News
ICT Professionals Fault Proposed Forensic Council
Professionals in the Information and Communication Technology sector have differed on a bill to establish a Chartered Institute of Computer Forensics in Nigeria.
At a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology on the bill in Abuja on Tuesday, the Computer Professionals (Registration) Council of Nigeria and the Defence Headquarters opposed the bill, warning that it would compromise national security and expose the country’s cybersecurity to the institute.
However, the Minister of Science and Technology Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, and the Computer Forensics Institute of Nigeria argued that it would enhance criminal justice delivery in the country.
According to the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, the proposed institute seeks to, amongst other things, improve the country’s criminal justice system to reflect the realities of this new age when digital and computer forensics play a more important role than at any other time in human history.
Onu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, ICT, in the ministry, Adebayo Adeyemi, said CICFON had been in existence since 2008 and was only seeking legal backing for its operations.
The President of CICFON, Prof. Peter Olayiwola, also noted that since 2009, the institute had been conducting trainings in digital mobile computer forensics and had provided certifications to its members since 2010.
However, the President of the CPN, Kole Jagun, said his institute was opposed to passage of the bill “as there is already an existing law regulating computer practice in the country”.
Jagun said, “Passing this bill means there is going to be conflict and abrogation of the existing law. CPN is established to regulate and control information technology education and practice in Nigeria. Actually, this bill is a duplicate of the CPN Act. It is a duplicate.
Also speaking, Air Commodore Amos Bulus from the Defence Headquarters said passing the bill would be a great disservice to the nation.
“I strongly believe that we will not be doing justice to this country if allowed to run because the national security of the country will actually be left in the hands of the institute. I think it will not be in our best interest,” he added.
EFCC
The African Development Bank Group last week approved an investment of €6.5 million in the Saviu II fund in order to support technology start-ups through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising, mainly in French-speaking Central and West Africa.
The Bank will invest €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission, under the Boost Africa Programme.
This participation of the Bank Group will enable the Saviu II fund to give priority to companies with a strong technological or digital component.
Saviu II, the second investment vehicle of Saviu Partners, plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in about 20 technology or technology-oriented business-to-business start-ups in the seed phase or carrying out first institutional fundraising.
The Saviu II venture capital fund aims to make at least 60% of its commitments in the French-speaking countries of West and Central Africa: Côte d ‘Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The fund can also co-invest in promising technology companies in East Africa that have a strong team and business model, and whose strategy includes entering the market in French-speaking West African countries and establishing a strong presence there.
In addition, the fund will devote a dedicated envelope to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity investments, usually in co-investment with studios, incubators or other ecosystem partners.
Nigerian Government has signed a $1.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) via the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to fund an alumina refinery, national geoscience mapping, and a strategic investment vehicle for mining growth.
Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, said the refinery will process one million tonnes of bauxite yearly using a modern Bayer process, powered by an on-site gas-fired cogeneration plant.
Minister Dele Alake called it a transformative milestone boosting GDP, aligning with reforms that improve investment climate, regulations, and licensing to attract private capital. He directed agencies to fast-track permits.
The 20-year project at 95% utilization eyes 19 million tonnes total output, $1.2 billion annual GDP addition, $25 billion economic impact, and $8 billion forex earnings, per feasibility studies.
SMDF Executive Secretary Fatima Shinkafi termed it the agency’s biggest funding deal, supporting value-addition policy.
The partnership extends to geoscience mapping for mineral data, de-risking exploration, and a joint vehicle for mining assets.
Permanent Secretary Engr. Farouk Yabo praised the reforms. Shinkafi signed for government; AFC’s Franklin Edochie for the corporation, witnessed by AFC CEO Samaila Zubairu.
Tomori positioned it as Nigeria’s largest private mining investment and FDI magnet.
NAICOM Signs MoU with BPP to Deepen Insurance Compliance in Public Procurement
FG Approves GIS-enabled Digital Postcode to Tackle Logistics Gaps, Boost E-commerce
Firm Enhances its Security Awareness Platform with SCORM and PDF Support
AfDB Approves €6.5m for Tech Startups
GSMA, African Operators, Others to Launch Low-cost 4G Devices
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation Bolsters Nigeria’s Education Drive with ₦2.7m Student Support
Kaspersky Brings more Transparency to Threat Detection with New Hunt Hub
NDPC Commits to Balancing Data Privacy, Protection Information
OADC Lagos Reinforces Commitment to Local Data Hosting and Digital Transformation @ NDPC’s National Privacy Week Summit
PwC Reveals AI Scaling Gap Slows Africa’s Digital Transformation
Telecom3 days agoSunil Bharti Mittal Conferred GSMA Lifetime Achievement Award for Transforming Global Telecommunications
Telecom3 days agoWhy Digital Trust Matters: Secure, Responsible AI for African SMEs?
E-Business3 days agoJumia Tech Week 2026 Begins with Tech Deals on Smartphones, Electronics, and Everyday Technology
General News3 days agoKrishnan Exits Africa Data Centre to Embark on Professional Chapter
E-Financial2 days agoNRS Targets N40trillion in Tax, Royalty Revenue in 2026
News3 days agoAfDB Supports Francophone Africa Start-ups with €6.5M
Telecom3 days agoHouse Probes Fintech Regulation via Public Hearing on New Commission Bill
E-Business3 days agoHouse Queries NDIC: ₦5m Max Payout for Failed Bank Depositors