General News
NITDA Launches Trustmark Seal to Strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Economy
Federal Government has unveiled the Nigerian Digital Trustmark Seal, a cybersecurity initiative aimed at enhancing trust, transparency, and safety across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The launch, which coincided with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, was announced during a press conference organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja.
The event drew participation from key stakeholders including the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), media representatives, and digital economy experts.
Speaking at the event, Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, said the initiative was designed to verify the authenticity of online platforms, businesses, and organisations, thereby protecting consumers from fraudulent and cloned websites.
“The digital economy has been Nigeria’s fastest-growing sector for almost five years, surpassing oil and gas in GDP contribution,” Inuwa said. “However, as we digitise, challenges emerge.
“Technology is a double-edged sword. While good actors use it to drive efficiency, bad actors exploit it to cause harm and erode public trust.”
He explained that the Digital Trustmark Seal was co-created by NITDA, NACCIMA, and GIZ to serve as a visible indicator of authenticity.
The seal will be displayed on verified websites, enabling citizens to easily distinguish between genuine platforms and malicious ones often used for scams and identity theft.
“This initiative is designed to build trust within our digital ecosystem. Every company, e-commerce platform, business, and government organisation will have a Trustmark seal on their website to ensure authenticity,” he added.
Inuwa noted that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises rebuilding public trust through inclusive governance and promoting transparency in the digital space.
He emphasised that the initiative encourages collaboration between the public and private sectors to jointly design and implement solutions that make Nigeria’s digital environment safer and more trustworthy.
“This initiative will also work closely with the private sector. They are the main drivers of adoption, and it won’t be a challenge because, for them, it helps build reputation and customer confidence,” Inuwa said.
“For citizens, it builds confidence and trust that when they interact and transact online, they are dealing with authentic websites and providers,” he added.
Representing NACCIMA, Mr Suleiman Adebayo Audu, an Advisor to the Association, commended NITDA and GIZ for initiating the project, describing it as “a timely and impactful effort” that will improve business confidence and international perception.
“Many genuine Nigerian businesses lose customers due to a lack of trust. This seal will help restore credibility and make Nigerian SMEs more competitive globally. NACCIMA will work with our state chambers to sensitise members and support them through the verification process,” Audu said.
Mr Chinedu Albert, a consultant with GIZ, reaffirmed the organisation’s support, noting that the initiative aligns with GIZ’s broader mission of promoting safe, inclusive, and transparent digital ecosystems across Africa.
“Trust is the foundation of every digital transaction. Without it, progress slows down. Our role is to provide technical expertise and international best practices to ensure the seal serves all, including women-led businesses and startups,” Albert said.
In his remarks, Director of NITDA’s Cybersecurity Department, Dr Mohammed Lawan, described the initiative as a significant milestone in establishing a robust digital trust infrastructure for Nigeria.
“Trust is the currency of the digital economy. This seal will serve as a verifiable digital signature, reducing fraud and enhancing Nigeria’s reputation globally,” Lawan said.
He announced that NITDA would soon roll out stakeholder engagements, capacity-building workshops, and sensitisation programs to drive nationwide adoption of the Digital Trustmark Seal.
The event concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders, including the media, to play a vital role in amplifying awareness and reshaping Nigeria’s image on the global stage.
Federal government has taken a significant step to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s education system by deploying the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD), a national digital platform that secures, digitizes, and authenticates academic records across all tertiary institutions.
Forgery
Maruf Tunji Alausa, minister of Education, unveiled the initiative during the National Capacity Building Programme for institutional representatives, underscoring NERD’s importance as a critical national infrastructure for safeguarding academic credentials and strengthening education data governance.
“NERD is essential to our reform agenda under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Alausa stated.
“It ensures reliable digital preservation and verification of academic records, which is vital for maintaining the credibility of our education system.”
According to Alausa, in the brief span of four months since its implementation, NERD has made remarkable progress, successfully preserving nearly 100,000 digital student submissions and integrating over 250 tertiary institutions.
The platform has also enrolled more than 133,000 students and 6,800 lecturers, significantly enhancing the academic record-keeping process.
Alausa highlighted that the initiative is a proactive measure against certificate fraud, noting recent investigations that revealed cases involving fraudulent foreign credentials procured from unaccredited institutions.
This underscores the urgency of protecting the integrity of academic qualifications in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the Ministry announced that participation in the NERD system will soon become a prerequisite for either participation in or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps scheme, reinforcing the initiative’s impact on the educational landscape.
The Federal Government remains committed to building a transparent, digitally verifiable, and globally respected education system, ensuring that the integrity of academic records is upheld across the nation.
General News
Goodnews Naija Launches ‘Building in Nigeria’ Series on Entrepreneurs, Real Sector Builders
Goodnews Naija Podcast, a digital platform dedicated to highlighting positive, uplifting stories and innovations from Nigeria, has launched Building in Nigeria, a documentary-style series aimed at spotlighting entrepreneurs and businesses contributing to economic activity and job creation across the country.
The series explores the realities of running and scaling businesses in Nigeria, featuring founders, operators, and innovators across sectors including manufacturing, services, agriculture, and sustainability.
Through interviews and on-ground visuals from workshops, markets, factories, and small offices, the programme examines the operational discipline, challenges, and execution processes required to build viable enterprises in a complex business environment.
Damilola Kehinde, host of the series, said the programme focuses on entrepreneurs whose contributions to economic progress often receive limited visibility.
According to the producer, Memunat Oladepo, the series seeks to move beyond surface narratives by providing practical insights into how Nigerian businesses are started, sustained, and grown despite infrastructure gaps, funding constraints, and market volatility.
The organisers said Building in Nigeria is targeted at entrepreneurs, investors, and policy-interested audiences seeking grounded perspectives on enterprise development in the country.
The first season is scheduled to premiere on March 11, 2026, across Goodnews Naija’s YouTube channel, social media platforms, and podcast platforms, where it recorded over 24 hours of viewership within the first day of release.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned Lagos traders against enforcing the unlawful “no return, no refund” policy, declaring it illegal under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
FCCPC
Dr Olubunmi Otti, FCCPC Southwest Zonal Coordinator, issued the directive during the inauguration of new executives of the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA) on Wednesday, stressing consumer education as the strongest defence against market exploitation.
“There is no such thing as ‘no return, no refund’. If a product does not fulfil its intended purpose, the consumer has the right to return it,” Otti declared, adding the commission mediates complaints for refunds, replacements, or exchanges.
Non-compliant businesses face fines, product withdrawals, seizures, prosecutions, or shutdowns. Otti noted thousands of monthly complaints via the FCCPC portal in the Southwest alone, with sensitisation expanding to Alaba Market and Trade Fair Complex.
She urged consumers: “When your rights are violated, do not just say, ‘You give it to God.’ Bring your complaints to the FCCPC. The law empowers us to protect you,” while calling for traders’ collective responsibility to ensure quality products and services.
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