Telecom
Maida Underscores Benefits of using Robust ICT in the Fight Against Financial Crimes
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has highlighted the pivotal role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in combatting financial crimes.
He noted that financial crimes, ranging from money laundering to cyber fraud, pose significant threats not only to economic stability but also to the security and trustworthiness of entities and individuals.
Dr. Maida noted this during his presentation at the 11th Anniversary Lecture Series of
hasized the profound impact of these crimes on both a national and global scale, necessitating innovative approaches for effective prevention and intervention.
Dr. Maida underscored the critical role of robust ICT systems in preventing, investigating, and mitigating the risks associated with financial crimes. With the rise of digital technologies, the scope of these crimes has broadened, requiring sophisticated solutions. “ICT facilitates real-time monitoring, tracing, and analysis of digital transactions, supported by advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Applications of ICT in Curbing Financial Crimes”.
His presentation highlighted specific ICT applications, including the use of blockchain, instant payments, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and automated procedures.
He said the significance of partnerships with financial institutions, utilizing advanced data analytics to identify suspicious patterns and proactively prevent criminal activities.
While acknowledging the transformative power of ICT, Dr. Maida also addressed potential concerns associated with its use in combating financial crimes. These concerns ranged from threats to cybersecurity and algorithmic biases to human capacity issues and regulatory compliance challenges. The importance of continuous adaptation, collaboration, and international cooperation to address these concerns was underscored.
He further discussed the imperative of addressing inclusion and the digital divide, ensuring equal access to ICT services.
He highlighted NCC’s commitment to closing the digital gap through projects aimed at providing affordable and accessible ICT services to underprivileged communities.
“Collaboration among regulatory authorities, continuous improvement and adaptation, and international cooperation are key strategies for effectively tackling financial crimes”, he said.
Dr. Aminu Maida emphasized that while ICT plays a crucial role in combating financial crimes, it is essential to strike a balance between crime prevention and data privacy.
Ongoing investment in ICT solutions, a multi-stakeholder approach involving technology specialists, legal professionals, and legislators, and public education on internet safety were highlighted as crucial components in the fight against emerging criminal methods.
He called for continued collaboration and international cooperation to effectively address the evolving landscape of financial crimes.
In the wake of increasing geopolitical tension, Cassava Technologies has unveiled its National Sovereign Cloud offering for African governments.
The solution, the company claims, will help the continent’s governments ensure data is kept on infrastructure that remains under local legal and operational jurisdiction.
According to the official announcement, made yesterday, the solution provides “secure, locally-governed digital infrastructure that enables the deployment of AI-enabled public services”.
The overarching solution encompasses cloud, cyber security, AI computing infrastructure, as well as local language AI models and skills support for governments.
The announcement comes amid increasing uncertainty over the hosting of sensitive national data on cloud services operated by foreign hyperscalers, which are subject to legal frameworks, such as the U.S. CLOUD Act. The CLOUD Act opens the door to allow American authorities to access data stored on the servers of US hyperscalers, wherever those servers are physically located.
Cassava has claimed separately that currently, “approximately 33% to 45% of the world’s data is hosted in the USA”.
The company added: “A sovereign cloud reduces exposure to extraterritorial laws, improves cyber resilience, and ensures that model weights and training data for public AI remain under national custody.”
The Africa Data Centres Association’s 2026 Economic Report states that “data sovereignty has evolved from a legal aspiration into a strategic policy lever”.
Ahmed El Beheiry, Group COO and Group Chief Technology and AI Officer, Cassava Technologies said: “Across Africa, governments are accelerating their digital transformation agendas and are increasingly focused on ensuring that data and digital infrastructure remain secure and sovereign.”
Announced at the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, this week, the Sovereign Cloud offering launch accompanied the launch of Cassava’s Cloud Partner programme.
The partner programme targets mobile network operators and system integrators across Africa to resell and distribute AI, cloud, and other digital services using Cassava’s infrastructure and technology platforms.
El Beheiry added: “We are expanding Africa’s sovereign AI ecosystem to build solutions that address the continent’s unique challenges while creating new opportunities for growth and digital inclusion.”
The programme offers partners access to NVIDIA Cloud Partner solutions, Cassava’s AI Factory, its own native AI solutions and its AI Multi-Model Exchange, which supports both Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini models.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
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