Ayotunde Coker, Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centre, has said that closing Africa’s digital infrastructure gap is the key to increasing prosperity on the continent.

“Closing the digital infrastructure gap is key to Africa’s prosperity,” he said this in his keynote speech at the ‘Hyperscalers Convergence Africa’ event held in Lagos on Thursday.

The inaugural Hyperscalers conference was organised by Africa Hyperscalers Media and was aimed at uniting the continent’s digital infrastructure community.

Coker stated that Africa accounts for about 17 percent of the world’s population but contributes only around 4 percent of the global GDP. This disparity, which he termed the prosperity gap, is closely linked to Africa’s underdeveloped digital infrastructure.

For instance, nine submarine cables deliver internet capacity to Nigeria’s shores, but a 90,000-kilometer fiber infrastructure gap results in slow and unreliable internet access in the country. Gaps like this hurt the economic potential of the most populous African nation.

“Meaningful broadband connectivity, which is measured by speed, latency, and cost, is necessary for economic development,” he stated.

He urged governments and businesses to focus on expanding fibre networks and improving broadband services to support digital growth. He noted the role of supportive regulations, arguing that while some African countries have made progress in implementing regulations for the digital economy, more needs to be done.

“There needs to be collaboration between governments, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to create an environment that fosters investment in digital infrastructure,” Coker stated.

He acknowledged ongoing efforts in Nigeria and across the continent to improve visibility and support for digital projects but warned that progress would remain limited unless the underlying infrastructure gaps were addressed.

“Africa must light up its dark digital spine,” Coker stated, emphasising the need for revolutionary efforts to drive corporate adoption of digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity. “Without these steps, Africa’s economic growth would continue to be stifled by its underdeveloped digital landscape,” he added.

Also corroborating Coker, Deremi Atanda, the chief executive officer of Remita Payments, noted that connectivity can transform Africa’s innovation and economy.

During a panel session themed ‘Innovating Towards Africa’s Digital Future,’ he stressed that the continent’s prosperity lies in the strength of its digital infrastructure.

“The prosperity of Africa is dependent on the quality of our digital infrastructure. Connectivity has the power to redefine Africa’s innovation,” Atanda said.

He explained that the ability of Africans to take responsibility for their own challenges will only improve with better digital infrastructure. “We must respond to Africa’s needs when it comes to digital infrastructure. It will enable Africans to better understand their problems and improve their quality of life across the continent.”

Frank Eleanya, Senior Writer for Business, and Big Tech at TechCabal, acknowledged that while efforts have been made to improve digital infrastructure, there has been a lack of leadership to fully realize these goals.

“What’s needed is the leadership to make it all happen. We have the capacity, but leadership must wake up and translate all these plans into reality,” Eleanya said.

Wabo Majavu, Executive of Strategy and Business Operations at Africa Data Centre, pointed out that involving communities in Africa’s innovation journey requires monitoring and measuring impact. “When you look at the opportunities, there’s a need to talk about access,” Majavu noted.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has begun moves to enforce its directive that Point of Sale (POS) operators should register with the commission.

The registration directive gave POS operators July 7, 2024 to September 5, 2024.

In a statement released by the Commission, the CAC said that it is now working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement a robust enforcement and sanction framework.

This framework, according to the CAC, will not only target the shutdown of non-compliant businesses but could also involve more severe legal actions against defaulters.

The Commission expressed concern over the low level of compliance by POS operators, despite the large number of such businesses operating across the country.

They also commended those operators who adhered to the directive, noting their responsible approach to formalizing their operations.

“We are to make it clear that the Commission is working with Law Enforcement Agencies and other relevant stakeholders to deploy a comprehensive enforcement and sanction framework that may include not only possible shutdown but other severe legal Consequences,”

However, the Commission criticized what it termed “recalcitrant operators,” many of whom have either refused or failed to comply with the registration requirement.

The CAC suggested that some of these operators might be engaging in “unwholesome activities” or have other undisclosed reasons for resisting formalization.

As the CAC moves towards enforcement, it urges all unregistered POS operators to take immediate steps to formalize their businesses or face the consequences of their inaction.

Recall that in May 2024 the CAC announced that PoS agents have been given a deadline of July 7, 2024, to register their business.

Hussaini Magaji, Registrar-General of the CAC, who announced this said this was the agreement with the PoS operators after a meeting in Abuja.

According to him, the registrations also align with the legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He added that the action was equally backed by Section 863, Subsection 1 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA 2020 as well as the 2013 CBN guidelines on agent banking.

Magaji said the registration is aimed at safeguarding the businesses of fintechs and customers, strengthen the economy and tackle the surge in fraud in Nigeria’s financial industry.

The Commission also announced an extension of the mandatory registration for Fintech Operators to September 5, 2024.

It said the 60-day extension is to give sufficient time to operators particularly those in remote areas who might have encountered network challenges to register and continue with their businesses.

“The Corporate Affairs Commission wishes to notify Fintech Operators also known as Point of Sales Operators that the initial deadline of 7th July 2024 given for the registration of sole Agents, Super Agents, and Agents has been extended for sixty days beginning from 7th July 2024 to the 5th September 2024,” CAC said in the notice.

“This is to give sufficient time to Operators particularly those in remote areas who might have encountered network challenges to register and continue with their businesses.”

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc has decried the low insurance penetration in the country, calling for policy changes to increase insurance uptake by Nigerians.

Mr. Femi Asenuga, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Mutual Benefits, who made the call at a workshop for insurance journalists, advocated for media support in ensuring policy changes, shaping public understanding of insurance and deepening insurance penetration in Nigeria.

While emphasizing the important role of the media in educating the insuring public on how insurance contributes to economic resilience, he said the ability of insurance journalists to communicate the complexities of insurance in a relatable and impactful way is vital in building public trust and confidence in the industry as well as encouraging more people to embrace insurance.

Asenuga said: “We are far from where we are supposed to be as a country. Nigeria with a population of over 200 million and as the giant of Africa should not only be in theory. As the press, you have a major role to play in changing the narrative of insurance penetration in the country.

The change is not only expected at the consumer level but also at policy making because that is where everything starts from.”

In her presentation “The Role of Insurance in National Development,” Head, Technical Department, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc., Mrs. Titilayo Akinsiku, highlighted some of the roles insurance plays in national development.

They include, according to her, Risk Mitigation and Financial Stability; Business Continuity and Resilience; Social Welfare and Inclusivity; Risk Management and Sustainable Development as well as Investment and Capital Formation.