E-Business
Localisation of IT for Development: Imode, UNN Example
By Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata
The National Information Technology Policy (NITP) received a boost with two recent events; one at Imode Community, Kwara State and the other at University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State. NITP seeks to make Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa and a key player in the information society by using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competiveness.
So, it was an emotional day on September 30, 2017 as Imode Community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State commissioned as a 40 computer- capacity Digital Literacy Center (DiLiCe).
No doubt, this smart move will definitely bequeath the community a ‘digital smart community’ status in no distant time, delivering a decent living and respectable future to its people, irrespective of their social status.
Imode Development Association (IDA) deserve commendation for its vision to make the community dwellers, especially the youths, become IT complaint and ‘netizens’ in the information society by using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competiveness. The most interesting part is that it was a wholly community initiated, sponsored and executed project. A project of such magnitude with less than N10million is rare these days, but that is the way to go is we are serious about digital literacy.
Speaking at the recent public presentation of the solar-powered excellent Digital Literacy Center (DiLiCe), equipped with modern ICT infrastructure to support the education and curiosity of every citizen within and around the community, the President, Imode Development Association (IDA), Pastor Joseph Babatunde, said the project, were to assist the students imbibe the IT culture as the world has gone digital. I dare to say that this must not be limited to the students alone. Digital Literacy has become a right, hence every ruralite deserves to know what goes on in the world of information (and communication) technology.
Babatunde actually gave little insight to what prompted this project. He said, “I recall with joy that the idea of the provision of a modern IT Centre for our school came to me a couple of years ago when one of my children did the post-JAMB exam in University of Ilorin (Unilorin). The students were all given computers to do the exams. While she breezed through the exams, most of the other children were just starring at the device until the time was over. I felt challenged there and then, to give every child that needed opportunity”.
So disappointing! How come the organisers of these examinations care-less about the computer competences of the students? This reflects the challenge faced by students in over 744 local governments in Nigeria. You will be making mistake to think every student in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt is exposed to digital knowledge. We must do the needful by equipping the local communities with digital tools and centers; that is if the national IT policy is something we are serious about.
I am particularly impressed with further explanation given by Reverend Sunday Folayan, IDA’s Vice President, who stated that “Imode ICT Vision- will be achieved by reliance on technology, carefully backed up with traditional methods that are functional. A significant number of indigenes will continue to live outside the community or the country, and their needs and requirements to stay connected to their roots will continue to inform the community’s development policies. ICT will be used to solve practical problems, such as educational deficiency as well as the security of lives and properties”.
If I understand Folayan’s statement, most aspects of the community’s engagement activities will be conducted electronically towards widening access and participation especially with its citizens in the diaspora, using appropriate technologies. In other words, members of the Community will come to accept a high standard of up-to-date facilities, ease-of-use and reliability, richness of information, integrated services and excellent support. What is more heartwarming than this!
The icing on the cake was the IDA’s contact with Paradigm Initiative (PI) to conduct training and capacity building. I urge every community based association in Nigeria to borrow a leaf from this laudable project, even as I encourage IDA to adequately capture the depreciating cost of the centre, so as to ensure that the spirit called lack of maintenance culture is defeated.
…UNN, Crestsage Commission Lion Laptop Assembly Complex
Good news! University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) scored another first on October 6, 2017 with the commissioning of Nigeria’s first indigenous (university) laptop assembly complex.
This is a significant project, as the Complex with a capacity to produce 100,000 laptops a year will deliver jobs for not less than 500 people.
Why am I excited here? This was not delivered by a foreign firm, rather an alumnus of famous tertiary institution- Engr Charles Emembolu, the CEO of Crestsage Limited, a Lagos-based indigenous Technology company under a management arrangement with BOC (Benefitting Our Community) Innovations Limited, initiated and delivered the project.
This is a boost to 2015 conceived ‘one laptop per student’ initiative set by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, in his bid to ensure 21st century compliant learning for the university students.
Though, this initiative was threatened by the recent high foreign exchange rates hence the vision of this production project, however, Engr Emembolu has demonstrated the ‘die-hard’ spirit of a Nigerian Entrepreneur.
Lion laptop project is critical project due to the ability to deliver local content in the billion-naira industry by value substitution of components with locally available materials and labour.
It will be recalled that Emembolu and some other University Alumni delivered the Roar Nigeria business incubator and technology hub at University of Nigeria in December 2016.
The Lion laptops meets the needs of the Nigerian student matching quality with affordable cost and capacity to produce bespoke specification for different school and government initiative across the country.
Speaking at the event Engr. Emembolu confirmed that the complex will employ about 500 people when producing at full capacity and affirmed the complex offers an on-campus manufacturing and learning environment for the university community, students and researchers.
The strategy is such that the ultra-modern complex will serve as an avenue to empower the youth with much needed applied technology skills to take a leadership role in Nigeria’s economic emancipation.
Yes. We keep saying that Nigeria’s youthful population is an asset that needs to be prepared for a prosperous future of Africa and the world. This a practical step to make this happen, even as this initiative is in line with the vision of the University’s founding fathers, “To restore the dignity of man”.
With these two projects commissioned almost at the same time, it is my hope that we don’t end there; rather it should challenge both government and private entities to innovate and make our nation proud.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified that all its verification service platforms remain fully functional and accessible to all authorized partners, including security agencies.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, DG, NIMC
In a statement on Thursday, the Commission firmly denied claims that it had denied the Police Service Commission (PSC) access to its verification server.
Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head of Corporate Communications, NIMC, described the reported “inability of the Police Service Commission to access the NIMC verification server” as misleading and inaccurate.
He suggested that any challenges faced by the PSC may be due to internal issues within the commission itself, not from NIMC’s end.
The statement reads: “To set the record straight, the NIMC granted verification access to all Nigerian Police formations for the verification of the National Identification Number (NIN). The NPF, PSC and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years.
“NIMC has provided top-notch verification services for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, as conducted by the PSC and at no time have there been any complaints or issues regarding NIN Verification by the NPF or PSC.
“The Commission has a robust and harmonious working relationship with the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission. The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) department of the Nigeria Police Force is actively managing the long-standing verification and integration service between the NIMC and all Nigeria Police formations.Entertainment tourism packages
“NIMC will continue to provide flawless verification services for the purpose of recruitment, security mapping, cybercrime control, and any other security matters.
“The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and NPF has confirmed the verification services have continued to be available. We therefore believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters.
“NIMC is committed to providing excellent verification services to the PSC, NPF and all its partners but the terms and conditions inherent must be adhered to for uninterrupted flow of service.”
Nigerian government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity and clean up the nation’s cyberspace.
Recognizing that cybercrime knows no borders, Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering stronger global partnerships within the cybersecurity ecosystem.
This announcement was made during a press conference before the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja from July 9th to 11th, 2025.
Sa’ad Abubakar, national cybersecurity coordinator from the Office of National Security Advisor, said fighting cybercrime must take the whole of society and the whole of the government approach.
According to him, “Apart from the deterrent approach whereby government agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest individuals, take them to court and prosecute them, the youth can be nurtured into better citizens who can showcase their capacity in better ways and be useful to the country.”
Similarly, Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, NITDA, also stressed the need for collaborative efforts in fighting cybercrimes.
According to him “Then, in addition to that, we also want to build a stronger global collaboration with the global cyber security ecosystem, because when you look at cybercrime in general, it doesn’t respect the borders.
“Someone can commit a crime from Ghana using a Nigerian ID in the US. So you can look at him physically in a different jurisdiction, pretending to be in another jurisdiction, committing the crime in another jurisdiction.
“So without that kind of synergy and working together, it will be difficult to address these challenges. The third one is challenge. The third one is getting an alternative to cybercrime for our kids in Nigeria. We have this as a major challenge.”
Inuwa further highlighted the upcoming conference’s importance, noting that it would tackle key issues through workshops, discussions on emerging threats, cross-border cybersecurity collaboration strategies, and training programmes.
He also announced that the National Cybersecurity Conference 2025 would feature the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, recognising top contributions in the field.
The DG extended an invitation to global partners to collaborate with Nigeria in building a safer digital future.
The press conference was attended by notable figures, including Ahmad Sa’ad Abubakar, National Coordinator of, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC); Hanniel Jafar, Representative of the President, of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN); Ankit Shukla, Managing Director, QNA Marketing Management LLC and members of the press and other stakeholders.
XIAN Telecom has acquired an 8% stake in pan-African e-commerce company Jumia Technologies, citing the platform’s fintech and logistics strengths as key drivers of its backing.
This marks the first major telecom investment in Jumia since MTN Group’s exit in 2020.
AXIAN, a fast-growing telecom and digital services provider with operations across Africa, disclosed the purchase in a Schedule 13D filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
While the financial terms were not disclosed, AXIAN Telecom CEO, Hassan Jaber, described the move as a strategic alignment with Jumia’s growth trajectory and digital ecosystem.
“Jumia’s achievements in digital retail and fintech, particularly through JumiaPay and its logistics network, make it a very attractive investment for us. We believe in Jumia’s potential to promote financial and economic inclusion, which aligns with our core values,” said Jaber.
Once dubbed the “Amazon of Africa,” Jumia became the first African-founded tech company to list on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019.
But years of underperformance, leadership changes, and competitive pressures dented investor confidence.
In October 2020, South Africa’s MTN Group offloaded its 18.9% stake for $138 million, well below the $698 million value it once held post-IPO.
Since then, Jumia has undergone a significant transformation. Under CEO Francis Dufay, appointed in 2022, the company exited low-performing markets like South Africa and Tunisia, cut costs, and doubled down on core markets – Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.
The firm is now focused on high-growth verticals, including everyday essentials and digital financial services.
Jumia’s regional CEO for East Africa, Vinod Goel, recently revealed plans to scale up international brand offerings and open its logistics network to third-party businesses.
Jaber underscored that AXIAN Telecom’s investment signals renewed confidence in Jumia’s long-term potential.
The telecom firm’s CEO said the company views Jumia as a key player in advancing Africa’s digital economy, aligning with AXIAN’s mission through its fintech and digital infrastructure brands such as Yas and Mixx by Yas.
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