E-Business
CEMA Internet of Things Market to Explode In 2015- IDC

The Internet of Things (IoT) market in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) region is taking off. Although still nascent, it is growing rapidly and offers considerable potential for the rest of the decade, according to global ICT market intelligence firm IDC.
In 2015, the Internet of Things market in CEMA will soar, bringing critical technology innovation, enabling business process innovation, and driving the digital transformation further than has been possible so far.
IDC said it expects the CEMA IoT market to exceed $50 billion by 2018, at about the same time the installed base will reach approximately two billion autonomous devices or “things” connected to networks across CEMA.
That said, the IoT adoption rate will be far from uniform across industry sectors.
To shed light on the future patterns of this IT phenomenon, IDC’s regional market intelligence team has compiled its 2015 predictions for the for Internet of Things market in CEMA as outlined below:
Strong enthusiasm for IoT-based solutions will accelerate digital transformation in CEMA healthcare.
• The Internet of Things will help to overcome barriers to the adoption of cloud technologies in manufacturing.
• Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication will become critical areas for the future success of the connected vehicle market.
• Spending on the IoT for omnichannel operations will double by 2018.
• In-store consumer digital offers/personalized promotions will keep customers in stores.
• CEMA telcos will struggle with the complexity of M2M.
• Security will be the top concern of companies deploying IoT, thus presenting opportunities for security solutions providers.
• Public safety and emergency response will account for more than one-third of government IoT spending between 2013 and 2018.
• By 2020, upwards of 35% of commercial and public people monitoring systems in Central and Eastern Europe will be directly connected to traffic and other public management systems.
• Smart cities dynamics will remain fragmented across the region.
• Bonus: The GCC region will record strong growth in IoT activity.
In 2015, the IoT market will record double-digit growth and provide high revenue opportunity for all vendors in this ecosystem due to the unparalleled opportunity to connect ‘things’ in a consumer and enterprise context. “While the Internet of Things market in CEMA is still in its early stages, growth momentum has already picked up,” noted Milan Kalal, senior research analyst with IDC CEMA.” “However, the development of this market will not be consistent across all industry sectors. Those that have already implemented IoT or have plans to do so (e.g., manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare entities) will record the most immediate growth.”
IDC’s latest report Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa Internet of Things Market 2015 Top 10 Predictions tagged: #EIOT05X, provides strategic market context regarding IoT evolution in CEMA, addressing key drivers and technology trends and their impact on investments in IoT solutions across various industry sectors.
The predictions are designed to help company leaders capitalize on emerging IoT market opportunities and plan for future growth.
IDC will provide additional and more detailed descriptions of IoT-related drivers, initiatives, and IT spending in CEMA in its subscription service, Central and Eastern European Internet of Things Ecosystem and Trends.
The Company is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets.
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.
E-Business
Cyberattack Could Cost it Up to $400m – Coinbase

Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.
While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.
Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.
Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.
The company has fired those involved, it said.
Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.
Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.
“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.
“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”
The SEC declined to comment.
The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.
Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.
In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.
“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.
Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.
“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.
Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.
The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.
- Telecom2 days ago
₦800 Billion Infrastructure Plan Set to Boost MTN’s Network Quality Nationwide
- News2 days ago
Creative Economy Ministry Secures $300M Investments Commitment
- E-Business2 days ago
NITDA, CISCO Empower Youth with Digital Skills
- E-Financial2 days ago
Fidelity Bank reclaims trillion-naira market cap as stock rises to ₦21
- Telecom2 days ago
African Women Hit Hardest as Mobile Internet Gender Gap Persists
- General News2 days ago
NITDA DG says its Community IT Centres Should be a Catalyst of Change
- Telecom2 days ago
Remita’s Bold Leap: Nigeria’s Fintech Giant Expands Across Africa
- E-Financial2 days ago
Kuda Co-founder Urges Young Developers to Build Tech with Purpose @NACOSS 2025