Author: ITPulse

Courtesy of the Pilot Phase of Free Public Wi-Fi initiative launched in Awka, capital of Anambra State last week by the state government, the citizens of the state are set to enjoy one hour of free internet access, every 24 hours. Locations in Awka, where the free wi-fi services can be accessed Aroma Junction, Book Foundation, and UNIZIK Back Gate. These locations are not only strategic but also quite important for students and businesses alike. The wi-fi initiative is driven by the Anambra State ICT Agency in collaboration with Pineheight Systems Limited (PHSWEB). It marks a significant stride towards launching…

… Nigerian Affiliate wins Best FX Bank in the country  Ecobank has won the Best Bank for SMEs in Africa 2024 award in Global Finance’s annual SME Bank Awards, reflecting the bank’s unwavering commitment to meeting the specialised needs of SMEs across its diverse markets. The award ceremony took place on 20 February 2024 at Glaziers Hall in London, UK. Also, one of its affiliates, Ecobank Nigeria emerged Best FX Bank under the Country & Territory Awards category for Nigeria. According to Global Finance, Ecobank Nigeria emerged winner based on transaction volume, market share, breadth of offerings, and global coverage, as detailed…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is set to seal a partnership that will lead to channeling interventions for approximately 40 million small businesses spread across Nigeria. This partnership, according to the duo is key based on the fact that SMEs are responsible for 50 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 70 million jobs. “There were opportunities for collaboration between NITDA and SMEDAN as stated in the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) like the first pillar which is to foster Digital Literacy…

In a rapidly evolving landscape, digital transformation emerges as the catalyst propelling Nollywood into a new era of innovation and growth. By embracing digital technologies, Nollywood stands poised to revolutionize the entertainment industry, harnessing the power of data, AI, and emerging platforms to reshape storytelling and audience engagement. Jide Awe, CEO of Jidaw.com, emphasized the urgency for Nollywood stakeholders to embrace digital technologies during the fireside session of the Nollywood Economic Outlook 5.0 in Lagos. Talented Actress, Ijeoma Imo, hosted the Fireside Chat Session. The Nollywood Economic Outlook, now in its fifth year, is a special economic session for creatives…

In 2024, Africa stands at the precipice of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. With a projected market size of USD 18.33 billion by 2030, the continent is poised to harness the power of AI to tackle pressing challenges such as poverty alleviation, improved healthcare delivery, and agricultural efficiency. These AI-driven solutions hold the key to unlocking unprecedented growth and sustainable development. The potential for AI in Africa is vast, with a particular focus on the Machine Learning (ML) industry, which will account for 71% of the market by 2030. Machine learning enables systems to learn and adapt from data without…

In response to the monumental step taken to fortify personal information protection in the Nigerian business sphere, the Nigerian Presidency officially enacted the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA) into law in June 2023. This groundbreaking legislation marks a transformative shift in how businesses handle personal data, necessitating strict adherence to robust regulations. Non-compliance exposes businesses to substantial financial penalties, potentially reaching 10 million naira or 2% of annual revenue. In light of this, Cybervergent, a technology firm specialising in automated cybersecurity solutions, is revolutionising the NDPA compliance landscape. The company facilitates a seamless onboarding process, empowering businesses and organisations to…

SHELT Global Limited recently held a cocktail party at its new headquarters in Nigeria to unveil its upgraded Security Operations Center and the SHELT Training Academy. SHELT has been operating in Nigeria across Lagos and Abuja for six years, serving the country’s leading financial, telecom, and government institutions in their cybersecurity needs. This headquarters relocation consolidates the determination of SHELT to invest in Nigeria’s economy and growing cybersecurity talent for the country. SHELT’s clients and partners attended the party, and the guests were taken on a tour of the newly opened premises. The new SHELT Headquarters boasts a state-of-the-art 24/7…

In many high-growth tech environments, senior engineers are at a crossroads: do they simply build, or do they also shape the path forward? Technical abilities are only the starting point for Yusuf Farouk, a seasoned Senior Cloud DevOps Engineer. His true contribution is in bridging code and culture, such that engineering choices not just inform systems but inform product vision, stakeholder adoption, and user outcome-based results. Yusuf’s leadership came into focused relief when Pronti AI scaled its backend infrastructure. With a tsunami of new features, inter-team dependencies, and changing business priorities to deal with, he did not get mired in…

The financial inclusion rate in Nigeria has improved. Since the country adopted an inclusion strategy in 2012, adult Nigerians with a bank account have increased, and now account for more than two-thirds of the financially included. According to the 2023 Report on Access to Financial Services in Nigeria, financial inclusion continues to expand and has so far been fueled by marginal growth among the country’s banked population and major gains in non-bank formal adoption. Although approximately 40 million adult Nigerians remain formally excluded, formal financial inclusion was said to have grown from 56% in 2020 to 64% in 2023. In…

The just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) allows content creators in Africa to gain momentum as they experienced a 300% surge in revenues, reaffirming the massive surge in consumption of hyper-localized content from the continent. According to data released by StarNews Mobile, one of Africa’s leading video streaming platforms, creators in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Cote D’Ivoire saw 200%, 300%, and 400% increases in viewers and revenue respectively between December 2023 and February 2024. In total, the company streamed more than 4 million pieces of content per month to football fans via its AFCON-related channels, amassing 500,000 subscribers for content…