News
ITU Connect2Recover to Boost Africa’s Post-COVID Connectivity
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has launched the Connect2Recover Initiative, which will initially focus on Africa, helping the continent accelerate digital transformation post-COVID-19.
The ITU says Africa is the least connected continent, and is expected to be hit hardest by COVID-19 in socio-economic terms. It adds that Connect2Recover reinforces long-standing efforts to accelerate digital transformation on the continent and help achieve long-term development goals.
At the launch of the initiative last week, the world telecommunications body noted that out of the 25 least connected countries in the world, 21 are in Africa, with nearly 300 million Africans living more than 50km from a fibre or cable broadband connection.
“Access to high-speed Internet thus remains out of reach for many Africans, hindering their ability to fully harness the potential of digital transformation,” says the ITU.
It notes that Connect2Recover seeks to expand access to affordable and reliable connectivity, which is an essential aspect of countries’ COVID-19 recovery strategies.
ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao explains: “The ITU, and the wider international community, is transitioning from aiding countries with their immediate response to COVID-19, to helping countries prepare for and adjust to a ‘new normal’.
“As the United Nations is calling on its member states to ‘build back better’, Connect2Recover represents the ITU’s contribution by facilitating socio-economic recovery through the use of digital infrastructure, services and applications, thanks to the generous support of the Japanese government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Connect2Recover is backed by the ministry of internal affairs and communications of Japan and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre of Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, the ITU says COVID-19 has highlighted that digital infrastructure is not just a convenience but an essential requirement for fully-fledged participation in society and the economy.
“Broadband connectivity has proved vital in helping countries’ businesses and citizens adapt and respond to the pandemic, enabling them to access the latest health information and continue working, learning and socialising remotely.”
How it works
The Connect2Recover initiative will consist of three key elements.
First, the initiative will develop a methodology for identifying gaps and bottlenecks in the use of digital networks and technologies at country level; to respond to and mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as preparedness for any similar emergencies in the future; and to enable recovery and readiness for the ‘new normal’.
According to the ITU, on the basis of this methodology, Connect2Recover will also assist countries in assessing their needs, gaps and bottlenecks, and develop strategies to ensure the digital infrastructure and ecosystems adequately support recovery efforts and the ‘new normal’.
“These strategies will be designed in line with global best practices, as well as with other relevant policy tools developed by ITU and other relevant organisations.”
Lastly, the ITU says, Connect2Recover will conceptualise and implement pilot projects to test specific technological solutions in line with national country strategies and policies.
“The project will also undertake deep-dive studies in specific areas of digital policy as prioritised by the selected countries, such as digital finance, e-education, e-health, e-government, or teleworking.”
Minoru Terada, state minister for internal affairs and communications of Japan, comments on the initiative: “Digital technology is playing a vital role to respond to and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Under these circumstances, our project aims at improving the connectivity through the development of resilient broadband networks to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among African countries.”
“COVID-19 has demonstrated the vital importance of meaningful connectivity and it has also served as a wake-up call to the global community to renew efforts to connect the 3.6 billion people still offline,” says Doreen Bogdan-Martin, director of the ITU telecommunication development bureau.
“Connect2Recover represents a first step in our journey to recovery and preparedness. I applaud the commitment of Japan and Saudi Arabia, and I invite all stakeholders to join this initiative to help advance real and rapid progress for all.”
African fintech revenues are projected to expand 13-fold to approximately $65 billion by 2030, marking the continent as the world’s fastest-growing digital finance market.
The “Beyond Payments: Unlocking Africa’s Second FinTech Wave ” report, released by Boston Consulting Group at the Inclusive FinTech Forum in Kigali, indicates the sector is shifting from transactional inclusion to scalable, infrastructure-driven systems.
While Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 74% of global mobile money volume, more than 50% of lending still occurs through informal channels, representing a massive gap for B2B payments and data-driven underwriting.
The opportunity now is to convert scale into sustained, institutional-grade growth, says the report. Markets offering regulatory clarity and interoperable infrastructure are becoming increasingly attractive to long-term capital.
Rwanda is highlighted as an example of deliberate institutional coordination that lowers the cost to scale for financial institutions.
Forward-looking regulation and the License Passporting Memorandum of Understanding between Rwanda and Kenya are cited as practical steps toward easing regional expansion.
Financial centres like the Kigali International Financial Centre play a critical role in this next phase by reducing uncertainty for banks and investors.
By combining regulatory clarity and Pan-African integration, they reduce uncertainty for banks, fintechs, and investors, and help position markets as credible, long-term investment destinations.
Africa’s next fintech phase will be led by financial institutions, the report notes. It goes on to say banks and regulated entities are becoming the primary customers of digital financial infrastructure, demanding platforms that align with their risk frameworks.
The report identifies five institutional priorities to sustain momentum: interoperable infrastructure, data-driven credit, regulatory coherence, trust, and resilience.
Building seamless wallet-to-bank integration will enable more efficient value movement, while transforming transaction data into AI-enabled underwriting models will help bridge the gap in SME lending.
Proportional licensing frameworks and predictable supervisory practices will lower the cost to scale for innovators. Furthermore, expanding cybersecurity capabilities will ensure the ecosystem remains reliable as digital usage grows.
Africa has demonstrated that fintech scale is achievable, and the next decade will be shaped by those markets that strengthen their institutional foundations, the report concludes.
For too long, the story of Nigeria has been told by foreigners or shaped by people who don’t truly understand our spirit; This Is Nigeria is a movement changing that. We are putting the power back into the hands of Nigerians to tell our stories from our perspectives.
Our mission is simple: to change how the world sees us by sharing the positive, impactful stories of our land and its people.
Today, we are officially launching “The 36: Nigeria Unscripted”. This series will travel through every single state in the country, starting with our pilot season in Lagos. We want to show the world the true drive, food, diversity, culture, and innovation that define Nigerians at home.
“The 36: Nigeria Unscripted” takes a deep dive into the history, people, landmarks, and investment potential that make each state unique. Instead of focusing on the usual headlines, we are highlighting the real people building businesses, creating new technologies, making scientific breakthroughs, and leading cultural shifts here and across the globe.
The Kick-Off
The journey begins in Lagos. Over the next two weeks, our crew will be on the streets filming the vibrant energy of the city. This is a “boots-on-the-ground” look at what Nigerian innovation actually looks like today.
Alongside the series, we are also launching a Global Desk. This is a dedicated space to find and share stories of Nigerians living abroad who are making us proud with that signature Nigerian excellence.
How We Are Different
Most Nigerian travel content usually falls into two categories: it’s either a refined ad that ignores reality, or it focuses only on struggle while ignoring achievements.
This Is Nigeria rejects both. Our campaign gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the real passion and effort that fuel our success.
For more information or to share your story, visit www.thisis-nigeria.com.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to pay N100 million in damages to two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over defamation.
SERAP
Justice Yusuf Halilu delivered the judgment in a suit filed by two DSS operatives, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, who accused SERAP of making false and defamatory claims against them.
The claimants had approached the court following a series of posts published by SERAP on its X handle on Sept. 9, 2024, alleging that DSS officers unlawfully invaded and occupied its Abuja office.
In the posts, SERAP claimed that officers of the State Security Service had stormed its office and were demanding to see its directors.
“Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors. President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians,” the organisation had posted.
However, in his judgment, Justice Halilu held that the allegations made by SERAP were false and defamatory, adding that the two DSS operatives were justified in instituting legal action to protect their reputations.
The court consequently awarded N100 million in damages against SERAP in favour of the claimants.
Justice Halilu also ordered SERAP to issue a public apology to the two DSS operatives.
According to the judgment, the apology must be published in two national newspapers and aired on two television stations.
In addition, the court awarded N1 million against SERAP as the cost of litigation.
The court further ruled that the judgment sum would attract 10 per cent interest annually until the full amount is paid.
The case stems from growing tensions between civil society organisations and security agencies over allegations of harassment, intimidation, and civic space restrictions in Nigeria.
Neither SERAP nor the DSS had publicly reacted to the judgment as of the time of filing this report.
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