General News
Sunnet Systems’ ICT Hub to Develop IT Skilled Manpower – Paul

Olagunju Paul is the managing director of Sunnet Systems – a Pan African ICT firm is known for deploying technology solutions and services that enable growth and development.
The company also supports growth strategies through her top-notch solutions and services. Recently, the company won Customer Focused Technology Delivery Company Award and Paul spoke to chike onwuegbuchi on issues around Sunnet Systems’ efforts to revolutionize IT industry.
Issues Around Assessing Foreign Exchange
Yes, it is a challenge, at the same time, it presents some opportunities. As an organization, we believe that every problem has at least one solution. To us, what this challenge has thrown up is that as an IT company we should be thinking inwards.
That has also helped us to filter the possibilities and otherwise. We look at the whole spectrum of ICT landscape: where are we as a country? What can we do?
What should we be doing? What services do we need from outside? So, what we have done is to ensure, internally we align our resources to some of these challenges, providing in-country solutions.
We believe that, for so long, certain skills in the industry are largely dependent on expatriates. We felt one of the good things this crisis has brought is: there is no forex to continue on that path. So, do we have capable Nigerians, who require, maybe additional trainings, to deliver such services? The answer is Yes.
Therefore, we went ahead to set up an ICT Hub in Ilorin to serve as a base to develop Nigerian IT professionals to be utilized both locally and exportable skills.
There are so many smart Nigerians out there, but a lot of concentrations are in Lagos. But, step out of Lagos you see armies of young people who are waiting to be tapped, domesticated and empowered to begin to take advantage of the technology space. So, it has opened our eyes.
Why Ilorin?
It is a layback town; very quiet and cost of living is relatively cheap. There are about five universities, colleges of education, ensuring a whole army of young people. We want to harvest and empower them.
So, some of them we engage in providing these services that we were paying dollars to achieve. We are able to export these skills, bringing in dollars into the country. So, certain things that would ordinarily require dollars, we are using the naira; helping us to have a better margin.
Thus, certain jobs out there that we would have lack the boldness to go for, won’t happen anymore. By that, Nigeria will be able to play and tap into some of those services; take up contracts from UK, US, Europe, done here and delivered out there.
So, the dollar crisis is a blessing in disguise, if we are able to convert them to opportunities. It has actually helped us to think. People say you should think out of the box, but there are no boxes any more. Now, you have to think vertically, horizontally in other to take advantages of these opportunities.
Identification as A Customer Focused Company
As an organization, and from the beginning, we believe that Sunnet Systems exist because our customers exist. We treat our customers as people who put food on our table; they are the reason why we will exist.
Thus, we cannot afford to disappoint them. Our customers will only be happy, if they will run their businesses with their eyes closed. That implies, we can take the pressure off their shoulders to focus on their core competencies.
If you look at our mission statement we have “Passion for Excellence”. We derive our satisfaction from the customer’s satisfaction. We are deeply committed to customer satisfaction; the customer in this case could be the client, shareholders, or even internally, whether our customers as staff, we render services in excellent manner.
It is something that we have been able to practice over time. I am not really surprised that our customers feel that we deserve this award.
I want to thank Nigeria CommunicationsWeek’s publishers for putting up such a beautiful programme in place. The essence of an award is not just about the reward, but it serves as an incentive for you to strive harder in service delivery. It also gives up-comers to have something to look up to; and as well encouraging compliance to standards, ensuring that organizations step up their games to be globally compliant in terms of quality of service, innovative initiatives that can change the landscape of our country.
To us as an organization, even though we are extremely a quiet organization in terms of visibilities, we have a very large footprint in the industry particularly with the major industries- public, financial, oil and gas, telecoms, and energy. It is an encouragement to us to know that some people somewhere appreciate the good work Sunnet Systems is putting into the industry, particularly our professional dedication and commitment, as well as quality of service.
We will take this as our first step and make sure we embark on aggressive improvement in all our services. Come next year, more of our good works will be out there for exhibition for people to appreciate and others to learn from. So, we really want to appreciate Communication Week Media for the recognition given to us. We will not rest on our oars as this serves as an impetus for us to strive harder; that is our commitment.
Sunnet Systems’ Distinguishing Factors
One of the key things to us is the understanding of our customers’ pain-points and align them with the best technology provider that can best deliver the experience required. For instance, if a customer requires an enterprise solution that can run their application 24/7 and effortlessly, we align them with the appropriate provider.
Also, for every solution we project into the market, Sunnet Systems have the highest level of trained personnel. So, we don’t just push or sell boxes, we generally work directly with the OEMs to ensure we are able to deploy, support and extend the services of these OEMs to the clients. We are strategic partners to these OEMs to deliver solutions relevant to the clients; that is why some of them have Sunnet Systems key leaders as part of their advisory team. Most times, before new products are introduced into the market, we are briefed, keeping us ahead of some of the challenges the customers are facing.
Sunnet Systems Going Forward
In the next five years, Sunnet Systems will not just be recognized for service excellence, but for innovative excellence. We are looking at various challenges faced by Nigerians and working towards technological solutions to them.
For example, we are working assiduously in the areas of health, financial inclusion, crisis management (like the case of herdsmen); we believe that technology that can help us solve some of these challenges.
We are positioning ourselves as innovative solution providers and for the entire West Africa. Every investment we are making now is geared towards that. Even the resource centre in Ilorin, we are working with some universities, tapping into their resources while addressing some of the local challenges.
General News
Moonshot Returns with a Defining Third Edition, Charting Africa’s Next Phase of Innovation

Moonshot, Africa’s flagship tech and innovation gathering, officially announces its third edition. Scheduled to take place from October 15 –16, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, the future-shaping conference will convene over 4,000 participants and more than 120 speakers from over 15 countries, all focused on accelerating the trajectory of Africa’s tech-driven future.
This year’s theme, “Building Momentum: Africa’s Tech Ecosystem Positions Itself for Its Next Big Leap,” captures a critical moment for the continent’s tech landscape.
Following years of resilience through economic downturns and funding contractions, the ecosystem is maturing rapidly and sensibly redirecting focus toward sustainable, scalable growth. Moonshot 2025 will serve as a platform to consolidate these hard-won gains and align stakeholders around the next era of opportunity, across key tech verticals.
Headline sponsored by Sabi, a global trade and supply chain enabler, the agenda-setting conference has evolved into a continental platform for catalysing connections, unlocking capital, and amplifying bold ideas. Now in its third year, Moonshot serves as a dynamic hub, and a living museum, of Africa’s innovation journey, actively bridging past achievements with future ambitions.
Speaking about the event, Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media, said: “The last few years truly tested the resilience of Africa’s tech ecosystem, but they also undeniably sharpened it. The ups and downs in funding have given way to something far more intentional, with founders now building smarter and with clearer purpose.
Despite the challenges, African founders have persevered and thrived. Crucially, regulations have also matured, providing much-needed direction. What we’re witnessing now is genuine momentum, firmly grounded in strong fundamentals, propelled by clarity, and intensely focused on scale.
“Moonshot 2025 offers a vital space to reflect on our journey and to channel this momentum into meaningful progress for founders, investors, and the entire ecosystem”
This year’s edition will welcome a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Andrew Alli, Non-Executive Director, British International Investment (BII), Maxime Bayen, Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, and Lexi Novitske, General Partner, Norrsken22, among others.
The event will also showcase its nine signature content tracks, now enhanced with refreshed programming designed to foster deeper, more impactful conversations. This include:
- FUEL: The Investor Conference: This track is significantly upgraded to improve deal-making and investment opportunities, with a stronger focus on attracting Limited Partners (LPs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and first-time investors in Africa. It will feature structured deal rooms, curated pitch sessions, an investor’s guide to Africa, and dedicated spaces for peer exchange across the investor landscape.
- Startup Festival: Tailored for both early- and growth-stage founders, this festival will offer intensive workshops, operator-led sessions, and live startup showcases, including the TC Battlefield – it’s flagship pitch competition.
- Emerging Tech (AI): A dedicated space to explore the practical applications of artificial intelligence across various sectors on the continent, featuring product demos and insights from leading builders and researchers.
- Government & Policy Conference: This vital track will convene policymakers from across Africa to engage in discussions on crucial digital policy reforms and work towards tangible commitments to support innovation and scale across the continent.
Additional tracks, including Creative Economy, Climate Tech, Future of Commerce, Big Tech & Enterprise, and Entering Tech, will feature compelling conversations on critical topics such as financing infrastructure, workforce development, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Also speaking about the event, Anu Adedoyin, CEO and co-founder of Sabi said “This marks our third year as a proud partner of Moonshot, and the evolution of this conference mirrors the incredible growth and ambition of African tech.
“We believe in building robust foundations for digital commerce, and Moonshot is crucial for fostering the connections and clarity needed for founders to build smart, scalable solutions. We’re excited to see the tangible momentum this year’s event will generate for Africa’s next big leap.”
Proudly supported by platinum sponsors Flutterwave, Luno, Fincra, Raenest, Cardtonic, Roqqu, Opay, and Busha, the conference will build on the outcomes of previous editions, including a $120,000 ecosystem pledge at last year’s Tech Ecosystem Alliance roundtable.
Moonshot is powered by the leading tech publication in Africa, TechCabal, providing reporting, data and context that help investors and professionals globally understand where African tech is and where it is going.
General News
FirstBank Retains Top Spot as Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG @2025 Euromoney Awards

FirstBank, the West African premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has emerged as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, held recently in London. This marks FirstBank’s second consecutive win in the ESG category, affirming its leadership in sustainable finance and responsible banking across Nigeria.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are regarded as one of the most coveted accolades in the global financial industry. The highly competitive selection process involves rigorous analysis and assessment, measuring performance against strategic and impact-oriented criteria.
The Bank earned the award through its deepened sustainability commitments embedded across its operations and community initiatives. In 2024, FirstBank screened 237 transactions worth over ₦3 trillion for sustainability risks, integrating ESG considerations into its credit framework.
Among its flagship sustainability initiatives, FirstBank commenced a tree planting campaign in partnership with Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), planting over 30,000 trees in 16 locations across Nigeria. This was the first phase of its 50,000-tree initiative, projected to absorb approximately 720 tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2025, contributing to climate resilience and supporting biodiversity preservation.
FirstBank has been proactive in gender inclusion through the Gender Market Strategy, disbursing over ₦43 billion FirstGem loans to women-led businesses in 2024. The Bank’s commitment to inclusive banking saw a significant increase in the worth of transactions facilitated by FirstMonie agents to over ₦9 trillion.
The Bank prioritises ESG/sustainability capacity building, evidenced by the training of over 9000 employees, and its webinars and workshops reaching over 2,000 SMEs and corporates. The bank’s investment in leadership for over 2,000 female employees through the FirstBank Women Network has demonstrated a dedicated structural commitment to cultivating a knowledgeable and diverse workforce catering to the dynamic ESG landscape.
Commenting on the award, the Chief Risk Officer of the Bank as well as the Chairman of the FirstBank Sustainability Committee, Patrick Akhidenor said, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award for the second time in a row, which is a validation of our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future for all our stakeholders. Our approach to sustainability is hinged on three pillars: education, health and welfare; diversity and financial inclusion; responsible lending, procurement and climate initiatives”
He added: “We remain focused on driving impact through purposeful initiatives and inclusive growth, ensuring that our ESG efforts continue to create meaningful change in communities across Nigeria and beyond.”
The continued success in ESG and sustainability is driven by FirstBank’s vision to be Africa’s bank of first choice, leading with purpose, responsibility, and innovation.
General News
FG Collaborates with China to Digitalize Customs

Federal Government is increasing collaborations with China to digitalise Nigeria Customs Service operations. This past weekend, NCS strengthened its cooperation efforts through a high-level engagement with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
The meeting, held in Beijing, China, brought together senior officers of the customs service and top officials from the GACC to explore bilateral knowledge exchange and capacity development in customs administration.
Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS Assistant Comptroller of Customs said that discussions were held with officials from the GACC International Cooperation Division, the Training and Education Centre and representatives of the Shanghai Customs College.
“The engagement focused on deepening cooperation in customs training methodologies, modernisation models and technology-driven solutions, especially as China plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s international trade network,” said Maiwada.
He added that during the meeting, the Chinese customs authorities shared their structured training system, which incorporates virtual reality, 5G-enabled systems, and blended e-learning approaches. In 2024, GACC conducted over 8 000 physical training sessions and developed 360 online courses.
Discussions also highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in China-led customs development initiatives, with over 200 African customs officers, including 89 from Nigeria, having received training since 2023 across various areas, such as trade facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement, food safety supervision and digital port operations.
The bilateral dialogue between the two customs agencies also heralded new areas of collaboration, including Nigeria’s participation in upcoming Customs Modernisation Courses and officer development training at the Shanghai Customs College.
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