Author: ITPulse

By Martin Ekpeke Within minutes, you can download an app, input your details, and watch cash drop into your account. No collateral, no long lines, no judgmental glares from a loan officer. This is the case with digital lending platforms coming to the succour of an average Nigerian, in a country where traditional bank loans require everything short of your firstborn child. Digital lending apps have become an absolute lifeline for many with a broken car, a sudden school fee deadline, or an unexpected medical bill. But this ease of access has birthed a challenging and darker reality, with a…

Digital transformation has modernised the front end of the credit process in Nigeria, streamlining customer journeys and shortening the path from application to disbursement. However, this progress has not reached the core of the credit process. While digital application flows are now standard, the underlying risk infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Following the withdrawal of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s forbearance measures, the sector’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio climbed to 8.03% – well above the 5% regulatory limit. The deeper, structural flaw is that banks still run on legacy risk models and backward-looking data: an approach that leaves existing portfolios exposed while…

Dominion Consultancy Concepts has officially announced the second edition of the KidsCook Showdown, a unique educational and creative cooking competition designed to foster leadership, teamwork, creativity and accountability among children ages 6 to 8. Following its successful debut in 2025, this latest edition marks a significant milestone by securing the official approval of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB). For the first time, the initiative will shine a spotlight on public education, featuring 20 children within the ages of 6 to 8 years old, selected from 10 public primary schools across the Kosofe Local Government Area. The KidsCook…

By Martin Ekpeke Mobile subscribers across Africa and other emerging markets borrowed a staggering $3.18 billion (approximately N4.61 trillion) in airtime and data on credit in 2025. This reflects a 12.3% year-on-year increase from the $2.83 billion recorded in 2024, according to the latest consolidated financial statements released by multinational fintech giant Optasia. The figures underscore a massive, growing dependence on micro-digital credit across the continent, where formal banking access remains low and household wallets are increasingly squeezed. However, the financial report drops just as a fierce regulatory and political battle brews in Nigeria, the continent’s largest tech market, where…

InnovationHub Africa, Africa’s foremost driver of technology and innovation, is proud to announce the Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) 11.0, the 11th edition of West Africa’s biggest and most celebrated innovation gathering, scheduled for October 6, 2026, at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos. The Summit promises to be the most ambitious, high-impact edition yet, bringing together Nigeria’s most brilliant minds, innovators, startups, trailblazing entrepreneurs, global thought leaders, and policy architects under one electrifying roof. Disclosing the event’s agenda, Mr. Tony Ajah, the Programme Director of the Summit says, “The theme for this year’s event is ‘Innovating in the Age of AI’.”…

TD Africa recently hosted a high-level management meeting with global cybersecurity leader Check Point Technologies, with a focus on expanding cybersecurity capacity, strengthening partner enablement, and supporting enterprise resilience across Africa. The strategic engagement brought together executives from both organisations to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration in addressing the growing cybersecurity needs of businesses operating in an increasingly digital landscape. A key focus of the discussions was the need to build sustainable cybersecurity capacity through partner development, certification programmes, and access to world-class security solutions. Leading the Check Point delegation, Vincent Mabaso, Channel Lead for Africa, commended TD Africa for…

By Martin Ekpeke The narrative of Nigeria’s economic future is undergoing a massive rewrite, shifting its focus from crude oil pipelines to code, creativity and human capability. This pivotal transition was the central theme at the Port Harcourt Tech Expo 2026, held at the EUI Centre in Rivers State. Gathering policymakers, tech leaders, investors, and young innovators, the event served as a sandbox for ideas aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s evolution into a globally competitive digital economy. Delivering the opening keynote address under the event’s theme, “Syntropy: Collective Futures – Systems, Solutions, Synergy and Societies,” Dr. Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the newly formed Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) have united in a strategic partnership to accelerate digital transformation within Nigeria’s energy sector. By combining NITDA’s technological expertise with NISO’s grid management responsibilities, this collaboration is set to unlock critical benefits for Nigeria’s economy, infrastructure, and tech ecosystem. The global expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centres requires massive, uninterrupted power. By aligning tech regulation with grid management, this partnership directly addresses the electricity reliability needed to position Nigeria as a prime destination for international tech investments. With NISO currently deploying Internet…

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has announced plans for the 2026 edition of ICTEL Expo, Africa’s premier platform for dialogue, collaboration, innovation, and sustainable digital development. Scheduled to hold on Tuesday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom, Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event will bring together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, development partners, academia, and key stakeholders from across Africa to explore opportunities and strategies for advancing the continent’s digital economy. With the Theme “Africa’s Next Tech Frontier: Building, Securing & Scaling Digital Prosperity,” the Expo will provide a unique…

By Osasikemwen Ighile In today’s volatile economic climate, saving money is no longer just a prudent habit—it is a strategic necessity.  The constantly rising living costs, inflationary pressures, and currency fluctuations have redefined what it means to be financially secure. The difference now lies not in whether people save, but in how they save. Reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlight this shift, showing inflation in Nigeria climbing from 22.41% in May 2023 to a peak of 34.80% by late 2024. While temporary cooling occurred in early 2025, the overarching trend underscores a stark reality – cash that…