Author: ITPulse

Interswitch’s Technovation 3.0 Hackathon once again showcased the boundless potential of Africa’s tech ecosystem. The event, which took place recently, brought together some of the brightest minds in technology, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving to compete for top honors and significant seed funding. After days of intense coding, brainstorming, and prototyping, a panel of expert judges selected the top three teams based on their innovative ideas, technical prowess, and potential for real-world impact. The Winners: Skoot Labs: This team took home the grand prize of N5 million for their innovative child-friendly mobile banking and savings platform. Skoot Labs aims to empower young…

By Martin Ekpeke Obinna Iwuno, President of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), has urged the Nigerian government to consider a national Bitcoin strategy in light of the recent global surge in cryptocurrency adoption, particularly following the election of Donald Trump, a pro-crypto US President. Iwuno believes that the new US administration’s stance on cryptocurrencies, coupled with global economic trends, presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria. He argues that a strategic approach to Bitcoin can lead to significant economic benefits for the country Such benefits, according to him include increased wealth where Nigerian traders could profit from…

By Martin Ekpeke A new survey by Flourish Ventures, in partnership with Endeavor, Launch Africa, Madica, Econa, and Startup Snapshot, has shed light on African tech founders’ demanding yet fulfilling journey. The study, involving over 160 founders across 13 countries, reveals a complex picture of passion, stress, and resilience. A Double-Edged Sword: Passion and Pressure While 81% of founders enjoy the entrepreneurial journey and 66% would rather start anew than take a job, the emotional toll is significant. A staggering 86% report a negative impact on their wellbeing, with common issues including anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and burnout. External Factors Fueling…

Financial institutions are at the forefront of adopting generative AI (GenAI) technology. A recent global survey revealed that 17% of banking leaders have fully integrated GenAI into their operations, while 60% are actively using it in various applications. This widespread adoption is driven by the potential of GenAI to revolutionize numerous aspects of the banking industry, from marketing and risk management to customer service and beyond. GenAI’s Impact on Banking Banks are leveraging GenAI to: Enhance Customer Experience: Personalized recommendations, intelligent chatbots, and streamlined customer service interactions are becoming commonplace. Optimize Risk Management: Advanced fraud detection, credit risk assessment, and…

By Martin Ekpeke For nearly 15 years, Samsung and Apple have battled for the title of top smartphone seller. Though, both companies boast high-quality devices and billions of users, Samsung historically held the lead. However, a recent trend shows the gap between their shipments narrowing significantly. Data from AltIndex.com reveals that in the first nine months of 2024, Samsung shipped 171.8 million smartphones, 20 million more than Apple. This marks the smallest shipment gap ever recorded between the two tech giants. Shrinking Gap, Shifting Strategies This shrinking gap reflects changes in both companies’ strategies. Samsung has shifted focus from budget…

Dr. Bashir Gwandu, a seasoned telecom expert, has called on African nations to collaborate and secure the 600MHz spectrum band for mobile services. Speaking at the 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Gwandu emphasized the importance of a unified African front at the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27). The 600MHz band is crucial for 4G and 5G networks, and many countries worldwide are already allocating it for mobile use. However, several African nations face challenges in securing this spectrum due to internal disagreements and external pressures. Dr. Gwandu expressed disappointment at the lack of cooperation…

Tinubu has granted full oversight responsibilities to Ministers of State over agencies under them. Amongst them are the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Matawalle, the minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, and the Minister of State for Agriculture. Henceforth, they will enjoy full oversight responsibilities over such agencies. The cable reported that President Bola Tinubu, at the FEC Meeting, approved giving ministers of state full powers to supervise the agencies under them. Until now, their permanent secretaries sent files on departments and agencies under their supervision to the senior ministers. With the new dispensation, ministers of state can now…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with Cisco, has launched the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative at Nassarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). This initiative aims to equip students with essential digital skills, aligning with the government’s goal of achieving 70% digital literacy among Nigerians by 2027. NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, highlighted the global demand for digital talent and the opportunity for Nigeria to fill this gap. He emphasized the importance of digital literacy as a necessity in today’s world, enabling individuals to participate fully in the digital economy. The DL4ALL initiative focuses on developing the following…

By Martin Ekpeke Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) vows to address concerns raised by 132 internet users regarding rapid data depletion and billing transparency. Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, emphasized the growing concern over data consumption and billing transparency during his keynote speech at Abuja’s 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP). He said with Nigeria boasting 132 million internet connections, a significant portion of the global 5 billion user base, the nation’s digital landscape is rapidly evolving. “Nigerians, on average, spend 4 hours and 20 minutes daily on social media, significantly exceeding the global average,” he disclosed. In…

Martin Ekpeke, Founder of ITPulse, a leading Nigerian online Information and Communications Technology (ICT) news platform, was awarded the prestigious Digital Reporting Excellence Award at the Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards. The award, presented by Tech Castle Foundation, recognizes Ekpeke’s exceptional coverage of cyber threats, digital privacy, and the evolving online security landscape. “We are thrilled to honor Martin Ekpeke with the Digital Reporting Excellence Award. His insightful reporting has been instrumental in raising awareness about critical digital issues and empowering individuals and organizations to stay informed and protected,” said Chike Onwuegbuchi from Tech Castle Foundation. “His Ekpeke expressed…