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Austin Okere to Keynote as Tunde Coker Chairs MoDiTECH 2019

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Mr. Austin Okere, Founder & Vice Chairman, CWG Plc, will present the keynote at the maiden edition of Mobile & Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH 2019) holding on October 24, 2019 in Lagos State, Nigeria.

ModiTECH’19 is being organised by TechEconomy.ng in collaboration with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, as a platform for inter-sectorial review of economic impacts of technologies; giving particular attention to the disruptive potentials of emerging solutions supported by the Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Robotics, FinTechs and mobile phone economy around retail and service provision

The event under the theme: “The Power of Digital Services”, holds at Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel (VCP), 292B, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos under the chairman of the Managing Director of Rack Centre, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, while the Chairman, Connect Technologies & Africa Chair for IEEE, Chris Uwaje (Oracle), is the co-chairman and will moderate a session on digital disruptions.

Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications, is the special guest of honour. Other special invitees expected at the Forum are Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General of the National Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Tony Ojobo, the President, African ICT Foundation (AfICTF), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, President of NiRA, among others.

Other speakers include, Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale, the Co-Founder/COO, Digital Encode; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Co-founder/CTO, Digital Encode; Dr. Babatunde Obrima, the Chief Operating Officer, FinTech Association of Nigeria (FinTechngr);  Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji,  Founder Rise Labs; Debbie Michael, Nigeria’s First AI powered Learning, Research & Work Readiness Centre; Engr. Frank Ogochukwu, Chief Technology Strategist, Consulting & Board Member Global Advisory Council, EC-Council; Tunde Ogungbade, Managing Director of Global Accelerex Limited, amongst others.

The Keynote Speaker

Mr. Okere is a respected personality in the Nigerian IT/ICT industry, Africa and indeed the world. He is also the Entrepreneur in Residence, Ausso Leadership Academy. Austin is a member of the World Economic Forum Business Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship.

He serves on the Board of the National Competiveness Council of Nigeria and Initiative for Global Development.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.

Austin is a graduate of Computer Science from the University of Lagos and holds an MBA degree from the International Graduate School of Management (IESE), Navara, Spain. He possesses an unprecedented flair for visioning, strategy and branding.

He is a member of several professional and leadership bodies, including ICT Advisory Board, Nigerian Competitive Council and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce.

Austin has been recognized and honored locally and internationally with many awards in recognition of his contribution to the Information and Communications Technology world. He was named ICT Personality of the year 2014 by the Nigerian Computer Society and ICT Man of the Decade by ICT Watch Africa Digital Network in 2012.

His most recent recognitions are; 2016 NCS Presidential Award for promotion of ICT in Nigeria, Announced as member of the Global Business School Network Advisory Board and was named as one of Nigeria’s Top 50 Tech-Titans at the Titan of Tech Awards 2016.

He is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Legatum Centre as well as Columbia University, New York.

Chairman of the occasion

Dr Ayotunde Coker has over 30 years’ international experience across Europe, USA, Asia and Africa. He was born in Nigeria, went to school in Lagos, and university in the UK.

His distinguished career of 28 years in the UK, included roles as Management Consultant Cap Gemini UK, Director Egg Bank the first European Internet Bank, Global Applications Director BP, CTO UK Criminal Justice, IT Director, Ministry of Justice.

He returned to Nigeria in 2009 as Group CIO of Access Bank, and then MD/CEO of Emerging Markets Payments, West Africa. As MD/CEO, he has led Rack Centre to become a household name in Nigeria, leading brand in Africa with global recognition and numerous international awards. He is Secretary General of the Africa Data Centre Association.

He is an award-winning post graduate alumnus of Cranfield Institute of Technology UK, Fellow Institute of Directors (UK), Fellow British Computer Society, Honorary Senior Member Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

He holds a PhD (Honoris Causa) by ESCAE University, Republic of Benin.

He was recently identified in the Power 200: The Worlds Most Influential Data Economy Leaders by the Data Economy Magazine in the UK

MoDiTECH 2019

The Forum sponsored by Digital Encode, Global Accelerex, Medallion Communications and hosts of others has been endorsed by, ATCON, InnovationBed Africa and ALTON, FinTechNgr and AfICT.

It will feature C-Level executives including CEOs/CFOs/CROs/CCO/CIO; Directors and Heads of trading, operations, research, analytics, investment, strategy, digital, compliance, risk and data analysts; and senior regulators and policymakers; drawn from the FMCGs, Financial Industry including Fintechs, Banks, Insurance Companies, etc., AgriTech, Logistics, Cyber security companies, amongst others.

Interested corporate/individual participants can register via next.techeconomy.ng or contact the organisers via email: Next@TechEconomy.ng : Chike – 08033800291 or Peter- 08184346261 for sponsorship and exhibition space reservation.


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British High Commission Reaffirms Strong Ties with Nigeria

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British High Commission in Nigeria has reiterated the strong, long-standing relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria following the release of the UK Immigration White Paper earlier today.

A spokesperson for the High Commission stated that the UK remains a top destination for Nigerians seeking opportunities to work, study, visit, and settle, acknowledging the valuable contributions Nigerians make to the UK economy and society.

The White Paper outlines reforms to legal migration, aimed at restoring order, control, and fairness to the system while promoting economic growth.

The spokesperson assured that changes would be gradual, with further engagement between the UK and Nigerian government officials once implementation details are finalized.

“The UK has a proud tradition as an outward-looking nation, investing and trading abroad, and welcoming the creativity, ideas, and diversity of those who come to contribute here,” the spokesperson said.

The UK government has pledged to work closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure a smooth transition as the new immigration policies take effect


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NERC Orders DisCos to Compensate Band A Customers in 557 Streets

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Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed nine electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to compensate Band A customers residing in 557 streets across their franchise areas for failing to meet the minimum power supply requirement under the new electricity tariff regime.

According to NERC, the affected DisCos must implement compensation across 152 electricity feeders due to poor supply in April.

The compensation will be provided through electricity credit or improved power supply, as outlined in the April 2025 Multi-Year Tariff Order.

The directive affects the following DisCos:

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC)

Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED)

Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO)

Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO)

Ikeja Electric (IE)

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC)

Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)

The development follows a tariff hike of over 300% for Band A customers in 2024, which mandated a minimum daily power supply of 20 hours. Despite the increase, many consumers have continued to report poor service delivery, leading to the latest compensation directive.

NERC stated that affected DisCos must upgrade power supply in designated areas or provide electricity credits to customers who experienced service failures.


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SERAP Challenges CBN to Publish Local Government Allocations

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately disclose whether it has commenced the direct disbursement of allocations to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, following the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment nullifying state governors’ control over LGA funds.

In a letter dated 10 May 2025 obtained by our correspondent, addressed to the CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group also demanded that the bank “widely publish the amounts, if any, so far sent directly to each of the local governments” and provide a detailed explanation of any payments already made—particularly to LGAs in Rivers State.

The group stated: “We are writing to request you to use your good offices and leadership position to immediately disclose whether the CBN has commenced the direct disbursement of allocations to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria from the Federation Accounts with the CBN, and to widely publish the amounts, if any, so far sent to each of the local governments.”

This request follows a Supreme Court judgment declaring the practice by governors and the FCT Minister of retaining and disbursing LGA allocations unconstitutional and unlawful.

The court ruled that no governor or agency has the authority to interfere with allocations meant for LGAs from the Federation Account.

Citing this judgment, SERAP argued: “Local government councils are entitled to a direct payment from the Federation Account of the amount standing to their credit in the said Federation Account. States should not be collecting, receiving, spending or tampering with the local government council funds from the Federation Account meant for the benefit of the councils.”

The advocacy group expressed concern that despite the ruling, many state governors have continued to “starve local governments of funds and put them in peril,” thereby undermining their autonomy and capacity to function as the third tier of government.

In the letter, the group warned that if the CBN fails to act within seven days, it would take legal action.

“If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated.

SERAP referenced a past revelation by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who in December 2022 described how governors allegedly short-changed LGA chairmen.

“If the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman, but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with,” Buhari had said.

The organisation argued that the CBN has a constitutional and statutory obligation to protect the financial interests of all tiers of government.

“The CBN ought to act in the public interest to protect the allocations in the Federation Account and the public funds disbursed from that Account directly to each of the constitutionally recognised three tiers of government,” it said.

Highlighting the March 2025 revenue distribution by the Federation Account Allocation Committee, SERAP noted that a total of N1.578 trillion was shared among the three tiers of government. It queried whether the LGAs had received their fair share directly, as mandated by the court ruling.

“Ensuring that all restrictions against direct disbursement of allocations from the Federation Account to the 774 councils are lifted will comply with the orders by the Supreme Court and stop states and the FCT from tampering with the allocations ahead of the 2027 general elections,” SERAP warned.

The group further argued that Nigerians have a legal and moral right to know how their money is being managed, referencing several legal frameworks, including the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information. Nigerians are entitled to the right to receive information without any interference or distortion, and the enjoyment of this right should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure,” SERAP stated.

The group also reminded the CBN that “the Freedom of Information Act is applicable and applies to public records in the Federation, including those kept by the CBN.”


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