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Nigeria is Favourable, Vigorous Market- Spreadborough

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John Spreadborough, general manager, Westcon Mobility in Pan Emerging Africa, heads up the Motorola based EMB products and associated solution vendors, plus the company’s Print and Scan business.
Spreadborough formerly worked as managing director of TallyGenicom’s Middle East, Africa and India businesses and has over 20 years in the printing and scanning industry.
 Before joining TallyGenicom, he also ran his own Industrial Systems company called Dicoll Industrial, which specialised in measurement systems for tough environments.
Spreadborough, spoke to Miebi Senge on Westcon’s investment in the Nigerian IT market and its strategic partnership with Motorola to increase intake of enterprise solutions in the Sub-Saharan market which he heads from Lagos.

Westcon
WestCom Global is structured as a US leading organization and present in the UK and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
We have a lot of offices across Europe and North America, and about 140 subsidiary companies across the world, of which one is based in Nigeria.
So we have a management team and stock people here.  We do not manage businesses necessary from London or from the United States; a lot of our decisions here are reached in consonance with the local markets demands.
To us, Nigeria is a very favourable and vigorous market recognized across the globe; therefore we are very comfortable with the management team working here.

Westcon’s Business in Nigeria
Our Nigerian business covers the entire West Africa subregion. We have several organisations in Senegal, Cameroun, and all of (Anglo) West and Central Africa.
Although, I may not give you a breakdown of the volume in individual country, at the same time, the volume of our business this year in Africa will be about $150 million.
We are optimistic about continued fulfilling businesses in Africa.

 Accessing Nigeria’s Enterprise Market
Sure, the market is so fast moving. There are comments in some quarters about the Nigeria economy overtaking South Africa’s between 2015/16.
And the country is catching on and moving on steadily. But when you look at how that translates in the enterprise market space… I do not think it is that forward, stable and matured as the South African.
Truly, there is a tremendous revolution in technology adoption and inclusion in Nigeria in the recent times than as in South Africa; thus in Nigeria, a lot of people and corporations are moving forward adopting measures that would support them both now and in the future.
For instance they are embracing the cloud abandoning papers and that is a characteristic that impacts on the market.
Even if we do not have answers as regards the market size, what gladdens one’s heart is the level of enthusiasms to adopt technology and the sophistications of the adopted technologies by various companies.
The process is revealing the country’s or the market’s expertise in using technology to change the tune of events. Therefore, as the Nigerian market is getting more sophisticated it will embrace features that will push it to move fast in the nearest future. 

View of Technological Migration to Data
The adoption of unified communications in various applications, for instance, is a sure way of improving on the space, especially for the enterprise.
A number of companies, like Microsoft are making it possible. Some of the things we heard from Nigerians, especially the Nigerian telecom sector are growing a unified technology ecosystem for the sector to mitigate the challenges that each unit faces.
Those things are evolving in Nigeria, for instance the adoption of wireless broadband is one of the aspects of the market is being driven forward; it is not actually easy to deploy multiple technologies to mitigate the lack of infrastructure in a country.
The World Bank published a report last year which was showing; in terms of supply there is a huge amount of data being spread all over Africa including Nigeria; which shows there is viability as data is very attractive to the people. However, the next big step is to look at the infrastructure.

 Any plan with your partner – Motorola – to migrate broadband infrastructure from the shoreline to hinter land?
Well, there is migration. We have a technology that some companies are using in migrating the infrastructure to the hinterlands.
The local organizations are actually the ones that thinker on the resources to drive the next step.
 
Programmes to Enhance Carriers in the Enterprise Sector
Some of the carriers are moving into the enterprise themselves in terms of deploying data solutions for the consumer.
If we review what is happening in the Middle East, a lot of local and multi-nationals bringing data services up to consumer level.
Such is likely to happen here whereby the local companies deliver the data and also generate the internet for the consumer’s usage.
Through that means, the enterprise market will deepen. Meanwhile, from the enterprise perspective when the volume of data rises then, there will be specific technology we will be looking at. Similarly, a lot of companies are increasing their investment portfolio and resources in Africa.
For instance, Coca Cola has increased its investment to $1 billion. Those guys in enterprise space are putting their money where the cash is going to come from in future, which is Africa.

Playing in the Cashless Nigeria Regime
There are a couple of things that are happening in the sector that are quite interesting. The moment manufacturers come out with physical printers, so that is the text collecting machines, and other automation devices, that is part of the cashless economy.
The direction of the present policy is going to fall in line with the style adopted in East Africa. So, we have some technologies that are geared towards cashless economy.
We have been working with some banks and pay systems; we have local banking systems that will even help bring to the banks the unbanked in small villages.
When that is exploited, it will open up the cashless economy even further. So these are the steps coming up next and I expect it happens soon. In other words, mobile banking is the next step.

Mobility in the Nigeria Economy in the Next 5 Years
I see the mobility on a fast lane. Everything is moving from plan to execution. With the double digit in technology growth in West Africa happening more recently, in the last five years, Nigeria has been the leader in over a decade, and I see that trend continuing even further than most analysts expect.   


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Haleon Introduces New Corporate Identity in Nigeria

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Haleon, a global consumer health company with a purpose to deliver better everyday health, is introducing its corporate identity across Nigeria in a phased transition. Trusted brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne, Macleans, Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000 and Andrews Liver Salts remain unchanged in formulation, quality, and effectiveness.

Following the formal demerger from GSK, Haleon was launched on July 18, 2022, as an independent company 100% focused on consumer health. Haleon is the new home for brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Centrum and others, trusted by millions worldwide for their proven effectiveness in improving everyday health.

From relieving tooth sensitivity or pain to providing essential vitamins and nutrients, our products are designed to fulfil Haleon’s purpose: to deliver better everyday health with humanity.

This revised corporate identity is a branding change only and does not affect the safety, quality, or efficacy of the products. Haleon is sharing this update as part of its commitment to transparency and consumer confidence, helping consumers continue to choose the brands they know and trust.

Haleon’s collaboration with Fidson Healthcare forms part of this approach, reinforcing the value of local production in supporting trusted everyday health brands in Nigeria.

Panadol Extra 100s and Panadol Pain & Fever 100s are currently being produced and supplied to the market under the Haleon identity. Sensodyne Rapid Action will bear the Haleon corporate identity from mid-June, followed by Andrews Liver Salts later this year.

In due course, additional brands—including Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000, Macleans, and the wider Sensodyne portfolio—will also transition to the Haleon identity.

Haleon remains committed to ensuring consumers can continue to access the same high-quality brands at pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets across Nigeria.

“As Haleon introduces its identity in Nigeria, we want consumers to feel informed and reassured. The trusted products they rely on remain the same in quality, formulation and effectiveness.

“At the same time, our local production approach in partnership with Fidson Healthcare supports reliable access to high-quality everyday health products in Nigeria,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.

 


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Elon Musk Makes History as the World’s First Trillionaire

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Tech entrepreneur and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, has become the world’s first trillionaire after the successful public listing of SpaceX pushed his net worth beyond the $1 trillion mark.

Elon Musk Makes History as the World’s First Trillionaire

Elon Musk

According to multiple financial reports, Musk’s fortune surged to approximately $1.1 trillion following SpaceX’s historic stock market debut on June 12, making him the first individual in history to achieve the milestone.

The sharp increase in wealth was driven primarily by SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO), which valued the company at more than $1.7 trillion at listing before rising above $2 trillion during its first day of trading. Musk’s holdings in SpaceX, combined with his stakes in Tesla and other ventures, significantly boosted his net worth.

Musk, 54, is also the founder or co-founder of companies including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company. He acquired social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in a $44 billion deal and has remained one of the most influential figures in technology and business.

Financial analysts noted that Musk’s wealth now far exceeds that of any other billionaire.

Matt Durot, deputy editor at Forbes Wealth, said the gap between Musk and the world’s second-richest individual had widened significantly, with no other person currently close to the trillion-dollar threshold.

Despite the historic achievement, Musk’s vast wealth has reignited debates over global inequality and the responsibilities of ultra-wealthy individuals in addressing humanitarian challenges.

Advocacy groups have frequently pointed to issues such as hunger, disease eradication and access to education as areas where large-scale private philanthropy could make a significant impact.

In 2021, Musk publicly challenged the United Nations to provide a detailed plan showing how billions of dollars could help combat world hunger. Although a proposal was later presented, no donation followed.

Analysts note that much of Musk’s wealth remains tied to company shares rather than liquid cash, meaning his net worth can fluctuate significantly with market movements.

Nevertheless, the SpaceX IPO marks a historic moment in global finance, placing Musk in a wealth category previously considered unimaginable.

Commenting on Musk’s business achievements, Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, described him as “the Edison of our time.”

Musk’s rise from co-founding internet startup Zip2 in the 1990s to becoming the world’s first trillionaire is regarded by many analysts as one of the most remarkable wealth creation stories in modern history.


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Kaspersky Warns of “Grey” Scam Websites Exploiting User Trust

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Recent research by Kaspersky has shown that the so-called “grey” websites repeatedly target all world regions, and this may be driving both financial loss and large-scale data harvesting.

Grey websites are deceptive online platforms that fall outside traditional phishing definitions but still manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal data. Kaspersky’s new report provides detailed insights into the threats posed by the grey websites on global and regional levels.

Unlike classic phishing attacks, which aim to steal credentials outright, grey websites rely on persuasion, misleading interfaces, and hidden terms to exploit users. They often impersonate legitimate services such as e-commerce platforms, financial tools, AI services, or subscription-based content, making them significantly harder to detect.

Kaspersky analysis shows that the majority of suspicious resources globally fall into several recurring categories:

  • Fake browser extensions and “security tools” that actually harvest browsing data and track user activity.
  • Fraudulent financial platforms including crypto exchanges, trading tools, and investment schemes promising unrealistic returns.
  • Intermediary services (e.g., legal or real estate), charging for low-value or nonexistent services while harvesting sensitive personal data.
  • Subscription traps offering low-cost trials that convert into costly recurring payments hidden in fine print.
  • Fake online shops that either deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.

Example of a grey website.

A notable trend is the emergence of tools disguised as AI services or image-processing platforms, reflecting attackers’ ability to adapt to current digital trends and target younger audiences.

There are proven security solutions that help users to detect grey websites across different types of devices – those running on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. The detection model is based on many factors, including domain name and age, IP reputation, stability of the infrastructure used, DNS configurations, HTTP security headers, digital identity and popularity of the web resource and other criteria.

Regional specifics

Regional variations in grey websites demonstrate how threat actors localise scams based on user behaviour and trending technologies.

In Europe, the threat landscape is dominated by links to suspicious browser extensions and fake “privacy-enhancing” tools.

These resources often present themselves as security solutions, promising safer browsing or anonymous search capabilities. In reality, they function as browser hijackers – intercepting traffic, collecting cookies, tracking user behaviour, and injecting advertisements.

The popularity of these threats reflects a high level of user concern around privacy and security, which attackers actively exploit. Additionally, these regions show a steady presence of phishing intermediaries and crypto-related scams, indicating a blend of technical and financially motivated attacks.

Across African markets, financial scams are the most prominent category of suspicious resources. Fraudulent trading platforms, fake brokers, and investment schemes frequently mimic legitimate financial services, often accompanied by fabricated licenses or endorsements.

These platforms typically prevent users from withdrawing funds, instead introducing additional “fees” or taxes to prolong the scam. The concentration of these threats highlights how attackers leverage growing interest in online investing while exploiting gaps in regulatory enforcement and financial literacy.

In the Middle East and North Africa region, suspicious resources frequently mimic communication (Internet telephony) tools, financial platforms, or betting services. Additionally, Ponzi-style investment schemes and crypto scams are widespread, often presented through polished interfaces that mimic legitimate platforms.

Web browser-based threats also play a significant role, with malicious extensions targeting user data and browsing activity. The regional threat profile reflects a convergence of financial fraud and technical compromise, where users risk both data exposure and monetary loss.

“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance. But they exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click on what looks like a harmless AI image tool, a “secure” browser extension, or a heavily discounted online shop could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.

Instead of direct credential theft, attackers turn to behavioural manipulation – whether that’s subscribing, investing, or installing software,” comments Anna Larkina, Web Content and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky.

 


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