Telecom
Zoho, Digital Encode, Layer3, Rack Centre, Others Among AfriTECH2021 Award Winners
Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH) organisers have recognized outstanding organizations for driving creative, innovative solutions and products to enhance Africa’s digital economy.
L-r: Dr. Ayotunde Coker, managing director, Rack Centre presenting the AfriTECH Award to Mr. Remi Adejumo, CEO Cloudflex Computing Service Limited
The eight (8) award winners across different categories were honoured at Africa Tech Alliance Forum 2021 (AfriTECH2021), held in Lagos.
The hybrid Forum provided opportunity for inter-sectorial cross-fertilization of ideas on economic impacts of COVID-19 on digital transformation on Businesses and way forward with critical look at Boosting digital infrastructure for Cloud Hosting; Digital tools for education & reskilling African youth; CyberSecurity: Pushing for Privacy & Data Protection; and Harnessing Blockchain Technology for Digital Economy Growth.
The 2021 winners of AfriTECH Awards are:
1. Hybrid Cloud Services Achiever Award – Galaxy Backbone Limited
2. Most Efficient Data Centre of the Year -Rack Centre
3. Data Protection Compliance Organisation of the Year – Digital Encode Limited
4. Business Intelligence (BI) Software Company of the Year – Zoho Corporation
5. Cloud Innovator of the Year – Layer3
6. Best Cloud Infrastructure Company of the Year – Cloudflex Computing Services Ltd
7. Digital Transformation Project Award – Notion Technology Limited
8. ICT Infrastructure Provider (Data Centre) of the Year – Medallion
9. Africa Tech Alliance Forum Convener’s Award – Olatomiwa Williams
1. Hybrid Cloud Services Achiever Award presented to Galaxy Backbone Limited.
Galaxy Backbone Limited is an ICT services provider; wholly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has the official mandate to build and operate a single nation-wide IT infrastructure platform to provide network services to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Galaxy Backbone Limited drives national development through the provision of a pervasive ICT infrastructure and services to public institutions and under-served communities.
2. Rack Centre – Most Efficient Data Centre of the Year.
Founded in 2012, Rack Centre is the only carrier neutral Tier III Constructed Facility Certified data centre in Africa and focuses solely on providing best in class data centre colocation services and unrestricted interconnect between carriers and customers.
This gives customers a technically superior, physically more secure and lower cost environment for their information systems.
Rack Centre’s carrier neutrality allows customers to manage traffic to get better value, lower latency and higher resilience, and creates an open market for partnerships between customers, networks, cloud and content providers, the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria and managed service providers.
Rack Centre clients include 40 telecommunication carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), global Tier 1 networks and pan Africa international carriers, including direct connection to all 5 undersea cables serving the South Atlantic Coast of Africa and every country on the Atlantic coast of Africa.
3. Digital Encode Limited – Data Protection Compliance Organisation of the Year
Digital Encode is a leading consulting and integration firm founded in 2003 that specializes in the design, management, and security of business-critical networks, telecommunications environments and other Information Technology (IT) infrastructures.
Digital Encode is one of the few companies certified by the Nigerian government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as Data Protection Compliance Organisation (DPCO).
Recognized in the industry for its vendor independent perspective the firm’s expertise lies in solving multifaceted, complex enterprise network security and audit problems.
At Digital Encode, technology serves two purposes: to save money and solve a problem.
Digital Encode also provides advisory services toward improvements in Information Security Management, Network Security, Vulnerability Management, Penetration Testing, Computer Forensics, Risk Management and Business Continuity Management.
Digital Encode unique methodology is rooted in the concept that a company should run its IT organization as a business.
Throughout the well-defined process, Digital Encode translates strategic business objectives into sound, achievable technology solutions.
This approach ensures that the technology never obscures the business goals.
4. Zoho Corporation – Business Intelligence (BI) Software Company of the Year
Zoho is popular project management and #CRM software that needs no introduction.
Be it multi-channel communication, taking care of multiple tasks, CRM insights – Zoho offers a host of features that can easily cater to the needs of large as well as small enterprises.
With 50+ apps in nearly every major business category, including sales, marketing, customer support, accounting and back-office operations, and an array of productivity and collaboration tools, Zoho Corporation is one of the world’s most prolific software companies.
Zoho is privately held and profitable with more than 9,000 employees. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with international headquarters in Chennai, India. Additional offices are in the United States, India, Japan, China, Singapore, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates.
Zoho respects user privacy and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products.
More than 60 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho every day to run their businesses, including Zoho itself.
5. Layer3 – Cloud Innovator of the Year
The team at Layer3 aims to remain at the forefront of the clients’ business transformation ambitions. Combining knowledge of world-class technology solutions in addition to their partnership with some of the global technology providers, Layer3 delivers exceptional value for the clients.
The solutions cut across all sectors and include the innovation of the data center, software, server & storage systems, mobile device management, security & network infrastructure solutions and access solutions including broadband and VPN services.
The success of Layer3’s customers is always paramount in the minds and the culture drives them to work closely with the clients to truly understand the business and ICT needs.
The Company continuously builds strategic partnerships with global technology leaders that enable them to deploy solutions that minimize risks, maximize flexibility and optimize the use of capital with results that exceed our customers’ expectations.
Layer3 runs a 24/7 network management and support center that allows the team to provide round the clock remote monitoring and support services for the customers’ IT and network infrastructure as well as the expansive metro fiber network infrastructure guaranteeing optimal performance and quick fault resolutions.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Nigeria, Layer3’s services are available in several African countries and they have a large pool of some of the most technically certified and experienced experts within the region.
6. Cloudflex Computing Services Ltd – Best Cloud Infrastructure Company of the Year
CloudFlex Computing Limited is Nigeria’s leading Enterprise local cloud service Provider. We are the first choice of Cloud Solutions and managed data services for local and Global businesses with great ambitions.
Cloudflex offers Information Technology as a service (Cloud services, Co-location, Managed solutions, Backup services, Disaster Recovery etc.), and support for diverse infrastructure needs by providing Industry-specific Solutions.
The Company is based on the principle of developing and delivering top of the line Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solutions to meet the needs of the existing and prospective clients.
7. Notion Technology Limited – Digital Transformation Project Award
If you are looking for perfect IT services for your business, YOU JUST FOUND Notion Technologies; the representative of American #1 technology company – Comway and Hsv Products in Nigeria.
The company’s vision is simply put as: “To be the one-stop enterprise for resolving information and telecommunication technology connections problems through intelligent, consistent, innovative, high-skill technical efforts bringing about products and services that ensure customers satisfaction and joy”.
Their beliefs are in the capabilities, experience and the passion for rendering intelligent technological solutions in the ICT Sector in Nigeria and beyond indeed necessitate the birth and continuous existence of NTL.
Notion Technology is piloted by an experienced and very intelligent technical team of proven skills, capabilities and par excellence technological designs for the ICT/Telecom Industry in Nigeria.
The ensure services rendered are finished to the highest quality. Notion Technology offers Designing, Procuring, Installation and Maintenance of very precise and Reliable Fibre Optic Technology, Networking (Wireless or Fixed), VSAT Technology, Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) Communication System, Security Systems that include CCTV, IP Surveillance Camera, Access Control, Intruder alert etc, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and sales of relevant and related equipment.
To simply put it, NTL makes intelligent and innovative connections and interactions possible for businesses.
Using the best technology available, Notion Technologies integrate voice, data and video applications into specialized solutions designed for our clients’ usage that ensure a seamless communication experience within and outside their organizations keeping them happy, satisfied and thrilled.
8. Medallion – ICT Infrastructure Provider (Data Centre) of the Year
Interconnection is the linking of the networks of two or more service providers thus enabling the subscribers on one network to access the subscribers of the other networks.
In a multi-operator environment, seamless interconnection is the most important factor that could affect the growth of the industry.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) estimates that in most telecom environments, at least 60% of all traffic is interconnected.
Medallion Communications Incorporated – (MCL) is the product of structured collaboration between technocrats with versatile exposures and competences in the telecommunication industry.
The company was founded with the vision of bridging the digital divide between the developing and the developed economies of the world.
Olatomiwa Williams, the country manager, Microsoft Nigeria received Africa Tech Alliance Forum Convener’s Award. Ola presented the keynote address at this year’s award.
He said that the AfriTECH Award was instituted as part of AfriTECH Forum to celebrate organisations making an impact on the African economy.
Commenting on the awards and recognition, Peter Oluka, the Editor, TechEconomy.ng congratulated the winners for their high performances in the respective areas of focus which if weaved together form a web of innovations for economic and business developments and growth.
He said that the AfriTECH Award was instituted as part of the AfriTECH Forum to celebrate organisations making an impact on the African economy.
“The maiden AfriTECH Awards 2021 applauds the amazing work of the organisations across private and public sectors.
“Congratulations to all the winners. It is amazing to hear and feel the so many amazing innovations these companies project despite the novel pandemic that ravaged the global economy in the year 2019; the impacts are still there. We at TechEconomy.ng as AfriTECH Forum organisers are very proud of your innovations”. Oluka said.
MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has raised alarms over a new wave of advanced cyberattacks targeting Android mobile phones through a malware campaign dubbed Tria Stealer.
The malicious software is designed to infiltrate Android devices, hijack messaging accounts, intercept One-Time Passwords (OTPs), to steal sensitive personal and financial data.
According to ngCERT, Tria Stealer spreads primarily through deceptive tactics, such as fake event invitations distributed via popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Unsuspecting users are enticed to download an infected (APK) file, often disguised as a harmless system application, to evade detection.
Once installed, Tria Stealer requests extensive permissions, including access to SMS, call logs, and app notifications.
It immediately commences data harvesting activities, sending stolen information to a Command and Control (C2) server operated via Telegram bots.
This trojan spreads through fake links, usually disguised as wedding or event invites, and tricks users into downloading malicious APK files
“Account takeover of messaging platforms. Impersonation of victim for fraudulent money transfer requests. Compromise of banking and financial applications. Identity theft and credential harvesting.”
In plain terms, if your phone is compromised, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Your financial apps are vulnerable, your reputation could be ruined by impersonation and even simple personal messages could be twisted into tools for scams.
Here’s what users should be doing now:
Don’t download apps outside the official Play Store.
Be suspicious of random invites or links, even from people you know.
Turn on 2FA for everything—banking, emails, social platforms.
Get a reputable antivirus and keep it updated.
If you run an organisation, you should already be taking this seriously.
ngCERT’s guidance says you should raise awareness, monitor mobile devices, and not let your team click on unverified links.
“Deploy network monitoring for suspicious outbound connections to known C2 domains,” it said, meaning, keep an eye on every digital door in and out.
This isn’t one of those cases where you wait to see if it affects you. By the time you realise it, it may already be too late.
MTN Nigeria is set to host the National Schools Team Chess Championship, Nigeria’s largest inter-school chess competition, scheduled to take place from June 26th to 28th, 2025, at the Ecobank Pan African Center in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The championship, organised in partnership with Ecobank and the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), aims to promote intellectual development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among young Nigerians, while also identifying and nurturing future chess champions.
The championship is open to primary, secondary, and tertiary level students, and this year’s edition will host an impressive 1,600 students from 400 schools across 36 states and the FCT.
The competition will feature team-based play, with each team comprising four players from the same school. A significant prize pool of over N40 million is at stake, with winning schools also having the invaluable opportunity to represent Nigeria internationally.
Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at MTN Nigeria, expressed the company’s commitment to the initiative, stating, “Our investment is driven by our commitment to fostering youth development, just as our shared value initiative.
“By supporting, we not only contribute to the growth but also engage with the younger demographic in a meaningful way, as we believe we are good together”.
MTN’s sponsorship of the National Schools Team Chess Championship is a natural extension of its long-standing dedication to empowering young people through various initiatives in sports, education, and skill development, including programs like MTN Champs and MTN Campus Invasion.
The company aims to establish itself as the leading driver of youth empowerment, education, and strategic thinking through chess in Nigeria.
The event will also feature the presence of Tunde Onakoya, a renowned chess master and inspiration, who will join the championship week to share his experiences and further inspire the young participants.
His involvement underscores the profound impact strategic thinking can have on transforming lives and building dreams.
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