E-Business
Accenture Sensitises CIOs on Tech Trends for Business Growth

Accenture, a global technology solutions provider and consulting company recently sensitized chief information officers (CIOs) in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry on modern technological trends and how to leverage on them in order to ensure effective utilization for business growth.
This was the crux of the matter at the recent Accenture CIOs forum held at the Sofitel Lagos Moor house, Ikoyi, Lagos where CIOs from the FMCG sector gathered to brainstorm on modern technological trends, what to deploy for enhanced productivity and how to combine legacy technology with latest innovation, as well as mobility, cloud services and big data analytics.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, country managing director, Accenture Nigeria, said the forum was on how Accenture shares its own thought on technology trends which the FMCG companies should be aware of and also take advantage of.
Yusuf said there is a lot of technology trend in the environment which includes social, mobile, analytics and cloud (SMAC) that companies in the sector can leverage on for better performance, and that coupled with the large population and high rate of mobile and Internet penetration in Nigeria, these organizations stand a good chance of adopting new trends for business growth.
“We are the second largest country in the world where people access Internet on their mobile phones and what does that portend for a company in the FMCG sector, it boosts interest and it is also an opportunity. If you have a workforce that is mobile, also consumers that are mobile, you need to be mobile, to be where your customers are, as lots of Nigerians are on Yahoo, Google, Facebook and other social media platform, and if a consumer has bad experience about a product he can post it on the social media and it would spread wide.
“So it is an opportunity for FMCG companies to be social and also be able to respond, and another advantage is that lot of companies would be able to sell their goods and services on the social media,” he stated.
According to him, having done that, it is also an opportunity for those companies to have information about their goods and services, an opportunity for them to track their goods, which stock keeping unit (SKU) is moving, and that it is real time information online which is data analytics.
“So analytics enables them to know which consumers buy and do not, and then they can track online, and because most of the consumers are mobile and sales are online, they will be able to know the location where sales is high and low, and the products that are purchased,” he said.
The Accenture boss however affirmed that the forum enables the CIOs to note these trends and to respond to them.
He added that the social media and technological platforms would help them increase the revenue of the FMCG companies, as well as reduce their cost of operation.
Yusuf explained that Accenture helps them to think through what they need to do and assist them on how to implement the technologies.
However during the online presentation, Mr. Shyam Ranchod, digital transformation lead, Products, and Tielman Botha, senior manager, Mobility Services Lead, both of Accenture South Africa, amongst others spoke on how FMCG companies can adopt technology in a digital era.
Botha explained that in Africa, Internet access is all about mobile and that if companies place emphasis on it, they can easily connect with their customers.
Ranchod in his presentation affirmed that in 2015, it is no longer enough to see companies adopt technology, but should look at it in a local way to suit their operating environment, to meet customers’ needs.
He stated that in the digital era, businesses are required to extend their boundaries in order to survive, by leveraging on key concepts such as the Internet of me, the use of big data analytic; outcome economy which is the use of machine to machine (M2M); platform (r) evolution which is related with open source and Internet of things (IoT); and intelligence enterprise which is the use of machine intelligence in both software and hardware.
E-Business
NITDA Ignites a Revolution for Gender Inclusion in Nigeria’s AI and Digital Economy

In a powerful stride towards an inclusive digital future, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is spearheading a transformative drive to empower Nigerian women in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital economy.
This commitment was resoundingly reiterated by NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, at the “Innovate Her 25” conference, the 10th National Conference and 11th Annual Meeting of Nigerian Women in Information Technology.
Speaking at the event themed “Women in AI: Unlocking Resilience, Fostering Innovation and Leadership,” Inuwa, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, emphasised that true innovation blossoms not in isolation, but through synergistic partnerships and collective endeavor – principles deeply embedded in NITDA’s operational ethos.
Highlighting Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, Inuwa added that inclusivity is embedded as a core objective: “Our strategic roadmap mandates that at least 40% of our programmes directly benefit women and underserved groups. We have also developed a Gender Inclusion Strategy to guide interventions in areas such as training and infrastructure,” he explained.
Further underscoring Nigeria’s leadership in the digital space, Inuwa excitingly announced that in September 2025, NITDA will proudly host a Leadership Summit on AI. This landmark event will convene stakeholders from across the African continent, fostering a collaborative environment to forge a unified AI vision for Africa.
In alignment with the conference’s focus on empowering women in technology, the DG detailed NITDA’s diverse capacity-building initiatives spanning AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. “We work with partners such as the Renew Hope Initiative to train thousands of women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones,” he revealed, highlighting the agency’s broad reach.
NITDA stands ready to collaborate with organisations like the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIT), actively encouraging proposals for bespoke programmes that cater to specific community needs. “We focus on targeted training with measurable outcomes, rather than generic approaches,” Inuwa affirmed, emphasising a results-oriented methodology.
He further spotlighted NITDA’s “Digital Literacy for All Initiative,” which seeks to equip 70% of Nigerians with digital literacy by 2027. Through strategic partnerships with the NYSC and the integration of digital literacy into national school curricula, the agency plans to train over 30 million Nigerians — with a dedicated focus on underserved communities and public servants.
Addressing critical concerns surrounding ethical AI, Inuwa emphasised the importance of developing indigenous datasets and large language models reflective of Nigeria’s unique realities: “We are working closely with stakeholders to build local datasets that safeguard Nigerians’ digital rights and ensure ethical AI use,” he assured.
NITDA is also championing mentorship for women in technology through impactful initiatives such as Women Innovate. The agency warmly welcomes collaboration with NIWIT to design structured mentorship programmes and is open to formalising such partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
“NITDA is committed to fostering inclusive economic growth through innovation. Partnership and collaboration remain the way forward,” Inuwa declared.
The session concluded with a resounding call to action, urging women-focused organisations to leverage NITDA’s open-door policy and unite in advancing digital inclusion across Nigeria. The future of Nigeria’s digital economy is inclusive, and women are at its forefront.
E-Business
Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon wrote in an email to employees.
He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.
According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.
Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.
However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.
“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.
The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.
Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.
The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.
E-Business
BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.
He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.
“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.
Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.
He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.
“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.
He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.
According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.
He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.
Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.
He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.
Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.
Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.
- News3 days ago
Lasaco Assurance to Invest in Technologies, Systems to Deliver Value to Clients
- Telecom23 hours ago
Over 1m Nigerians Reached through MTN Staff’s Digital and Community Outreach
- E-Financial3 days ago
NIBSS National Payment Stack to Transform Nigerian Instant Payments
- General News23 hours ago
NASRDA, Galaxy Space Firm Sign MoU on Satellite Connectivity
- Telecom23 hours ago
Mafab Gets 0724 Number Series, Launches Mcom 5G Brand
- General News3 days ago
Moniepoint Demonstrates Commitment to Nurturing Africa’s Future Leaders
- News23 hours ago
FCCPC Shuts France, Belgium, and Italy Visa Centres in Abuja Over Alleged Consumer Rights Violations
- E-Financial3 days ago
CBN Reaffirms Banking Sector Resilience as Forbearance Ends