Author: ITPulse

By Kehinde Ogundare Ask a tech entrepreneur in San Francisco what AI means for their business, and they are likely to talk about competitive advantage, product differentiation, and scale. Ask a small business owner in Kano or Onitsha the same question, and the conversation shifts entirely. For many Nigerian SMEs, the priority is keeping the lights on, managing costs, and finding sustainable ways to grow in a challenging economic environment. This difference in perspective explains why the global AI conversation, often shaped by assumptions about stable infrastructure, deep capital, and abundant technical talent, frequently fails to address the realities facing…

By Epiphanus Obia The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has stated that the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banks and other financial institutions to bring their data to Nigeria on or before January 1, 2027, is a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s digital sovereignty, security, and economic growth. The Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, while reacting to the circular by the apex bank, believes that by requiring financial institutions to store and process critical data within Nigeria, the directive ensures that sensitive information remains under local jurisdiction, enhancing regulatory oversight, improving data…

By Epiphanus Obia  The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is considering a policy that would allow students to access approved educational websites and learning platforms without paying for mobile data, as part of efforts to expand digital access to education across the country. The telecom regulator has opened a public consultation on the proposal, known as the Zero-Rated Access to Education Platforms initiative, seeking input from telecommunications operators, education stakeholders and members of the public on how the programme should be implemented. According to the NCC, the initiative is intended to remove internet costs that prevent many students from accessing online…

By Terry Edet Across Africa, millions of people still navigate a fragmented financial landscape. They save money in one place, borrow from another, pay bills through multiple channels, struggle with identity verification processes, and often remain excluded from opportunities available in the global digital economy. Dasamonie was founded on a simple belief: Financial services should not be fragmented. Instead of forcing people to manage different platforms for banking, lending, payments, identity-linked services, cards, and business transactions, Dasamonie is building a unified financial ecosystem where individuals and businesses can access everything from one trusted platform. The vision extends beyond digital payments.…

Galaxy Backbone (GBB)has unveiled a bold new brand identity at an unveiling that took place during its 20th Anniversary Gala and Awards Night, marking two decades of driving digital transformation across government institutions and the nation. The landmark event brought together government leaders, policymakers, industry stakeholders, partners, customers, and staff to celebrate GBB’s contributions to building a digitally connected and technology-enabled Nigeria. The unveiling of the new brand identity was the defining moment of the evening, signaling the organization’s evolution and readiness to lead the next phase of Nigeria’s digital future. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief…

The domain INEC used to host official election result documents has lapsed and is in third-party hands. A cloud storage bucket holding result PDFs no longer exists. Presidential results for 19 states and the FCT remain inaccessible. The complete 2023 governorship record appears entirely gone. Legal experts confirm this violates the Electoral Act 2026. By Epiphanus Obia  Try clicking the links on INEC’s website that are supposed to take you to the official results of Nigeria’s 2023 general election, be sure to follow the addresses INEC published too. You would notice that for most states, here is what loads: A…

By Seun Oyediran The Nigerian economic landscape is defined by the resilience of its micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). From the high-traffic supermarkets of Lagos to the critical distribution hubs supporting the hinterlands, millions of entrepreneurs drive our domestic commerce. Yet, a recurring theme persists in our boardroom discussions and macroeconomic reviews: the “missing middle.” While demand remains robust across various sectors, limited access to financing remains one of the several constraints affecting SME growth, effectively putting a limit on how much the country’s economy can grow. The data provided by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of…

Global lifestyle and wellness direct-selling company, QNET, has strongly denied any affiliation or business relationship with 46 individuals recently arrested by security agencies in Ogun State. The disclaimer follows media reports detailing a joint security operation that led to the apprehension of the individuals, who reportedly claimed to be affiliated with the international brand. QNET has categorically stated that the suspects are not authorized representatives and were not acting on its behalf. Like many prominent global brands, QNET noted that it occasionally faces challenges with unauthorized entities misusing its name, products, or direct-selling business model to orchestrate fraudulent schemes. These…

By Epiphanus Obia Financial institutions and fintech companies across West Africa have been urged to aggressively embrace local peering to curb operational costs, eliminate transaction latency, and secure the continent’s digital economy. Raphael Iloka, Manager, Sales and Marketing at the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), made the call during a presentation at the West Africa Peering Forum (WAPF) 2026 held in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Speaking on the theme, ‘Banks, Fintechs & The IXP: Why Financial Institutions Are the Next Big Peering Opportunity in West Africa,’ Iloka pointed out a critical infrastructure gap, revealing that despite handling billions in transaction…

These days, everything is called innovation. Governments talk about it in speeches. Startups promise it in pitch decks. Investors say they are funding it. Across Africa’s tech ecosystem, the word shows up everywhere. Yet one question often goes unexamined: who benefits from innovation, and who bears the cost when it fails? Because innovation without accountability is not really innovation, it’s experimentation. And experimentation becomes dangerous when the systems being tested are the same ones millions of people depend on. In my work testing software systems, I’ve learned that the problems that cause the biggest failures are rarely dramatic ones. They…