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Softcom Advocates for Human-Centred Technology to Meet SDGs in COVID-19 Era

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Softcom Limited, an indigenous and innovative technology company, has recommended the use of human-centred technology to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in this COVID-19 era.

 

Omoseindemi Olobayo, chief operating officer, Softcom, Stated this at a webinar on “Achieving Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Leveraging Technology”. hosted by softcom, over the weekend in Lagos.

 

The event had in attendance the Senior Special Adviser to The President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, as the keynote speaker and other VIPs in the SDGs & Development sector such as UNICEF’s Judith Giwa Amu, The World Bank’s Ubah Thomas Ubah, and UNDP’s Amarakoon Bandara.

 

The event which had in attendance over 300 virtual participants explored contingency plans on surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and how new technologies can be used to mitigate the challenges of access, implementation and reach of development programmes.

 

Olobayo in his address said, “Attendees will get the opportunity to explore existing technological innovation and solutions that can help to fast-track the achievement of Nigeria’s SDGs. Softcom’s innovations are guided by our human centric beliefs and values.

 

“We are invested in inclusive solutions and the SDGs align with our goals. We are honoured to have hosted the webinar which offered unique insights on how to leverage technology to achieve sustainable development”.

Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, senior special adviser to The President on SDGs,  said, “the SDGs cannot be achieved at the federal level alone, but requires participation from all stakeholders/state actors, which includes sub-national governments, local governments, NGOs, development partners etc. I thank Softcom, the conveners of this webinar, for hosting this important conversation.”

 

In a highly engaging panel discussion, the holistic impact of COVID-19 on the existing operations of organizations, the pandemic’s impact on education and learning systems in underdeveloped areas, expanding financial inclusion, livelihood programmes and food security, the need to deliver value to people in need and promote social inclusion through digital identities and how human-centred technology can influence delivery and efficiency for development programmes were critically examined and solutions preferred.

 

Dr. Amarakoon Bandara, senior economic advisor and head of strategic policy & Inclusive Growth Unit at The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, in response to a question on if the UNDP had identified any local solutions for cash transfers in Nigeria that can be scaled for use in other parts of the world, particularly Africa, said: “Nigeria already has a system in place to directly transfer money to mobile wallets. The national social registry has a very comprehensive data base which allows us to identify beneficiaries.

 

“This also allows us to identify sectors as well as their professions such as farmers, MSMEs and SMEs.

 

“I have seen a smart card system (like a debit card) in Zimbabwe which allows them to use it to purchase food items. That’s probably a better approach”, he concluded.

 

Also speaking after the event, Yemi Onagoruwa, vp, Softcom Public Sector said, “the webinar served as a great opportunity to assemble some of the best minds in the developmental and humanitarian sectors to explore solutions that can help us make strides during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“It was an occasion to reimagine the current initiatives in ways that can propel us away from over-reliance on archaic techniques towards innovative modern technological systems.”

 

COVID-19 has had a devastating global impact on all spheres of life, industries and nations were shut down over night, not only disrupting the movement of people but global supply chains that are crucial to the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance.

 

This is a major downtime for the humanitarian and development sectors in Nigeria. There is a worldwide food, health, economic and social crises and COVID-19 can exacerbate the existing socio-economic burdens and double the number of people suffering by the end of 2020.

 

Softcom says these challenges don’t have to spell an end. If we lean on the energy and support that we have seen across all sectors, we can begin to realize that the crises create an opportunity for bold solutions that could help transition us from archaic methodologies to new possibilities.

 

In the light of this approach, it is possible to rise from this crisis with resilience – resilience and strength to not only thrive during future shock waves but also help us be better positioned to achieve future SDGs.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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WhatsApp to Start Showing more Adverts in Messaging App

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WhatsApp is launching three new ad features in a global roll-out across the messaging app.

WhatsApp to Start Showing more Adverts in Messaging App

The Meta-owned platform said the new ads will not be shown in the same place as people’s private chats, nor will the contents of their messages – which are encrypted – be used to decide which ads to display.

WhatsApp will instead use the country, city and language of the user, as well as how they interact with other ads and which channels they follow, to drive suggested content.

But people who have chosen to link their WhatsApp account to Facebook or Instagram will see more personalised ads.

The new ad features will appear in a section called Updates, which is a separate tab at the bottom of the app.

WhatsApp claims to have 1.5 billion users globally.

Businesses with channels will be able to choose to promote ads in the Updates section to attract new followers, and also charge a subscription to access extra content.

WhatsApp will eventually take a 10% commission of that fee, and there may also be extra costs on top of that taken at the app store level depending on the size of the business.

Firms will also be able to advertise in the form of a status update, which looks similar to an Instagram story and will link through to start a chat if clicked on.

Social media expert Matt Navarra told reporter that Meta is “laying the foundation for WhatsApp to finally become a monetisable platform at scale”.

But “monetising the periphery” of WhatsApp, while keeping personal chats private, would not be without risk for the company, he added.

This could particularly be the case in markets like the UK and Europe, he said, where the app is viewed primarily as a messaging tool with less appetite for content feeds or adverts.

“Any perception that the app is becoming noisy or Facebook-ified will spark backlash,” he said.

How does WhatsApp make money?

‘Natural extension’

It’s no coincidence that the new features bring WhatsApp more in line with Meta’s other platforms Facebook and Instagram.

“Obviously there’s overlap,” said WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart.

“We have stories on Instagram and stories on WhatsApp, and we now have a way for businesses to promote themselves in both, and we think that’s a good thing.”

He said he believed the move was a “natural extension of messaging services” and not dissimilar to features of rival apps such as Snapchat and Telegram.

For Mr Navarra, it also reflects a wider shift in the social media landscape.

“The feed is dying, public sharing is down, people are retreating into DMs and Stories in small groups,” he said.

“Meta’s trying to turn WhatsApp into a platform without users realising it and if they move too fast or it starts to feel like another ad network, people might disengage or maybe worse, distrust the app.”

 


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Airtel Africa Reinforces Commitment to ESG Impact while Advancing Digital, Financial Inclusion Across 14 Markets

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Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has published its Sustainability Report 2025, reaffirming its corporate purpose of transforming lives by expanding access to essential digital services, supporting inclusive economic growth, and advancing environmental stewardship throughout its operations.

In 2024/25, Airtel Africa made significant progress in bridging the digital divide, advancing financial inclusion and supporting underserved communities through strategic investment in connectivity, people, and sustainable practices.

Airtel Africa’s chief executive officer Sunil Taldar said: “This year’s achievements, from connecting 2,176 schools through the UNICEF partnership to reaching 44.6 million Airtel Money customers with near-gender parity, prove that the power of technology is a catalyst for gender balance. At Airtel Africa, we believe to not only expanding networks but we’re also building bridges to education, financial security and sustainable growth for Africa’s next generation.”

Key ESG highlights:

  1. Providing underserved communities with access to reliable network and connectivity:
  • 2% population coverage across 14 markets (up from 80.4% in 2023/24)
  • 36,159 4G infrastructure sites, including more than 15,300 in rural areas.
  • Continued investment of $670m in network expansion and modernisation to boost speed, coverage and capacity.

Airtel Africa is connecting the unconnected, giving millions access to voice, data and mobile money services – driving economic opportunity and enhancing access to essential services.

  1. Bridging the digital divide, driving financial inclusion and addressing gender inequality
  • 4 million data customers (+14.1% vs 2023/24)
  • 6 million Airtel Money customers (+17.3%), with 44.2% Airtel Money customers who are women (+6.2% vs 2023/24)
  • 7 million Airtel Money agents in our distribution network (+23.4% vs 2023/24)
  • 2% women in the workforce across the Group (up from 28.3% vs 2023/24)

Through inclusive digital services and affordable financial products, Airtel Africa is empowering individuals and communities, particularly women, to fully participate in the digital economy.

  1. Unlocking potential through education and employment opportunities
  • 2,176 schools connected to the internet free of charge (up from 1,201 in 2023/24)

By providing free connectivity and online resources to schools, Airtel Africa is helping young people reach their full potential. A growing agent network also supports employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across its footprint.

  1. Minimising the impact of our operations on the environment
  • 500 off-grid sites converted to on-grid power, reducing reliance on diesel generators.
  • 93% of total waste recycled (+3% vs 2023/24)

Airtel Africa is committed to reducing the impact of its operations on the environment through investment in renewable energy solutions and responsible waste management.

The Sustainability Report 2025 adheres to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and GSMA telecommunications industry standards.


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ALTON Clarifies on Migration to End-User Billing for USSD Services

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The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) wishes to inform the public and all mobile subscribers that the migration to the End-User Billing (EUB) model for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services will take effect from Wednesday, 18th June 2025.

This transition marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem and is being implemented per the Determination of USSD Pricing and Services issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The Determination was developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other key stakeholders to ensure a sustainable, transparent, and customer-friendly framework for USSD service delivery.

USSD services play a vital role in expanding access to financial services, particularly for unbanked and underbanked populations. However, the previous corporate billing model—where banks were billed by telecom operators—led to prolonged disputes over unpaid charges, service interruptions, and uncertainty for customers.

To address these challenges, the NCC’s 2025 Determination introduced the End-User Billing model, which allows mobile network operators to charge customers directly for USSD sessions.

To achieve the implementation of the EUB model, the CBN and NCC have stipulated that only banks that meet certain regulatory and operational conditions are permitted to migrate. One of which is the notification to customers of the billing change in advance, and to ensure that customers are fully aware of the new airtime-based charges and how they will be applied.

Accordingly, under the new billing model, USSD charges will be deducted directly from the customer’s airtime balance, not from their bank account, and each USSD session will attract a charge of ₦6.98 per 120 seconds. To enjoy the service, customers will receive a prompt to opt in and approve the charge before any deduction is made, and there will be no double billing as billing will only occur for successful sessions via airtime deductions.

ALTON wishes to reiterate that this change does not affect the availability or functionality of USSD banking services, as customers can continue to use their bank’s USSD codes as usual, provided they have sufficient airtime.

To ensure a smooth transition, ALTON advises customers to follow these support guidelines:

For access issues (e.g., inability to dial USSD codes), contact your mobile network operator.

For transaction-related issues (e.g., failed transfers or service errors), contact your bank’s customer service.

– Both banks and mobile network operators are required to provide responsive support and mensure that customers can access and use USSD services without disruption.

Alternative digital banking channels such as mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs remain fully operational and available for customer convenience.

ALTON reiterates its commitment to working closely with the NCC, CBN, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure that this transition is seamless, equitable, and beneficial to all parties, especially the end users.

We remain dedicated to promoting transparency, operational efficiency, and consumer protection across Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital finance sectors.

 


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