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Sidmach Eager to Sign Up 20,000 Schools on SmartSchool in Next 12 Months

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(L-r): Michael Olajide, executive director, Sales Market; Hassan Alao, executive director, Finance and Admin; Mr. Peter Arogundade, managing director; Chijioke Ekeh, chairman, all management staff of Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited; Oluwawemimo Adeniyi, director, Small Midmarket Solutions and Partners Group, Microsoft Nigeria, and Dr. Simpa Dania, Sabaoth Technologies Limited, during the launch of Sidmach Software Solutions in Lagos, recently.
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The need for accurate data to education and national planning cannot be overemphasized. In line with this, Sidmach Technologies joined forces with tech giant, Microsoft, to launch its cloud solutions, signaling it plans to sign up 20,000 schools within the next twelve months.

The Sidmach Cloud solutions are expected to assist enable organizations and individuals improve productivity, grow revenue, reduce operational costs, reach new markets and improve efficiency for educational and health institutions in the country.

The cloud platform offers a host of custom solutions including SmartSchool, School Safety Portal, APMIS together with Microsoft flagship offerings like Office 365, Skype for business, Azure and others.

Speaking at a press conference to unveil the cloud solutions in Lagos, Mr. Peter Arogundade, managing director, Sidmach Technologies, noted that this is an era of digital transformation for businesses and what the cloud platforms enables businesses to do is to operate without boundaries.

“Our SmartSchool is an effective, reliable, and affordable school management solutions developed totally in compliance with UNESCO and Nigerian Government education policy framework. It simplifies and improves school administration,” the MD said.

Speaking further on another of the solutions, Mr Arogundade said that the All-Purpose Medical Information Solution (APMIS) is an innovative, affordable, Medical Information System which connects all stakeholders on a single platform to harness the values that are inherent in seamless connectivity of health service delivery, education, research and administration.

He stated that, “APMIS is more than just a hospital information management software. It mitigates the challenges associated with information for hospital owners, healthcare professionals, caregivers, patients, government, health maintenance organisations, intervention agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and other stakeholders in the health sector.”

Mr Arogundade said schools will be able to use this cloud platform for free till the end of the current session and will only need to subscribe from next session.

On her part, Oluwawemimo Adeniyi, director, Small Midmarket Solutions and Partners Group, Microsoft Nigeria, noted that this is in line with Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider Program, designed to strengthen customer relationships and expand cloud sales opportunities by enabling partners to provide direct billing, sell combined offers and services, as well as directly provide, manage and support products and services.

The implication, according to Mrs Adeniyi is that Sidmach Technologies owns the complete customer lifecycle, allowing it to easily sell her Solutions and Microsoft offerings which includes but not limited to Office 365, Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 subscriptions and helping customers drive new business value through the cloud by owning the entire billing process and directly managing support.

Also speaking, Mr. Michael Olajide, executive director, Sales Market, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, said that the company was motivated to develop the solution (smartschool) in lieu of the need for reliable data to assist government and school proprietors to make informed decisions and plan for the future.

According to him, “On the course of our research we discovered there are State with registered and unregistered schools, which shows that proper record management is paramount to assist them perform better. Thus, our target is to register about 20,000 schools within the next one year. The moment a school adopts the smartschool it covers the proprietor, teachers, students and parents/guidance and the key purpose is for each of the stakeholder to perform better”.

However, Mr. Chijioke Ekeh, chairman of the Company said that the solution has developed in the simplest form to enable easy navigation and enhance adoption.

Mr. Ekeh said, “In the process of putting the smartschool solution together, it took a lot of brainstorming to come up with the simple and effective solution. We took note of the fact that not all is tech savvy; thus, we make bold to say that the average literate person can use the platform”.

Sidmach also added that the smartschool solution will enable schools focus on their core-competences while the platform takes charge of the curriculum and some administrative responsibilities off their shoulders.

 

 


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GEFAS Launches Tech-Driven Hub to Mobilize Youth for Soludo’s Re-election

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Geeks and Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS) on Thursday 17th July, 2025 unveiled its new office space in a significant event that further strengthens the group’s mission to drive Governor Soludo’s “everything technology, technology everywhere” vision across Anambra State.

The unveiling was performed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, who could not contain his excitement and amazement at the level of sophistication of the facility and the vibrancy of the young professionals and tech enthusiasts behind the initiative.

Prof. Chukwulobelu commended the GEFAS team for building such a dynamic platform, uniting diverse sectors under a common goal to support Anambra’s digital transformation and Governor Soludo’s re-election bid at the November 8 Governorship Poll, without requesting a dime from the government.

He noted that their efforts reflect growing youth support for his administration.

“Our goal is to secure victory in the upcoming election and continue delivering good governance to the people of Anambra. Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra

There is no vacancy in Government House come November 2025,” he added.

He urged GEFAS members to remain steadfast and resilient in the face of opposition, adding that the government would collaborate with and complement GEFAS to ensure its vision is further integrated into governance for greater impact.

Also present to lend credence to the movement was the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, who described GEFAS as a strategic and dynamic angle to the campaigns.

He lauded the initiative, stating that it exemplifies the power of digital tools in modern political campaigning and governance, and expressed optimism that a second term for Governor Soludo would unlock even more innovative solutions for Ndi Anambra.

In her remarks, Ms. Odili Jombo, a coordinator with GEFAS, shared the impressive results of the Alliance’s outreach so far.

She revealed that the GEFAS Call Centre, with its team of 21 dedicated agents, has already reached over 20,000 Ndi Anambra, gathering valuable insights on citizens’ sentiments about Mr. Governor’s performance and their disposition towards the upcoming elections, an experience she described, has recorded more positives than negatives.

She further announced that GEFAS will soon unveil a mobile WiFi bus, among other top-tier initiatives designed to change the campaign landscape and further position Anambra as a leading tech state.

The event was well attended by top government officials, members of the media, tech stakeholders, and other well-meaning Ndi Anambra, many of whom expressed amazement at what GEFAS has created and pledged unwavering support for them and Governor Soludo’s continuity at the November polls.

Explaining the passion behind GEFAS, the Convener and MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the Alliance as a continuity-driven force working to align with Governor Soludo’s vision of moving Anambra from a departure lounge to a destination lounge.

“We believe that together, leveraging technology, we can drive the real change Anambra truly deserves,” he said.

With this milestone, GEFAS remains committed to driving technology-driven engagement that delivers practical impact and amplifies the Solution Government’s transformational strides.


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HCSF Describes Galaxy Backbone as a Strategic Partner in Civil Service Digitalization Reforms

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In a significant move towards accelerating the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, paid a strategic working visit to Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Limited, Nigeria’s foremost ICT infrastructure and shared services provider.

The visit, which took place at GBB’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) and Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, forms part of the HCSF’s efforts to deepen collaboration and assess the technological infrastructure supporting the government’s ongoing digitalisation reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre, and a delegation of Permanent Secretaries and Directors from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the visit featured an extensive tour of GBB’s cutting-edge Digital Infrastructure facilities. These included its Network Operations Centre (NOC), Security Operations Centre (SOC), and Uptime Institute Certified Tier III Data Centre; all built to ensure a secure, scalable, and sovereign digital infrastructure for Nigeria’s public sector.

In his welcome address, Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre described Galaxy Backbone as a critical institution under the supervision of FMCIDE, tasked with providing the nation’s core digital infrastructure and shared ICT services. “Today’s visit is an important opportunity to showcase the significant progress GBB has made in building the infrastructure necessary for a truly digital government,” he said.

“I believe this engagement will foster stronger alignment and collaboration between MDAs and GBB as we move towards a more connected and efficient public service.”

The Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, expressed appreciation for the visit, noting its alignment with GBB’s mandate to support Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.

“A visit of this nature by the Head of the Civil Service is highly symbolic,” he remarked. “It reinforces the central role that the Civil Service plays in national development and highlights the importance of strategic ICT infrastructure in driving effective governance.”

He went on to emphasize that GBB’s mission to design, build, and manage Nigeria’s digital infrastructure aligns seamlessly with the Civil Service’s digital reform agenda.

“Our platforms; including the 1Government Cloud, GovMail, and our extensive fibre optic network present in 28 states, are designed to support a digitally enabled, secure, and efficient government,” Prof. Adeyanju added.

He also called for greater collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service to drive the adoption of GBB’s infrastructure, particularly the fibre optic connectivity already terminated at Federal Secretariat buildings across 28 states of the country. He further appealed for support in expanding Local Area Networks (LANs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) secretariat buildings to integrate more MDAs into the digital ecosystem.

In her remarks, Mrs. Walson-Jack commended the world-class infrastructure and strategic digital solutions developed by Galaxy Backbone, stating that her perception of the agency had been greatly enhanced following the tour.

“This visit has opened my eyes to the enormous potential and capacity that Galaxy Backbone brings to Nigeria’s digital journey,” she said. “I now see GBB not just as an ICT agency, but as a strategic partner in the realisation of our dream to build a modern, agile, and paperless civil service.”

She specifically praised GBB’s support for the “War Room” initiative, the widespread deployment of GovMail — currently serving over 34,000 civil servants, and the agency’s high-speed fibre connectivity provided during the 2025 International Civil Service Week hosted by her office.

Reaffirming her office’s commitment to achieving a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025, the Head of Service expressed optimism that this goal is attainable with stronger collaboration and technical support from GBB.

She also highlighted several strategic areas where partnership with GBB is critical, including:

  • Full implementation of the 1Government Cloud to host and manage MDA operations.
  • Adoption of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to streamline records and workflow automation across MDAs.
  • Synergy between the 1Government Cloud Academy and the Civil Service Academy to enhance capacity development.
  • Training and onboarding of civil servants on innovative tools such as Service-Wise GPT – Nigeria’s AI-powered platform designed to transform public service delivery.

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Sani, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at GBB, in his vote of thanks, expressed deep gratitude to the Head of Service and her delegation for taking the time to visit and engage with the team. He reiterated GBB’s unwavering commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to deliver inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking digital solutions for the Federal Government.

 


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Festive Seasons Trigger 400% Spike in Livestock Prices Across Nigeria’s North East — Moniepoint Study

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A new study by Moniepoint Inc., Africa’s leading financial technology company, has revealed that livestock prices in Nigeria’s North East markets surge by up to 400% during festive seasons, driven by high demand from cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha.

The report, which focuses on informal market dynamics in Borno State, shows that traders at Kasuwan Shanu in Gamboru dispatch an average of 50 trucks daily during peak periods such as Eid al-Adha and Christmas, with goat prices rising by 400–470% and rams by over 230%.

Beyond seasonal spikes, the study highlights a shift toward investment-minded trading, where livestock is raised in advance to boost resale value. This approach is helping traders build more stable and profitable businesses, despite the region’s history of conflict and economic volatility.

Key findings include:

  • 51.2% of traders source goods from Maiduguri, reinforcing its role in Nigeria’s food supply chain
  • 45% of traders now accept digital payments, with mobile transfers and POS usage rising sharply since the 2023 cash crunch
  • Informal credit and trust-based transactions remain dominant, often conducted via phone calls and voice notes, without formal contracts

Moniepoint CEO Tosin Eniolorunda said the company’s tools are helping bridge long-standing gaps in access to finance: “This shift isn’t just tech-enabled — it’s structurally impactful. We’re helping build an economy where everyone can participate.”

The study joins Moniepoint’s growing portfolio of thought leadership on Nigeria’s informal economy, following previous reports on Onitsha Market, community pharmacies, and women-owned businesses.


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