National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will develop the “Nigerium” indigenous blockchain to safeguard national security, according to Kashifu Abdullahi, director general, NITDA.

Abdullahi who stated this when he welcomed a delegation from the University of Hertfordshire Law School, in Abuja, said that the ultimate goal is to unite the public and private sectors to develop a domestic blockchain.

This announcement arrives shortly after NITDA’s recent disclosure of its intention to set up research centers dedicated to blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Blockchain technology is an advanced database mechanism that allows transparent information sharing within a business network.

Following the Nigerian government’s approval of a national blockchain policy in 2023, which established a legal framework for blockchain adoption within the country, there is now a proposal advocating for the development of a domestically engineered blockchain platform.

It is noteworthy that Nigeria introduced the eNaira, its digital currency, in 2021, utilizing a private blockchain based on Hyperledger Fabric. Despite concerted efforts and partnerships to promote the eNaira, the digital currency has faced challenges in gaining widespread acceptance.

The delegation from the University of Hertfordshire Law School, led by Chanu Kuppuswamy, underscored the significance of Nigeria developing its own blockchain technology. They argued that an indigenous blockchain would ensure that Nigerian data and personal information remain under local control, rather than being managed by international co-developers who may not prioritize Nigeria’s interests.

According to Kuppuswamy, reliance on established blockchain platforms such as Ethereum places Nigeria at the discretion of international developers who do not operate under Nigerian law.

The delegation thus suggests the creation of a Nigerian-specific blockchain, enabling the country to retain autonomy over its digital infrastructure. This approach would necessitate proactive measures to prevent potential issues, ensuring the security and sovereignty of Nigerian data.

The delegation also proposed the establishment of a “data embassy” for Nigeria—a server situated in a foreign country dedicated to backing up and safeguarding Nigerian data. This measure is deemed essential for maintaining digital continuity, as data is susceptible to various threats, including cyber-attacks, natural disasters, and other risks. The data embassy would operate under Nigerian legislation, with the host nation collaborating to guarantee the security and governance of the data.

Furthermore, the delegation underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among government departments to integrate blockchain services and enable interagency dependency.

Despite Nigeria’s strides in blockchain technology, the government has enacted rigorous regulations on the cryptocurrency sector, which have impacted service providers.

he government’s ongoing legal issues with Binance over currency concerns and KuCoin’s recent implementation of a 7.5% VAT on cryptocurrency transactions on its platform are indicative of the challenging regulatory climate.

Concurrently, Ghana is advancing towards becoming the first government in Africa to fully embrace blockchain technology, with plans to digitize government services and secure government data against unauthorized alterations.

The multiple award winning, Africa’s number one distributor of cutting – edge technology solutions, TD Africa Limited, once again took the centre stage as it was decorated with multiple awards at the just concluded Huawei Connect 2024 which took place at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The event which was themed: “Accelerate Industrial Intelligence,” attracted policy makers, tech enthusiasts and industry leaders to among other things celebrate outstanding partners in its distribution chain and unveil new additions of its solutions.

TD Africa’s honour was first, for its outstanding performance in unrivalled after-sales support services which engender customer satisfaction; second, for its exceptional distribution channel which reflects its understanding of the market, extensive network, and strong relationships across the continent; and third, for its unwavering commitment to skills development, equipping partners and resellers with the requisite knowledge and expertise to effectively sell and support Huawei’s products.

To these three, TD Africa bagged the awards for: Authorised Service Centre in Africa, Distributor Partner of the Year, and Training Partner of the Year, respectively.

These awards buttress the Nigerian company’s position as a trusted partner and a key driver of Huawei’s success in Africa as its dedication to service, distribution excellence, and skills development resonates with the broader themes of collaboration and capacity building that underscored the 2024 edition of Huawei Connect.

While Huawei emphasised its commitment to developing digital talent in Africa through various initiatives and collaborations to further unlock the region’s digital potentials, it also showcased its cloud computing solutions designed to empower businesses with scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.

Buttressing this commitment, Mrs Chioma Chimere, the Coordinating Managing Director at TD Africa, said collaboration in driving digital transformation and bridging the digital divide cannot be over emphasised citing TD Africa’s existing “Technology as a Service (TaaS)” initiative, which enables SMEs to embrace digital transformation by converting upfront capital expenditures into manageable operational expenses.

Her words: “TDAFRICA is committed to empowering Africa through these initiatives and more and will continue to drive its commitment of empowering individuals and businesses on the continent, making transformational technologies accessible, affordable and usable through these initiatives.”

The solutions unveiled by Huawei at the event cut across public sector, finance, power and intelligent services and they include: Xinghe Intelligent Network Solution, Xinghe Intelligent Campus, Xinghe Intelligent Fabric, Xinghe Intelligent WAN and Xinghe Intelligent Network Security.

According to the company’s President, data communications product line, Leon Wang, “these comprehensive offerings leverage AI technology and the Net5.5G target architecture to address the evolving needs of businesses in the intelligent era.”

While experts at the conference critically looked into the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing, the two-day conference also called on governments and employers of labour on the continent, to equip their workforce with requisite skills, such as TD Africa is doing, for a digital future.

To this, Panyaza Lesufi, the Premier of Gauteng Province, South Africa, tasked governments and businesses on embracing digital transformation with innovative solutions like those offered by Huawei to enhance service delivery to remain competitive in the global arena.

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