E-Business
Coders at 13, Billionaires @ 30

In the last few days, the world celebrated another computer science week; a statutory commemoratory series of events which held between December 8th-14th of the world to recognize the huge contribution that the knowledge of computer science and engineering has added to our world.
The event aimed to introduce 10 million students of all ages to computer science ideas and tools—and to let them try coding for one hour—while also demonstrating to parents, teachers, and policymakers how accessible coding can be.
Technology as we know it today has changed the way we live, the way we love and learn.
From the 1 Billionth view of the Gangnam Style video on Youtube to the 1.9 Billionth impression of the #bringbackourgirls hashtag on twitter, our world is experiencing huge technological and social Metamorphosis having the duo of its merits and demerits.
It might be healthy however to simply focus on the positive contributions and see how focus on this can magnify the benefits over the ills.
As we think about the how the social media has ushered in a new culture of learning, buying and even consuming products, and we remember the billions of dollars locked in information assets, we must rethink business as usual.
CNN had once said that “the future of TV is Twitter and TV is the future of Twitter”. Amazon, the Internet Market Giant has such a small office space compared to the gigantic plants of Toyota and Ford, yet the company made it to top 20 most valuable brands in the world ahead of both automobile firms.
What is special to learn about the founders of Google, the Creator of Facebook and the father of Microsoft is that they all started investing in the knowledge of technology at a really young age.
Reading Malcom Gladwell’s outliers, I realized that Bill Gate had been learning to code and coding for six (6) years before he got into Harvard.
Steve jobs interned with Bill Hewlett co-founder with David Packard of HP before Mark Zuckerberg (founder of FACEBOOK) built what has today become the third largest ‘Nation’ in the world after China and India, he began using computers and writing software in middle school.
His father taught him Atari BASIC Programming in the 1990s, and later hired software developer David Newman to tutor him privately.
Code.org an international organization in support with sponsors including Microsoft and Omidyar Network is leading a huge campaign that will ensure that millions of line of codes are written and promote the knowledge of programming and computer science education all over the world. The Initiative has been dubbed the “Hour of Code”.
Tons of events were held all over the world to celebrate the Computer Science week and get millions of Children and youth to start coding. During the computer Science week in Nigeria, Microsoft Nigeria partnered with Wifi-Combat academy (an organization that trains children how to code and build mobile applications), to host the hour of Code Lagos.
This is part of the organization’s commitment as software, devices and services leader to transform Nigeria’s economy and build future information technology entrepreneurs.
In the ‘tweets’ of Satyr Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, “Coding is fun! Help us get 100M students to see how it can help them achieve great things”.
This is my own submission, If they start coding at 13, they could be Billionaires at thirty, or to be modest something close.
We can only live what the technology of the future will look like to our lofty imaginations. In every way, within our sphere of influence, we can and should inspire children and youth to maximize tools like their mobile phones to create technology.
We cannot just remain consumers, we can turn the table around and one way to do this is to take charge of the creating side.
Which software(s) will run the technology consumed by the 200Million people who will live in Nigeria by 2025?
Who will write the software(s)? These two questions must be answered, and better answered in our favor.
The future is about quantum information, Information at the snap of thought, the age of speed, 4-dimensional representations, cloud computing and ubiquitous computing.
If we put the children in charge of this, that’s how to secure the future.
Olusola Amusan is the Citizenship Manager at Microsoft Nigeria. He manages all non-Profit and youth engagements, an inspirational speaker and inspiration to the nearly 60,000 young people he has trained in the past 5 years.
E-Business
INEC Sets Up AI Division to Strengthen Electoral System

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its ICT Department.
This marks a significant stride toward enhancing electoral integrity, efficiency, and innovation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
This decision was reached at the Commission’s regular weekly meeting held in Abuja, following a series of consultations and engagements on the global and continental impact of AI on elections.
In a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC underscored that the growing relevance of AI in electoral matters necessitated a proactive institutional framework to manage both the risks and opportunities it presents.
“Our interactions with electoral bodies across Africa highlighted both the risks of AI—such as fake news and content manipulation—and the vast potential it holds for data-driven decision-making, risk mitigation, automated voter services, and geo-spatial intelligence for logistics,” Olumekun noted.
According to him, the newly created division will centralise the Commission’s AI efforts, ensuring a harmonized approach to deploying intelligent systems that enhance decision-making, improve voter engagement, and boost the credibility of the electoral process.
“The creation of this division puts the Commission at the forefront of institutionalizing AI capabilities in electoral management.
It is also part of our ongoing reforms in areas where administrative action is sufficient to drive change,” he said.
He added that the AI Division will help INEC better coordinate its existing technological investments while providing safeguards against the misuse of AI technologies.
“We are positioning ourselves to maximise the positive impact of AI while mitigating its negative implications. This step strengthens the credibility and transparency of elections in Nigeria,” Olumekun concluded.
The initiative, INEC emphasised, reflects its commitment to embracing innovation in safeguarding democracy and improving electoral services nationwide.
E-Business
CAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has unveiled a new Application Programming Interface (API) integration system to allow private firms access company data from the Commission’s database.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), registrar general of CAC, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling said the system would give selected private organizations access to CAC services through technology-based companies, called “super agents.”
“This is a practical step to show that the Commission is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” he said.
Magaji explained that the integration allows the agents to retrieve data from the CAC database for use in specific client requests, outside the standard services provided by the Commission.
“Before now, only a few government agencies had this integration, especially those involved in investigations, anti-money laundering, and terrorism financing. Now, private companies that meet the criteria can also access it,” he said.
He said the system complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth may be restricted.
“This is a call to law firms and companies with the right technology. We’ve started with NIPS because of their credibility. Embassies and banks can now authenticate company records directly through them.”
“There are prescribed fees. We already collect them on our portal, and now customers can also pay through these agents,” he explained.
He named NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE as some of the companies involved.
“OPE and MoneyPoint handle only registrations. But NIPS has moved further into validation and verification,” he said.
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at NIBSS, who represented Premier Oiwoh, managing director, said the service allows secure and efficient data verification.
“This is the result of years of effort to connect our systems with CAC. It will help users verify data within the limits of data protection laws,” she said.
She said the move is a way to lower costs and promote interoperability across the financial sector.
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.
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