General News
Stakeholders Restate Importance of 5G Services @NDSF 2023
Stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have restated the value of the Fifth Generation (5G) services, especially on the positive use of the internet to ease connectivity.
From left: Representative of Director, Public Affairs, NCC and Head, Media Relations Management, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan; Business Development Executive, WizzHub Technology Ltd, Mr. Francis Uzor; Executive Director, Domain Name System Women (DNS Women Nigeria), Mrs Nkem Nweke; Chairman, 2023 NDSF & President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesina Simon Sodiya; representative of Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Chidi Diugwu, Tinuade Oguntuyi of Internet Society (ISOC Nigeria), Principal Consultant, CyberCode, Mr Olatunji Igbalajobi, and Lead Consulting Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media Group at the 2023 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on ‘5G: Data Governance Safety and Security in Nigeria’ held in Lagos.
They also noted that 5G technology has enhanced capabilities that will provide superior communications services for the socio-economic development of Nigeria and facilitate attainment of a national digital economy.
Speakers at the 2023 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) with the theme “5G Data Governance, Safety and Security in Nigeria,” organised by ITRealms Media Group, made these assertions.
Leading expert speakers at the forum in his keynote, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said that data is critical to the digital economy, and assured that NCC is building robust legal frameworks for data governance.
“As we embrace the transformative potential of 5G, we must also prioritize safety concerns,” he asserted.
Danbatta, who was represented by the Head of New Media, NCC, Dr. Chidi Diugwu, said that the amount and speed of data generated using 5G technology is unprecedented and beckoned on citizens to embrace it and use it to the fullest.
As such, he pointed out the need to always prioritize consumer privacy, transparency and ethical data use. Maintaining that by cultivating trust and handling data responsibly, would unlock the full potentials of 5G technology and promote innovation in Nigeria.
“To ensure the security and protection of networks and consumers, the Nigerian Communications Act mandates its licensees to prevent their network facilities or services from being used in, or in relation to, the commission of any offence under any law in operation in Nigeria. In this regard, licensees are required to assist the Commission and other Law Enforcement Agencies in preventing crime in Nigeria,” he said.
The chairman of 2023 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) and President, Computer Society of Nigeria (NCS), Prof. Simon Adesina Sodiya, said the internet is a global connection of networks, that provides opportunity for people to share information in order to connect to one another.
Also, Sodiya said, the internet is like an open space, which any body could use for communication, connection, sharing resources, hence most organisations, individuals are connected to internet.
On the internet, Sodiya explained that the importance of data security and governance cannot be over emphasized, thus the essence to come up with guidelines, procedures, rules, for realistic usage of internet.
“It will not be done by government alone, it is multi-stakeholders efforts, which include government agencies, civil society organisations, individuals, and ICT professionals among others,” Sodiya said.
The chairman of 2023 NDSF equally noted that internet governance is very important because there are lots of criminal activities going on in the internet, however people who fall victims are not aware of these cyber criminals.
“Apart from criminal activities, we should not forget that our children are in schools and have been given opportunity to use internet. They should use it for something meaningful that will develop their life positively and not negative aspects. For instance, I have seen a father who said he found his 12-year old child watching porn videos,” he said.
What government needed to do, according to Prof Sodiya is to educate parents on how to provide use of internet for their children. Advising that parents should block some aspects of internet that might endanger the life of their children.
The Business Development Executive, Wizzhub Technology Limited, Mr. Uzor Francis, said he educated participants on benefits of 5G, such as speed carrying capacity, how much integral benefits and inter-connectivity of the devices that internet offers, as 5G enables most of these things.
About challenges of 5G, especially on security, Uzor said that will require enlightened participants on some of the measures, urging Nigerians to mitigate the challenges they may face while using 5G mobile services.
“It is important that 5G goes round not only to the cities but also in the villages so that everybody has access to it, to enhance connectivity for communications through the internet,” he said.
Uzor decried some myths and misconceptions about 5G that it causes virus such as COVID-19, pandemic, which is not true, therefore Nigerians should adopt it because 5G is fast and safe.
The Principal Consultant, CyberCode Limited, Mr. Olatunji Igbalajobi, in his contribution said 5G technology has come to stay in Nigeria to enhance internet connectivity and encourage development.
Nigeria, as a country, he said, needs to get it right in terms of data governance, and urged government at all levels to act fast to ensure relevant structures are in place to ensure data governance and safety.
Earlier while welcoming participants, the Lead Consulting Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media Group, Mr. Remmy Nweke, noted that 5G mobile network is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G respectively.
Nweke highlighted that 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects and devices.
5G wireless technology, Nweke said is meant to deliver higher multi-Giga bits per second (Gbps), peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more users, higher performance and improved efficiency thereby empowering new user experiences and connecting new industries.
He recalled that DigitalSENSE Africa is a certified At-Large Structure (ALS) by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and powered by ITREALMS Media group, while NDSF was hosted in collaboration with the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) among stakeholders in the country.
Nweke commended NCC, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), FirstBank, Nigeria LNG Limited, WizzHub Technologies, D|NS Women Nigeria and a host of other stakeholders for partnering with this 14th edition of NDSF series.
Further, he applauded the speakers faculty for the 2023 NDSF including the President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Ms Maureen Chigbo; Executive Director, Domain Name System Women (DNS Women Nigeria), Mrs Nkem Nweke and Ms Tinuade Oguntuyi of Internet Society (ISOC Nigeria) and assured that next edition will be an exciting session.
NBA Africa, the local affiliate of the NBA basketball brand in the US, has announced the second edition of Triple-Double: NBA Africa Start-up Accelerator, which aims to promote the continent’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The NBA Africa Startup Accelerator will strengthen Africa’s technology ecosystem by providing mentorship and investment to the next generation of African tech entrepreneurs.
The organisation announced the initiative would once again be administered by ALX Ventures, a technological incubator that equips the continent’s innovators in technology with the knowledge and tools they need to develop and scale their enterprises.
Furthermore, NBA Africa named ServiceNow, an AI platform for business transformation whose Now Assist and AI agents help organisations in delivering ‘faster and smarter experiences’ at scale, as an official program partner.
The organisation stated that startups can apply to participate at tripledoubleaccelerator.nba.com until Friday, August 29, following which the applications will be filtered down to a top 10 list.
The shortlisted startups will then participate in a 10-week mentorship program, where they will be paired with mentors from NBA Africa, ServiceNow, and ALX leadership, as well as other corporate stakeholders, who will advise the companies on product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategy.
The finalists will next present their technologies to international industry professionals at the program’s second Demo Day in December, when the top five prize-winning companies will be chosen to receive financial assistance and mentorship.
“Last year’s inaugural Triple-Double Accelerator program showed how much talent, passion and creativity there is among African entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of the continent’s rapidly growing sport and entertainment industries,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. “We look forward to reviewing this year’s submissions and to helping another round of promising startups take the next step in their development.”
Last year, almost 700 early-stage African entrepreneurs applied to the program.
Ten finalists were then chosen to pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at the program’s first Demo Day, which took place at the NBA headquarters in New York City.
Four prize-winning companies – Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya), and UBR VR (Egypt) – were awarded financial support and mentorship.
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is transitioning to its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, meant to ease trade processes, after over a decade under the Fast Track Scheme.
The service is racing to meet international best practices under the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards, and contained in Sections 108 to 111 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The programme, the Service said, is expected to reward “trusted traders” who meet specified “compliance, financial, and security criteria.”
Approved operators will benefit from “pre-arrival clearance, minimal inspection, expedited release, and possible mutual recognition with other customs administrations.”
“The scheme is also designed to build trust, ensure cargo integrity, and enhance the predictability and transparency of Nigeria’s import-export operations,” the Service said.
The current Fast Track Scheme, implemented by the Service in 2013 under a more limited eligibility model and was upgraded to an online-based model called Fast Track 2.0, introduced in 2023. The scheme will be officially decommissioned on 31 December 2025.
“All beneficiaries currently enrolled in the Fast Track Scheme are mandated to initiate their migration to the AEO Compliance Programme by submitting their applications through the dedicated portal,” Customs said, adding that only companies approved under the AEO Programme will continue to enjoy trade facilitation privileges previously accorded under the Fast Track scheme.
“AEOs may include manufacturers, importers, exporters, brokers, carriers, consolidators, intermediaries, ports, airports, terminal operators, integrated operators, warehouses, distributors and freight forwarders,” The Service wrote in a handbook.
It requires that an applicant for AEO certification must be an Economic Operator in the international supply chain.
It also added that “The applying entity must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with a registration period of at least 5 years for AEO Security and Safety (AEO-S) and a minimum of 3 years for AEO Customs Simplification (AEO-C).”
The company must hold a valid Tax Clearance Certificate, with a minimum coverage of 5 years for AEO Security and Safety (c) and at least three years for AEO Customs Simplification (AEO-C).
The company must also provide an audited financial report for a minimum of five years for AEO Security and Safety (AEO-S) and at least three years for AEO Customs Simplification (AEO-C).
Relevant operational licences must also be provided alongside other relevant regulatory certifications (ISO certifications, SON, NAFDAC, etc.).
AEO-S applicants must also require ISO 28001–an international standard that defines the requirements of the Supply Chain Security Management System and provides a management model for organisations seeking to implement it.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kwara has cautioned the public on fake N1000 notes circulating in the state.
Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare, state director of NOA, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ilorin.
Dare emphasised the need for vigilance among residents and business owners in the state.
According to him, there is confirmed intelligence reports of syndicates flooding the area with counterfeit currency with batch numbers 364232 and 898248.
Dare said the counterfeit notes can be identified by their blurred portraits, watermarks, and irregular security features.
He urged the public to be cautious when handling large sums of money.
“The syndicates behind this crime exploit peak commercial hours in major local markets to carry out transactions with counterfeit notes.
“They target unsuspecting POS operators and merchants by defrauding them of their hard-earned money.
“NOA Kwara Directorate is committed to sensitising the public on the dangers of fake currency and the importance of verifying the authenticity of banknotes.
“The agency is working tirelessly to ensure that residents of Kwara are protected from financial scams,” he said.
While describing the crime as unpatriotic and capable of distorting the Nigerian economy, Dare said NOA would work closely with security agencies to bring the culprits to book.
The director advised residents to report any suspicious transactions or individuals to the authorities immediately.
“Together, we can build a safer and more secure financial environment for all residents of Kwara.
“By working together, the NOA and the public can prevent the circulation of fake currency and protect the financial interests of Kwara residents,” he said.
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