E-Business
5G To Serve User Generations Divided By Digital Literacy Rather Than Age

By Peter Linder
The fifth generation of mobile networks will be the first to serve five distinct human generations. The reason? Digital literacy… While in the past, we grouped generations into age brackets, soon we might use digital literacy as the divider.
Traditionally generations have been divided into age brackets: traditionalists (-1945); baby boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980), Generation Y (1981-1994) and Linksters (1995-) – otherwise known as Depression babies, the Woodstock generation, the latchkey generation, the Millennials and the Facebook crowd.
This segmentation model worked well when the needs of each generation were homogeneous. But the traditional model is being reviewed and could soon become outmoded and irrelevant.
Ericsson is a member of the Smart Africa Alliance and one of their flagship initiatives is the Smart Africa Digital Literacy program, which aims to ensure that significant investments made into ICT infrastructure, content and services, and the increasing proliferation of smart devices need to be matched by investments into digital literacy if the continent is to maximize the opportunities presented by ICTs.
The World Bank expects 11 million youth to enter the African labour market every year over the next decade. They must be equipped with the right skills and training in order to succeed.
In the next 25 years, Africa’s working-age population will approximately double to one billion, exceeding that of China and India. African companies will need to fill positions with employees who possess the right digital skills.
Many population shifts have started to create new challenges for businesses. We are starting to work later in life.
We live longer than our parents. The things we want to acquire are different from those people prioritized owning in the past.
The free things we enjoy – such as neighbourhood networks – develop outside the government-financed services arena. New generations will earn less than their parents and do not therefore expect to own the same type of things, e.g. house, cars, boats etc.
But these shifts are not homogeneous within the various traditional generation brackets. The way we embrace and adopt digital innovations varies enormously, starting with how we research products and services ahead of any purchase.
While the digitally savvy explore the digital domain first, others still rely on talking to a sales person. At the point of purchase, the latter either go online or to a physical store. The digitally savvy benefit from a combination of the two models. While some people stick to a physical store, they might change their store preference.
Our preferences also differ when it comes to the customer support channels available. The digitally savvy users feel comfortable using chat support. Others prefer contact with a human voice over the phone.
All can manage mail support, but some are hesitant to share their e-mail address if it is used for marketing purposes.
The great variety of customer interfaces that businesses have is a new reality. They range from digital only to analog anchored, throughout the engagement process.
We also see that digital literacy is spread within and across the age-based generational divisions. When we combine these two phenomena, we might still have five generations to address, but they will be divided in a different way.
My predictions for the future are as follows:
5G will be the first wireless technology designed to serve five end-user segments with diverse needs.
The dividers between generations will change; instead of being age-oriented, they will depend on people’s level of digital literacy.
The new segmentation will define how digital businesses structure their marketing, sales and support flows.
Most digital generations will own less and rely more on subscription-based services.
E-Business
CAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has unveiled a new Application Programming Interface (API) integration system to allow private firms access company data from the Commission’s database.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), registrar general of CAC, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling said the system would give selected private organizations access to CAC services through technology-based companies, called “super agents.”
“This is a practical step to show that the Commission is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” he said.
Magaji explained that the integration allows the agents to retrieve data from the CAC database for use in specific client requests, outside the standard services provided by the Commission.
“Before now, only a few government agencies had this integration, especially those involved in investigations, anti-money laundering, and terrorism financing. Now, private companies that meet the criteria can also access it,” he said.
He said the system complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth may be restricted.
“This is a call to law firms and companies with the right technology. We’ve started with NIPS because of their credibility. Embassies and banks can now authenticate company records directly through them.”
“There are prescribed fees. We already collect them on our portal, and now customers can also pay through these agents,” he explained.
He named NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE as some of the companies involved.
“OPE and MoneyPoint handle only registrations. But NIPS has moved further into validation and verification,” he said.
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at NIBSS, who represented Premier Oiwoh, managing director, said the service allows secure and efficient data verification.
“This is the result of years of effort to connect our systems with CAC. It will help users verify data within the limits of data protection laws,” she said.
She said the move is a way to lower costs and promote interoperability across the financial sector.
E-Business
FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior’s said the initiative forms a key part of its ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency, and significantly improving service delivery to the public.
The new digital platform is designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround times and improved user experience.
The platform allows users to apply for and manage business permits, ensuring that both local and foreign businesses operate legally in Nigeria.
It includes an Expatriate Quota System to manage work permits for foreign employees, helping companies hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
The Citizenship Administration and Management System provides a streamlined online process for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related services.
Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are expected to access the platform through the ministry’s website: https://interior.gov.ng , Direct Portal Access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng , or contact candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support and inquiries.
“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement read in part.
E-Business
NITDA, CISCO Empower Youth with Digital Skills

Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeria’s digital future. “This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she remarked.
According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.
Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion—ensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy. It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.
At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.
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