E-Business
Opeke Makes Case for Increased Technology Adoption in Nigeria
Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to accelerate increase technology adoption, adding that a recent survey carried out by the company classified Nigeria as one of the world’s top three consumers of the Internet.
Opeke made this known at the MainOne’s flagship IT event, Nerds Unite, which held recently in Lagos with the theme ‘Radical Digital Transformation.’ She stated that aside from connectivity to the Internet, there was the need to work together in increasing the rate of technology adoption, local data hosting and content distribution in Nigeria.
Opeke further emphasized that it was important to engage technology gurus in sharing ideas and finding new ways of technology to improve the standard of living, adding that the conference was a platform designed to bring together professionals from the world of technology.
According to Opeke, “technology is critical to the sustenance of the Nigerian community. There is no way the economy will grow without technology, and the need for radical digital transformation”.
At the event, other Information Technology experts highlighted the importance of applying technology to every facet of life in line with digital transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
The keynote speaker at the event, Nnamdi Oranye, urged Nigerians to be passionate about the development of their country, adding that technology remained the only way to move the country forward.
Oranye, who is the author of ‘Disrupting Africa’, stated that a recent United Nations survey estimated that Nigeria would be the third largest country in the world by 2050.
He said Nigeria could not afford to fail as a country, adding that Africa would be highly dependent on Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria is described as a developing country because of its low industrial base.
Oranye further stated that before the country could be developed, technology and innovation had to be used to identify new trends, incentivise actions and develop new ideas. He added that people should take advantage of available tools to build a legacy for the coming generations.
During a panel discussion centred on ‘Disruptive Solutions for Enterprise,’ Chibuzor Ezeasor, Presales Customer Solutions Manager, SAP West Africa, said technology could be used to engage customers and the workforce in an organisation.
Ezeasor shared that SAP, through its CSR programme, would organise events and training around Africa for young entrepreneurs and developers. He said SAP would also build an application for entrepreneurs to build other applications.
Also speaking at the event, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft, emphasised the need for the SMEs to adopt technology. “enterprises are driven by customer experience and engagement and technology can be adopted to get adequate feedback and suggestions”, Adeniji-Adele stated.
Adeniji-Adele, who noted the interdependence of technology and innovation, also stated that there was no way an entrepreneur could innovate without using technology.
He stated that 62 per cent of the revenue generate by Microsoft was from the innovation of CloudShare.
On the other hand, the Senior Government Manager at Avanti Communications, Srinath Logasubramanian, described innovation as critical to human existence, adding that the day innovation ends, is the day the world will come to an end.
He noted that even big companies had to be on their toes in innovation in order not be pushed out of business by new firms and hinted that Avanti would be launching a satellite system in March to cover broadband services across sub-Saharan Africa.
E-Business
NITDA, NIMC Partner for Seamless Data Exchange Capabilities
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of public-key infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up.
This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
E-Business
Expert Urges FG to Harmonise NIN, BVN to Tackle Crimes
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
E-Business
Konga launches Infinix Brand Week with Incredible Deals
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce group, is thrilled to announce the launch of amazing deals at its Infinix Brand Week. Infinix, a leading global smartphone brand known for its innovative products and cutting-edge technology promises exclusive discounts and special offers on select smartphones, marking an exciting milestone in the realm of online shopping.
Shoppers can expect nothing short of extraordinary deals on a wide range of Infinix products, all available exclusively on the Konga online platform. With discounts of up to 30% off, this partnership between Konga and Infinix aims to redefine the shopping experience for tech enthusiasts across Nigeria.
Konga Brand Week has become synonymous with excitement and unbeatable deals, and this year’s edition is no exception. In addition to exclusive discounts on Infinix smartphones, shoppers can explore a diverse array of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more.
“At Konga, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible,” said Rita Ohaedoghasi, VP Marketing at Konga. “The Infinix Week during Konga Brand Week allows us to continue delivering on that promise by offering incredible discounts and special offers on some of the most sought-after smartphones in the market.”
To stay updated on the latest developments and exclusive deals during Konga Brand Week, shoppers are encouraged to connect with Konga across all platforms, including social media and the Konga website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to score big savings and elevate your tech game with Infinix and Konga.
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