MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, a leading ICT company in Nigeria has announced the launch and pilot of its paper-based biodegradable eco-friendly SIM cards, in line with its Project Zero goals which seek to reduce GHG emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

The biodegradable paper-based SIM card is safer for the environment, as it supports the management of products throughout their lifecycle in a manner that promotes circularity and reduces waste.

Also, the gradual elimination of plastic-based SIM cards helps the company make a huge contribution to plastic pollution prevention, showing its commitment to continuously exploring ways to integrate sustainable practices into its operations.

This initiative, driven through a local supplier, reflects MTN’s commitment to empowering local businesses and boosting economic growth through sustainable partnerships.

Comparing the benefits of the 100% biodegradable paper-based SIM cards to the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic-based material, these eco-friendly SIMs can biodegrade naturally and are recyclable, thus reducing waste pollution. It also lowers carbon emissions footprint during production and disposal.

This helps eradicate the material problems of plastic SIM cards, such as landfill or incineration disposal, limited recycling options and contribution to waste pollution.

“Our new eco-friendly SIM cards represent part of our continuous commitment to environmental responsibility, as well as our dedication to reducing waste, supporting local Nigerian vendors and integrating sustainability into business operations as well as the daily lives of the people”, commented Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer.

Adekemi Adisa, General Manager, Sustainability and Shared Value, also added, “Our people and the environment where they live drives the innovative measures we take.

“The launch of our recyclable SIM cards embodies our commitment to sustainability, encouraging our customers to make eco-friendly choices, reducing waste and paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future for Nigerians.”

This move aligns with MTN’s promise to ‘Doing for the Planet’, prioritizing eco-responsibility and minimizing the company’s environmental footprint through responsible and sustainable waste management practices. As a pilot, these eco-friendly SIM cards are available in selected MTN stores in Lagos and Abuja.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have joined forces to empower West African youth with the skills and knowledge needed to safeguard the region’s cyberspace.

A regional security hackathon held in Abuja, Nigeria, showcased the talent and potential of young participants from across West Africa.

The event aimed to identify and nurture cybersecurity experts who can combat the growing threat of cybercrime in the region.

NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Oladejo Olawumi, emphasised the importance of harnessing the energy and creativity of young people to address cybersecurity challenges.

He stressed the need for countries to adhere to regional regulations and implement robust measures to protect critical institutions.

Olawumi stressed the importance of tapping into the region’s youthful talent to combat cybercrime.

He emphasised NITDA’s ongoing commitment to supporting future initiatives and stated, “The vibrant competition within the technology sector is encouraging. By harnessing the energy and creativity of our youth, we can effectively fight cybercrime and prevent them from engaging in criminal activities.”

On his part, the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, highlighted the urgency of protecting the region’s cyberspace and the role of the hackathon in identifying and supporting talented individuals.

He emphasized the collaboration between ECOWAS, NITDA, governments, private sector, and academia in making the event a success.

The hackathon, which was the third in the series, attracted participants from 12 West African countries.

Winners and participants received cash prizes and gift items as recognition for their achievements.

In addition to the competition, the event included training programs sponsored by donors and partners to further enhance the skills of the young participants.

After 30 hours of intense competition, the TeamERROR from Nigeria emerged third and got a cash prize of $6000 with laptops for each member of the team.

The M3V7R team from Benin Republic came second with a cash prize of $8,000 and laptops for its members, while the First Prize went to Shell X Roots from Cote d’ Ivoire with a cash prize of $10,000 and laptops for members of the group.

A highlight of the event was the recognition of Hannah Bangoura from Sierra Leone, who won the Best Female Participant award.

Her achievement underscored the growing influence of women in the field of cybersecurity across West Africa.

Earlier at the opening of the competition in Abuja, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, commended ECOWAS for its commitment to promoting regional unity in addressing cyber security.

He emphasised that the Hackathon represents a powerful symbol of unity and cooperation among ECOWAS member states, noting that “As threats become increasingly sophisticated and transnational, collaboration between nations is no longer optional, but essential.

“Making partnerships with relevant Cybersecurity outfits in various countries and a call for global Cybersecurity strategies is vital.”

Inuwa explained that the global Cybersecurity workforce places a gap with billions of jobs unfilled for the coming years, noting that the Hackathon is a response to that challenge.

Represented by the Director of IT Infrastructure Solution Mr. Oladejo Olawumi, Inuwa explained that participants need to be provided with opportunities to showcase their abilities to ensure that the youths have pathways to recognition, employment, and growth in this field.

“Our efforts also extend to fostering home-grown solutions towards our annual Hackathons, which offer startups to showcase real world problems.

“This Hackathon coincides with the National Cybersecurity Awareness month, during which we conduct extensive awareness to educate the public about the trending cyber threats and how to stay safe,” Inuwa said.

He added that the Hackathon competition saw 1,500 teams participate, including 139 teams led by female captains. With 1,362 female participants out of 5,341, the event highlighted the significant contributions women make to Cybersecurity in the region.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, Mr. Seido Douko, while welcoming the participants, commended their dedication to addressing the pressing Cybersecurity challenges affecting the region

He stated that “ECOWAS passionately believes in harnessing the power of innovation and collaboration to drive progress. As technology continues to evolve, mere vigilance is no longer enough.

“To stay ahead of emerging threats, we must foster adaptability, creativity, and collaboration across borders, building a robust and resilient cyber ecosystem that benefits all member states.”

“Today’s event embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation, bringing together talented young minds to tackle a critical regional challenge.

“It is not just about competition, but about collective contribution and creativity, fostering innovative solutions that will drive meaningful change and resilience in our region,” he added.

While maintaining that the competition is more than just a contest but a collaborative effort to combat cyber threats, he advised for a push to the boundaries of what is possible, harnessing collective creativity and expertise to develop innovative solutions.

The 30-hours ECOWAS Cyber Security Hackathon competition brought together over 40 young tech talented enthusiasts drawn from fourteen countries in the West African sub-region.

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, today launches AVEVA World 2024 in Paris’ Palais des Congrès. The annual flagship software conference brings together leading industrial companies from across the globe to explore how to generate impact with cutting-edge technology. Executives from key industrial verticals including Power, Chemicals, Minerals and Food & Beverage, will be present.

All with the shared aim of better utilising advanced software to drive stronger business and sustainability outcomes.

During the AVEVA World 2024 press conference, AVEVA‘s CEO, Caspar Herzberg, announced new strategic partnerships with Vulcan Energy Resources (VER) and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC).

Vulcan Energy Resources (VER) is committed to become the world’s first lithium company with a carbon neutral footprint through a ground-breaking lithium technology. AVEVA’s new partnership with Vulcan will focus on the Vulcan Energy Resources €1.5billion engineering project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley – with AVEVA providing the digital backbone for the project.

This collaboration supports both companies’ commitment to driving digital transformation and sustainability throughout the lifecycle of industrial assets.

VER aims at decarbonising lithium production by developing the world’s first dual lithium chemicals and renewable energy business with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. CONNECT, will be used to enhance collaboration and foster digital agility across the different project phases and industrial assets.

VER will gain access to a comprehensive suite of software solutions tailored to Phase One and future phases. Core components, such as AVEVA’s Contract Risk Management (CRM) and AVEVA Asset Information Management (AIM), as well as AVEVA’s cutting-edge digital twin and Assai’s Document Control and Management system, will enable secure data sharing among multiple stakeholders including contractors.

“This collaboration supports our commitment to driving digital transformation and sustainability throughout the lifecycle of industrial assets. By collaborating with AVEVA, Vulcan can harness the full power of CONNECT to ease collaboration and accelerate the software underpinning their ground-breaking lithium technology.” comments Caspar Herzberg, CEO, AVEVA.

Cris Moreno, CEO of Vulcan Energy Resources, said: “This MoU marks the beginning of a promising long-term collaboration between Vulcan and AVEVA.

“We are delighted to have AVEVA as a key partner in delivering world-leading digital solutions for Phase One of our integrated renewable energy and ZERO CARBON LITHIUM™ Project ecosystem and beyond.”

AVEVA’s new partnership with Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) seeks to develop an application of quantum computing in the industrial sector. While still in its infancy, quantum computing is expected to help customers save time and money, as well as reducing power consumption. By partnering with OQC, AVEVA is bringing the power and capability of quantum compute to its customers, enabling them to unlock its potential to solve new and previously thought impossible problems.

Quantum compute is anticipated to deliver an exponential speed-up over classical techniques, as well as generate cost and power consumption reductions: including AI large language models and big data.

When announcing the technology partnership with OQC, a global leader in quantum computing-as-a-service, Caspar Herzberg declared:

“We often hear “Time is Money” but today, there’s a new paradigm: Time is sustainability! The climate crisis is urging industries to accelerate their journey to net-zero. The faster we innovate for a better world, the better.

“Quantum Computing is a game changer in terms of speed, efficiency, and precision. I’m convinced that quantum technology will unlock faster and more sustainable innovation in industries.”

“Quantum computing is set to revolutionise every sector with faster and more nuanced information processing. Through OQC’s capabilities, quantum is now a tangible, accessible asset for businesses like AVEVA to utilise for experimentation. We look forward to unlocking its potential for their customers” added Gerald Mullally, CEO, Oxford Quantum Circuits.