Author: ITPulse

WhatsApp has announced that it is rolling out an early reservation system for customizable usernames, marking one of the most significant privacy overhauls in the messaging app’s history. With this announcement, sharing your personal cell phone number with a new acquaintance or a massive group chat might soon be a thing of the past. For over a decade, the Meta-owned platform has required users to swap digits to connect. However, recognizing that a phone number is deeply tied to personal identity, security, and external accounts, WhatsApp is shifting toward a handle-based system similar to Discord, Telegram, or its sister app,…

Every transformative company begins with a simple idea. For Stabyl, that idea was born not in a boardroom, but during conversations between classmates at the University of Oxford, where discussions about the future of digital finance evolved into a bold vision for solving one of Africa’s biggest financial challenges. Between 2021 and 2022, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, then Co-CEO of Konga Group, and fellow Oxford MBA student Zachary Schwartzman repeatedly exchanged ideas on how stablecoin technology could address the persistent inefficiencies surrounding foreign exchange across African markets. Their shared conviction later attracted software engineer Michael Anyi, whose decade-long experience building financial…

By Martin Ekpeke The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has outlined that technology is no longer just a standalone sector but the foundational platform upon which modern global economies compete. This was central submission during his keynote address at the 15th West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC 2026) and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy Recognition Ceremony, organized by Knowhow Media in Lagos last week. Speaking to an audience of tech innovators, investors, regulators, and policymakers, Prof. Yilwatda outlined a strategic vision titled “Leveraging Technology for Development: Building Africa’s Digital Powerhouse and…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has denied reports claiming it approved 48 additional digital loan applications, saying no new licences have been issued under the country’s digital lending framework. In a statement posted on its official X account on Sunday, the commission described reports alleging that the number of licensed digital lenders had increased to 505 as false and misleading. The FCCPC said it remains bound by an interim order of the Federal High Court restraining the implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Regulations) 2025, adding that it cannot approve new…

By Martin Ekpeke The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) has unveiled a strategic blueprint to convert idle federal assets into productive digital infrastructure, aiming to directly create jobs, lower internet costs, and bring millions of unserved Nigerians into the formal economy. Dr. Armstrong Takang, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MOFI, presented the plan at the West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) 2026. Titled “Mobilising Federal Assets, Capital and Partnerships for Nigeria’s Digital Economy,” the presentation outlined how state-owned commercial assets are being repositioned to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. By separating the state’s regulatory functions…

Tech leaders and chief executives converged on Lagos on Friday, June 19, 2026, for an exclusive industry gathering hosted by global tech giant Samsung and Sub-Saharan technology distributor, TD Africa. The high-profile event was organized to officially unveil the new Samsung Experience Centre, located within the TD Africa Tec Experience Centre in Lagos. It provided a premium networking platform for key industry stakeholders, sparking engaging conversations around digital transformation while offering CEOs firsthand interaction with Samsung’s latest portfolio of consumer electronics, home appliances, and smart technology solutions. Addressing the gathering of executives, Jingak Chung, Head of Product Management, Digital Appliances…

Far-reaching reforms focused on consumer transparency, network accountability, and open governance have propelled the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to a top-three finish in the 2026 Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment. Conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), the comprehensive evaluation placed the telecom regulator third overall among all Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), trailing only the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). While previous BPSR rankings focused primarily on digital presence, where the NCC clinched second place for website performance in 2025, the 2026 assessment expanded significantly. The new framework…

Last week, Paystack launched Paystack Index, an experimental product that lets users in Nigeria complete everyday transactions through AI agents. Ask Claude or ChatGPT to buy airtime, send money, or order food, and the AI agent executes it directly through Paystack’s payment infrastructure. No app switching. No checkout page. The agent acts.It is one of the most significant product launches in Nigerian tech this year. But it surfaces a question that the excitement has largely overshadowed. When an AI agent takes financial action on a user’s behalf, who is responsible for ensuring that action stays within the law? Not the…

LG Electronics has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing innovation and smart living across Africa by participating as a supporting sponsor at the Africa Technology Expo (ATE) 2026, where the company is showcasing its latest portfolio of premium consumer electronics and home appliance innovations. The two-day expo, themed around strengthening Africa’s enterprise technology ecosystem through collaboration and innovation, has brought together industry leaders, technology innovators, multinational companies, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to explore opportunities for cross-border partnerships and digital transformation across the continent. As one of the supporting sponsors of this year’s event, LG’s interactive exhibition booth has become a major attraction,…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has posited that the future of Nigeria relies heavily on homegrown innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, and digital sovereignty. The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, took this position at the AI Summit Nigeria 2026, hosted by Microsoft in Abuja. Inuwa described AI as a transformative force capable of revolutionizing every economic sector. However, he warned that widespread innovation simply cannot scale without a firm commitment to accountability and transparency. “Without public trust, AI adoption will be stalled. Without accountability, innovation will not scale sustainably, and without transparency, citizens will lose confidence in…