Author: ITPulse

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has disclosed that over 35 million Nigerians have no access to telecommunications services and by implication, lack access to any form of digital financial services. Danbatta, who stated this while receiving a team from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Foundation’s Consultants, Glenbrooks Partners, also noted that this condition is undermining financial inclusion in Nigeria. This condition, he noted, is caused by the inadequacy of both wireless and fibre connectivity infrastructure, stressing that Nigeria needs to do more investment in both fixed and wireless…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said as Nigeria deepens its embrace of the digital culture, it is also putting measures in place to protect children from cybercriminals and their antics, as it commenced a nationwide cybersecurity awareness campaign. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta stated this at the NCC-sponsored cybersecurity enlightenment programme, which was a conference attended by students from 24 private and public secondary schools in Abuja. According to Danbatta, NCC has a specific interest in online protection of the youth, especially the children both in public and private schools. “It is an…

The federal government of Nigeria, today has rolled out new guidelines for the registration and revalidation of SIM Cards in the country. The new guidelines were was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami The guidelines state that the National Identity Number (NIN) becomes a prerequisite for Nigerians registering new SIM cards, while for foreigners, their passports and visas should be used, while already registered SIM cards are to be updated with National Identity Number (NIN) before 1st December 2020. Other…

By Collins Nweze The unbanked and underbanked, two groups at the centre of retail banking, need to be captured for the financial system to achieve its full potential. The KPMG Nigeria Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey says customers have expectations about how their needs will be met and meeting this requires banks deploying the right network and technology. First  Bank of Nigeria Limited has through its Firstmonie Agent Banking Network created over 150,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians and executed three million transactions via 45,000 agents, writes COLLINS NWEZE. Banking is no longer where you operate, but what you do. And…

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), has given the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) credit in the discharge of its regulatory functions. The Minister, who gave the credit while delivering his welcome address at 7th Study Group 13 (SG 13), ongoing Regional Workshop for Africa being hosted by the NCC at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, acknowledged that NCC has played its role consistently in spearheading regional and global initiatives that allow Nigeria to make concrete contributions and inputs on issues bordering on telecoms networks standardisation within the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) community. “I want to…

Owing to the role telecommunications is playing in the healthcare industry, the global telemedicine is projected to reach over $130 billion by 2025, up from $38 billion in 2018. This growth, according to reports will be influenced by demand for better healthcare in rural areas, increasing growth in telecommunication and growing prevalence of chronic diseases in BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China. It added that the global telemedicine market will witness significant growth in the near future due to the rising geriatric population, growing demand for accessible healthcare services, especially in remote areas and the advent of technological…

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has stated the key to greater economic prosperity and security lies in the effective management of public and private data. The Minister stated this last week Friday while delivering the 29th Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State with the title “Datafication of Society: Economic and Security Issues in Producing and Using Public and Private Data in Nigeria.” According to Pantami, various data of citizens are being generated in the current digital economy, which is being driven by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Thus, managing…

By Ugo Aliogo First Bank of Nigeria Limited has reiterated its commitment to driving growth and building the capacity of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the country. Speaking at the FirstBank SMEConnect Business Clinic, held in Lagos on Thursday, the Group Head, Lagos Island 1, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olufunke Smith stated that the business clinic provides an opportunity for SMEs to understand how to develop their business plans, and run their business. It is one of the key initiatives that the bank has put in place to drive the development of the SMEs. She further noted that…

The leadership of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has disclosed plans to host a national dialogue on telecom and the digital economy. The theme of the dialogue, which is scheduled to hold in Abuja later this year is “Harnessing the Digital Resources for the building of our National Economy”. In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of ATCON, the President of the umbrella body of all telecom professionals, Engr. Olusola Teniola was quoted as saying the dialogue will take a look at the growth across all the sectors of Nigeria’s economy, which is expected to be…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it will soon carry out enforcement against non-type approved telecom devices in the country, noting that such devices are a setback to the growth of Nigeria’s telecom industry. The telecom regulator stated this yesterday at a one-day sensitization workshop on type-approved devices in Lagos. “While we are here to sensitise and educate our licensees and other relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian telecom industry on the importance of type approval of telecoms equipment and other mobile and terminal devices, we also want to say we will soon start enforcement on non-type approved devices, according…