E-Business
WAFICT Congress to Focus on Big Data, Cloud Computing
As big data and cloud computing increasingly occupy the core of global activities in service delivery for both private and public sectors, how can governments and businesses in West Africa key into those areas through robust infrastructure to provide broadband to transform their countries?
This is the central focus of discussions for this year’s West African Information and Communications Technology Congress (WAFICT 2014) whose theme is “Broadband for Transformational Development: Empowering peoples, governments and industries in West Africa with technologies and solutions to transform societies.”
When government officials, regulatory agencies in telecom and information technology, telecom operators, computing and software firms, technology companies, manufacturers, and other stakeholders converge this year, therefore, their task will be to provide answers on how to maximally utilise the infrastructures that already on ground in the sub-region as well as increase or add new ones in order to deploy broadband as a transformational tool for development.
Consolidating on the gains of past editions, the 2014 WAFICT Congress will open new frontiers for all-round economic development across West Africa using technology.
The two-day event, which will draw participants from across the sub-region, is billed to take place between October 30 and 31 at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites Victoria Island, Lagos.
Running for the sixth consecutive year, the Congress is upping the ante this year, as it brings people at the highest levels of government, regulators, and operators as well as all stakeholders in the ICT industry together with one full focus of finding ways to leverage on technology for economic development.
Globally, broadband technology is seen as veritable tool in driving economic growth and this is not without verifiable evidences from countries with huge broadband penetration.
From Agriculture to power, education to healthcare, as well as commerce and financial services, how can Nigeria and West Africa leverage on broadband for an all-sector development? What progress has the sub-region achieved so far with broadband plans and blueprints? What is the current level of technology input in agriculture, healthcare, education etc. and how can this be improved upon? These and many more questions are waiting to be answered by industry experts, regulators as well as the operators.
According to the organisers, Africa’s foremost ICT magazine, IT & Telecom Digest, WAFICT 2014 is a grand platform to hear from Governments and Regulators in West Africa their policies, plans and strategies towards developing their economies with technology, especially as original equipment manufacturers as well as big data and cloud computing companies and professionals will feature prominently at the event.
The Congress, which holds alongside Exhibition, will provide an opportunity to beam further searchlights on cybercrimes and the challenging tasks for cybersecurity, as well as the way forward for local content in the telecom and ICT sectors in the sub-region. Telecom regulators and operators across the sub-region with top notch speakers will thus chart the course for the industry’s growth.
Mkpe Abang, editor in chief of the Magazine, in a statement, said WAFICT 2014 will be building on the success of previous events; but this year’s event presents delegates an even better platform as speakers and presentations will come from across many sectors, all of which sorely need broadband for their growth and the development of the society.
Right here in West Africa, the revolution also beckons but to what extent are the governments, regulators, operators as well as other stakeholders driving this revolution? How will this revolution result into enviable growth in agriculture, education and advancements in our healthcare systems? What policies and laws have governments in the region put in place to support and encourage investment in broadband, and expansion of the ICT industry? Could the governments have done more? Have they done enough? Could the regulators have been better partners in progress with operators than they have been? Are there still challenges preventing operators from rolling out broadband services to West African citizens? These and many more are the salient topics and issues that will occupy the focal points at WAFICT 2014” Abang said.
Big data is simply a blanket term for any collection of data sets are so large and complex that it becomes difficult to process them using on-hand database management tools or traditional data processing applications as we know them in today or in the past.
And, to deliver computing as a service rather than as a product already further compounds the challenges of big data for a region that has difficulties of infrastructure.
According to Abang, “this throws up the challenges of capture, curation, storage, search, sharing, transfer and analysis, among others. As can be seen, the challenges affect both public and private sector, and such challenges are even more in West Africa where the channels of communication are not broad enough; hence, the need for broadband.
While a number of undersea cables area already available in West Africa, last mile and other challenges still hold back the region from reaping the fruits of these cables and provide broadband for the citizenry, which would be a great source for transformation development. WAFICT Congress 2014 will be a great platform for discussion s on the way forward,” Abang stated.
Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.
While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.
Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.
Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.
The company has fired those involved, it said.
Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.
Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.
“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.
“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”
The SEC declined to comment.
The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.
Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.
In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.
“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.
Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.
“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.
Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.
The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) presents its report on .ng domain name registration and renewal statistics for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of Nigeria’s digital footprint. The data underscores a consistent and significant adoption of the nation’s Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), reinforcing its pivotal role in the burgeoning Nigerian digital economy.
During the period spanning January to March 2025, a total of 40,791 .ng domain names were recorded. This figure comprises 22,236 new registrations and 18,555 renewals, indicating a healthy balance between the acquisition of new digital identities and the sustained commitment of existing domain name holders to their online presence.
Analysis of the registration trends within the quarter reveals a notable upward trajectory, with a 13.92% increase in domain name registrations observed between February and March 2025.
This growth signifies an increasing recognition of the importance of a localized online identity by a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and larger organizations.
Notably, the .com.ng extension continues to be the dominant choice, accounting for over 60% of both new registrations and renewals. This reaffirms its status as the preferred domain name extension for Nigerian businesses seeking to establish a credible and locally relevant online brand presence while maintaining global accessibility. The sustained popularity of .com.ng underscores its perceived value among Nigerian entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to secure their digital real estate.
This upward trajectory isn’t happening by chance. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has remained intentional in its drive for digital inclusion and domain adoption. Through public education, training via the .ng Academy, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem, NiRA has consistently advocated for the importance of owning a local domain. The current standing of .ng as the second most registered ccTLD in Africa reflects the efficacy of these efforts.
Digital adoption in Nigeria is no longer just about being online—it’s about owning your digital identity. And with a .ng domain, Nigerians are better positioned to assert that identity, connect with local and international audiences, and gain better control over their digital footprints.
As we look toward the rest of 2025, the Q1 results serve as a strong signal: more people are embracing the digital future, and the .ng domain is increasingly becoming their first step.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
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