E-Business
Understanding Data ‘Openness’ Impact in Nigeria’s Health Sector
Of all the public sector issues in Nigeria, that of health has grown quite notorious. The government, resident doctors and other public healthcare personals in several health institutions have continued to have series of show downs in form of strike actions.
Recent strikes by Neuro-psychiatric hospital Yaba, Federal Medical Center Owerri, LAUTECH Oshogbo and University College Hospital Ibadan (UCH) collectively sum up to a year and six months, and before that, data shows that recent years have not been without these showdowns which have become the order of the day.
Although the government ends up settling, the situation of things seem not to change, because after a while another strike action happens, and then the circular dance of economic shame continues.
When these strikes take place, the participants give remuneration, dilapidated facilities, power, insufficient resources, casualization, broken down equipments, not enough man power amongst others issues as reasons for the showdown.
But one wonders why after every settlement, the status quo remains.
A recent Nigeria Healthwatch article threw more light on this. That even after the government reaches a compromise with the striking groups, and salaries increased, there is still no change in quality of service delivery, reasons being that the complexity of healthcare and unavailability of relevant data makes accountability, transparency and impact measurement uneasy.
It behoves one to know that the public healthcare professionals in Nigeria are without contract or specification that states clinical expectations, terms of the service to be delivered e.g number of cases that must be attended to or patients that must be seen.
Furthermore it will wow you to know that crucial indicators like work-flow, quality, outcome and patient satisfaction are not in place.
There are no set standards in public health delivery, meaning there are no means of evaluating the allocations from the Federal Ministry of Health as well as its quarterly allocation from the National Health Insurance Scheme versus service delivered.
Zero value for money assessment, due to little or zero data, thus giving insights as to why the sector is in this mess.
Meanwhile as Africa’s biggest economy Nigeria continues to wallop in this despond, the world has left her behind.
Economies have begun data revolutions, patients are accessing their healthcare records and are comparing costs versus effectiveness, providers are mining and harnessing performance indicators across institutions, physicians are increasing cost-efficiency, researchers are accessing clinical data.
Health institutions performance, choice, accountability, decision-making and other healthy behaviors have increase and improved.
These digital economies have realized the impact that could be made when technology is leveraged to transform data into knowledge and so everyday they create systems driven by technology to spur interconnectivity; where machines and humans are transacting, collaborating, and participating in shared value creation towards opportunities, innovation, growth and development.
Back in Nigeria, we know the tale, we are willing to mimic many lifestyles of other economies, but we have refused to depart from our legacy and bureaucratic environments into a more patient-friendly digital system like they have.
In January 2014, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and NHS England signed a bi-lateral agreement form then use and sharing of health data, tools and services towards increasing transparency and openness in government.
Since then thousands of data sets have been made available for public consumption which in turn has spiraled the emergence of several innovations.
Some of these platforms include;
A. those that leverage mortality datasets to improve accountability at hospital level thereby identifying hospitals with abnormally high mortality rates, and poor clinical practices;
B. those on which health spending and procurement data are published;
C. those that leverage crowdsourced information to help patients choose the right care at the right time and make evidence-based, cost-effective treatment decisions aligned to personal preferences and financial constraints;
D. those that use food and drug data to maintain a knowledge pool of adverse side effects from drugs;
E. those that facilitate innovation in the field of data analysis, data visualization, service design, web and app development enabling innovation using linked health data to say but the least.
Little wonder why Nigeria looses millions of dollars to both these economies and more due to ‘medical tourism’, little wonder how our hospitals are only ‘world class’ on the pages of newspapers.
This week after battling between work stress, cold, fatigue, and wellness, I ended up in a private hospital, after seeing the doctor and getting diagnosed, I was slammed with a bill which I thought was rather high and then it dawned on me, I had no choice, no other option, there was no way I could compare the cost of the treatment with that of other private hospitals so as to make a better decision.
In today’s digital era we are able to compare the costs of lots of services and products to see that which aligns with our purse, taste and more before we make purchase due to the emergence of eCommerce and price checking platforms leveraging data, but this development and innovation has fairly extended to our healthcare systems.
It cannot be over stressed that publishing data on general health outcomes can spur competition and innovation between institutions and healthcare professionals.
Opening healthcare data to analysts and researches allows for scrutiny, question-asking on resource allocations, improves quality, monitoring of indications and consistency of evaluation.
On the patient side it can facilitate preventive healthcare, health outcomes, efficiency, and security.
However our eyes may be dazzled with show, or our ears deceived by sound; however prejudice may warp our wills, or bias darken our understanding, the simple voice of nature and of reason says that until Nigeria begins to mimic this habit of ‘openness’ from other economies, the healthcare system will continue to go the way of a downward spiral.
Blaise Aboh is co-partner at Orodata, a civic tech organization transforming government and public health sector data into insightful narratives to uphold transparency, accountability, and civic inclusion.
E-Business
Study Reveals Majority of IT Professionals Show Openness to Cyber Immunity

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, with organisations seeking more robust ways to protect their digital assets. A recent global study conducted by Kaspersky reveals a growing shift toward proactive security strategies, particularly the adoption of Secure by Design development and Cyber Immunity – an innovative approach that embeds resilience directly into system architecture.

The study highlights that 90% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region are familiar with Secure by Design development. This methodology integrates security into the very fabric of a system from its inception, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Such an approach is already employed in high-stakes industries like aerospace, where security cannot be bolted on later – it must be intrinsic. Despite its advantages, however, adoption has been slow due to challenges related to standardisation and cost.
Cyber Immunity is the next frontier in cybersecurity
Building on Secure by Design principles, Cyber Immunity takes cybersecurity a step further by creating systems that inherently resist attacks without the need for constant patching or additional security layers. The study reveals that most experts are familiar with Cyber Immunity but interpret it differently.
When asked what they associate with the term, 64% of respondents in the META region linked it to Secure by Design systems that remain resilient under attack, while 56% viewed it as a combination of technology and policy measures that block cybercriminal access. Another 48% connected it to highly skilled cybersecurity teams, indicating that while awareness is high, a unified understanding is still developing.
The growing demand for proactive security
One of the most striking findings is the optimism surrounding inherently secure systems. Over half of respondents in the META region (63%) believe it is already possible or definitely achievable to design systems capable of withstanding cyberattacks without relying on additional security solutions.
Another 32% think it might be possible, reflecting openness to this idea despite some uncertainty. This shift in mindset aligns with a broader industry trend: traditional reactive security measures are no longer sufficient.
With AI-powered threats and increasingly sophisticated attacks, organisations need solutions that do more than just detect breaches—they must prevent them by design.
Integrating Cyber Immunity into security strategies
The study emphasises that resilience, expertise, and flexibility will define the next generation of cybersecurity. While Secure by Design provides the methodology, Cyber Immunity represents the ultimate goal—systems so robust that they minimise reliance on external defences.
“For companies looking ahead, Cyber Immunity offers more than just protection — it brings clear business benefits. When systems are built to be secure from the ground up, there’s less need for constant updates, patches, and extra security tools. That means fewer costs, less strain on IT teams, and stronger, more reliable protection over time,” said Dmitry Lukiyan, Head of KasperskyOS Business Unit.
Most importantly in today’s threat landscape, Cyber Immunity offers robust protection against next-generation challenges — including AI-driven attacks capable of outmaneuvering traditional security measures.
When security becomes an intrinsic property of system architecture rather than an external addition, businesses gain more than just protection—they secure a competitive market advantage.
This proactive approach future-proofs critical infrastructure, enabling organisations to operate confidently even as threats evolve. It transforms cybersecurity from a defensive necessity into a strategic differentiator that accelerates digital transformation while mitigating risk.
As the cybersecurity environment becomes more complex, Cyber Immunity is emerging as a vital strategy. Organisations that adopt it now will not only enhance their protection but also position themselves ahead of the curve in an increasingly volatile digital world.
E-Business
Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has launched its inaugural 2026 shopping campaign, Konga Jara, offering 25 per cent discount on Starlink internet kits alongside free nationwide delivery.

Konga
The campaign, drawing from the Nigerian concept of “jara” — the extra value traders add to purchases — aims to deliver exceptional deals across categories, helping shoppers turn new year aspirations into reality through affordable technology and value-driven shopping.
To qualify for the Starlink discount, customers must purchase kits on Konga.com, activate them at starlink.com/activate, and email activation details to [email protected] for verification against Starlink’s records. Discounts are subject to terms and conditions.
Konga said spotlighting Starlink underscores reliable internet’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting work, learning, entrepreneurship and communication for households and businesses.
Mr Onochie Melvin, Head of Commercial Planning at Konga, said: “We listened carefully to what Nigerians said they needed to truly kickstart 2026 on the right footing. Reliable internet connectivity emerged as the foundation upon which other aspirations depend.”
He added: “Students need it for online learning, entrepreneurs need it to scale digital businesses, and professionals rely on it for remote work. This Starlink offer is not just about selling products; it is about removing barriers that prevent Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.”
Beyond connectivity, Konga Jara provides genuine products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with transparent pricing, warranties and authenticity guarantees.
As a composite e-commerce ecosystem, Konga integrates shopping, payments and logistics for seamless nationwide access, with exclusive deals shared via its social media channels throughout the campaign.
Shoppers can explore offers at www.konga.com and follow Konga’s official pages for updates across the Konga Group.
E-Business
Firm Identifies Global Scam Activity Linked to the Release of Avatar 3

The premiere of Avatar 3 has taken place in several countries and has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in online interest. Amid the heightened attention surrounding the release, Kaspersky experts identified an increase in cyber-scam campaigns that exploit the movie’s launch and users’ desire to watch it online. The fraudulent websites target users across multiple regions, indicating attempts by attackers to reach a global audience.

The scam operates as follows: cybercriminals create suspicious websites that offer online access to the Avatar 3 movie. Attackers place particular emphasis on localisation, publishing the sites in multiple languages to attract users from different countries. However, the translations are often poorly executed and contain grammatical errors and inconsistencies, which may serve as indicators of fraudulent activity.
When users attempt to start the video, they are presented with a fake media player and prompted to register in order to obtain “full” or “unlimited” access to the film. As part of the registration process, users are asked to provide personal information, including an email address and mobile phone number.
At later stages, scammers may request additional data, including payment details, under the guise of activating a “free trial.” This creates risks of credential compromise, particularly if users reuse passwords across multiple services, and may also lead to financial losses.
“Cybercriminals consistently exploit major movie premieres to capture users’ attention and increase the effectiveness of their schemes. We advise accessing films only through official platforms and exercising caution when encountering websites that request personal or payment information. It is also important to use reliable security solutions to protect all devices, including mobiles,” comments Olga Altukhova, Senior web content analyst at Kaspersky.
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