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ICT Key to Nigeria’s Economic Development-Orlando

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Orlando Olumide Odejide, CEO of G4V
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Orlando Olumide Odejide is the CEO of G4V, a leading business consulting, system integration, training and capacity building services company.
Odejide has over a decade experience as an IT professional and as a project Manager. He has worked with reputable companies in Nigeria, in the United Kingdom and some part of America. He spoke to funmi ilesanmi on a wide range of issues.

Overview of Operations
The name of our company is called Global Foresight Advantage. We call it G4 really because that is easier us and for people to pronounce and what that means is that foresight gives us an advantage globally. As at today, we operate in three African countries, hopefully by the end of 2010, we would be in about six or seven African countries.
Three key things that G4 does is; one, we do what is called business consulting, the second is what is called system integration and the third is training and capacity building services. When we say business consulting, what that means is that we help clients look at their businesses and optimize their processes, so process optimization is an essential part of it. We help clients develop unbalanced score cards, make measurements for their business and we help them look at key areas of process improvement and things like that. So when we say systems integration, we are Microsoft Gold Partners with competencies in advanced infrastructure, licensing, information web postulations and we are also Cisco Partners with specialization in security and data centre. We train various people and corporate organizations primarily on various solutions and technologies. As an organization, we have 60 consultants working in Lagos, Abuja, Duala and in Accra, Ghana.
Relationship with Allied Computers
G4V is a part of the Allied Group; Allied Computers is also a part of that same group.
Software Development in Nigeria   
The business of software development in Nigeria is a market that has existed before hand and is getting better as the days go by. The needs of a lot of clients’ businesses in Nigeria both in the banking and telecommunications sectors are significantly improving and becoming much more complex so they do not need generic software anymore. They need extensions and customization for the generic software, that is where I see the growth part in the industry. Also, the key area is around business historical data but now they need to be able to mine the data to get a lot of intelligence out of it, so in the software development business, we would see a significant growth as the years go by.
Virtualization
Virtualization is key. You need to understand it and go with it, take advantage of it now or you would be left behind because virtualization allows you to completely maximize your resources, reduce your cost and increase your capacity as an organization.
Developing the Economy with ICT
IT is about the improvement of businesses. IT helps businesses to be more effective and more efficient at what they do. The growth of any economy at all has to be completely dependent on IT to improve and increase their productivity. It means it would grow and our economy in Nigeria is very much dependent on it. When you look from the hospitality sector to the financial services, to telecommunications and to manufacturing, the dependency of IT is there. The more these businesses want to grow and expand, the more their dependence on IT increases. Both of them go hand-in-hand and the business becomes completely dependent on IT.
Impact of Relationship with Microsoft
Like I said, we are Microsoft’s Gold partner with about five different competencies in that area, so because of that, Microsoft has been extremely supportive of us and the various initiatives we have embarked upon over the last couple of years. From marketing initiative, advertising initiative to the ability to create value added technologies to some of our clients. Microsoft has been supportive in terms of that and the Microsoft Blue Coast strategy is a working strategy, Microsoft support its partners and we are the recipient of one of such support.
Microsoft Nigeria Country Manager Leadership Award 
The award means a lot to us. For one, it is a recognition of the goodwork and the hardwork we have put into all the things that we have been doing.  Prior to that, from the perspective of us been able to further drive our value proposition with our clients, Microsoft basic core business that we do as an organization to promote the certified goal of the organization who are all Microsoft certified so it is an essential part of our strategy.
Prediction of IT in Nigeria
It will get some significant growth I can guarantee you and one of the good things I know would happen rapidly is our ability to export IT out of the country so we will be able to export resources, export capabilities out of Nigeria into other countries, especially all the African countries. It is a major economic growth factor and it will just keep getting better.
Manpower
An essential part of what we do is training and capacity development because the people locally need skills and they need capabilities and that is what it is that we are also doing to be able to build those skills; not only in terms of certifications but giving our people the right capabilities to do whatever it is they need to do. It is an essential part of what will happen and we are in a position to help Nigeria as a nation with the development of its workforce.
Challenges 
The major challenge in the environment is purely infrastructure. Infrastructure can be termed as: number one, power and obviously the absence of broadband which will happen in the next 12 to 24 months to guarantee very available broadband access. Primarily, it is the absence of power because you know everybody, the telcos, the service providers, everybody is completely dependent on power and that is the major hinderance to the development and growth of IT in Nigeria.
Impact of the Meltdown on G4V
The global meltdown has affected everybody. Before we started this interview, one of our business partners came in and he was saying and you know and everything was at a halt. So you know that has been difficult but nevertheless we will survive and we will not only survive, we’ve thrived even in a recession and we have been able to reposition better to do integrated things in years to come.

Support rendered to clients
We have looked at dedicated support plans for various technologies and solutions that we sell to our clients. From the data centre perspective, we help a lot of our clients with data centre implementation and optimization. Outside of the data centre area of work, we help a lot of our clients also with intranet development and software development and also messaging, collaboration and unified communication. We have great dedicated support staff and we have a very dedicated service desk for all the solutions.
Corporate Social Responsibility
One of the things that we do as a way of giving back to the society is working with the government and educational institutions, basically to facilitate initiatives and to actually go into training their people at no cost on process optimization and the use of technology to better equip their businesses and their organizations. It is one of the key things that we are heavily involved in.
Regulation of the software industry
There is a combination of things that needs to be done and it is a joint effort between we technology partners and technology providers like Microsoft and Cisco and established institutions like Coren and software, and builders computer association to be able to step down, have some form of discussion with regards to software standards, development standards, technology standards and how these things can be adopted locally. It is not what someone can do alone; it will have to take a joint effort.
Locally manufactured software 
Locally manufactured are the software and a lot of them have come a long way. We have more than 10 locally manufactured software that have been in business for more than 10 to 15 years. I think it has come a long way and I think it’s a good thing. I encourage a lot of them to get the ISS certification for their software and to actually start making exportation of these software to other African countries.
Supporting local software manufacturers 
From the support perspective, I think the key thing that can be done is basically for the government to give them rebate in terms of tax rebate, in terms of investors’ solutions rebate and support to help them to actually standardize their supply and put them in a position to be able to export it for the good of themselves and the nation in general.
G4V in the next five years   
In another five years, we will definitely be a pan African IT company. We are planning to be in three or more countries next year and to increase this. We have a five-year plan of been in 20 African countries and to have offices and clientele in each of these locations, that is our plan.  


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Indigenous Firm Deploys 400,000 Smart Electricity Meters in 2025

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MOJEC International Limited has revealed that it deployed over 400,000 smart meters nationwide in 2025, representing a significant year-on-year growth for the indigenous smart meter manufacturer.

This performance reflected a 33.3 percent increase over the 300,000 meters deployed in 2024, highlighting the scale and acceleration of MOJEC’s metering operations.

Chantelle Abdul, group managing director, attributed the sustained impact to deliberate investments in infrastructure, people, and technology.

“MOJEC operates two state-of-the-art meter production facilities with a combined installed capacity of up to five million meters annually. This scale enables us not just to meet current demand, but to support Nigeria’s long-term metering and energy efficiency goals,” she said.

She further noted that MOJEC’s expansive installer ecosystem, comprising over 5,000 trained professionals nationwide, remains a critical enabler of its delivery advantage, ensuring speed, quality, and compliance across diverse terrains and markets.

The company stated that the deployment surge reflected growing confidence by Distribution Companies (DisCos) and sector stakeholders in MOJEC’s technical capacity, delivery speed, and end-to-end metering solutions.

According to Monday Ubogu, MOJEC’s head of installation, the scale and consistency of delivery set the company apart.

“Within the first three quarters of the year, MOJEC completed about 300,000 installations, accounting for roughly 40 percent of total installations nationwide during that period.

“The momentum continued into the final quarter with an additional 150,000 meters deployed, highlighting our operational depth and nationwide reach,” he said.

Ubogu added that MOJEC’s performance builds on decades of sector engagement, spanning key national metering initiatives including CAPMI, MAF, Vendor Financing, MAP Phases I & II, and NMMP 0, with the company having deployed nearly four million meters since the privatisation of NESI.

According to the company, a substantial portion of the deployment was driven by MOJEC Meter Asset Management Company (M3AC), the Group’s asset management subsidiary, which accounted for about 350,000 installations.

 


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Globacom Donates ₦1Bn to Lagos State Security Trust Fund

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In its bid to contribute its quota to the consolidation of security in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, telecommunications giant, Globacom, has thrown its weight behind the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) with a donation of ₦1 billion.

The generous donation was announced at a Private Sector Breakfast Meeting with CEOs, convened at the instance of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, January 30, 2026 and shows the company’s commitment to fostering public safety which would in turn, culminate in enhanced prosperity and social re-engineering in the state.

The donation, which is the biggest private-sector intervention from the telecommunications sector to the Fund in recent years, again shows that Globacom is a responsible, responsive and people-oriented corporate citizen.

Globacom disclosed that the intervention emphasized deeper collaboration between government and the state’s business community especially in relation to security, innovation and economic resilience—an agenda which the digital solutions company has unabashedly supported through sustained social investments.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Fund, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, in his display of appreciation described Globacom’s largesse as “a powerful demonstration of corporate citizenship and a strategic investment in the stability of Lagos State,” saying since LSSTF was established to bridge funding gaps in security infrastructure, it desired voluntary contributions from corporate bodies and well-meaning collaborators.

Dr. Ogunsan promised that the ₦1 billion donation will significantly enhance the Fund’s capacity to address critical priorities for 2026, including multipurpose security helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), water cannons, digital communication equipment and Smart CCTV systems. These assets, he added, were germane to proactive policing, rapid response and intelligence-led operations across the state.

He therefore encouraged Lagosians to support businesses that invest in the safety and development of the state, saying, “When companies step forward to secure our environment, residents should reciprocate by patronizing them. Their support directly impacts the protection of lives, property and economic activity.”

A statement from Globacom explained that the donation was an expression of the company’s staunch belief in Nigeria’s future. “At Globacom, we see security not as a government burden alone, but as a shared responsibility. When people feel safe, enterprise grows, creativity flourishes and hope becomes practical. Our support for the LSSTF is about protecting the everyday dreams of millions of Lagosians,” he noted.

With this donation to the LSSTF, Globacom has furthered its tradition of investing directly in the conditions like safety, confidence and stability which help commerce to thrive. Consequent on the support, LSSTF is gingered to raise the bar of security thereby concretizing Lagos State’s position as Nigeria’s safest and most vibrant commercial hub.

This recent financial intervention from Globacom is in tandem with its avowed commitment to social responsibility that is practical, timely, scalable and aligned with national priorities.

The company’s interventions in the past decades have spanned relief efforts for flood-affected communities, support for displaced persons, advanced youth skills through structured training programmes, and investments in education, culture and digital inclusion.


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WIEG to host Nigeria’s first International Investment Summit in Lagos

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World International Economic Group (WIEG) Nigeria has announced plans to host its inaugural International Investment Summit on Feb. 25 and 26 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

WIEG to host Nigeria’s first International Investment Summit in Lagos

WIEG

The summit, themed “Nigeria’s Next Frontier: Unlocking Sustainable Investments for Economic Transformation,” is aimed at connecting investment-ready Nigerian enterprises with global capital while addressing long-standing challenges facing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives and women-led businesses.

Speaking at a pre-summit press conference on Friday at Compact Communications Ltd., GRA Ikeja, Lagos,  Mr. Bassey Essien, WIEG’s Project & Event Consultant  said the summit would serve as a structured platform linking policy, finance and enterprise growth.

Essien identified limited access to structured funding, poor investment readiness and weak documentation as major barriers confronting Nigerian businesses, despite the availability of domestic and international capital.

“Enterprises that succeed understand the importance of preparation. Some invest as much as N200 million in professional feasibility studies to meet the standards of banks and institutions such as the African Development Bank. That level of preparation enables access to collateral-free funding,” he said.

According to him, weak policy continuity, inadequate post-intervention monitoring and fragmented regulatory frameworks have continued to undermine business growth in the country.

“Policies often change with governments, and there is little tracking after interventions. More importantly, many businesses are not prepared in ways financiers require,” Essien noted.

He explained that the summit would convene policymakers, investors, development finance institutions and pre-screened MSMEs and SMEs operating in priority sectors, including the creative industry, agriculture, energy transition, finance and aviation.

Essien described the creative sector as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy, accounting for about 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, but said weak financing structures, piracy and poor intellectual property (IP) protection had limited its growth.

Highlighting the summit programme, he said Day One would feature conferences on macroeconomic issues, policy reforms and enterprise growth, while Day Two would focus on sector-specific deal-making roundtables.

“These deal rooms will be organised by sector — from aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to renewable energy — with lawyers, financiers and policymakers present to fast-track transactions,” he said.

Essien added that the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) would be present to ensure post-event monitoring and tracking of investment deals concluded during the summit.

He disclosed that the creative economy segment would be supported through partnerships with the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) and financial institutions to fund viable projects in Nollywood, music and fashion.

“Intellectual property regularisation is critical. Once ideas are properly documented and protected, investors gain confidence,” he said.

On energy and aviation, Essien said the summit would spotlight renewable energy solutions to reduce dependence on generators and promote the establishment of commercial MRO facilities to curb the high cost of aircraft maintenance abroad.

He also announced the participation of B Lab Africa, a U.S.-certified organisation focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG), diversity, equity and inclusivity standards, noting that the initiative would help small businesses improve governance and access global funding.

Essien revealed that investment commitments estimated at about 500 million dollars were expected to emerge from the summit.

“This is a private-sector-led, non-partisan initiative that places no financial burden on government. It is focused on job creation, empowering women-owned enterprises and improving investor confidence through transparent and secure processes,” he said.

He urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and SMEs to prioritise proper documentation, professional advisory services and IP protection to position themselves for sustainable growth.

“We are creating a structured pathway from policy to capital to enterprise growth,” Essien added.


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