Author: ITPulse

The Nigerian government today in a statement through its telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gave an update of the National Identification Number integration into SIM cards. The statement signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, noted that so far, a total of 47.8 million NINs have been collected by the mobile operators. The statement also disclosed that the collection is at an average of three to four SIMs per subscriber, an indication that many millions will be linked up before the deadline in February 2021. This update is coming after a review meeting on 18th January…

Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev) has sealed a strategic partnership with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to empower vulnerable groups in rural clusters in Northern Nigeria with the digital skillset required for the future of work and advanced learnings for the 21st century. Announcing the partnership today at a virtual press conference, Diwura Oladepo, Executive Director at Tech4Dev, said the partnership was sealed to increase the number of digital literate vulnerable populations and people living in underserved communities in Northern Nigeria. “It has become pertinent, especially on the path of the new normal, to focus on digital…

Global market research company Euromonitor International has revealed the trends that will define consumer behavior and influence business strategies in 2021, even as it reminded businesses that the Covid-19 pandemic will create, influence, or accelerate each of the trends. The  “Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2021,”  are: Expect purpose-driven initiatives that support the triple bottom line—people, planet and profits (Build Back Better). Nearly 70% of professionals expect consumers to be more concerned about sustainability than before COVID-19. Desire the ease of on-the-go, impulse and spontaneous occasions and simplicities of pre-pandemic life (Craving Convenience). Reconnect with nature and turn to open-air…

The total remittances from the telecom sector through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the coffers of the feral government grew and reached a whopping N344bn in 2020, a document from the telecom regulator has revealed. These remittances, according to the document titled ‘Telecoms in 2020: A Review of NCC’s Regulatory Activities’, were largely generated from the sales of the spectrum, operating surplus and sanctions. Apart from spectrum auctions, remittances were also realized from spectrum re-planning, re-farming to optimise the usage of the scarce resource while it continued to address the quality of service (QoS) delivery through effective monitoring of…

As part of efforts to play a big role in Privacy Week 2021, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is scheduled to host a Privacy Technology Expo 2021 online on the 26th of January 2020. The theme of the Expo is ‘Harnessing Data as a Critical Asset in the Digital Economy’, and is aimed at showcasing our national innovativeness and contribute to the growing global privacy-enhancing technology industry. According to a statement signed by NITDA’s Head, Corporate Affairs & External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, the expo is spurred by NITDA’s issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) in…

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through its digital learning platform, atingi has empowered over 800, 000 Africans to get vocational education and self-development courses for free. The platform, which berthed in Africa 12 months ago to enables Africa’s youth reach their personal potential helps give educational content that meets the needs of African audiences free of charge. African countries of Togo, Niger, Rwanda and Benin were used as a pilot to run the atingi platform, enabling learning proposition to be dynamically evaluated, adapted and targeted to local needs. Africa is recognized as a potential global workforce…

As a way of guarding against the spread of the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, Firstbank yesterday announced the launch of a truly virtual payment card that allows its customers to make all financial transactions without physically visiting the bank. The card is designed in such a way physical interaction between the customer and FirstBank Branches is not required. All that a customer needs to do is to download the application and stay ahead in modern banking. “The launch of our Virtual Payment Card is yet another secure and seamless way we promote electronic banking, whilst enabling customers to carry-out their transactions…

By Elvis Eromosele The COVID19 pandemic is not letting up. It continues to race and rage across the globe. With 92 million cases and almost two million deaths, one expects every hand to be on deck to curb the spread. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that if COVID-19 is spreading in your community, stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Yet in Nigeria where the second wave is blossoming crowds have besieged National Identity Management Commission…

Video conferencing platform, Zoom is set to sell 4.4 million shares with a value of $337.71 in a secondary offering to raise $1.5 billion that will be used for acquisitions or strategic investments this year. Experts believe that the sale of the shares is taking advantage of a surge in investors’ interest in Zoom’s stock, which quintupled in value last year when the company’s flagship product became a household name. Zoom is already profitable, but the share sale will pad its balance sheet. As of October, the company had $730.5 million of cash and equivalents, up from $283.1 million in…

The government of Uganda has blocked all social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter ahead of tomorrow’s crucial presidential and parliamentary elections. The East African country’s telecom regulatory body, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in a letter to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs), ordered the immediate suspension of access and use” of all messaging apps and social media platforms until further notice. Though further details not disclosed why the suspension of all social media platforms, there is a wide belief that it is an attempt by the incumbent President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to muscle the oppositions and the citizens to…