Author: ITPulse

The Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, in partnership with industry giants TD Africa, Konga Group, Zinox Technologies, and Task Systems, has announced that the application portal for its landmark technology scholarship program will officially open on Monday, April 27, 2026. Originally slated for April 22, the launch date was moved to ensure final technical optimizations provide a secure and transparent experience for applicants nationwide. The initiative was first unveiled on February 22, 2025, to mark the 70th birthday of Zinox Group Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh. Eschewing a traditional celebration, the tech pioneer chose to fund the education of 1,000 indigent whiz-kids…

In a significant nod to Nigeria’s burgeoning tech scene, four homegrown startups have been selected for the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa. Out of nearly 2,600 applications across the continent, these four innovators secured spots in the final group of 15, a feat representing an acceptance rate of less than 1%. The four startups are: Bani : A cross-border payments infrastructure platform eliminating settlement delays for African businesses trading globally. MasteryHive AI : An AI-native platform automating transaction reconciliation, fraud detection, and AML monitoring. Regxta : Combines alternative data-driven credit scoring with a hybrid digital-agent distribution…

By Epiphanus Obia  Flutterwave has denied reports that the Nigerian government approved a $75 million investment in the company, pushing back on widespread speculation that it is preparing for an imminent initial public offering (IPO). The reports, which circulated on Monday, claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised the investment through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI) as part of plans to anchor a potential $250 million IPO. Some accounts also suggested a possible dual listing on the Nigerian Exchange and in New York. The speculation appears to have been triggered by a now-deleted social media post from a…

Epiphanus Obia WhatsApp users may soon start paying for some features on the platform, as its parent company Meta Platforms begins testing a new subscription service. The feature, called WhatsApp Plus, started rolling out on April 20, 2026, to a small group of Android beta users. It offers paid add-ons, including custom themes, more pinned chats, and better chat organisation tools. For now, the basics are not changing. Sending messages, making calls, and end-to-end encryption will remain free for all users. But the test marks a shift for WhatsApp, especially for users in Nigeria, where the app is used daily…

By Deen Yusuf Nigeria has never struggled with ingenuity. It is a place where innovation grows from necessity, and where developers, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers consistently push past limitations to build what does not yet exist. But in the era of artificial intelligence, ingenuity alone is no longer enough. The nations that will lead are those that not only innovate, but also ensure AI reaches workers at every level of the economy, because innovation without diffusion is simply potential left on the shelf. Yet research shows this diffusion is far from guaranteed. While global generative AI usage continues to rise,…

By Martin Ekpeke Last Saturday marked a monumental milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward a digital-first economy. On April 18, 2001, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was established with a singular vision: to drive IT development and implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy. From its humble beginnings to becoming the backbone of Nigeria’s digital transformation, NITDA has spent two and a half decades empowering innovators, securing Nigeria’s digital borders, and fostering a tech-savvy nation. For twenty-five years, the agency has moved beyond mere regulation, acting as the primary catalyst for the evolution of the Nigerian tech ecosystem. A legacy…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have officially entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a structured framework designed to harmonize the telecommunications and financial sectors. This strategic partnership aims to fortify the integrity of payment systems, mitigate the growing threat of electronic fraud, drive digital inclusion, and provide robust protections for consumers and small businesses (MSMEs). Speaking on the significance of this alliance, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, emphasized that the MoU is a milestone in regulatory stewardship, as it is designed to translate…

By Martin Ekpeke Last week at the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Secretariat in Lagos, a fundamental question hung in the air, challenging the very foundation of Nigeria’s presence in the virtual world: “Who truly owns Nigeria’s digital identity?” Delivering the keynote address at the .ng Media Advocacy and Capacity Building Initiative, Adesola Akinsanya, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), didn’t just talk about tech; he talked about real estate. But not the kind made of bricks and mortar. He spoke of the digital soil upon which the Nigerian economy is currently built, and his assessment was a…

By Epiphanus Obia  MTN Nigeria has suspended its airtime and data lending services, including XtraTime, following new regulatory requirements that classify such offerings as digital credit products. The move comes in response to the Digital Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which expand oversight to cover all platforms providing credit services, including telecommunications operators. Under the new rules, services that allow users to borrow airtime or data are now treated as formal credit products, subjecting them to stricter licensing, transparency and consumer protection requirements. As a result, MTN said it has temporarily…

In response to recent digital threats targeting the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has joined forces with the commission to activate emergency cybersecurity measures. This collaboration aims to safeguard Nigeria’s critical infrastructure and ensure the integrity of public services remains uncompromised. Following the concerns raised regarding CAC’s digital systems, NITDA has issued a stern directive to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to transition from reactive to proactive security postures. The directive mandates that all MDAs immediately review and reinforce their technical architecture to protect sensitive government data from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. To ensure…