Author: ITPulse

The uncomfortable reality is that AI is not automatically reducing operational costs inside BPOs The BPO industry has embraced AI as a technology capable of improving operational efficiency, enhancing customer experiences, and supporting business growth. But inside South African call centres, the opposite is quietly happening. As AI tools become deeply embedded into customer engagement environments, many operators are discovering that the real cost of AI is not the software licence – it’s the infrastructure required to run it. From voice neutralisation software and real time call assistance to AI driven first line support and live agent coaching, the processing…

In a major boost to Nigeria’s digital economy, global technology company Zoho has partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to provide ₦20 billion in wallet credits to 250,000 local businesses. Zoho believes that MSMEs are fundamental to Nigeria’s economic development, but technology can only deliver its full potential when businesses are able to access and effectively use it. “Through this partnership with SMEDAN, we are reducing the access barrier to adopting world-class business technology while providing businesses with the training, consultation and support they need to leverage cloud technology to streamline their operations, and…

New platform addresses rising demand for integrated threat intelligence, regulatory compliance and audit readiness across Nigerian enterprises. As Nigerian organizations accelerate the adoption of cloud platforms, digital payments, and automated workflows, SBTS Group has announced the launch of Aegis360AI, an AI-native, human-in-the-loop platform designed to unify cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and risk management. The platform is positioned to help banks, government agencies, oil and gas companies, and other enterprises move beyond fragmented, spreadsheet-based processes toward continuous, real-time trust and risk management. Addressing a Converging Challenge Managing cybersecurity and compliance as separate functions is no longer sustainable. For regulated industries, the mandate…

Fintech giant, Moniepoint Inc. is shutting down its UK-based remittance platform, MonieWorld, to redirect its capital, technical, and operational resources back toward its core financial services across Africa. Launched in April 2025 to enable Nigerians in the diaspora to send money directly to home accounts, MonieWorld quickly found its footing. According to reports, the service recorded a 70% surge in monthly transaction volumes among UK users paying via cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The UK expansion began with the incorporation of Moniepoint GB in February 2024, followed by £1.2 million in administrative, technological, and compliance setup costs. The group…

By Martin Ekpeke A landmark report titled ‘Beyond Cash: The State of Corporate Rewards in Nigeria 2026’, released by gift card and rewards platform SureGifts, reveals that over ₦150 billion in voucher-based corporate rewards has moved through Nigeria’s corporate economy over the past decade. Meaning, what was once dismissed as seasonal tokenism, an end-of-year hamper, a token sales incentive, or a scattered employee gesture has quietly transformed into a formidable economic pillar. More remarkably, the pace of this market is accelerating dramatically, as more reward value has been issued since 2024 than in the entire preceding ten years combined. With…

MTN Group has announced plans to enter Africa’s artificial intelligence market by establishing AI-enabled data centres with an initial capacity of 150 megawatts (MW) across Nigeria and South Africa. The move aims to capitalize on Africa’s AI market, which is projected to surge from $4.5 billion in 2025 to $16.5 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for high-performance computing infrastructure. MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita outlined the strategy on Tuesday, highlighting growth opportunities beyond the company’s core telecommunications business. As part of this diversification, Mupita also revealed plans to secure banking licenses in select markets, enabling MTN to lend…

By Martin Ekpeke A high-value cross-border financial dispute has erupted between fintech firm Zacuten Technologies Limited and cross-border payment provider Plaude Technologies Limited over an unresolved $13.07 million currency swap transaction. At the center of the conflict is an unpaid balance of approximately $4.1 million, which Zacuten alleges is part of a broader pattern of fraudulent conduct, while Plaude maintains that the delay stems strictly from operational and banking corridor disruptions. The transaction, valued at $13,072,977.77 was executed through a series of currency swap agreements between March 4 and March 10, 2026, with settlement required into designated offshore USD/USDC accounts…

In a strategic bid to strengthen digital sovereignty, attract foreign direct investment, and retain top tech talent, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially inaugurated a dedicated taskforce to drive the implementation of Nigeria’s Sovereign Cloud Initiative. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, framed the initiative as an ecosystem-wide reform capable of transforming critical sectors, including finance, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing by building a resilient, locally anchored digital public infrastructure. The sovereign cloud drive focuses heavily on accelerating investment and domestic capacity ahead of key regulatory benchmarks, such as the Central…

In a major step toward developing a modern, digitised national addressing system, the National Addressing Council (NAC) has ratified a preliminary framework to coordinate implementation across key public institutions. Vice President Kashim Shettima chaired the meeting where this decision was taken in Abuja on Monday Under the new framework, the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation will serve as the Council’s secretariat, coordinating implementation and ensuring collaboration among participating agencies. According to Vice President Shettima, the initiative is aimed at creating an addressing system that supports economic activity, public service delivery security and national planning. “Wherever a citizen lives,…

By Martin Ekpeke Many Nigerians have expressed concerns and reacted angrily following the appointment of Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as Director of Data Management for the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. These Nigerians, who took to X (formerly Twitter), argued that the appointment is a display of lack of respect for the country’s institutions, stressing that it raised a serious institutional question and asked the government to explain how it squares with public trust. Adding to the list announced by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga,…