E-Business
Technology, Innovation Will Promote Operations of Institutions – Adeoti
Femi Adeoti, managing director/CEO, Africa Operations of Inlaks, has reiterated the effectiveness of technology and innovation to promote the operations of institutions in all spheres of the economy.
The ICT Personality of the Year recipient at the Beacon of Information and Communication Technology awards held recently in Lagos said in his keynote address that technology and innovation have touched and stimulated vast growth in different endeavours including mobile and digital payments, biometric verification, shared agent network, identity management, immigration, e-learning amongst others.
“Mobile payments technology has become increasingly significant, especially in the context of developing economies, where many low income households and micro enterprises do not have ready access to financial services”.
He cited management control systems, which rides on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and has helped the current government to control revenue leakages. “If a country has a fragmented system for handling government payments through the banking system, it is a critical public financial management weakness that needs to be addressed.
“TSA has enabled regular and effective monitoring of government cash resources by providing complete and timely information. TSA has also helped the government to get a stronger hold of its finances as well as reduce fraud”, he added.
He mentioned the Biometric Verification Number (BVN) exercise introduced by the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement Systems [NIBSS] and the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN], which has made it possible for more than 35 million bank customers to make transactions through mobile and digital payments platforms in an online, real-time fashion.
He also explained that the Shared Agent Network (SAN) powered by the Bankers Committee and the CBN will enable financial inclusion and make it possible to move banking beyond the bank branches by providing safer payment, transfer processes and simplicity of banking operations.
The Inlaks boss highlighted the impact of technology on e-Learning, stating that innovation has not only made access to information easier but has arguably made learning easier. “The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), an e-learning platform is an example of how learning can take place at any point, whether in real time or deferred, thus making education functional, cost-effective and flexible”.
Adeoti presented a world bank case of the government of Bangladesh as an example of a country that has effectively adopted technology and innovation to reinvent itself by embracing a holistic approach in how it leveraged ICT for governance, economic growth, and employment creation through its four strategic pillars for Digital Bangladesh, which broadly covers digital government, ICT in business, connecting citizens and human resource development.
In his address, he said that for Bangladesh’s key objectives such as acceleration of growth (to 8% per year by 2013), social inclusion, participation and empowerment to be achieved, the government of Bangladesh has established e-government foundations and develops e-services to support public sector reform and modernization efforts.
He concluded that, “When technology and innovation meet, Nigeria will experience increase in entrepreneurship, as technology will contribute to our GDP growth, increase innovative small and medium-scale businesses (SMEs), increase productivity and increased knowledge base”.
E-Business
NITDA, NIMC Partner for Seamless Data Exchange Capabilities
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of public-key infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up.
This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
E-Business
Expert Urges FG to Harmonise NIN, BVN to Tackle Crimes
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
E-Business
Konga launches Infinix Brand Week with Incredible Deals
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce group, is thrilled to announce the launch of amazing deals at its Infinix Brand Week. Infinix, a leading global smartphone brand known for its innovative products and cutting-edge technology promises exclusive discounts and special offers on select smartphones, marking an exciting milestone in the realm of online shopping.
Shoppers can expect nothing short of extraordinary deals on a wide range of Infinix products, all available exclusively on the Konga online platform. With discounts of up to 30% off, this partnership between Konga and Infinix aims to redefine the shopping experience for tech enthusiasts across Nigeria.
Konga Brand Week has become synonymous with excitement and unbeatable deals, and this year’s edition is no exception. In addition to exclusive discounts on Infinix smartphones, shoppers can explore a diverse array of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more.
“At Konga, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible,” said Rita Ohaedoghasi, VP Marketing at Konga. “The Infinix Week during Konga Brand Week allows us to continue delivering on that promise by offering incredible discounts and special offers on some of the most sought-after smartphones in the market.”
To stay updated on the latest developments and exclusive deals during Konga Brand Week, shoppers are encouraged to connect with Konga across all platforms, including social media and the Konga website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to score big savings and elevate your tech game with Infinix and Konga.
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