General News
Big Data is Transformative -Otiti
Taiwo Otiti, country general manager, IBM West Africa is an accomplished technology and financial services professional with vast change management and business transformation experience.
He is the current chair of the Nigeria Institute of Bankers Information Technology Technical Committee, and a member of several Government, Banking and Technology industry associations and think tanks.
Otiti told peter ugwu in this interview how Government and corporate organizations can leverage on Big Data era and IBM’s contributions towards Nigeria and Africa’s economic development.
Big Data Concepts and Application
Big Data is basically structured and unstructured data. The concept refers to ability to collect and analyze the vast amounts of data we are now generating allover the world. We generate about 2.5 quintillion bytes of data from a variety of sources daily – from climate information, to posts on social media sites, and purchase transaction records to healthcare medical images.
It would be interesting to know Africa’s share of this global data mix, especially mobile communications adoption on the continent continues to grow.
Examples of structured data are financial records, medical records, identity records and everything that has been configured into a format that we can easily understand, while unstructured data is usually information which exists in some sort of random format, for example, information harnessed from business and social media platforms; things like text messages, mobile chats, tweets, voice, sound or music files, videos and pictures which people share and circulate online.
We also now have scenarios where data is collected through cell phone recording, industrial and domestic devices and gadgets with cameras, sensors and other types of equipment like climate control instrumentation, pipeline monitoring instrumentation, and so many other data harnessing tools and technologies.
So, we are not just referring to the data sets that we have programmed to deal with; there are also data sets that come in without any formal structure.
The application of analytics enables us to make use of these data, as we extract fresh insights from the analyzed data. The Big Data concept is applicable in any sector – agriculture, aviation, banking, retail, healthcare, media, marketing, in fact, there is no industry that the Big Data concept does not have a potential impact on.
The Impact of Big Data on Organizations
Big Data is no longer confined to the realm of technology. Big Data will provide organizations with new insights and previously unrealized know-how which will aid quality decision making across all strata of an organization.
The adoption and impact of Big Data concepts in Africa should be of particular interest to Nigerian businesses as we now have a borderless business environment where technology has ensured that customers anywhere can access a company at the click of a mouse.
So with Big Data , Africa-based organizations are poised for an exciting future. With Big Data and analytics, we will begin to see the intersection of local and global information, and this should further add to the continent’s transformation story as new forms of knowledge, new forms of business and government services and innovation which is indigenous to Africa begin to evolve out of Africa.
It is important that Nigerian companies begin to apply Big Data principles. They need to be proactive in managing the evolution of their relationships with their customers and stakeholders.
They need to begin to leverage their information assets to gain a comprehensive understanding of markets, customers, products, distribution channels, regulations, competitors, employees and more.
In addition to providing solutions to companies’ long-standing business challenges, Big Data solutions offer the power to transform processes, organizations and entire industries.
Sectors in Nigeria with more Interest in Big Data
I would say that currently the telecommunications and financial services institutions, especially Nigerian banks have shown relatively deeper interest in Big Data usage than other sectors.
These two sectors are more interested in harnessing their business and social networks. The local retail sector is just beginning to wake up to the Big Data idea. These three sectors would benefit tremendously from the insights provided by Big Data and Analytics technology.
In the financial sector, I know for a fact that Big Data and analytics technology will increasingly be a powerful asset for building much needed trust and transparency between the banks, their customers and the regulatory authorities.
This Big Data management will become more crucial as customers’ access banking products and services online and through hand held devices like tablets and mobile phones.
Governments and state-owned institutions at various levels are also showing interest in addressing their information archiving and Big Data management issues.
Making Meaning out of Unstructured Data
Data is a constantly fermenting, constantly growing resource. Remember that any insights, information diagnostics or prognosis that can be garnered from this constantly expanding data resource is always going to be dependent on how the resource itself is mined.
Data analytics tools and technology therefore allows companies to galvanize value from the coupling of structured and unstructured data.
Take the very common Point-of-Sale transaction, for instance. A retailer can decide to plug in structured data like a shoppers’ debit or credit card number with unstructured or semi-structured information like variable transaction volumes and shopping details for more customer insights.
Retails shops can use insights from this merged information constructs to offer personalized services to shoppers, for example.
The Nigerian insurance sector would also do well to adopt Big Data analytics solutions. This is one sub-sector of the financial services sector that really needs to expand and perhaps re-design product portfolios in order to attract more customers, as many Nigerians are yet to inculcate the concept of insurance into their lives.
I am sure that analyses of the historical and current data resident in various insurance firms would certainly help companies foment a stronger bond with their policy holders, helping them grow their market share, and by extension the industry. The insurance industry globally has already adopted Big Data principles.
A recent IBM study involving global executives in the insurance industry found that 74 percent of insurance companies surveyed report that the use of information (including Big Data) and analytics is creating a competitive advantage for their organizations, compared to 35 percent of insurance companies that reported a Big Data advantage when the same study was conducted in 2010.
Analysts have referred to the advent of Big Data and analytics as the era of constructive disruption to the way we currently conduct business.
Emerging Trends in Big Data
Several trends are helping to advance Big Data. One major issue about Big Data is that it will change the way private and public sector institutions operate and engage with their stakeholders.
Big Data and analytics will usher in deeper levels of market segmentation or customization. Analytics technology is getting better everyday and this is one area IBM is providing leadership for the rest of the global tech industry.
You must also remember that we are now in the era of mass digitization, where many things can be monitored or tracked in real time.
Most courier companies now give customers a unique number they can use to track their parcels in transit, for instance.
Use of the social media is now more widespread. This trend has really shattered distance and made the global community to seem local; people around the world are communicating and interacting via social networks in ways that were unimaginable only a few years ago.
Data transmission and data storage technology has also advanced, helping to edge the Big Data industry forward. Organizations are now able to store, access, and analyze huge new streams of data. It wasn’t always like this.
These trends are converging to usher in a new era of Big Data globally and even in Nigeria where we tend to be quick adopters of global tech trends.
Measuring Return-on-Investment (RoI) Using Big Data & Analytics Technology
It is certainly possible to measure ROI using Big Data tools. By collecting, filtering, and analyzing data, organizations can actually identify and solve many of the inefficiencies which plague their day-to-day operations – including externalities like fraud and corruption which can threaten the organizations’ very reason to excite.
For instance, in a manufacturing company where products are not doing well, with Big Data insights you can make informed decisions about the future of that product. It affords you the ability to manufacture using just in time manufacturing techniques.
Nigerian companies need to begin to become more efficient in the use of their assets and resources. With the application of analytics to data we can begin to predict or pre-empt market trends, customer behaviour and emerging patterns in the entire supply chain.
Is IBM Helping to Develop Big Data Analytics Skills In Africa?
Yes, IBM is engaged in several human capital development projects on the continent. We have IBM ‘Big Data bootcamps’ and bigdatauniversity.com.
These are online platforms where Africans currently access Big Data analytics case studies and global best practice.
Earlier in the year, our Chairman Ginni Rometty announced the decision to give out free IBM software to universities across Africa.
This will allow students and academics to learn not just about Big Data and analytics concepts but also other computing technology areas like cloud, mobile, software security and programming skills.
This particularly project also involves helping to upgrade the curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses at tertiary institutions allover the continent.
The IBM Research Africa lab in Nairobi, Kenya is also helping to grow the continent’s army of Big Data and analytics experts. You know, IBM spends over $6 billion annually on technology research and development, and the lab is IBM’s 12th lab globally and represents a massive commitment to the future of technology innovation in Africa. Scientists and researchers at the lab will be collaborating with other IBM lab around the world, designing innovative solutions to tackle some of Africa’s most pressing challenges: issues like energy and power management, transportation, financial and economic inclusion, agricultural productivity, healthcare, water and sanitation.
Professionals and academics in the Nigerian IT industry can also improve specific computing skills, including Big Data and analytics skills at the new IBM Nigeria Innovation Centre in Lagos. This new facility is one of over 41 IBM innovation centers in 33 countries around the world.
Globally, I think so far IBM has invested about $24 billion in its Big Data and Analytics capabilities, We have probably one of the world’s deepest portfolio of analytics R&D, solutions and software: and more than 40,000 Big Data and Analytics client engagements.
Association of Set-Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN) has accused the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of sidelining indigenous manufacturers and flouting a subsisting court order in its push to launch a new satellite-driven Digital Switch Over (DSO) scheme, tagged ‘The Big Picture’.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC
The group is calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene.
STBMAN, in a statement issued by Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, its chairman, described the NBC’s approach as “incoherent and unfair”, alleging a consistent pattern of disregard for existing agreements and stakeholders.
“It is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem,” the group stated.
The manufacturers expressed concern over NBC’s plan to import five million hybrid set-top boxes from China, despite a presidential executive order promoting local content in procurement.
They argue this move contradicts the “Nigeria First Policy” and undermines years of local investment.
“NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments,” STBMAN said, highlighting that its members still hold unsold boxes manufactured to NBC’s original specifications.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
PRESS RELEASE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA, ON THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE DIRECTORS GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION (NBC) AND NIGCOMSAT ON THE UNVEILING OF SATELLITE DRIVEN DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO) TAGGED ‘‘THE BIG PICTURE’’.
The Association of Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN)is once again compelled to issue a statement on the very incoherent and unfair practices being pursued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)in its implementation of the FGN’s policy on the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. Regrettably, it is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem.
The public is invited to note that STBMAN is a body of technology driven businesses and is not averse to the introduction and use of new technologies.
Similarly, it should be noted that the Association is not alluding to any inference that it should be the ultimate determiner of how the project is implanted.
For any keen follower of the DSO since its conception by the DigiTeam, it is not far- fetched to recall its decision on the adoption of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) option as against the DTH on grounds of the cost that will be difficult to bear by the larger part of the TV viewing population.
Secondly, as at today the Federal Government of Nigeria has spent close to over N60Billion on DSO program, excluding Millions of Dollars spent by Broadcast Signal Distributors, local DTT factories and other stakeholders who have deployed DTT Infrastructure. This is not minding the over 10 million Poor Television Households that will be impacted by mindless action of hybrid box.
As we are not averse to any change of any government policy, it is on record that STBMAN at various times have encouraged NBC to partner with NIGCOMSAT to provide the necessary signal transmission/ coverage to ameliorate the heavy cost that was being paid to foreign satellite distribution/ carriers but the NBC outrightly refused to consider this.
It is heart-warming to note finally that NIGCOMSAT is now the latest and best to provide signal coverage.
Curiously, the Press Release stated that local manufacturers would be engaged to produce hybrid compliant reception devices yearly, yet there has been no form of engagement with the 13 licensed STB manufacturers who have committed huge financial cost in the manufacture of DTT boxes specifically ordered and made to specifications provided by the NBC/ Digiteam.
It is imperative for the public to note that the STB manufacturers have toiled and sacrificed for the success of the DSO but at each turn, there appears to be deliberate and calculated move to scuttle their efforts and investments.
For almost 10 years, members of STBMAN have been left with scores of boxes in their warehouses without being able to sell because of NBC’s inability to deliver on its obligations and contractual agreements.
The least that any well-meaning governmental body that cares for the growth of its economy should have done, would have been an engagement with the existing licensed manufacturers to work out an acceptable arrangement, considering the financial investments as well as the changes in technology that have become necessary to undertake.
The public is invited to note further that it was on grounds of this and NBC’s attempt to undermine the agreement and the exclusivity granted the pioneer manufacturers that the Association took out a Writ of Summons in Suit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/442/2024 to protect its interest by seeking Court intervention to stop any attempt at licensing new manufacturers of STBs. It is *instructive to emphasis here that on the 11th day of September 2024, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Abuja made interim orders restraining NBC from taking any further step in relation to the reliefs being sought by the Claimants.
Notwithstanding the fact that NBC is not only seized of the pendency of the case/ action but has joined issues with the Claimants, it has chosen the path of contempt to short circuit the ends of justice.
An order of court, whether valid or not must be obeyed if it is subsisting by all no matter how lowly or lightly placed in society until it is set aside. This is what the rule of law is all about.
As if NBC is running a different Government, in the press release, they intend to import 5,000,000 Hybrid/DTH Set Top Boxes from China, in total disregard of the Presidential Executive Order “The Nigeria First Policy’ which makes it mandatory, that Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes.
No foreign goods or devices that are already produced locally will be procured without a clear justified reason. Accordingly, the policy reflects the vision of President Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in industrializing Nigeria, shielding the economy from global shocks and building sustainable local capacity. NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments.
In the light of the foregoing, we call on Mr. President, Alh. Bola A. Tinubu GCFR to urgently wage in and stop this rather dangerous trend sought to be perpetrated by the NBC leadership and its advisers.
Thank you.
For: ASSOCIATION OF LICENCED SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA. (STBMAN)
SIR GODFREY N. OHUABUNWA
CHAIRMAN
Jumia, Africa’s e-commerce platform, is celebrating 13 years of transforming the way Nigerians shop. Since its launch in 2012, Jumia has evolved into more than just an online shopping destination. It has become a catalyst for economic growth, digital inclusion, and everyday convenience for millions of Nigerians.
From small business owners and rural consumers, Jumia has played a key role in shaping a more inclusive digital marketplace. Over the past decade, the platform has helped hundreds of local and international brands reach customers across the country, while also supporting thousands of sellers with tools, training, and access to logistics and digital payments.
To commemorate this milestone, Jumia is launching the 2025 Anniversary Campaign under the theme “Enjoyment Overload”, running from June 2 to June 22. While the campaign will feature attractive deals from Nivea, Xiaomi, Itel, Diageo, Ecoflow, Skyrun, Oraimo, Adidas, Reebok, Unilever, Reckitt, and more, it also reflects a deeper celebration of the brand’s enduring impact.
“We are proud of the journey so far, not just in terms of business growth, but in the real-life stories of empowerment and access that Jumia has made possible. With this anniversary campaign, we’re pulling out all the stops to create a celebration that rewards loyalty, excites new users, and showcases the very best of what e-commerce can offer.
This is our way of saying thank you to the millions of Nigerians who have grown with us, challenged us, and inspired us every step of the way,” said Sunil Natraj, CEO, Jumia Nigeria.
“Beiersdorf Nigeria owner of Nivea Brand, is proud to partner with Jumia as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2025 Jumia Anniversary Celebration. This three-week event allows us to showcase our commitment to skincare innovation and reward consumers nationwide.
“NIVEA will highlight key innovations, including our new NIVEA SUNSCREEN – UV Face, re-launched Deep Maxx Tech Body Lotion, and Radiant & Beauty Even Glow, specially designed to meet the unique skincare needs of African skin.
“Through this partnership, we’re bringing trusted skincare solutions to more Nigerians, with exclusive discounts and a 4.5 million Naira grand prize for the top shoppers,” said Dele Adeyole, Country Manager, Beiersdorf Nivea Consumer Product Limited.
Shoppers can look forward to daily flash deals, brand days, games, treasure hunt, and exciting giveaways from Jumia and partner brands.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to evolve, Jumia remains committed to simplifying daily life through technology, innovation, and a customer-first approach.
Kaspersky has released its annual report on children’s digital interests, with the analysis covering the period from May 2024 to April 2025. It reveals a growing fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots, the viral rise of Italian brainrot memes like “tralalero tralala”, and growing attention to Sprunki — a rhythm-based game combining music and motion. YouTube remains the most popular app among children globally, while WhatsApp overtook TikTok for second place.
In today’s interconnected world, children are engaging with digital technology more than ever before. Recent studies indicate that 8-10-year-old children spend an average of six hours daily on screens, while preteens (ages 11–14) average about nine hours per day.
With such a significant portion of their lives unfolding online, it becomes especially important for parents to understand what captures their children’s attention in the digital space — what they search for, what platforms they use, and which trends influence their interests and behaviour.
Every year, new digital trends shape the way children explore the world. In this year’s report, Kaspersky found a surge of interest in AI tools. While no AI apps appeared in the Top 20 most-used applications in 2023-2024 time period, “Character.AI” has now entered the list, showing that children are not only curious about AI but are actively integrating it into their digital lives.
More than 7.5% of all search queries were about AI chatbots, led by well-known names like ChatGPT, Gemini, and especially Character.AI — a platform that lets users create or interact with bots mimicking fictional or real characters. This marks a sharp rise from last year: in the 2023–2024 report, AI-related queries made up just 3.19% of all searches, increasing more than twice this year.
However, not all chatbot interactions are risk-free. Some bots may expose children to emotionally intense content, misinformation or age-inappropriate themes, especially when created or customised by other users.
Since these platforms often rely on user-generated content and may lack strict moderation, it’s crucial to talk openly with children about how they use AI tools — and to set up apps for digital parenting, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids, that help families stay aware, involved and protected.
In Nigeria, the top 5 of the most popular Android apps were WhatsApp (28,42% – the amount of time spent on the platform), YouTube (17,41%), Chrome (11,29%), Snapchat (10,33%) and Free Fire (5,16%).
While memes made up a small portion of searches this year, they still reveal another layer of children’s digital culture. Many of the most popular memes fell into what’s called “brainrot” — a kind of absurd, deliberately chaotic humour that spreads through short videos.
Among the most searched were the Italian phrase “tralalero tralala” and a meme track called “tung tung tung sahur”. These phrases may sound random to adults, but for many children, they represent shared jokes that move quickly from platform to platform.
Among the newcomers that caught analysts’ attention was Sprunki — a rhythm-based browser game that blends music and visual interaction. Players must hit beats in sync with fast-paced audio, making the experience both immersive and physically engaging.
Its bright, cartoonish design and addictive gameplay have made it increasingly popular with younger audiences. This is reflected not only in Google searches but also on YouTube, where Sprunki entered the top five most searched gaming topics, standing alongside long-time favourites like Brawl Stars and Roblox.
At the same time, more familiar habits remain strong. The most common online activity among children was searching on Google for streaming platforms — almost 18% of all queries were related to watching videos. Unsurprisingly, YouTube remains the clear favourite Android app, growing from 28.13% to 29.77% over the past year.
WhatsApp rose to second place with 14.72%, overtaking TikTok (12.76%), while Snapchat and Facebook continued to decline. This shift may reflect evolving communication habits — children are using chat apps more frequently to share links, memes and short videos with friends.
Video content and games also remained popular topics in children’s search behaviour. Platforms like Netflix, Twitch and Disney+ held strong — a trend that also echoed findings from Kaspersky’s recent streaming report, which highlighted how entertainment platforms often become targets for cybercriminals. At the same time, in the gaming world, children continued to favour Roblox, Minecraft and increasingly, the browser-based portal Poki — a portal offering hundreds of free games, often simple, fast-paced and instantly accessible in a browser.
“This year’s trends show just how fast children’s digital culture is evolving — one day they’re chatting with AI bots, the next they’re all humming an Italian meme song you’ve never heard of. But behind every trend is a chance for connection.
“When parents take time to understand what their children are watching, playing or searching for, it opens the door to meaningful conversations — and helps build safer, more trusting digital habits. Apps for digital parenting can be a helpful tool in this journey — not only to protect, but to stay involved,” comments Anna Larkina, privacy expert at Kaspersky.
To keep children safe from online threats, Kaspersky recommends the following:
- Maintain open communication with children about potential online risks and establish clear guidelines to ensure their safety.
- Secure gaming experiences by installing a trusted security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, to prevent malicious file downloads.
- Stay informed about emerging threats and actively monitor children’s online activities in order to create a safer digital environment.
- Introduce children to cybersecurity basics using educational tools like the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet — a free downloadable book that explains key concepts, cyber hygiene rules, and how to avoid fraud.
. Use digital parenting apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids to protect children both online and offline, manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and track their location for greater peace of mind.
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