E-Business
Nigeria, Others Record 2m Cyber Attacks in Six Months

Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya recorded over two million phishing (cyber) attacks in the first half of 2021, according to Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), national security adviser.
Monguno who disclosed this recently said that the figure was based on a survey recently conducted by a Bucharest-based “Kaspersky Laboratory’’ in Romania.
He spoke at the recent at a sensitisation workshop for the implementation of the “National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021’’ for the private sector and professional bodies in Lagos.
Represented by Brig.-Gen. Samad Akesode, director of Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser, he said that over 393 cases of these cyber attacks were attributed to Nigeria, representing a 13 per cent decline as compared to the same period in 2020.
“This calls for more proactive measures to protect our exponentially growing internet users in Nigeria.
“It also demonstrates the criticality of the private sector and the need to enhance our defence mechanism and collaborate towards securing our cyberspace for improved productivity and efficiency.
“The key enablers here can be said to be the development of homegrown solutions, capacity building and more attention to research and development,’’ he said.
Monguno also said that a British security software and hardware company in a survey of 65 Nigerian companies revealed that 86 per cent of Nigerian companies fell prey to cyber attacks in 2020.
”This is second highest percentage recorded globally after India and much higher than in South Africa with 64 per cent.
“This means that about 56 out of 65 companies fell prey to various forms of cyber-attacks such as malware, ransomware and data leaks over the past year.’’
The NSA said the increasing dependence on cyberspace came with vulnerabilities, risks and challenges that threatened national security, cyberspace operations and impact negatively on critical infrastructure.
He said that Nigeria’s current digital transformation drive had transformed businesses, social and economic well being with better service delivery, increase in turnovers as well as ease in communication and information sharing.
According to him, despite these gains, like several other countries across the globe, the growth and development of our cyberspace is accompanied by significant and inherent challenges.
“To this end, the private sector is not spared of the challenges the cyberspace presents due to the growing number of interconnected systems as a result of the geometric rise of internet users in Nigeria within the past years.
“It is, therefore, crucial to achieve a safe cyberspace for our economic prosperity, digital transformation of the economy and ultimately national objectives,’’ he said.
Mr Ide Udeagbala, national president, Nigerian Association for Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, lauded the initiative of the ONSA towards protecting the nation’s cyberspace.
Udeagbala was represented by Mr Lawrence Obetta, president, Aba Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
He said that the implementation of the policy would promote a thriving and safe digital economy and digital ecosystem as well as fortify the nation’s cyber defence capability.
“As the voice of Nigerian business, NACCIMA is in support of the efforts of the Federal Government in curbing financial loss, data leak and reputational damage for the private sector and the country in general,’’ Udeagbala said.
E-Business
GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Boost AI Solutions in Emerging Markets

GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI has been unveiled, marking a significant initiative aimed at empowering small and growing enterprises in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.
This fund is designed to foster AI-driven innovations that tackle critical socio-economic and climate challenges, helping underserved regions unlock the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has proven its ability to address pressing global issues, from precision agriculture and renewable energy to remote healthcare and financial inclusion.
Yet, LMICs remain underserved in funding and resources, with only a small percentage of global grants directed toward locally-developed AI solutions.
Despite the growth of AI-driven technologies, these advancements are often not tailored to the unique needs of local populations in LMICs.
The GSMA Innovation Fund seeks to close this gap by identifying, testing, and scaling impactful AI solutions that are contextually relevant and capable of delivering measurable socio-economic and climate benefits.
In partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the GSMA Innovation Fund provides a comprehensive support package to selected enterprises. Key benefits include:
Grant Funding: Ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 for projects lasting 15–18 months.
Tailored Venture Support: Guidance to strengthen business models and improve scalability.
Partnership Opportunities: Facilitation of collaborations with mobile operators, public sector organizations, and other stakeholders.
Peer Learning: Platforms for exchanging knowledge and best practices with other innovators.
Visibility and Exposure: Access to GSMA’s global events, publications, and online platforms to connect with potential investors and partners.
E-Business
MRA Calls for Safer Internet User Rights in Nigeria

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Nigerian government to take legitimate measures to safeguard the rights and safety of internet users in the country.
In a statement released ahead of Safer Internet Day (SID), the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) called on the Nigerian Federal and State governments to take measures to protect internet users’ rights.
MRA highlighted the misuse of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, initially designed to address cybercrime threats.
According to MRA, the Act has been exploited by powerful individuals to intimidate journalists, activists, and citizens, undermining freedom of expression and cybersecurity.
Mr. Ayode Longe, deputy executive director, MRA, emphasised that these actions violate democratic principles and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. He highlighted the SID theme “Together for a Better Internet” as a call for multi-stakeholder cooperation to create a safe and accessible online environment.
Longe noted Nigeria’s progress in digital technology adoption but pointed out persistent online threats, including scams, data breaches, and misinformation.
He stressed the need for legal frameworks that protect users’ rights without compromising their privacy or freedom of expression.
MRA urged the government to review the Cybercrimes Act to ensure it aligns with international human rights standards and to establish guidelines to prevent arbitrary prosecutions.
MRA also called for digital literacy initiatives and collaboration with tech companies to promote online safety.
Additionally, they urged the courts to protect Nigerians’ rights by rejecting unfounded cybercrime cases and ensuring fair application of the law.
Longe reiterated MRA’s commitment to defending digital rights and advocating for a free and open digital environment where everyone can access information and express themselves responsibly.
Together, stakeholders can create an internet where all users, regardless of age or background, can engage safely and freely.
E-Business
Google Messages to Enable WhatsApp Video Calls

Google Messages is reportedly working on a new feature that would allow WhatsApp video calls; the feature was found in the app’s code and is not yet functional, but it reportedly activates when the caller’s device is not running Google Meet.
Users of the tech giant’s first-party app in Mountain View are reportedly able to make video calls more easily because of this functionality.
According to a separate report, the app recently combined the gallery picker with the camera viewfinder when the camera option was opened.
A report from the Android Authority suggests that Google Messages may soon incorporate WhatsApp’s video calling functionality. The functionality was discovered by the publication in Google Messages version 20250131.
The code had a flag for the feature, which was turned on. As a result, consumers cannot try it out at this time.
According to screenshots the website posted, when users select the video call icon in Google Messages, a prompt advising them to use WhatsApp to make video calls appears.
But following the reports, the feature only appears if the caller does not have Google Meet installed.
Interestingly, at the moment, users can only use Meet to make video calls; if they don’t have it loaded, the app asks them to do so before attempting again.
With this new functionality, WhatsApp does not direct users to the chat app when they make a video call.
Rather, it is said to activate the full-screen video conference interface immediately.
If Google Messenger is the user’s main messaging program, this functionality could save them multiple clicks.
Though based on the article, the capability is limited to individual talks.
The app can only use Meet to start video calls in group discussions.
Furthermore, it has been noted that Google Messages does not trigger the WhatsApp video call pop-up if the recipient does not have WhatsApp installed.
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