E-Business
CWG, EDC Thinker on SMEs Development
Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG) has concluded plans to collaborate with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University to afford Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) access to business enabling solutions.
This follows a visit by a delegation of EDC led by Mr. Peter Bamkole, director, to the corporate headquarters of CWG in Lagos.
Bamkole said in a statement on CWG’s website, “We are considering integrating OPENSHOPEN and SMERP for now into our certificate in entrepreneurial management training. With this, entrepreneurs can begin to experience the viability of technology as a solution for their business efficiency, right from the classroom.
He expressed his satisfaction with the capacity of the CWG 2.0 products to sufficiently provide the leverage SMEs require to improve their business output. According to him, “our aim at EDC is to de-risk the SME sector, so as to increase SMES access to funding.”
“Your solution will help entrepreneurs change their business model from costly asset acquisition to services utilisation on a subscription basis, thus making it easier and affordable”, he added.
The CWG 2.0 products feature a range of SMEs focused and Cloud based IT solutions.
They include SMERP, which is designed to address the challenge of accounting and inventory management, and financial record keeping; a requirement for accessing loans.
The Diamond Yello Account (DYA) allows individuals open a bank account using the mobile phones, without having to visit the bank.
POSapp is a Point Of Sale (POS) system that allows merchants receive payments, sell services and offers the unique functionality of keeping sales inventory.
While, Openshopen is an eCommerce platform that aims at giving business owners the exposure they need to sell beyond their vicinity and guarantee increased sales and expansion.
On his part, Mr. Austin Okere, founder and chief executive officer, CWG Plc, appraised the initiative by EDC to avail entrepreneurs with technology.
According to him, “The SMEs space boasts of a number of key players with quite distinct roles, in their bid to promote the growth of the sector. However, we believe that these players need to work together seamlessly. Such synergy will ensure that rather than experience arithmetic progression, we will together have quantum leaps of success. This underscores our willingness to collaborate with the EDC to provide the support that SMEs need to succeed. If each SME grows their business to the extent that they can add one additional employee, that will generate an additional 17m jobs, given the total number of SMEs in Nigeria. This is much more than any single large employer can provide”.
“The impact of the program on the success of the SME’s businesses is however, dependent upon the commitment of the entrepreneurs themselves. It is not that CWG and EDC are going to do something magical for them to grow. Rather, CWG and EDC are helping them to do something magical for themselves”, he concluded.
On his part, Mr. James Agada, CTO of CWG reiterated the commitment of the company to continue to develop a robust franchisee model with all institutions involved with SME development to expand the accessibility of her technology service platforms solution to the larger entrepreneurial segment and thereby championing inclusive growth and job creation.
The collaboration with EDC adds to the list of CWG’s strategic partnership with SMEs focused institutions, including the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) that aims at providing ICT technology platform for MSMEs on a subscription based model.
y.
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.
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.
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.
Access Bank Faces Charges over Alleged Diversion of N826m
Court to Hear NIBSS Suit Seeking Exclusive Power to Manage BVN Database
Nigeria to Launch 4 Satellites for Surveillance, Others
Shell Reports 122 Percent Surge in Oil Spills from Nigerian Operations in 2024
Nigeria’s Digital Economy Sector Attracts $191m FDI
E-Financial1 day agoAccess Holdings Sets Benchmark in Fraud Prevention With ₦193.5Bn Tech Investment
E-Financial1 day agoMTN’s Digital Lending Arm Disburses $592m Loans in Q1
E-Financial1 day agoAccess Bank, Deloitte Partner to Equip SMEs with Tools for Growth
News1 day agoSERAP Asks Ojulari, NNPC CEO to Account for Missing N500Bn or Face Legal Action
E-Financial1 day agoFG Verifies 2m Households for Cash Transfer
E-Business1 day agoFG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform
General News1 day agoFG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Portal to Enhance Transparency, Service Delivery
General News1 day agoNOTAP Urges South Eastern Entrepreneurs to Embrace Franchising as Business Model