No-charge Software: Access a variety of IBM software for development, test, and demonstration through the IBM Software Access Catalogue at no charge for up to 3 years.
“Software through the cloud: Access security-rich, enterprise-class virtual server environments that are well-suited for development, test and other activities. There’s no charge to open your account, and you can pay as you go.
“Events to help you succeed: Participate in exclusive SmartCamp events held around the world. Connect with venture capitalists, corporate executives, local investors, and serial entrepreneurs.
“IBM relationship manager: Get support from an IBM relationship manager for one-to-one guidance through all stages of your project development. IBM will assign a manager to you when you are accepted into IBM Global Entrepreneur.
“Exposure for your company: Promote your startup and showcase your solutions. View the latest entrepreneur solutions in the Global Solutions Directory.
“SmartCamp with Tech4Africa: By registering to join this exciting entrepreneurial programme, startups can also be selected to participate in one of the prestigious IBM SmartCamp events with Tech4Africa! IBM is the proud Entrepreneur Partner of Tech4Africa 2014”.
The Lagos SmartCamps event is scheduled for Friday, 18th July 2014 at the IBM Client & Innovation Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
E-Business
Galaxy Backbone Celebrates the Federal Government’s Paperless Civil Service Milestone

Galaxy Backbone (GBB) aligns with and celebrates the successful announcement by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the achievement of a Paperless Civil Service, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s public sector reform and digital transformation agenda.

The milestone was formally highlighted at a press briefing led by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who commended Galaxy Backbone for its sustained support and contribution throughout the implementation of the programme.
GBB has played a critical role in enabling this transition by providing secure, scalable, and shared digital infrastructure that supports the digitisation of government processes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Through the 1Government Cloud, MDAs have been empowered to migrate from paper-based workflows to digital platforms, improving efficiency, collaboration, data security, and service delivery across the Federal Civil Service.
In addition, GovMail, GBB’s secure government email platform, has strengthened official communication, enhanced records management, and reinforced cybersecurity standards—key pillars in sustaining a paperless operating environment.
Galaxy Backbone acknowledges the collective efforts of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of ICT, consultants, partners, and dedicated public servants whose commitment and collaboration ensured the smooth delivery of this initiative.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, was represented at the press briefing by Akintayo Bamisaye, Acting Group Head, Research, Digital Innovation and Skills Department (RDIS).
GBB describes the achievement as a strong close to 2025 and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Federal Government in building a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled public service.
E-Business
Jumia CEO says Black Friday Signals Nigeria’s E-Commerce Maturity

At the close of 2025, Temidayo Ojo, the CEO of Jumia Nigeria, reflected on a year-end shopping season that points to the growing maturity of the country’s e-commerce market. “Black Friday is no longer a single, short-lived spike in activity,” he said.

“It has become a familiar, anticipated moment in the retail calendar, where consumers shop deliberately and with confidence.”
Preliminary KPIs for the two months ended November 30, 2025, show strong year-on-year growth in both orders and Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), with GMV growth outpacing order growth. This indicates that customers are placing fuller, more considered baskets rather than shopping in fragmented transactions. Nigeria ranked among Jumia Group’s better-performing markets, with engagement remaining steady throughout the Black Friday period rather than spiking briefly and tapering off.
A key factor behind this performance is the growing familiarity of consumers with online shopping. Customers are increasingly leveraging platform features such as saved carts, brand stores, and price comparison tools to plan purchases in advance. This trend suggests that digital commerce is becoming embedded in everyday habits rather than being viewed as a one-off event.
Ojo also highlighted the role of Jumia’s JForce network in connecting digital commerce to local communities. “Our agents are critical to ensuring that customers across Nigeria, including secondary cities and smaller communities, have access to variety, consistent pricing, and reliable delivery,” he said. “During peak periods like Black Friday, JForce agents can respond faster, serve more customers efficiently, and build stronger local relationships. This isn’t just a distribution channel—it’s a pathway to sustainable income and inclusion.”
Reflecting on the overall performance, the CEO concluded: “What we’re seeing this year-end is steady engagement across categories, stronger consumer confidence, and partners like our JForce agents benefiting from increased activity.
“It confirms that Nigeria’s e-commerce ecosystem is maturing, growing in a more structured and resilient way. As the December Holiday Sale continues, we expect these patterns of familiarity, trust, and participation to sustain momentum and drive both commerce and community impact across the country.”
E-Business
Galaxy Backbone Tops FG’s Website Performance Ranking

Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has been ranked first overall in the 2025 Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard.

This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy.
The ranking, conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), is the definitive benchmark for digital excellence and transparency across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, managing director and CEO of Galaxy Backbone, received the award during a ceremony in Abuja.
He described the feat as a validation of the agency’s“Nigeria First”data sovereignty strategy and its relentless pursuit of service excellence.
This recognition comes as the Federal Government intensifies its push to achieve a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025.
GBB has been the primary architect of this transition through its 1Gov Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform, which now hosts the operations of almost all federal MDAs.
The award adds to a growing list of accolades for Galaxy Backbone in 2025, following its recent win of the “International Standard Excellence Award for Best IT Service Provider.”
As the central hub for government shared services, GBB’s performance serves as a blueprint for other agencies currently undergoing digital transformation.
With its expanded fiber-optic backbone now covering over 13 states and its secure cloud solutions, Galaxy Backbone remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s vision to become a leading digital nation by the end of the decade.
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