E-Business
Oracle, CWG, Others Reveal Ways to End IT Skill Shortages
Panelists at Oracle Corporation roundtable in Lagos said, unanimously, that although technology is first-rate resource and available in Nigeria, but will become useless without adequate skill sets to harness the potentials.
At the World Economic Forum 2014, it was revealed that technology added six billion jobs, even as world economy increased by $193billion.
Thus, the panelists comprising Adebayo Sanni, country managing director of Oracle Nigeria and other partners- Mr. Austin Okere, group chief executive officer, Computer Warehouse Group, Abdulahmed Mustapha, director general, Lagos State Financial Systems Management Bureau and Toju Onaiwu, director, Software at Edo State ICT Agency, agreed that the in-coming administrations, both at the Federal And State Government levels, must not shy away from the efficacies of using information communication technologies (ICTs) to salvaging the economy from excess dependent on oil and gas.
Leading the discussion, Sanni said that while many may watch the tumbling oil price with dismay, in some ways it can be viewed in a positive light, adding that the loss of oil revenues has compelled the country to give more attention to other areas of the economy, including technology.
According to him, the Country will perform better in the IT space with requisite skill sets, especially with the private and public sector working cordially to ensure the teeming youths in the society are equipped.
A recent survey by the CBI revealed that 39% of firms are already struggling to recruit workers with the advanced technical science, technology, engineering and Maths (STEM) skills they need, and 4% of firms believe that the shortage will persist over the next three years.
In the software and applications development space there is a shortage of developers, especially in Nigeria where the digital economy is expected to grow exponentially.
To tackle this, Sanni said that Oracle and Lagos State have just completed phase 2 of the Lagos State Workforce Development Program, to assist in training graduates on Oracle Database or Oracle E-Business Suite.
The program provides graduates with opportunities to acquire industry-relevant skills and internships within the private sector and in some of the State’s ministries.
Oracle Nigeria also offers hands-on internships at its office situated in Lagos, Abuja, and other African countries, to grow a pipeline of fresh business and ICT talent for Oracle and its West African ecosystem. Currently, 12 interns are engaged at Oracle Nigeria.
He said, “These are just 2 examples of initiatives that Oracle, as a local employer, is driving to support the creation of a technical savvy workforce – other programs include supporting universities and women in leadership activities.
“Technology is no doubt changing the way we live and work around the world and specifically in Nigeria.
“Public and private organizations have a responsibility to work together to help young people acquire key business and IT skills that can help them in turn to cultivate long-term success”.
He said that individuals, companies and governments are already using technology to innovate, bringing a fresh approach to creating new businesses or boosting growth in industries that make up the Nigerian economy.
On his part, Mr. Austin Okere, group chief executive officer, Computer Warehouse Group, said that the Company, now a Group, discovered at the early stage of the business that skill sets are prerequisite to delivering quality products and services to the customers.
He said, the idea gave birth to CWG Academy for training and retraining of CWG staff and those from the partners’ circles.
“This singular idea is now helping OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) galvanize the skills aspects of their business. Even the Lagos Business School has been receiving support from us in the form of tools; we engage the best graduates and release others to help partners and Governments to get their IT practices right.
“We worked with the World Bank to connect students in research institutions and universities. Today, there are 27 universities connected via NgREN and others on the verge of joining,” Okere said.
He identified Oracle Systems as ‘no-brainers’; requiring just interests from the youths to excel.
To, Abdulahmed Mustapha, director general, Lagos State Financial Systems Management Bureau, army of unemployed youths portends a nation seated on a keg of gunpowder; hence the State Government has continued to work with Oracle to find better ways to serve the citizens.
He recalled that, then government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2001, made moves for the computerization of the accounting processes; results are the increase in the internally generated revenue (IGR) from N600miilion to presently N25billion monthly.
Mustapha said, “Oracle Systems have helped us keep our money well in terms of record keeping, which springs over to infrastructural development. In Lagos with about 20 million populations, every Lagosian needs one service or the other. So, technology is the only apparatus that will help less than 200,000 government workers to deliver services to the people and promptly.
“Today, Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (LSPSSDC) has Oracle tools to train workers and develop youths for skills that will benefit the government and other OEMs. Banks are retrenching, telecoms are looking for ways to balance their books, so, when they are not employing, how do we keep the people’s hopes high, as a government? Currently, we are working with UniLag, LASU, LASPOTECH and other tertiary institutions in the State to even get the lecturers ready, because skills transfer is important”.
He expressed confidence that IT developmental agenda of Governor Babatunde Fashola will be sustained by the in-coming administration, adding that, “We have a 25-year developmental plan from where every government in the State draws its aspiration and ICT takes centre stage in the document”.
Also, Toju Onaiwu, director, Software at Edo State ICT Agency said that the Agency was established to booster the knowledge economy of the State.
He said, “”About six years ago when we came in, the Governor Adams Oshomole felt the need to identify key developmental areas, which led to the four-years short term and eight-years long term agenda on using ICT to drive business and governance.
“Right from 2009, we identified Oracle solutions have helped us in the areas of auditing and scrutinizing the workforce for ghost workers, saving N2billion in the first year. Procurement and payment systems are done using Oracle system”.
He said the Government also identified skill sets shortage as setback to actualizing the targets but has succeeded in recruiting youths to aid the Government in that regard.
Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeria’s digital future. “This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she remarked.
According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.
Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion—ensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy. It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.
At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.
Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.
While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.
Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.
Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.
The company has fired those involved, it said.
Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.
Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.
“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.
“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”
The SEC declined to comment.
The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.
Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.
In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.
“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.
Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.
“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.
Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.
The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) presents its report on .ng domain name registration and renewal statistics for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of Nigeria’s digital footprint. The data underscores a consistent and significant adoption of the nation’s Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), reinforcing its pivotal role in the burgeoning Nigerian digital economy.
During the period spanning January to March 2025, a total of 40,791 .ng domain names were recorded. This figure comprises 22,236 new registrations and 18,555 renewals, indicating a healthy balance between the acquisition of new digital identities and the sustained commitment of existing domain name holders to their online presence.
Analysis of the registration trends within the quarter reveals a notable upward trajectory, with a 13.92% increase in domain name registrations observed between February and March 2025.
This growth signifies an increasing recognition of the importance of a localized online identity by a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and larger organizations.
Notably, the .com.ng extension continues to be the dominant choice, accounting for over 60% of both new registrations and renewals. This reaffirms its status as the preferred domain name extension for Nigerian businesses seeking to establish a credible and locally relevant online brand presence while maintaining global accessibility. The sustained popularity of .com.ng underscores its perceived value among Nigerian entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to secure their digital real estate.
This upward trajectory isn’t happening by chance. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has remained intentional in its drive for digital inclusion and domain adoption. Through public education, training via the .ng Academy, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem, NiRA has consistently advocated for the importance of owning a local domain. The current standing of .ng as the second most registered ccTLD in Africa reflects the efficacy of these efforts.
Digital adoption in Nigeria is no longer just about being online—it’s about owning your digital identity. And with a .ng domain, Nigerians are better positioned to assert that identity, connect with local and international audiences, and gain better control over their digital footprints.
As we look toward the rest of 2025, the Q1 results serve as a strong signal: more people are embracing the digital future, and the .ng domain is increasingly becoming their first step.
Creative Economy Ministry Secures $300M Investments Commitment
NITDA DG says its Community IT Centres Should be a Catalyst of Change
African Women Hit Hardest as Mobile Internet Gender Gap Persists
NITDA, CISCO Empower Youth with Digital Skills
Anambra State Government Launches SolutionLens to Drive Transparency and Citizen Engagement
General News2 days agoNITDA Advocates Strategic Partnership in Research to Unlock Nigeria’s Digital Potential
Telecom2 days agoGSMA Urges Governments to Prioritise Affordable Spectrum Costs to Support Global Digital Growth
Telecom2 days agoTelcos Worry over Possible 5 Percent Tax Return
Telecom1 day ago₦800 Billion Infrastructure Plan Set to Boost MTN’s Network Quality Nationwide
Telecom2 days agoSophos Launches MSP Elevate Program to Boost MSP Growth and Profitability
E-Financial2 days agoWhy and How Banks Fail in Nigeria by CIoD Chair
Telecom2 days agoGet Ready: Google Unveils 8 Game-Changing Android Updates
E-Financial2 days agoFirstBank Hikes SMS Alert Fee from N4 to N6