General News
WafICT, W.Afri.Tel Bring Innovation to West Africa
For three days – between June 2nd and 4th, ICT enthusiasts converged at the Expo Centre and Coral Hall of Oceanview Restaurant in Lagos for the West African International Telecommunications and Information Communication Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel) and the West African Information Communications Technology (WafICT) Congress.
While the W.Afri.Tel exhibition, organized by Exhibition Management Services (EMS) of South Africa, in partnership with IT & Telecom Digest, was hosting its ninth edition; the WAFICT Congress was an added feature for the first time, since the berth of W.Afri.Tel in June 2001.
Declaring the twin events of global prominence open were two distinguished Africans whose contributions to the development of the ICT sector in their respective countries and the continent remain gargantuan. They were Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Telecom Organization (CTO) and Chief Cornelius Adebayo, former Nigerian Communications minister; who was the country’s longest serving Communications minister in the eight years of the President Obasanjo regime and in whose tenure Nigeria recorded gigantic leap in telecom subscriber base and investment.
Delivering his opening remark on the first day of the WafICT Congress, Dr. Spio-Garbrah described West Africa as having attained the status of a very important market and more so with the threat of the global meltdown on western based companies. He commended the growing attention being paid the region, even though an emerging market by global leading ICT businesses. According to him, an event like the WafICT Congress was necessary for exchange of ideas to move the ICT sector even to a greater height.
While making a presentation on policy and regulatory challenges of harnessing new technologies, he emphasized the need for adoption of Next Generation Networks (NGNs), which he said are based on genuinely innovative technologies already transforming business communications.
According to him, major drivers for NGNs include changes in service and user needs, as well as technological evolution, further stating that benefits accruable to Nigeria and other African countries in the aftermath of NGN presence are access, availability and affordability of telecom facilities and improved quality of service.
Dr. Spio-Garbrah advocated for a closer working relationship between government and the telecom industry regulator and operators, as they are pivotal to the success of the industry and the people at large. Referring to the recent squabbles between the Ministry of Communications and the Nigerian Communications Commission over the recent auctioning of 2.3 GHz spectrum, he stated that a cordial working relationship would have averted any form of bickering.
Speaking on the broadband Internet divide in Nigeria, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, president of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) identified the lack of effective Internet exchange points as a factor for lack of broadband ubiquity in Nigeria. He further highlighted the lack of enthusiasm by telecom operators to roll out broadband services as another factor responsible for the digital divide in Nigeria.
According to him, other obstacles hindering broadband deployment include monopoly of the SAT-3 submarine cable, lack of inadequate national transmission backbone and unavailability of spectrum for last mile operations.
The WafICT Congress recorded such speakers as Mr. Peter Schubert, CTO of Globacom, Mr. Wale Goodluck, Corporate Services executive of MTN Nigeria and Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie, CCAO of Multi-Links Telkom Nigeria. Others include Mr. Harald Braun, president of Harris Stratex Networks USA; Dr. Stephen Castell, chairman, Castell Consulting, UK; Mr. Petteri Paasila, MD designate, iBurst Nigeria; Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (Alton); Mr. Karl Keppke, Regional Sales director of O3b Networks and Ms. Funke Opeke, CEO of Mainstreet Technologies, among others.
General News
FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras across identified flashpoints in Plateau State as part of urgent measures to address the worsening security situation in the state.

The President gave the directive during an emergency visit to Plateau on Thursday, where he held a brief stakeholders’ meeting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport following the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, where at least 28 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.
Tinubu also approved the formation of a delegation of key stakeholders to engage in further deliberations on lasting solutions to the security challenges in the state.
He condoled with families of the victims and directed that support be provided to cushion their losses.
President Bola Tinubu while expressing deep sympathy to families of victims said the installation of surveillance cameras was part of a deliberate move towards addressing the kind of attacks that befell residence of the recent attack in the State.
In his remarks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang appreciated the President’s visit and show of concern, but expressed worry over the recent wave of attacks in the state, describing the situation as disturbing and requiring urgent attention.
The meeting had in attendance, former Governors, serving and former National and State Assembly members, traditional rulers, government appointees as well as relatives of those killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack.
General News
FG Rolls Out N12Bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

Federal Government yesterday unveiled a N12 billion investment in digital economy research, marking a strategic shift towards knowledge-driven development as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital landscape.

Declaring the launch of the National Digital Economy Research Clusters under the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative mobilises over 200 researchers from universities and research institutions nationwide to produce data-driven solutions for pressing national challenges.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Tijani described the programme as an essential complement to infrastructure expansion, including the ongoing deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country.
He stressed that sustainable growth in the digital sector now hinges on robust research, innovation and evidence-based policies rather than infrastructure alone.
“As Nigeria expands its digital economy, attention is shifting from infrastructure to the knowledge that drives it,” the minister stated, adding that the sector was emerging as a major contributor to national GDP.
The research clusters will tackle critical areas including connectivity, digital public infrastructure, skills development, job creation, online safety and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Tijani explained that the project aims to bolster Nigeria’s research capacity while ensuring local insights guide policy and technology adoption.
The Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating to synchronise academic research with national priorities and advance specialised training.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, underscored universities’ evolving role as hubs of innovation and problem-solving beyond traditional learning.
The BRIDGE project aligns with broader government strategies to promote digital inclusion, spur economic growth and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Observers note that the programme’s impact will depend on effectively converting research findings into implementable policies across sectors.
For the administration, the message is clear: a resilient digital economy demands not just infrastructure, but the intelligence to power it.
General News
Myitura Launches Women-Focused Healthcare Financing Solutions to Bridge Access Gap

In commemoration of Women’s Month, health-tech platform Myitura has released a new white paper addressing the critical gaps in healthcare financing for women in Nigeria.

Titled “Closing the Gap: Healthcare Financing for Women in Nigeria,” the report highlights how high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage, and socio-economic factors continue to prevent women from accessing timely healthcare.
According to the report, over 70% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria are paid out-of-pocket, disproportionately affecting women who often delay care due to financial and social constraints.
“When women can afford to take care of their health early, we don’t just save lives; we strengthen families, communities, and the economy,” said Chialuka Kelechi, MyItura’s Chief of Staff.
Key Insights from the White Paper:
- Preventable conditions often escalate due to delayed care
- Women are more likely to deprioritize their own health
- Affordable, structured healthcare financing can significantly improve outcomes
Introducing a Women’s Health Initiative
As part of its commitment, Myitura is launching affordable women-focused health packages (powered by Mediloan), starting at ₦58,180, designed to encourage preventive care and early detection.
The package provides access to:
- Fasting/Random Blood Sugar
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Pap Smear Submitted slides
- HIV I & II Rapid (Qualitative)
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening (Rapid)
- Hepatitis C Virus Screening (Rapid)
- Abdominopelvic Ultrasound
- Ongoing support via the Myitura platform
Access:
Women can access these packages by downloading the Myitura app, which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.
Myitura is a health-tech platform focused on improving access to healthcare through financing, technology, and preventive care solutions.
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