TECH NEWS REELS

  Google on Thursday said that a recent study, conducted by Public First, showed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) had the potential of contributing $15 billion to the Nigerian economy by 2030. Director, West Africa, Google, Mr Olumide Balogun, said this at its Economic Impact Report Press Roundtable in Lagos. Balogun said that the Public First’s Digital Opportunity of Nigeria Report’s projection would be achieved with Google’s commitment to responsible AI development playing a pivotal role. He said that the report revealed that in 2023, Google’s products and services which included Search, Ads, YouTube, and Cloud contributed an estimated $1.8 billion in economic activity across Nigeria. He said that, according to the report, this estimated $1.8 billion had significantly boosted the productivity of Nigerian businesses, creators, and workers. Balogun noted that the study highlighted Google’s digital skills programmes, including Digital Skills for Africa and the Career Certificates P...

Mr Akeem Ajisafe, Managing Director, Transblue Ltd. (a QNET partner company), says the global direct selling industry is projected to reach 204.89 billion dollars by 2032. Ajisafe said, during the second VCON 2024 Media Experience sharing webinar organised by QNET on Thursday, that the industry was valued at 167 billion dollars in 2023. According to him, with the industry’s projected growth, Nigerian entrepreneurs are well-positioned to tap into the lucrative market. Highlighting the significance of the industry, he said it had the potential for job creation, wealth generation and economic growth. Ajisafe said: “Direct selling offers unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to leverage their skills and build successful businesses with minimal capital. “Nigeria has a bright future in the direct selling industry, and by embracing this model, entrepreneurs can create jobs, generate wealth and contribute to the country’s economic growth. “We are working to educate the public about the benefits...

    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...