TECH NEWS REELS

UrbanID, a company providing software and services for identification has emphasised the crucial role of effective identity management in combating the pervasive problem of ghost workers in organisations. Mr Olatunji Durodola, Founder of  UrbanID, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday. He said that asides tackling the issue of ghost workers, identity management could be used to solve leakage challenges in agencies and organisations. Durodola explained that in today’s globalised world, a country’s identity system, without a doubt, played a pivotal role in its continued sovereign existence, and was one of the most significant and valued national infrastructure. He explained that whether for security, humanitarian action, national economic planning or for international networking, a country’s identity system was the yardstick on which to tell its focus on development and humanitarian policies. “A robust identity ecosystem has been recognised as a key backbone ...

    By Funmilola Gboteku QNET, a lifestyle and wellness e-commerce company, on Wednesday said it has empowered millions of people in over 100 countries through its direct selling model.   Theodocia Quartey, Senior Legal Counsel, Sub Saharan Africa, QNET, said this during the company’s product exhibition in Lagos.   She said the company had helped people by providing opportunities for enterprise development and financial independence.   Quartey explained that the company understood the challenges associated with unemployment and the need for people to earn a living.   “So we impart knowledge and skills to people who in turn also pass what they have learnt to others to strengthen their entrepreneurial journey.   “Aside from empowering people with jobs, we have engaged in educational campaigns with several institutions.   “We currently have a running arrangement with the Federal Ministry of Employment and Labour, where we have educated some youths o...

  By Oluwatope Lawanson The Somolu Local Government Area (LGA) says 222 youths from the area have been trained with cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to bridge the digital divide. Mr Abdulahmed Salawu, Chairman of Somolu LGA, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday, while unveiling series of initiatives under the Somolu Tech Initiative tagged “SoTech”. He said that 296 youths registered for the programme but only 222 actively participated. The chairman, who was represented by his Vice, Mr Ekiyemi Adekunle, explained that the inspiration behind the initiative came from Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES PLUS AGENDA. He noted that the initiative was aimed at harnessing the power of ICT to foster sustainable development and innovation. The LG boss said that his administration aimed to create digital literacy programmes for youths and adults, through SoTech. “We wish to establish community networks and digital hubs. We will support local startup...

  By Admin Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) says to  ensure full compliance of NIN-SIM linkage policy, it has directed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024. This was disclosed in a statement signed by  Mr Reuben Muoka,  Director, Public Affairs at NCC on Wednesday. It said that the Nigerian Communications Commission was pleased to announce significant progress in the Federal Government’s 2020 policy to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs).  According to the statement, till date, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to a NIN, reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96 per cent, a substantial increase from 69.7 per cent in January 2024.   " As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 per cent compliance.  The co...

  Source:Nairametrics The once-booming telecommunications sector in Nigeria has continued its downward spiral with a continuous decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate over the last one year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the sector’s real GDP growth has steadily declined from 11.71% in the first quarter of 2023 to 5.17% by the second quarter of 2024. This significant drop is attributed to a challenging operating environment characterized by inflation and currency depreciation. While telecom operators are reporting revenue growth, the gains have been overshadowed by the broader economic challenges facing the sector. Industry stakeholders said the inability of these companies to adjust prices in line with the depreciating naira has eroded the real value of their earnings, limiting their overall growth. The forex debacle  Aside from other peculiar challenges in the industry telecommunications companies in Nigeria are now grappling with hea...

On September 9, Apple Will Host Its Fall Event At Its Headquarters In Cupertino, California, Where It Will Likely Debut A Series Of New IPhones And Updates To Other Devices And App The upcoming launches are crucial for Apple as it looks to terminate a global sales slowdown, particularly in China, and lay out its artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap. The iPhone maker announced a slew of AI features under the umbrella of “Apple Intelligence,”  including a revamped Siri and an integration with ChatGPT, at its developers conference in June. However, these features will be available only on the latest Apple devices and will be rolled out gradually, starting later this year. Apple recently faced increasing pressure from competitors such as Samsung and Alphabet’s Google, who recently announced AI functionality alongside their new Galaxy and Pixel smartphones. While Apple’s event invite teases “It’s Glowtime,” no further details have been provided. The company typically announces new iPhon...

T he National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) on Wednesday commended the Federal Government for signing the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Bill into law. The President of NATCOMS, Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reports that the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this development on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Wednesday. Tijani said that the Federal Government had signed the “Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order 2024” into law. He said: “Finally, cable vandals in the country, especially those that tamper with telecommunications infrastructure, are in trouble as the Federal Government has signed the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order 2024 into law. “This is a significant step that will strengthen and protect investments in the Infor...

The Women Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) says that since its inception in January 2008, it had, through its various programmes, empowered over 47,000 girls and women. Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, the Executive Director and Founder, W.TEC, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a interview on Tuesday in Lagos. Lesi said: “We started off just focusing on technology, but then over the years, we have broadened to science, technology, engineering, and then maths and arts as well. “So what we want to do is we want to show the girls how relatable science is in solving day-to-day problems. That way they don’t think it’s something that they just study in school and forget about. “The long-term goal of the camp is to increase the numbers of Nigerian women and girls working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Design, and Maths-related fields. “It is also an opportunity to increase the numbers of girls and women using and creating technology for learning, professional, and leadership...

By Admin Meta-owned WhatsApp reportedly plans to introduce a 'Username and PIN' feature, allowing users to hide their phone numbers and use usernames for added privacy. The feature is current available for Android beta users. The new feature could allow users to substitute their phone numbers with usernames, providing an added layer of privacy.  The new feature could allow users to substitute their phone numbers with usernames, providing an added layer of privacy.   WhatsApp is gearing up to introduce a series of new features aimed at enhancing user privacy.  According to a recent report from WABetaInfo, a WhatsApp features tracker, one of the key updates will be a new option called "Username and PIN." The new feature could allow users to substitute their phone numbers with usernames, providing an added layer of privacy.  This change means that users can choose not to share their mobile numbers with everyone. WhatsApp will offer three privacy settings: "Username...

  Muhammed Rudman IXPN CEO By Admin  The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria has stepped up its efforts to enhance internet connectivity in northern Nigeria, with a focus on promoting balanced growth of the internet ecosystem across the country. In a bid to achieve this goal, IXPN recently hosted a workshop, titled “Gombe Connectivity Engagement Forum” in Gombe State, bringing together internet service providers, higher education institutions, and other key stakeholders in the region’s internet ecosystem. The non-profit Internet exchange said in a statement that the workshop was targeted at discussing the benefits of Internet peering and interconnectivity. It also focused on how the recently established Point of Presence in Gombe could be leveraged to improve internet access and affordability in the North-East region. According to IXPN, the Gombe PoP will enable internet service providers, educational institutions, and government organisations in the region to access more affor...