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NCC Prioritizes Broadband, to Remove Barriers
The federal government has made it a “personal priority” to bring Nigeria to the forefront of broadband service, a remarkable pledge which if implemented could fuel economic development, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now report.
Nigeria currently scores very low in availability and affordability scales for broadband services even with the numerous submarine cable initiatives with landing points on the shores of the country.
And while other countries including less endowed nations are starting to invest in new, fibre-based infrastructure, delivering considerably higher bandwidth, Nigeria is tottering under the weight of distribution challenges.
The challenges include; lack of adequate national transmission backbone; unavailability of spectrum for last mile connectivity; low demand for broadband; and lack of local content and e-services.
Others are absence of broadband policy; unreliable electricity supply; and vandalization of equipment.
Lack of policy means there is no clear roadmap for spectrum planning, particularly with the harvesting of the digital dividend spectrum.
But the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is to make regulatory intervention including incentives for broadband network roll out.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that in the absence of reliable statistics, broadband penetration of Nigeria is said to be about 6 per cent.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman, NCC, said that high speed internet is a new engine of growth and job creation and that his commission is to intervene by deepening broadband penetration in the country by taking the technology to a larger segment of the Nigerian society.
Speaking at the Nigerian Broadband Forum held in Lagos last week, Juwah said “the consumption needs for ICT products are so vast and availability so infinitesimal” resulting in “an overwhelming opportunity for investment, much like the pre-GSM era.”
Juwah said efforts are being made by the Nigerian government including the states to welcome more participation and investments in the telecoms industry.
Before now, the NCC came up with initiatives such as the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (Sabi) and Wire Nigeria Initiative (Win) to deepen broadband penetration in the country but they failed to impact due to lack of a broadband policy to give a direction on their execution.
Raising hopes, Juwah affirmed that there can be no adequate broadband without fixed infrastructure, adding that the 2.5GHZ which is under the custody of the broadcast community in different slots would be opened up as broadcasters are to vacate the frequency in 2015 as a result of digitization.
By this, he said huge frequencies would be available for LTE come 2015, noting that the broadband penetration initiative would be a win-win situation for operators and subscribers as there would be sufficient base stations to aggregate mobile traffic.
Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology noted that: “The challenge for us in Nigeria is not the proverbial last mile but the last hundreds of miles- taking that landed capacity to cities, communities, institutions and homes.”
She said the average broadband speeds today are slow and with a penetration rate of just 6 percent or thereabout, “it is not ubiquitous-demand has already far outstripped supply.”
Johnson opined that clear government policy, effective and independent regulation that attracts investments and fueled the country’s success in voice will fuel the success of broadband services delivery in Nigeria.
According to the communications minister, objectives for broadband penetration in the country are to accelerate the penetration of reasonably priced broadband internet in the country, foster broadband usage for national development and to ensure the rapid development of a broadband policy support and implementation framework.
The World Bank Group has announced the 31-month debarments of United Aviation Services Limited (UNASEL), a transportation services company based in Nigeria, and Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, its owner and president, “in connection with fraudulent practices under the Enhancing Niger Northeastern Connectivity Project,” according to a press release issued by the multilateral development bank.
The statement said that the project aims to enhance connectivity and road safety along the Zinder-Agadez Road section and improve access to basic socioeconomic infrastructure for selected communities in that road section.
However, according to the statement: “UNASEL and Mr. Mamu presented false experience documents in a prequalification application to qualify for a contract under the project. This was a fraudulent practice under the World Bank’s sanctions framework.”
“The debarments make UNASEL and Mr. Mamu ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by Bank Group institutions. The debarments are part of two settlement agreements under which UNASEL and Mr. Mamu admit culpability for the underlying sanctionable practices,” it added.
The statement further said: “Per the Bank Group Sanctioning Guidelines, the settlement agreements provide for a reduced period of debarment in light of UNASEL and Mr. Mamu’s cooperation.
As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreements, UNASEL and Mr. Mamu commit to developing and implementing integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines, and Mr. Mamu further agrees to complete corporate ethics training.
UNASEL and Mr. Mamu also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency.
“The debarments of UNA SEL and Mr. Mamu qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.”
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, has approved the allocation of a parcel of land in Enugu, the state capital, for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Digital Fabrication Centre by the Industrial Training Fund.
Mbah announced this while receiving a delegation from the Industrial Training Fund on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu.
The ITF disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Thomas Ngor.
According to the statement, Mbah described the proposed project as timely and aligned with his administration’s vision of transforming Enugu into a leading destination for investment, innovation and technology-driven industrial development.
He noted that the future of economic prosperity lies in deliberate investments in human capital and emerging technologies, adding that the state has continued to create an enabling environment for innovation, enterprise and sustainable growth.
The governor explained that his administration has made technical education compulsory in the state’s basic education system, with emphasis on digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics to prepare learners for the future of work.
According to him, many traditional trades are now driven by digital technologies, making it imperative to equip young people with relevant technical competencies that will enable them to compete globally and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Governor Mbah further disclosed that his administration has built smart schools across the state, equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories and other modern learning facilities, to prepare youths for the evolving global economy.
He noted that artificial intelligence is expected to contribute about $20tn to the global economy in the coming years.
He therefore stressed that the state must be intentional about upskilling its citizens, adding that the establishment of the ITF Digital Fabrication Centre will significantly strengthen the state’s drive to build a knowledge-based economy, foster innovation, promote local manufacturing and create employment opportunities for its growing youthful population.
Earlier, Afiz Ogun, the Director-General of the ITF, who led the delegation, said that upon his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, he was mandated to upskill Nigerian artisans to international standards.
He explained that the Fund subsequently repositioned its technical and vocational skills development efforts through strategic initiatives, including the Skill-Up Artisans Programme, which is designed to train, certify and license Nigerian artisans to international standards.
Ogun disclosed that the Fund had already established a Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, with the capacity to produce more than 400 different products. He therefore requested the allocation of land in Enugu State to establish a similar centre with the same production capacity.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at promoting industrialisation, reducing dependence on imports and preparing Nigerians for opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He also reaffirmed the Fund’s readiness to enter into public-private partnerships that will transform Nigeria’s artisanal ecosystem.
Ogun further noted that digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing, are rapidly transforming the global economy, making it imperative for Nigeria to deliberately invest in upskilling its workforce to remain globally competitive.
The ITF delegation was later conducted on a guided tour of facilities at one of the smart schools established by the Enugu State Government.
Glovo, a multi-category tech company, has announced its integration into the generative AI ecosystem with the launch of its “Shopping Assistant” for ChatGPT and Claude. Users can now discover retail products, compare prices, and seamlessly order any item using natural conversational language with the AI systems.
The Glovo experience inside such platforms introduces a conversational commerce model that shifts from a search-based web to an intent-based web. Rather than navigating traditional app menus and filters, users can express needs, such as asking for a “last-minute gift for a coffee lover under ₦50,000”, and the assistant handles semantic search, location validation, and product curation.
A Seamless, Concierge-Like Experience
Once both platforms have been connected through either ChatGPT or Claude apps, the user will be able to have a multi-turn dialogue where the assistant remembers context and constraints, such as budget caps. Users receive a visual carousel of up to five highly customised product options available at local stores. Each product displays its image, name, store details and ratings, and price. While the search and discovery experience takes place directly on the Generative AI platforms, selecting a product via the “view on Glovo” button takes the user to the Glovo mobile or web app, where the payment and final purchase are exclusively completed.
Strategic Focus on Retail and Growth
Glovo is prioritising the retail and grocery sectors for this initial launch, capturing the established habit of using AI for product research. Generative AI has driven a significant jump in retail traffic globally, so this first-mover advantage aims to meet customers where they are meeting Gen AI daily, and ensure it captures high-intent organic traffic as search behaviours evolve.
“We’re always looking for ways to meet our customers where they already are. Being available on Claude and ChatGPT means people can discover what Glovo has to offer as part of a natural conversation, with no friction. Glovo has always been about being the everyday app that provides choice and convenience, and this is another step in that direction”, said Shiro Theuri, Chief Technology Officer at Glovo.
How to look for products in the Glovo app through ChatGPT or Claude
- The user must sync ChatGPT or Claude with the Glovo app with the plug-in.
- Once synced, the user must type in @glovo followed by their request.
- The AI platform displays a carousel with 5 available options for the user.
- If the user wants to purchase any of the products or continue searching within the Glovo app, they must click “View on Glovo”, which will redirect the user to the Glovo app or website.
- After the order is confirmed, the store will prepare the item(s) and the courier will head up to the pick-up location. The user will receive the order in minutes.
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