Telecom
Social Media a Threat to Telecoms without Innovation – Akano
Tim Akano, founder/ CEO New Horizons Nigeria, in this interview identifies technologies that will shape 2019.
What do you see on the horizons for individuals and businesses, technologically speaking, in 2019?
As you rightly pointed out- the first world Artificial Intelligence news broadcaster was unveiled by the Chinese Xinhua News Agency on November 9 2018: the Ai read news on television and millions of people around the world did not know immediately it was not a human being.
You also will recall the Japanese Pop Star Eiguchi Aimi who took Japan by surprise and for 17 days nobody knew in Japan that Ms. Aimi was not a human being singer but Ai.
You will also recall that in April 2017, a Chinese Ai Engineer, Zhang Jiajia built and married a Robot Spouse for himself named YINGYING in a weeding that was well attended by his parents and friends and conducted in accordance with the Chinese marital Culture and custom.
Also, in October 2017, Saudi Arabia made a first- they named SOPHIA, a robot, as Saudi citizen with human rights.
What does it all add up to? Where are we? And where are we going, technologically speaking?
In my lecture in December 2018 at CMD on Artificial Intelligence and the future of learning- I submitted that Homo Sapiens is in transition, and on a one-way evolution ticket to becoming something else: Homo Deus.
We have bought the ticket, unfortunately- it’s one way- , with zero chances of returning to who we are.
But I would like us to look at the Digital Crystal Ball this year differently from what we used to do in the years past.
I believe it will be more beneficial for everyone- journalist, Entrepreneur, Job seekers, parents and governments if we break it down into Sectors.
Let’s look into 10 areas: Unemployment, FinTech, Telecom, Education, Agriculture, Media, Manufacturing, Homeland Security, Trade, and governance
What do you see as the intersection between Technology and the future of Job? Are we all going to become jobless at the rate at which Robot and Ai are replacing workers?
Yes and No. A friend of mine put it poetically in an article recently in the newspaper ‘’how technology stole our breakfast and is about to eat our lunch’’.
But I disagree with his conclusion.
Technology did not steal anybody’s breakfast rather technology changed our breakfast menu and gave us a new breakfast menu and technology has equally announced that a new lunch and dinner menu list is on the horizons.
It is by putting issues in the right perspective that we can take full benefits of what is and what is to come.
My answer in this sector is relevant to anyone ages 10 to 69 and business organisations as well.
Below are the NEW MENU LIST OF SKILLS that technology wants that can make anyone or organisation to be relevant in the new TECH KINGDOM that we are entering.
The latest LinkedIn research on Skill and employment shows that there are 50,000 professional skills in the world today. But most of these skills will be obsolete in a matter of three to five years. Most of the traditional skills will decline in value. Banking/Finance, Architecture, Accountant, etc will decline because e of technology.
But below are the TEN HOTTEST SKILLS that will grow in demand in 2019 and beyond:
1 Creativity, Innovation and Analytical Reasoning (2) Persuasion, Collaboration, and Adaptability(3) Cloud Computing (4) Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Cyber Security (5) People and Time Management (6) Mobile Application Development (7) Sales Leadership, Customer Service, Digital and Social Media Marketing (8) Animation, Video, Audio, and Game development ( 9) Business Analytics and Competitive Strategies (10) Data Science & Big Data.
The demand of these ten skill-sets by the industry will grow geometrically because we have shortages and businesses are developing along these lines exponentially. If you have children or cousin or brothers or sisters and you don’t want them to be hungry in the new TECH KINGDOM- these are the skills that will be in the greatest demand. Dr Robot will be a better Surgeon than human Doctors in few years’ time. Ai will be a better Pilot than human Pilot, Ai will replace drivers and cars will be electric without engine. Ai will do some Accounting, Architectural, Journalism, Military, Teaching and Engineering jobs.
Everything we are doing will converge on MOBILITY- our phone will become part of us in a new form. It will be engrained in our flesh- this will drive the demands for experts in Mobility and internet of Things. Then when Robot produces in the factory- Peter James and John have to sell to Steve and, Florence. A Buhari or an Atiku will always need the services of Digital Marketing Professionals to sell their candidacy to the electorates: so selling skill, Customer service, Digital and Social medial skills will be in hot demand.
What does Digital Crystal Ball says about FINTECH in 2019?
Obviously, Banking and Financial Industry are the biggest consumers of technology. Therefore, using past years as a guide, FINTECH will continue to dictate the speed of innovation in technology.
Below are the TOP 10 VARIABLES for the financial industry in 2019 and beyond.
They are: (1) Digital only Bank will grow faster than the legacy brick and wall, High street banks (2) There is bound to be bigger cash injection by banks into Digital transformation in order to reduce overhead cost ultimately.
(3) Massive deployment of Artificial Intelligence in customer profiling for credit transaction will happen in 2019 in the banking industry.
(4) Due to the stringent and thick regulatory requirement and compliance for the financial sector- more banks will make use of Ai technologies for compliance purposes.
(5) 2019 is the year of surgically implanted Near Field Communication devices (NFC)
(6) Block chain and Crypto currencies diversification will be massive consequent upon the rise and fall of Bitcoin- we have not seen the end of crypto.
(7) Quantum Computing will become mainstream because of Big Data and Internet of Things (8) GDPR and Digital Marketing for banks will drive the OPT-IN data mining sales model as a way to reach customers
(9) Decentralised App for payment- online payment using decentralised apps will grow because of their relative security vis-à-vis the legacy payment model
(10) Cyber Security- when Marriorit Hotel lost 500 million vital data to cyber thieves towards the end of 2018- that was a passing shot to all the financial institutions that cyber security will become their Centre of gravity in 2019 and beyond.
What has the Digital Oracle got to say on Telecommunications industry in 2019 and beyond?
2019 is the 5G YEAR! – The massive deployment in advanced countries of extra supper fast internet is this year. Towards the end of 2018 a few Smart nations tested the 5G technology and the outcome was awesome.
Finland was the first country in the world to make 5G mobile internet available to individuals and businesses. US AT &T delivered a super-fast internet as a test run for about 5000 visitors using its own hardware and the result was great.
In South Korea, Ericsson, Intel and Korean Telecom connected a moving car to live 5G network as it drove through Soul and the experience of the customers was out of this world. MTN, VODAFONE are two other major players in the 5G race.
But there is one major ‘’BUT’’, Since 5G technology makes use of virtualisation and Internet of Things it , therefore, opens itself up to a wider range of attacks surface. Cyber security will become a major cost- centre for Telco companies in 2019 and beyond.
And both the breakfast and lunch of Telecoms will continue to end up in the stomach of Skype, Whastapp and those social medial stuff that offer communication at the price of Tom Tom sweet to users! My message to Telecom in 2019 is: INNOVATE FAST OR SUDDEN DEATH.
My TOP TEN GAME-CHANGING VARIABLES for Telecoms in 2019 are (1) 5G, (2) Cyber Security: 43% of Telecoms was attacked in 2018 and it took an average of three months to detect
(3) IoT explosion- we are going to witness connection of devices running into billions or even trillions which will require gargantuan data consumption. This is the age of THINGSFICATION
(4) Saturation for Voice business, once Africa gets to seventy per cent penetration then the Telecoms will need to search for growth elsewhere may be a s a CONTENT PROVIDERS (5) OTT and Value added Services- Over- The- Top services fuelled by video streaming and high demand for non-linear media consumption will grow exponentially in 2019.
(6) Cross industry Alliance between Telecoms and Broadcasting companies: Telecoms would begin to acquire companies that are producing entertaining content, for example, popular TV shows, and live sports games among others as a new growth path.
(7) Commoditization of AUGEMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY- Telecoms with a view to differentiating their products and services will begin to use AR,VR on smartphones to empower digital visualizations on real images and enhances customer experience.
(8) Regulations for Telecoms: GDPR, eprivacy regulations among others will drain some cash from the pocket of Telecoms in 2019.
(9) Machine Leaning and Artificial Intelligence: will help in automating and bettering many back-office operations and sundry customer experiences, this will include customer predictive maintenance services.
(10) Save and affordable In-Flight Connectivity System (IFCS) as a game-changer in 2019.
What has Digital Oracle revealed to you concerning 2019 in your Industry?
Technology has entered into classrooms and it will revolutionise the way we teach and learn. These are the TOP TEN TECHNOLOGY VARIABLES that will influence education from 2019 and beyond.
(1)Artificial Intelligence in Education will impact speech recognition, problem-solving, and planning. AI will also drives automation of administrative tasks like students’ grading, creation of smart content in the curriculum, and customisation of the teaching process.
(2) Virtual Reality- Medical students can now watch live simulated surgeries using VR technology,
(3) Gamefication- bringing education video games into classrooms this makes learning more fun and engaging.
(4) Learning Analytics- this will enhance better monitoring of student behaviour and absorption level by utilizing effectively the existing data.
(5) Open Education- the need to make education cheap and accessible will continue to drive the demand for open education at the Higher Education level
(6) IoT learning will enhance personalisation, drive better engagement and skill acquisition. (7) STEAM- because the society is in transition to a technology kingdom the need for STEAM education will increase in 2019.
(8) Green Courseware- everything is going green from electric cars to green classroom.
(9) Game Theory – education is no more going to be on the basis of one-cap-fits all. Game theory allows instructors to choose the most appropriate method for student leaning in a giving situation. (10) Brick and Mortal Education will witness slow growth compared with ONLINE/ Anytime/Live education.
Besides, the awareness to downplay paper qualification in favour of skilled-based education will increase.
Where does it put New Horizons Nigeria?
We have discussed and analysed four sectors: Jobs, Fintech, Telecommunication and education. The remaining six sectors are going to witness the impact of Ai, IoT Cyber Security among others in different ways but equal measure.
With regards to New Horizons Nigeria, you will recall that we are the first company in Nigeria to introduce ICT certification- based training into the Nigeria education curriculum 13 years ago. As at today we produce about 50,000 students yearly under our certification program.
Our determination to add value to Nigerians has always been our driving force.
This is why we are the first company in IT training Industry in 2018 to launch a Comprehensive Robotics Education in High Schools which includes curriculum on 3D printing Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data, Cyber security and Graphics design among others.
Several schools in Abuja and Lagos have signed in for this program. This will help our children to acquire 2019 ICT skills that will make them to be competitive globally.
I can confidently tell you that the schools we partner in Nigeria receive the best of ICT education like their counterparts in Europe and America.
For the rest of us: we definitely cannot beat Technology or slow it down- our best option is to join Technology and provides the skills it wants. This is the only way for prosperity in the new TECH KINGDOM
Telecom
Digital Encode Sponsors PAFON 3.0 as CVO Prof. Adewale Set to Deliver Keynote on Cybersecurity and Trust
Digital Encode Limited has emerged the lead sponsor of the upcoming third edition of the forum (PAFON 3.0), the organisers have announced.
PAFON 3.0
PAFON 3.0 is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Road, Lagos, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Themed “Fair Digital Payments as a Catalyst for Deepening Financial Inclusion in Nigeria,” PAFON 3.0 serves as a strategic platform for senior executives from banks, fintechs, regulatory agencies, and technology innovators to address the evolving digital payment landscape.
As Nigeria transitions toward a cash-light economy, the forum will focus on critical pillars of sustainability, including transparency, pricing integrity, and system resilience.
Bridging Cybersecurity and Financial Inclusion
Professor Adewale Peter Obadare, the Founder/chief visionary officer of Digital Encode will deliver a cybersecurity-focused keynote address that connects trust, resilience, fraud prevention, and consumer protection to financial inclusion.
His session will provide a specialized perspective on how information security serves as the bedrock of financial inclusion; exploring the vital links between building infrastructure that consumers can rely on, protecting the ecosystem to allow inclusion to scale, and ensuring equitable and secure access for all Nigerians.
Prof. Obadare is arguably the most Credentialed PAN-African Digital Trust Leader, CyberSecurity Strategist, GRC Thought Leader & Global Technopreneur.
He is a seasoned Multi-Award Cybersecurity & GRC expert with over 58 (Fifty-Eight) international professional certifications to his credit, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Liverpool Unversity, UK, was awarded Honorarary Doctorate Degree in Cybersecurity from Trinity International University of Ambassadors Atlanta Georgia, United State of America and First Professor of Practice – Cybersecurity at Miva Open University, Abuja, Nigeria.
Prof. Obadare is a well-recognized subject matter expert with numerous successful engagements to his credit in Africa and the world. His skills and experience spans Data Privacy, Data Protection, CyberSecurity, Information Security, Vulnerability Management, Penetration Testing, Computer Forensics, Business Continuity, I T Governance, Risk Management and Compliance.
He is a Cybersecurity Advisory Board Member for Lagos State Government, a Platinum Team Member of Open-Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM), as well as a lifetime member of the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP). He is an alumnus of FATE Foundation and US Department of State Exchange program.
He is also a distinguished alumnus of executive education at Harvard Business School, Harvard School of Government, MIT Sloan School of Management, MIT Professional Education and Oxford University – Said Business School.
“Without trust in the security of digital payments, inclusion cannot scale. And we are happy to welcome Digital Encode as our Lead Sponsor this year. With what the company stands for and the personality of the CVO on a global scale, we have no doubt that attendees at this year’s PAFON will go home with lots of insights.”
“The theme for PAFON 3.0 was carefully selected because if digital payments are affordable, transparent, accessible, and trustworthy, more Nigerians, especially the underserved, will participate in the financial system”, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, the co-convener of Payments Forum Nigeria, noted, highlighting Digital Encode distinguished leadership in Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
Other Confirmed speakers: Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, Vice President, Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) & CEO, Credit Registry; Uche Uzoebo, MD/CEO, Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF Limited): Special Guest of Honour; Mojeed Abayomi Agboola, National President, Financial Inclusion Agents Multipurpose Cooperative Society (FIAMCS); Dr. Obioha Otti, National President, Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN); Chukwuemeka Enoch, Founder, Lagos Blockchain Week, and Sarafadeen Fasasi, National President, Association of Financial Inclusion Agents of Nigeria (AFiAN), amongst others.
The forum will feature speakers from across the financial spectrum, including mobile money operators, payment processors, and development institutions, to shape policy dialogue and industry standards.
PAFON is a premier industry gathering that aligns brand positioning with trust and innovation in Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem. It provides a unique space for thought leadership, regulatory engagement, and market expansion within the payment infrastructure sector.
The era of treating cybersecurity as a mere IT problem is over. As AI-powered digital threats become more elusive and destructive, Nigeria is shifting its strategy toward “Total Resilience”—a multi-dimensional defense involving every level of society.
NITDA
At the 2026 GITEX Africa summit, NITDA DG, Kashifu Inuwa sounded the alarm on the changing nature of digital warfare, asserting that technology alone is no longer enough. Instead, Nigeria’s survival in the digital age now hinges on a strategic blend of policy, people, and proactive defense.
Speaking during a panel session on Cyber Resilience, Inuwa described the current global digital environment as being at a “critical turning point.”
He warned that emerging technologies are not only transforming industries and economies but are also reshaping the nature of cyber threats, demanding a proactive and multi-dimensional response from governments, institutions, and citizens alike.
“Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue. It is a strategic imperative for national development,” Inuwa stated. “We must think beyond technology alone and build resilience through people, processes, regulations, and infrastructure.”
Inuwa revealed that the focus of Nigeria’s cyber strategy is shifting from high-tech software to the people behind the screens. Pointing to data showing that 95% of all digital breaches stem from simple human mistakes, Inuwa argued that the world’s most advanced encryption is useless if the user is compromised.
“The most sophisticated technology cannot protect us if the human element is overlooked,” he noted. By prioritising human capacity and digital literacy, NITDA aims to turn every citizen into a “human firewall”, the first and most critical line of defense in a world where AI-driven attacks are the new normal.
In response, the Nigerian government has launched a comprehensive National Digital Literacy Programme aimed at achieving 95 percent digital literacy by 2030, with an interim target of 70 percent by 2027.
The programme emphasizes digital safety and cybersecurity awareness, equipping citizens with the knowledge to navigate an increasingly online world responsibly.
Inuwa highlighted initiatives such as the “3 Million Tech Talent” programme, designed to develop Nigerian expertise across key technology domains, including cybersecurity, data science, and AI.
The programme also leverages hackathons, innovation challenges, and mentorship schemes to channel young people’s skills into productive, lawful, and globally competitive ventures.
He argued that nurturing local talent is essential not just for national security but also for economic growth. “We want to create an environment where young Nigerians are innovators, not just consumers of technology,” he said.
Addressing concerns about Nigeria’s ranking in global cybercrime indices, Inuwa urged contextual understanding. “Countries with the most advanced digital economies also rank high in cybercrime because of the scale of their online activity,” he explained.
“Our focus is on redirecting talent towards innovation and solutions that protect our citizens while contributing to global digital advancement.”
On the legal and regulatory front, Nigeria continues to review and enhance the Cybercrime Act of 2015 to keep pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape. The law underpins a structured National Cybersecurity Architecture coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
In addition, the country operates a 24-hour cybersecurity operations centre tasked with monitoring threats, issuing advisories, and providing real-time support to government institutions, businesses, and citizens. Advanced technologies, including dark web monitoring and AI-enabled threat detection, are being deployed to enhance situational awareness and improve response times.
Inuwa emphasized that effective cyber resilience requires collaboration between public and private sectors. NITDA is working closely with ministries, departments, agencies, and private sector stakeholders to secure critical infrastructure and strengthen national resilience.
“Cyber resilience is not a solo effort; it is a collective responsibility. By integrating people, technology, and regulation, we can build a secure, globally competitive digital economy,” he added.
As Nigeria navigates a digital-first future, initiatives such as the National Digital Literacy Programme, 3 Million Tech Talent, and strengthened legal frameworks underscore a commitment to turning cybersecurity challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
The country’s strategy reflects a broader understanding that in an era of AI-driven threats, preparedness is as much about people and processes as it is about technology.
Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced the expansion of its Business Chat platform, making it accessible to global channel partners and enterprise solution providers. By “opening up” market access to its platform, Truecaller is empowering partners to transition their enterprise clients from legacy, low-trust SMS to a verified, smart, media-rich, and conversational communication experience.
Truecaller
Through this partner-led expansion, Truecaller empowers businesses to reclaim customer attention and establish immediate trust and credibility.
“The definition of success for modern enterprises has fundamentally evolved. It’s no longer just about delivery – it’s about earning attention, establishing credibility, and driving meaningful conversion,” said Priyam Bose, Global Head, GTM at Truecaller.
“By opening up market access to our global partners, we’ve created a powerful gateway for brands to engage with over 500 million active users where they already interact daily through communication that is contextual, trusted, free from clutter, and designed to initiate actions. For existing customers, the outreach opportunity extends to an additional high-impact channel, strengthening the overall customer experience journey.”
Truecaller Business Chat enables a clutter-free, high-trust conversational experience between businesses and consumers. The Business Chat platform equips partners with actionable insights, including real-time data and rich engagement metrics. This facilitates a more sophisticated, data-driven communication strategy that adapts at every stage of the customer journey.
Partners, including Gupshup and OneXtel, are already live in India along with Globe Teleservices, Cloudcom, and Sling Africa in other global markets, rapidly scaling the product in their respective regions. Global partners can now leverage Truecaller’s massive footprint to offer their clients a trustworthy engagement channel in an increasingly crowded digital world.
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