TECH NEWS REELS

    Microsoft, a technology company has emphasised the crucial role of digital skills development in boosting Nigeria’s economic growth. Ola Williams, the Country Manager of Microsoft Nigeria, said this in a statement made available on Sunday in Lagos. According to Williams, Africa’s youthful population presents an opportunity to become a global hub for tech skills, noting that it is, however, crucial to bridge the digital skills gap. Williams said that by 2030, Africa would account for one-fifth of the global workforce and one-third of the youth workforce, making digital skills development essential. “Digital literacy must be the starting point. Employers globally are looking for workers with enhanced digital skills, and 70 per cent of demand will come from occupations outside ICT specialisations. “Microsoft Nigeria has launched several initiatives to address this challenge. The Global Skills Initiative, launched in 2021, has engaged 196,000 learners in Nigeria, providing acc...

Zipline, a US-based drone technology company is joining forces with the Nigerian government to transform healthcare accessibility and equity, through cutting-edge drone delivery solutions. The Co-Founder of Zipline, Keller Cliffton, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos. Cliffton said the partnership aimed at bridging healthcare gaps, enhancing infrastructure, and ensuring timely delivery of medical supplies across Nigeria. The co-founder said the company, Zipline, was designed to enable access to vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. According to Cliffton, the company has delivered millions of vaccine doses, essential medicines, and more than 260 types of health products to more than 900 hospitals, health facilities and community drop points. He said that across Africa, the company had invested to build local infrastructure and human capacity, creating more than 500 local jobs in robotics, healthcare, software engineering and business disciplines. The Zipline boss said the ...

Moniepoint, a Microfinance Bank (MFB) says it has added a security feature to its digital payments services, to enhance customer protection and prevent fraud. Babatunde Olofin, Managing Director, Moniepoint MFB, said this in a statement on Monday in Lagos. Olofin said the feature enabled additional factor authentication for customers when making payments. He said the Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) on its mobile and web applications was designed to simplify the payment experience, increase transaction success rates and significantly enhance security for consumers and businesses. “The MFA will apply to transactions over the sum of five hundred thousand naira and five million naira on the Moniepoint Personal Banking and Business Banking apps respectively. “It combines the ease of seamless payment experience with robust security measures, meeting both customer aspirations for convenience and regulator’s stringent authentication requirements. “Moniepoint’s MFA leverages advanced device-b...

  PalmPay, a financial platform in Nigeria, says it has launched a USSD code to empower its users with financial access.   Mr Chika Nwosu, the Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Monday.   He said the service offered Nigerians an additional mileage to manage their finances without internet connectivity.   According to Nwosu, with the PalmPay USSD code, customers can now perform a wide range of banking transactions by dialing *861# from their mobile phones.   “The USSD access point is designed to further enhance the accessibility and convenience of the platform for consumers in a market where data network outages are common.   “At PalmPay, we aim to bridge the gap in digital access, and the introduction of our USSD service aligns with that mission.   “The USSD platform comes with a security feature which allows customers to remotely freeze their accounts in case their phone is lost or stolen, providing an ext...

Airtel Nigeria says it will be cutting down on the 28 billion Naira spent on diesel to power its sites by embarking on a sustainability drive to reduce its carbon footprint. Mr Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, made this known during a media roundtable organised to engage with senior media practitioners in Lagos on Tuesday. Adeniran said Airtel with over 15,000 sites across Nigeria, each equipped with at least one diesel generator, currently consumed 22 million litres of diesel monthly, resulting in significant environmental impact He said the monthly expenditure could have been higher without collocation, which allowed telecom operators in the country to share infrastructure. “We are committed to minimising our environmental footprint. Our transition to grid and solar power will significantly reduce diesel consumption and mitigate climate change,” he said. Adeniran noted that Airtel Nigeria’s sustainability efforts are expected to contribute si...

Prof. Clement Kolawole, Vice-Chancellor, Trinity University Yaba, Lagos State, has restated the institution’s commitment to fostering collaborations, research, and cutting-edge innovation in biotechnology to drive sustainable economic development. Kolawole gave the assurance at the 2024 Recent Advances in Technology (RAIB) Fourth Annual International Conference and Workshop. The event, which held on Thursday in Lagos, was hosted by the Faculty of Basic Medical and Applied Science of the institution. The conference had the theme: “Biotechnology as a Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Development: Achieving SDGs through Innovation and Collaboration”. According to the vice-chancellor, there are many challenges globally, which call for new ideas and new disciplines to expand the frontiers of knowledge in tackling them. “This conference is the first of its kind to hold here, in this university, and we are proud to be at the forefront to address the most pressing challenges facing ...

    The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has emphasised the importance of fintech operators in combating money laundering and terrorism financing in Nigeria. Dr Muhammad Jiya, Associate Director, Analysis and Compliance at NFIU, said this during the Third Quarter Reguvators Forum Webinar organised by Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR). The NFIU official stressed the need for Fintechs to do robust Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, continuous monitoring and reporting of suspicious transactions. He said regular risk assessment, collaboration with regulatory authorities and industry players were also crucial. Jiya said that to combat fraudulent transactions, Fintechs needed to use blockchain and emerging technologies to enhance transparency and also leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning for compliance. “Fintech operators must provide regular staff training on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AMSCFT) and promote ...

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has made a significant move to harness the 6GHz spectrum’s potential for enhanced Wi-Fi 6 to address Nigeria’s growing broadband needs. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, disclosed this during a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies in Lagos on Thursday. Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at NCC, Abraham Oshadami, said the move would address growing demand for high-speed internet. He said that the current 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands are facing capacity constraints. Maida said that Nigeria would be joining the league of countries already utilising part of the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi -6 applications. “The 6GHz band, spanning from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz, offers a substantial increase in available spectrum, which is crucial for supporting the growing demand for high-speed internet and advanced applications. “Wi-Fi plays a crucial role in the distribution of fixed ...

President Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to building a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that enabled access to services for all Nigerians. Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Federation, George Akume, on Monday in Abuja at the 6th National Identity Day, emphasised the critical role of digital identity in national development. The event organised by National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is themed, “Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – Enabling Access to Services”. He stated that DPI was the backbone that enabled access to essential services, including healthcare, education, and financial inclusion. “In today’s digital age, the ability to prove one’s identity is not merely a matter of convenience; it is a fundamental cornerstone of our socioeconomic progress. “Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is the backbone that enables access to essential services, including healthcare, education, financial inclusion, and social welfare. “It is through...

An Information Technology Expert, Mr Ikechukwu Nnamani, on Monday urged the Federal Government to deliberately and proactively move towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation. Nnamani, who was a former President, Association of Telecommunications Companies in Nigeria (ATCON), made this appeal during an interview with newsmen in Lagos. He said that this was necessary for the country to fully harness the benefits of its digital economy. Nnamani is also the Chief Executive Officer of Digital Realty, Nigeria, an Information Technology (IT) company. He noted that people developing ethical solutions for AI were few, when compared to people producing non-ethical solutions and taking advantage of it to make money. Nnamani explained that this trend was not peculiar to Nigeria, but also the reason most developed countries were  seeking ways to regulate AI as soon as possible. “Even the U.S. has made major effort, both in its congress as well as the executive, to ensure there is work bei...

  Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, Founder, Women Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), has advised parents and guardians to leverage gaming as a means of fostering creativity, innovation and learning in children. Lesi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Lagos on Monday that rather than having the notion that video games had a negative influence on children, parents needed to start seeing the beneficial aspects. “The thing is that a lot of parents worry about their children playing games on different levels. “One, is that they are very addictive and they believe that once a child starts to play them, it becomes constant and draws their attention from other things. “Games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win, need players to remember and take in a lot of information. “Regularly playing these types of games can help improve young players’ short and long-term memory. “These games also help their brain process information quicker. “Furthermo...