Author: ITPulse

By Martin Ekpeke The Nigerian government has signaled an impending increase in telecommunications service costs, acknowledging the need to ensure the sector’s sustainability. However, the government has firmly rejected a 100% tariff hike demanded by some telecom companies. Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, revealed this during a recent engagement with telecom stakeholders in Abuja as reported by Channels TV and posted on its official X handle. He emphasized that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is currently finalizing consultations and will soon announce the new rates. “Telecommunication tariffs will go up, that is the verdict, but…

The Aurora Tech Award, an annual award celebrating the boldest and most ambitious female founders in emerging markets, has unveiled its Top 120 founders for 2025,[1]  with Nigeria taking center stage. Out of a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, Nigeria leads the Longlist with an impressive 21 founders, cementing its position as a hub for innovation and female entrepreneurship. Brazil and the United States follow, with Egypt close behind. Other notable contributors include Colombia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, India, and Kazakhstan, reflecting the award’s truly global impact.  This year’s Aurora Tech Award not only highlights the remarkable talent emerging…

The 2025 Leadership of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria, the leading youth organization, has unveiled eight flagship projects in line with its “ELV8” theme for the year. Speaking during the inaugural Press conference held at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja GRA, on Saturday, January 5, 2025, the 2025 JCI Nigeria President, Oluwatoyin Atanda, disclosed that the flagship projects embody the principles of tri-sector leadership and strategic pillars of the ELV8 leadership philosophy. Atanda explained that the projects aim to elevate JCI’s impact in Nigeria, foster collaboration, and build a sustainable future for its members and communities. According to her, the…

Single models generating isolated decisions are no longer the hallmark of artificial intelligence. The true change is taking place in the background, as several AI agents work together, bargain, and carry out intricate processes without continual human interaction. This frontier is being shaped in part by Akinbiyi Usman. Discrete use cases, like a chatbot here or a recommendation engine there, are frequently the first steps in implementing AI. However, these systems frequently function independently, which reduces their overall influence. The goal of Akinbiyi’s work is to move from isolated intelligence to coordinated intelligence, in which several agents operate together as…

TD Africa, a leading technology distributor, has launched the Green Hero Initiative, a program designed to address Nigeria’s energy challenges and promote renewable energy adoption. This initiative underscores TD Africa’s commitment to providing cleaner and more affordable energy alternatives for Nigerian homes and businesses. With rising fossil fuel costs, the need for a shift to renewable energy is more critical than ever. The Green Hero Initiative addresses this need by partnering with industry leaders Huawei and EcoFlow to offer innovative renewable energy solutions tailored to the Nigerian market. “The Green Hero Initiative is more than just a product launch. “It’s…

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is abandoning its third-party fact-checking program in favor of a community-driven system inspired by Elon Musk’s X. “We’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes, similar to X, starting in the U.S.,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a video on Tuesday. Zuckerberg argued that the current fact-checking system reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship.” Since 2016, Meta has collaborated with numerous organizations globally to combat misinformation on its platforms, a response to widespread criticism following the 2016 U.S. election, where the…

Customers of GTBank, a prominent Nigerian financial institution, are expressing growing frustration with the bank’s service quality, citing poor service delivery, technical glitches, and unresolved issues. This wave of discontent is primarily being voiced on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Complaints range from difficulties accessing account statements and missing transactions to unresolved disputes. These ongoing challenges are eroding customer trust and prompting some to seek alternative banking solutions. Technext, an online news platform has compiled a selection of X user testimonies that highlight the severity of these issues. User @bigbrovar recounted a harrowing experience, stating, “I need my…

By Martin Ekpeke Software giant, Microsoft, has announced plans to invest a substantial $80 billion in the construction of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused data centers throughout 2025. This significant investment aims to develop cutting-edge data centers capable of handling the immense processing power required for AI workloads. These specialized facilities will be crucial for training and deploying advanced AI models, enabling Microsoft to enhance its AI-powered services and applications. According to Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, “Artificial intelligence is the electricity of our age, and the next four years can build a foundation for America’s economic success for the…

PalmPay, an Africa-focused fintech platform, has been recognized in the 2024 KPMG West Africa Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey for delivering exceptional customer experiences and surpassing traditional banks in key service areas. The survey underscores PalmPay’s strong performance across the customer journey, with customers praising the platform’s seamless transaction processing, reliability, and innovative features. PalmPay achieved a notable Customer Experience (CX) score of 81.6, ranking among the top fintechs in the region. This solidifies its position as a leader in Nigeria’s dynamic digital financial services landscape. The KPMG survey evaluates customer experience across six key pillars: Integrity, Resolution, Expectations, Time…

Zinox Technologies Limited, a leading African digital conglomerate, is demanding a public apology from Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, for including the company and its representatives in a recent lawsuit. Zinox maintains they have no connection to the underlying allegations. Mr. Falana, acting on behalf of his client Benjamin Joseph, CEO of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, filed a lawsuit (FCT/HC/CR/985/24) against Zinox and its chairman, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh. The lawsuit revolves around a contract dispute between Citadel and Technology Distributions Limited regarding computer supplies to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Zinox emphasizes that this matter has no bearing on…