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Nigeria Risks Exclusion from 4IR Over Low IPv6 Adoption

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As Nigeria is aiming to remain competitive in the emerging fourth industrial revolution, experts have identified slow adoption of internet protocol version six (IPv6) by mobile operators as a hindrance to achieving this objective, Nigeria communicationsweek was told.

The fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Globalisation 4.0 is the current and developing environment in which disruptive technologies and trends such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality and others would dictate the pace of development among nations.

Affirming the correlation between IPv6 adoption and the country’s participation in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), Mohammed Rudman, chairman, Nigeria IPv6 Council, said that IPv6 was invented because of advent of internet of things, Artificial intelligence, smart city solutions among other technologies that are going to drive fourth industrial revolution, as the number of devices on the internet will increase astronomically and IPv4 cannot accommodate them.

“We really need more mobile operators to adopt IPv6 in the country if we are to play in the fourth industrial revolution as more devices are getting identified on the internet and you cannot use Network Address Translation (NAT) for IoT, Artificial intelligence, 5G and other smart city technologies.

“There is need for these devices to be identified on the internet and not on private IP addresses. The earlier we adopt IPv6 the better for the country in terms of learning through building technical capacity in gradual manner than adopting late that comes with a stiff learning curve,” he noted.

According to Google’s IPv6 adoption report, Nigeria is at 0.01% substantially behind South Africa at 0.4%, Zimbabwe at 6.01% and Gabon at 14.38%, Kenya at 5.67%, Togo 5.81% all well below the global average of 29.44%,

Rudman added that IPv4 and IPv6 will coexist for the next 10 years even after IPv4 has been exhausted by the regional internet registries.

NAT is a methodology of remapping one IP address space into another by modifying network address information in Internet Protocol (IP) datagram packet headers while they are in transit across a traffic routing device.

Chris Uwaje, director general, Director General, Delta State Innovation Hub (DS-IHUB), said Africa may not be globally competitive if the governments fail to adopt IPv6 on time, noting that IPv6 will one day become the absolute default Prefixes for the Internet.

“Globally, the next battlefield for sustainable development and wealth creation resides in IPv6 and IoT strategic knowledge configuration. Africa stands at the dawn of technology opportunity and will benefit immensely, if government and industry lead the advocacy to passionately promote innovation through IPv6 adoption and IoT transmission as combined accelerator to create something and change everything,” he stated.

Stakeholders have Identified challenges fuelling lack of IPv6 adoption in Nigeria to include but not limited to absence of the requisite technical skills; core, metro and edge equipment compatibility issues; nonexistence of IPv6 upstream service providers; and lack of business case for most Internet service providers.


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E-Business

Report Reveals Most Organisations Fear AI-driven Cyberattacks but Lack Key Defences

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A recent Kaspersky study reveals that businesses are increasingly worried about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cyberattacks.

According to the findings, 70% of surveyed companies in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region reported a rise in cyber incidents over the past year, with over half of respondents (53%) noting that many of these attacks were likely AI-driven.

The study underscores the reality that AI, which has revolutionised numerous industries, is now also empowering cybercriminals, adding an additional layer of complexity to the threats businesses face.

In its latest study titled “Cyber defense & AI: Are you ready to protect your organisation?” Kaspersky gathered the opinions of IT Security and Information Security professionals working for SMEs and Enterprise-level companies regarding new challenges in protecting their organisations against cyberattacks involving the use of AI.

Leveraging AI by cybercriminals is a serious concern for 73% of respondents from the META region. The pressure of this challenge is pushing companies to reassess their cybersecurity strategies and look for solutions that are both proactive and comprehensive.

To effectively tackle AI-amplified threats, businesses in the META region consider regular training to build internal expertise (94%), highly qualified personnel (94%), and relevant external cybersecurity expertise (93%) as the most important factors for protecting their organisations.

They also recognise the importance of having enough staff in their IT teams (91%) and using third-party security solutions (89%).

Despite rising awareness, the study reveals a concerning gap in readiness among many companies.

Over half of the organisations surveyed in the META region lack crucial resources needed to address these sophisticated threats – 56% don’t have the relevant external cybersecurity expertise at their disposal, 51% report that their IT teams are not large enough, 44% lack highly qualified staff, and 45% fall short in regular training efforts.

Additionally, 49% of respondents do not think they have adequate security solutions in place, exposing them to potential vulnerabilities. While most respondents claim to know how to address this lack of resources, the fact remains that they aren’t in place.

“The cybersecurity landscape today mirrors past challenges, with businesses questioning if current solutions suffice. Ransomware, once a primary threat, now demonstrates a dangerous surge, and business decision-makers start questioning the causes of this resurgence.

“The recent hype around AI offers an easy, if not entirely correct explanation. In reality, while using AI to create convincing phishing messages or more effective reconnaissance may be of some help, the root causes are most often more straightforward: cybercriminals have become more organised, better at collaborating, developing innovative attack strategies, and lowering the barriers for less skilled and resourceful attackers.

“So, while it’s useful to keep an eye on AI progress that can enable both attackers and defenders with new options, there are solid strategies companies can – and should – implement immediately.

“Companies should prioritise securing critical IT infrastructure with robust, multi-layered solutions that offer a unified security context. An XDR ecosystem, combined with skilled expertise – whether in-house or through a managed service – can greatly enhance defences.

“Additionally, ongoing employee training, including cybersecurity basics and safe AI practices, adds another critical layer of protection for the organisation,”  says Oleg Gorobets, corporate infrastructure protection expert at Kaspersky.

 


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Dr. Krishnan Bags Icon of Innovation and Digital Transformation in Africa @ CIO Awards

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Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa at Africa Data Centres, a seasoned ICT and Telecommunications industry veteran, has been recognized as the “Icon of Innovation and Digital Transformation” at the prestigious CIO & C-Suite Conference & Awards.

The award, presented by Edniesal Consulting Limited, acknowledges Dr Krishnan’s significant contributions to Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

With over three decades of experience across multiple industries, Dr Krishnan has been instrumental in driving digital innovation and fostering strategic partnerships across the continent. His visionary leadership has been pivotal in addressing Africa’s unique challenges, including limited internet access, affordability, and infrastructure.

“We are honoured to recognize Dr Krishnan for his exceptional achievements. His dedication to innovation and digital transformation has made a profound impact on Africa’s technological landscape,” said Abiola Laseinde, CEO of Edniesal Consulting.

In response to the award, Dr Krishnan expressed gratitude to Africa Data Centres and his team, emphasizing the importance of addressing Africa’s connectivity challenges to unlock the full potential of digital transformation.

This latest recognition adds to Dr. Krishnan’s growing list of accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards and recently the Data Centre Personality of the Year award at the 2024 Tech Innovation Awards (TIA).


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Mastercard, Alerzo, and e-Trade Alliance Unite to Enhance Financial Inclusion for 10,000 MSMEs

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Mastercard has collaborated with Alerzo, a leading Nigerian B2B e-commerce company, and the USAID-funded e-Trade Alliance to accelerate the digital transformation of and enhance financial inclusion among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

This collaboration aims to empower over 10,000 MSMEs with cutting-edge digital and financial solutions, enabling them to achieve sustainable growth and thrive in the digital economy.

Despite Nigeria’s progress in digital technology adoption, MSMEs still face significant challenges, including complex supply chains, reliance on manual, error-prone inventory management, and limited access to essential financial services.

This collaboration addresses these obstacles with user-friendly digital and financial solutions tailored to local MSMEs, such as Alerzoshop, Alerzo’s digital B2B marketplace; and Veedez, a comprehensive digital payment and business management tool, complemented by training initiatives to boost financial and digital literacy.

“Mastercard is committed to driving financial inclusion and empowering small businesses worldwide. Our collaboration with Alerzo, and the e-Trade Alliance in Nigeria provides MSMEs the digital tools and resources needed to thrive in today’s digital economy. By facilitating seamless digital payments and offering comprehensive business management solutions, we are fostering a more inclusive financial ecosystem and driving innovation and growth within the sector.

“This collaboration demonstrates the immense possibilities that can be unlocked through the power of public-private partnerships,” said Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager, West Africa, Mastercard.

Alerzoshop enables MSMEs to stock up using their phones, enhancing their access to suppliers and facilitating secure, efficient and seamless digital payments via Mastercard’s global network.

Veedez is redefining how small businesses operate by helping them digitize processes, unlock new sales opportunities, and increase revenue, with micro-lending services providing vital financial support.

Adewale Opaleye, CEO, Alerzo Limited, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Mastercard, and e-Trade Alliance for this digital transformation project in Nigeria.

“As the leading partner of choice for informal retailers and MSMEs, we recognize our responsibility to introduce digital retail solutions that will strengthen the economy and facilitate the adoption of a cashless society for the collective benefit of all.

“This initiative is part of our commitment to connecting millions of MSMEs in Nigeria to a world where digital connectivity is integrated into their businesses, making them more profitable and fulfilling.”

This collaboration aims to deliver targeted financial and digital training to 10,000 MSMEs across Nigeria by year-end. Introducing innovative, cost-effective payment solutions like Mastercard’s Tap to Pay, QR codes, Pay-By-Link, and Payment Gateway Services will accelerate digital payment adoption.

Upgrades to Alerzo’s infrastructure will enable seamless payment processing through the Mastercard network, benefitting MSMEs immediately upon signing up for Veedez, available on the App Store and Google Play.

Michael Poor, Senior Manager, Nextrade Group, e-Trade Alliance implementing partner, said, “This public-private sector collaboration underscores our dedication to fostering inclusive economic growth through digital transformation.

“By combining our expertise in skills development for ecommerce, inclusive trade, and access to finance, we aim to support Nigerian MSMEs in overcoming the challenges they face in the digital economy.

“Together with Alerzo and Mastercard, we are committed to empowering small businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed to power more inclusive, sustainable growth in Nigeria.”

This collaboration underscores the commitment of all parties to empower Nigerian MSMEs by furthering the digital transformation of the economy and enhancing financial inclusion.

It supports Mastercard’s goal of bringing one billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025 and deepening collaborations with international institutions to drive more sustainable, inclusive economic development.


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