Author: ITPulse

By Martin Ekpeke The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has conceded that its crucial mission to expand broadband access across the country is faltering. The agency points to a prolonged recruitment freeze and a severe shortage of technical expertise as the primary culprits. This candid admission came to light during a recent visit by Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to NIGCOMSAT’s ground control station in Abuja. Also, a statement from Aisha Bantam, head of NIGCOMSAT’s corporate affairs department, confirmed that the decade-long staffing hiatus, coupled with a dearth of skilled…

Getz Pharma Nigeria Limited has teamed up with CHI Pharmaceuticals Limited, a member of the Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, in a landmark partnership set to significantly improve access to essential medicines across Nigeria. This collaboration leverages CHI Pharma’s extensive nationwide distribution network, which includes over 5,000 registered pharmaceutical outlets, covering more than half of Nigeria’s licensed pharmacies. The strategic alliance, announced at CHI Pharma’s Lagos headquarters, gives Getz Pharma immediate access to a robust distribution infrastructure. Shriram Iyer, Chief Operating Officer at CHI Pharma, emphasized the depth of their network, stating, “Getz Pharma chose us for a reason. We…

By Aliyu Gaya One exceptionally commendable fact about the Bola Tinubu presidency is that it is not lacking in ambition and audacity. Courage defines the leader and Tinubu has it in good measure. Think about this: Tinubu wants to grow Nigeria’s net worth to a $1 trillion economy by 2030. While this shows ambition, it is much more a demonstration of audacity in leadership. To achieve this, Tinubu says Nigeria must lean on and encourage local production. He believes that achieving food security is the sine qua non for advancing the nation’s economy through heavy investments in the agriculture value…

Treepz, one of Africa’s fastest-growing corporate travel startups, has officially launched in Canada, which is a major milestone in its global journey. With full support from the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, and in partnership with organisations like the World Trade Center’s TAP program by Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, and the Brampton Entrepreneurs program, this move is a proud moment not just for Treepz but for Nigerian startups and Africa as a whole. From its humble beginnings in Nigeria in 2019, Treepz has grown into a Global Startup that operates in 25 cities across 5 countries — including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya,…

The global insurance industry faces a $1.8 trillion protection gap – the difference between insured and uninsured losses across health, life, crop and catastrophe coverage. In Africa, this divide is even more pronounced. Insurance penetration remains below 3% of GDP across the continent, and most Africans have little to no coverage in the event of disaster, illness or loss of income*. According to insurance industry experts at global data and AI leader SAS, the industry must embrace data, analytics and AI to close this gap and build more inclusive, resilient financial ecosystems. “Insurance has always been a tool for building…

By Martin Ekpeke Cashless transactions in Nigeria surged to N295 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). This marks a significant increase from the N237.11 trillion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024, highlighting a growing reliance on digital payments across the country. Key highlights from the NIBSS report: The NIBSS report reveals several key indicators of Nigeria’s accelerating shift towards a cashless economy: Total Cashless Transactions: Electronic payment channels facilitated a staggering N295 trillion in transactions during Q1 2025. Electronic Payment Channel Usage: Electronic payment channels were…

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has lauded Chief Owolabi Salis’s historic space mission as a powerful demonstration of Nigerians’ keen interest in participating in scientific, exploratory, tourism, and commercial space activities. In a congratulatory message signed by Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA’s Director of Media and Corporate Communications, the space agency highlighted Chief Salis’s achievement as a significant opening for increased private sector engagement in Nigeria’s space program. Chief Owolabi Salis holds the distinction of being the first person of Nigerian birth to travel to space. His privately funded mission has not only garnered substantial international attention for…

By Martin Ekpeke Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, a vital engine of the nation’s digital economy, is projected to surge past the US$17 billion mark by 2034. This optimistic forecast, citing global research group Market Research Future, was shared by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The promising outlook was presented by Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, in his keynote address titled ‘Protecting Digital Consumers: Regulations, Innovations and Best Practices’ at the recent Titans of Tech Conference and Expo in Lagos. Speaking through his representative, Freda Bruce-Bennett, Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau at the NCC, Dr. Maida highlighted…

The organizer of the annual Titans of Tech Awards has adduced reasons why Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive-West Africa at Africa Data Centre (ADC) was recognized as the Tech Ecosystem Builder of the Year in the 2025 edition. Convener of Titans of Tech Awards, Don Pedro Aganbi, disclosed the reasons to Journalists after presenting the award plaque to Eugene Uka, Head of Sales, West Africa at Africa Data Centres, who represented Dr. Krishnan at the ceremony held on Friday, July 25 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria. Aganbi highlighted Dr. Krishnan’s significant contributions to the tech ecosystem, particularly in developing…

By Martin Ekpeke The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has pinpointed poor quality of service, rapid data depletion claims, and failed top-ups or recharge issues as the three most pressing challenges faced by telecommunications consumers in Nigeria. Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, revealed these findings in a keynote address titled ‘Protecting Digital Consumers: Regulations, Innovations and Best Practices’ at the recent Titans of Tech Conference and Expo in Lagos. Speaking through his representative, Freda Bruce-Bennett, Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau at the NCC, Dr. Maida stated that these pain points were identified following a comprehensive analysis…