E-Business
Survey Reveals Why CIOs Must “Flip” Leadership Styles- Gartner
As the technologies and trends that power digitalization move to center stage, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are being presented with a unique opportunity to become digital leaders according to a global survey of CIOs by Gartner, Inc.
The survey showed that CIOs are fully aware that they will need to change in order to succeed in digital business, with 75 percent of respondents saying that they need to adapt their leadership style in the next three years.
Gartner analysts presented these findings during the sold out Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, which is taking place here through Thursday.
“To grasp the digital opportunity, incrementally improving IT performance isn’t enough,” said Dave Aron, vice president and Gartner Fellow. Digitalization is no longer a sideshow — it has moved to center stage and is changing the whole game. CIOs now have a unique opportunity, but they must ‘flip’ their information, technology, value and people leadership practices to deliver on the digital promise.”
The worldwide survey included responses from 2,810 CIOs, representing more than $397 billion in CIO IT budgets in 84 countries.
The Gartner report “Flipping to Digital Leadership: The 2015 CIO Agenda,” represents the most comprehensive examination of digital business opportunities and threats and CIO strategies.
Gartner’s last CIO Survey — “Taming the Digital Dragon: The 2014 CIO Agenda” — explored the advent of the third era of enterprise IT, where information and technology make a fundamentally different contribution to the business, less tied to efficiency and effectiveness of internal processes than to enabling disruptive new products, services and business models. Nearly one year later, the third era is here, and digitalization is increasingly determining the winners and losers in all industries.
“This isn’t just a high-tech story, a U.S. story, a private-sector story, a large-company story or a startup story,” said Mr. Aron. “Digitalization is transforming all types of companies and public sector agencies. More often than not, these transformations represent both massive opportunities and substantial challenges for the CIO and the IT organization. Digitalization is not only a way to gain a competitive edge, but also provides a powerful ability to flip disadvantages into advantages.”
According to the 2015 CIO Survey, 89 percent of CIOs agree that in addition to the considerable opportunities afforded by digitalization, the digital world engenders new, vastly different and higher levels of risk, and 69 percent said that the discipline of risk management is not keeping up.
CIOs therefore need to review with the enterprise and IT risk leaders whether risk management is adapting fast enough to a digital world.
The exciting news for CIOs, is that despite the rise of roles, such as the chief digital officer, they are not doomed to be an observer of the digital revolution.
According the survey, 41 percent of CIOs are reporting to their CEO.
This is a return to one of the highest levels it has ever been, a result of the digital narrative gaining prominence in the boardroom and on the executive committee.
Even stronger evidence of opportunity for CIOs is the fact that the survey reveals that CEOs expect them to lead the digital charge during this critical transition period.
However, as in last year’s CIO survey, it appears that IT budgets are not growing exuberantly.
The average IT budget will grow by just one percent from 2014 to 2015. CIOs estimate that 79 percent of IT spending will be “inside” the IT budget (up slightly from last year), but much digital innovation can and will be funded outside the planned IT spending.
Perhaps the biggest hurdle when it comes to digital opportunity for CIOs is the fact that the IT discipline within most enterprises has developed a set of behaviors and beliefs over many years, which are ill-suited to exploiting digital opportunities and responding to digital threats.
To start with, most enterprises still think of innovation in terms of the technology paradigm. If this continues, the digital opportunity may be lost.
Digital leadership means flipping the approach from legacy first to digital first, assuming all solutions will be cloud based, designed for mobile and highly contextualized, and looking to exploit unstructured data, and run data-led experiments. Secondly, most enterprises and their CIOs disproportionately focus on what is easily measurable (e.g., IT cost), rather than what is most valuable or requiring the most attention (e.g., the value of building a digital capability) — another situation that has to flip.
“During the second IT era of industrialization, people leadership was honed to emphasize precision, discipline and tight control,” said Graham Waller, vice president and executive partner for Gartner Executive Programs. “Therefore, through both nature and nurture, CIOs have evolved into control-style pragmatic leaders. Given the characteristics of the new digital era, this bias is dangerous. CIOs must invert their style to be more vision-led and inspirational.”
The survey results underline the fact that CIOs already know this. Seventy-three percent of surveyed CIOs say that they have changed their leadership style over the last three years, and 75 percent say they must change it over the next three years to flip their leadership style from “control first” to “vision first.”
“Being a powerful digital leader and influencer takes time and CIOs need to spend time being digital leaders,” said Mr. Aron. “Running an IT organization is a complex business, and when we compare the 2011 and 2015 Gartner CIO Surveys, we find that the average CIO is spending more, not less, time running the IT shop — five percent more, or an extra day per month.
“However, the survey data also tells us that, all things being equal, the CIOs with higher performance as IT leaders spend significantly less time running the IT shop and delegate some business unit leader engagement. This gives them an extra five percent ‘time bonus,’ or a day per month, to engage the board, senior leadership and external customers.”
Jumia Nigeria has reaffirmed its role as one of the leading forces driving the adoption of e-commerce in Nigeria, saying sustained investment in consumer trust, local logistics and digital infrastructure has helped expand online shopping while laying the foundation for Africa’s broader digital commerce ecosystem.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Temidayo Ojo, said the company’s experience over the years shows that building consumer confidence remains the single most important factor in accelerating e-commerce adoption across the continent.
According to him, while millions of Nigerians have embraced online shopping, significant opportunities still exist to bring many more consumers into the digital marketplace through stronger consumer protection, seamless payment systems and supportive public policies.
Ojo noted that Jumia’s growth has mirrored the increasing acceptance of e-commerce in Nigeria, with the company consistently investing in technologies, logistics capabilities and customer experience initiatives that have made online shopping more accessible, convenient and reliable for consumers.
He explained that one of the biggest challenges facing digital commerce remains consumer trust, particularly among first-time online shoppers who are unable to physically inspect products before making purchases. To address this, Jumia has continuously strengthened its customer experience through reliable delivery, transparent order tracking, quality assurance and responsive dispute resolution processes that encourage repeat purchases and long-term confidence in online retail.
“Trust is the currency of digital commerce,” Ojo said, adding that stronger consumer protection frameworks across African markets would further accelerate the growth of the sector by giving consumers greater confidence whenever issues such as payment disputes, delayed deliveries or product quality concerns arise.
Beyond consumer confidence, Ojo identified fragmented payment systems as one of the major obstacles limiting intra-African digital trade. Despite significant innovation within Africa’s fintech ecosystem, varying regulations and limited interoperability continue to make cross-border transactions more complex than necessary.
He called for greater harmonisation of payment frameworks across the continent, noting that seamless digital payments would make it easier for businesses to scale beyond their domestic markets while allowing consumers to transact effortlessly across borders.
Ojo also emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector in creating an enabling environment for digital businesses. According to him, coordinated policies and regulatory certainty would accelerate investment, encourage innovation and strengthen confidence in Africa’s digital economy.
As one of Africa’s largest e-commerce platforms, Jumia sees regional integration as a significant growth opportunity. The company already connects tens of thousands of merchants with consumers across several African markets and believes improved cross-border trade policies would enable many more local businesses to reach new customers beyond their national boundaries.
Such integration, he said, has the potential to unlock access to a combined consumer market of more than 500 million people, creating new opportunities for African enterprises to trade with one another and strengthen the continent’s digital economy.
He added that while many first-time shoppers initially prefer cash-on-delivery because of perceived risks, their confidence in digital payments increases significantly after experiencing reliable service, quality products and efficient deliveries.
According to Ojo, Jumia’s journey reflects the broader evolution of e-commerce in Nigeria, one driven by sustained investments in trust, technology and local partnerships. He maintained that with stronger consumer protection, harmonised regulations and deeper collaboration between governments and the private sector, Africa is well positioned to unlock the next phase of digital commerce growth.
Africa’s leading technology distributor Powerhouse, TD Africa, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cybersecurity awareness and digital resilience by sponsoring the 3rd Annual Secure 360 Summit Nigeria 2026, hosted by global cybersecurity leader Check Point Software Technologies, as Gold Sponsor.
Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director, TD Africa
This year’s summit was held in Abuja and Lagos, bringing together key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
Now in its third edition, the Secure 360 Summit has evolved into one of Nigeria’s premier cybersecurity forums, bringing together Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), IT Directors, and senior technology leaders from the financial services, telecommunications, enterprise, energy, and public sectors to address today’s rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, Kingsley Oseghale, Country Manager, Check Point Nigeria, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration in tackling emerging cyber risks. “Cybersecurity has become a business priority rather than just an IT concern.
“Through the Secure 360 Summit, we continue to provide a platform for industry leaders to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and explore innovative approaches to securing today’s digital economy.
“We are pleased to have TD Africa as a valued partner in driving cybersecurity awareness across Nigeria.”
In her remarks, Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director, TD Africa, applauded Check Point for creating a platform that addresses one of the most critical challenges facing businesses and individuals. “Cybersecurity is everyone’s business. We owe it to ourselves, our organisations, and our communities to remain security-conscious in an increasingly connected world.
“At TD Africa, innovation drives everything we do, and innovation can only thrive in a secure environment.
“This is why we are proud to support initiatives like the Secure 360 Summit that promote knowledge sharing and strengthen our collective cyber resilience.”
The summit featured expert-led sessions on emerging cyber threats, artificial intelligence, cloud security, ransomware, and strategies for building resilient digital infrastructures, equipping participants with practical insights to navigate today’s cybersecurity landscape.
Through its continued partnership with global technology leaders like Check Point, TD Africa remains committed to empowering businesses across Africa with world-class cybersecurity solutions, fostering industry collaboration, and driving the continent’s secure digital transformation.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that every Nigerian is enrolled in the national identity database before the end of 2026, according to Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general and chief executive officer of the agency.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general and chief executive officer, NIMC
Coker-Odusote, who appeared on Channels Television, said the directive forms part of the federal government’s efforts to establish a comprehensive national identity system capable of supporting effective governance, planning, and service delivery.
“The President has given us till the end of this year to make sure that we capture every single Nigerian,” she said.
According to her, NIMC is working with partners under the World Bank-supported Identification for Development (ID4D) project to accelerate nationwide enrolment.
“What we have done is we have partnered through the World Bank ID4D project with front-end partners. They are part of the digital identity ecosystem. These are private citizens that we’ve enabled and given jobs to enrol citizens on our behalf,” she explained.
She stressed that the National Identification Number (NIN) remains a unique identifier, ensuring that every individual is registered only once.
“That’s why it’s called a unique identifier, so that you’re only enrolled once,” the NIMC DG added.
Coker-Odusote said Nigeria’s actual population remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 200 million to 250 million, making a comprehensive identity database essential for national planning.
“It is estimated that we’re 200 million. When we’re done enrolling, we will then know the actual numbers that we have. Some estimates say 230 million, while a few people say 250 million.
“Your identity is basically the foundation for effective governance and service delivery. How can you plan if you don’t know the total number of persons that you have? We have been mandated by Mr President to go down to the community levels to enrol every single Nigerian”, she said.
Responding to concerns about whether an individual could obtain multiple identities by registering in different locations or under different names, the NIMC boss said the commission’s biometric verification system prevents such occurrences.
She explained that while the previous system could accept duplicate enrolments before detecting them later, the current process automatically identifies and invalidates multiple registrations.
“The legacy system had no way of verifying at the front end whether you had already been captured. Once the record comes into the system, it flags it as a duplicate or that the person already exists in the database.
“You would only have one identity generated for you. The other record goes into a deduplication bucket where it is invalidated,” she said.
The NIMC DG added that biometric verification, including fingerprints and facial recognition, makes it virtually impossible for one person to maintain multiple identities.
“Absolutely. One of the things that this Act has done is to cement our role in capturing biometrics. Private and public sector organisations will no longer capture biometrics independently. They will validate identities through API integration with NIMC.
“The telcos are already doing that with us. If you need a SIM card, they capture your facial biometrics, which are matched against our database in real time to confirm that you are who you claim to be. We’re using biometric validation to tighten security around identity confirmation,” she said.
The remarks come weeks after Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law on June 26, repealing the 2007 legislation.
The new law reinforces the “One Person, One Identity” policy by making the NIN the country’s foundational identity credential for accessing government and essential private services, including banking, passport applications, tax administration, pensions, land transactions, and consumer credit.
It also introduces stiffer penalties for identity theft, multiple registrations and unauthorised access to personal identity data, while strengthening data privacy protections and granting NIMC wider powers to investigate identity-related offences.
First Securities Brokers Empowers Nigerians to Trade in the Stock Market with the Launch of FirstInvest App
Quest Merchant Bank Hosts Great Place to Work® Nigeria Study Mission
ValueJet Expands Fleet with Boeing Aircraft, Targets Wider African Network
Jumia Seeks for Payment Harmonisation, Stronger Policies to Boost Africa’s Digital Trade
Helios Towers Secures $29m Facility to Expand Across Africa
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
Nigeria Launches FreeTV Nationwide
NASENI Moves to Digitize CCB’s 5m Assets Declaration and Operations
Lebara Nigeria Launches Lebara Play, Africa’s First Telecom-Owned Micro-Drama Platform
CANAL+ Partners Samsung to Pre-Load DStv Stream on New Samsung TVs In Nigeria, Other African Countries
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Slashes Cost of Broadband Internet Router, Unwraps New Data Bundles for Low-Budget Users
E-Financial2 days agoNigerians Accumulate $59Bn in Cryptocurrency Assets —FDC
General News2 days agoNearpays, Nigerian Fintech Becomes First African Startup to Win UN’s AI for Good Innovation Factory
E-Financial2 days agoFlutterwave Partners Xoom on Transfers into Nigeria
News2 days agoDataPro Upgrades Dangote Cement’s Credit Rating to AA+
Telecom2 days agoNokia’s 14 Years of Mobile-Phone Supremacy Ended in an Afternoon
General News2 days agoLASG Signs PPP Concession Agreements to Advance Digital Services, Others
General News2 days agoFintech Brands Should Communicate Right in a VUCA Economy