General News
LFP Sales in Europe, Africa Lags Middle East

The large format printer (LFP) market in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) region declined 10.7% in volume and 5.1% in value year on year in the first half of 2013. According to market research and advisory company IDC, LFP shipments exceeded
16,300 units valued at $15.36 million in CEMA in 1H 2013. While shipments of both technical and graphical sub-segments decreased in volume terms, shipments of graphical printing devices increased in value terms.
This value growth mainly stemmed from the Middle East region (except Israel), where demand was strong in the construction, advertising, and textile industries. Technical LFP shipments declined in both value and volume terms across the CEMA region, mainly due to a lack of public tenders, limited construction market investments, and prolonged replacement cycles.
IDC expects the overall CEMA LFP market to decline by 1% in 2013 and to return to growth in 2014.
“The LFP market in the CEMA region is expected to be driven primarily by the Middle East market, where many construction projects have already started and where demand from the advertising printing market is also strong,” said David Mühlbach, research analyst.
“Central and Eastern Europe is also expected to revive in 2014, due to economic recovery and improved business sentiment. A new EU funding period will also play a supportive role. LFP sales in Africa will increase as well, due to improved political stability and the resumption of postponed projects.”
Aqueous ink-type devices, which represented over 80% of the market’s volume in the CEMA region in 2013, are expected to maintain their dominant market share. Advanced, more environmentally friendly and economical ink types, such as UV and eco-solvent devices, are expected to slowly increase their market share at the expense of solvent ink.
Vendor highlights show that HP remained the overall CEMA region market leader with 53.4% market share in 1H 2013.
The vendor was the clear leader in its traditional stronghold, the technical LFP market, with 64.3% market share, mostly due to sales of new DesignJet T-series printers.
Canon moved to second place with 15.2% market share, while shipments of its graphical devices grew significantly to claim 11.6% market share in 1H 2013.
Epson ranked third on the overall LFP market in 1H 2013, with 15.1% market share, and continued to lead the graphic application market with 35.8% share. The availability of SureColor models improved significantly in 2013, thus helping Epson achieve these good results in the first quarter.
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IDC tracks A2–A0+ devices in the LFP market. The LFP market includes single-function printers and multifunctional peripherals (MFPs). Data for all vendors are reported for quarters, as Africa: Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa CEE: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, mKazakhstan, Poland, Rest of CEE, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine ME: Israel, Rest of Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
General News
FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras across identified flashpoints in Plateau State as part of urgent measures to address the worsening security situation in the state.

The President gave the directive during an emergency visit to Plateau on Thursday, where he held a brief stakeholders’ meeting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport following the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, where at least 28 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.
Tinubu also approved the formation of a delegation of key stakeholders to engage in further deliberations on lasting solutions to the security challenges in the state.
He condoled with families of the victims and directed that support be provided to cushion their losses.
President Bola Tinubu while expressing deep sympathy to families of victims said the installation of surveillance cameras was part of a deliberate move towards addressing the kind of attacks that befell residence of the recent attack in the State.
In his remarks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang appreciated the President’s visit and show of concern, but expressed worry over the recent wave of attacks in the state, describing the situation as disturbing and requiring urgent attention.
The meeting had in attendance, former Governors, serving and former National and State Assembly members, traditional rulers, government appointees as well as relatives of those killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack.
General News
FG Rolls Out N12Bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

Federal Government yesterday unveiled a N12 billion investment in digital economy research, marking a strategic shift towards knowledge-driven development as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital landscape.

Declaring the launch of the National Digital Economy Research Clusters under the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative mobilises over 200 researchers from universities and research institutions nationwide to produce data-driven solutions for pressing national challenges.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Tijani described the programme as an essential complement to infrastructure expansion, including the ongoing deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country.
He stressed that sustainable growth in the digital sector now hinges on robust research, innovation and evidence-based policies rather than infrastructure alone.
“As Nigeria expands its digital economy, attention is shifting from infrastructure to the knowledge that drives it,” the minister stated, adding that the sector was emerging as a major contributor to national GDP.
The research clusters will tackle critical areas including connectivity, digital public infrastructure, skills development, job creation, online safety and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Tijani explained that the project aims to bolster Nigeria’s research capacity while ensuring local insights guide policy and technology adoption.
The Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating to synchronise academic research with national priorities and advance specialised training.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, underscored universities’ evolving role as hubs of innovation and problem-solving beyond traditional learning.
The BRIDGE project aligns with broader government strategies to promote digital inclusion, spur economic growth and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Observers note that the programme’s impact will depend on effectively converting research findings into implementable policies across sectors.
For the administration, the message is clear: a resilient digital economy demands not just infrastructure, but the intelligence to power it.
General News
Myitura Launches Women-Focused Healthcare Financing Solutions to Bridge Access Gap

In commemoration of Women’s Month, health-tech platform Myitura has released a new white paper addressing the critical gaps in healthcare financing for women in Nigeria.

Titled “Closing the Gap: Healthcare Financing for Women in Nigeria,” the report highlights how high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage, and socio-economic factors continue to prevent women from accessing timely healthcare.
According to the report, over 70% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria are paid out-of-pocket, disproportionately affecting women who often delay care due to financial and social constraints.
“When women can afford to take care of their health early, we don’t just save lives; we strengthen families, communities, and the economy,” said Chialuka Kelechi, MyItura’s Chief of Staff.
Key Insights from the White Paper:
- Preventable conditions often escalate due to delayed care
- Women are more likely to deprioritize their own health
- Affordable, structured healthcare financing can significantly improve outcomes
Introducing a Women’s Health Initiative
As part of its commitment, Myitura is launching affordable women-focused health packages (powered by Mediloan), starting at ₦58,180, designed to encourage preventive care and early detection.
The package provides access to:
- Fasting/Random Blood Sugar
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Pap Smear Submitted slides
- HIV I & II Rapid (Qualitative)
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening (Rapid)
- Hepatitis C Virus Screening (Rapid)
- Abdominopelvic Ultrasound
- Ongoing support via the Myitura platform
Access:
Women can access these packages by downloading the Myitura app, which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.
Myitura is a health-tech platform focused on improving access to healthcare through financing, technology, and preventive care solutions.
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