News
Igbalajobi, Sesan, Amana to Speak @ DigitalSENSE Forum 2018
Mr. Olatunji Igbalajobi, a cyber security expert and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CyberCode, and President of the Nigeria Internet Group, Mr. Destiny Amana would be leading speakers at this year’s Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) series slated for Lagos on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
The Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable 2018, would also have the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Gbenga Sesan; as part of the panel on IPv6 and GDPR: Issues and Challenges in Nigeria.
Disclosing this, the Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa Media, the organisers of NDSF series, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said that 2018 edition would be presided over by the chief executive officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) Mr. Muhammed Rudman.
She noted that Mr. Igbalajobi is also the national programme director and membership coordinator of the Cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria (CSEAN).
A seasoned information security specialist, Igbalajobi, she said, specializes in security assessments, vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, as well as Information Technology (IT) risk management. Even as he is a certified ethical hacker, QualysGuard certified specialist, and a qualified ISO 27001:2013 lead auditor cum implementer.
Further, she said Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur, Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm Initiative, who originally trained as an Electronic & Electrical Engineer at Obafemi Awolowo University, would join the panel.
Sesan, she pointed out is had completed Executive Education programmes at Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Santa Clara University and University of the Pacific.
His consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including Microsoft, Harvard University and United Nations agencies, among others, in over 30 countries; and former member of the United Nations Committee of eLeaders on Youth and ICT, he is a CyberStewards Fellow, Crans Montana Forum Fellow, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, Our Common Future Fellow and Cordes Fellow.
Equally, Gbenga served as a member of the Presidential committees on Harmonization of Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors (2006) and Roadmap for the Achievement of Accelerated Universal Broadband Infrastructure and Services Provision (2013), and was listed by CNN as one of the Top 10 African Tech Voices on Twitter and by Ventures Africa as one of 40 African Legends Under 40; Gbenga, is a member of the Freedom Online Coalition Advisory Network.
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.
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