E-Business
CWG Extends its Academy to New Frontiers
The highly acclaimed CWG Academy which started at her Lagos headquarters four years ago, and has successfully trained and placed over 500 ICT professionals into various fields of industry, has now been extended to the other operational bases of the Pan African Company, including Accra, Kampala, Port Harcourt and Abuja, with plans to incorporate Cameroon by the first half of 2015.
The goal of the CWG Academy is to bridge the workforce knowledge gap in Africa by equipping fresh graduates with the required skills that will make them employable or become successful entrepreneurs.
Of the over 500 graduates from the Academy, about 85% have been employed in leading companies such as IBM, CWG, MTN, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic-IBTC, Chevron, Cadbury, Etisalat, Ericsson and Unilever among others, while about 10% have opted to become technology entrepreneurs.
Eager to tell their stories, some of the CWG Academy alumni shared their experiences; Ezekiel Oyerinde presently working with IBM West Africa as a Storage Systems Specialist said that “I am a graduate of Biochemistry but ventured into IT after school. Though, I have gone to a couple of Computer schools, the CWG Academy was the opener for me into the world of endless possibilities in IT”.
Continuing, Oyerinde said “during the interview stage of my previous employment at MTN, I was pleasantly surprised to see that among those shortlisted, the CWG Academy graduates emerged tops. I consider myself blessed to have had a solid foundation provided through this laudable initiative called CWG Academy. I am grateful to CWG management and the Coordinator of the program”.
Similarly, Dominic Julian currently working as a sales executive in one of the IT Companies in Nigeria, attributed his career development to his encounter with the CWG Academy.
According to Dominic, he was attracted to the academy because of CWG’s Chief Executive Officer, Austin Okere who is a renowned leader in the industry, and was overwhelmed at the magnitude of the training he received from the faculty.
“The fluidity exhibited by the technical team as they delivered well-thought-out interactive lectures and instructive practical training could only have come from excellent planning and attention to detail formulated by a seasoned team” Dominic remarked.
“Apart from the IT related knowledge I garnered at the Academy, my self-confidence also improved, thereby granting me the tenacity required for my job. I don’t think I would have been the rounded professional I am today without the CWG Academy experience. The Academy developed me from a green horn and gave me the opportunity to harness my potential in the ICT Industry” Dominic added.
The benefits of training at the CWG Academy are multifold; firstly, it enables the graduates to be employable in any world class organization.
Secondly, the academy offers participants the privilege to become experts using a combination of intensive classroom work, practical training and live project attachments.
With the extension into new frontiers it is expected that beneficiaries of the Academy will quadruple over the next two years. Laying out the future plans of the project, Mr. Austin Okere, CWG boss & Entrepreneur in Residence at CBS, said that “this project which started modestly as a means of maintaining the steady supply of high skilled engineers to the CWG enterprise has grown in leaps and bounds to become a succor for ambitious trainable youth, who would otherwise be locked out of reaching their full potential”.
Austin added “since industry has come to be dependent on our highly trained and qualified graduates, we shall be formalizing their placement through an online site currently under construction. We believe that this initiative shall contribute to the key aspiration of Africa, being inclusive growth and job creation”.
The World Economic Forum predicts that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education will be essential to the future of jobs globally.
According to Mr. Philip Obioha, chief operating officer of the Group “the CWG Academy plays a major role in preparing African Youths for the New Digital Economy, and is indeed a commendable effort worthy of emulation”.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mastercard to enhance data protection in Nigeria.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commissioner, NDPC and Derek Ho,deputy chief privacy officer, Mastercard
The agreement was sealed during a workshop where 150 Data Protection Officers (DPOs) were trained on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commissioner, NDPC, said the event kicks off activities for the 8th NADPA conference, highlighting government efforts to train more certified DPOs.
Olatunji also disclosed the Federal Government’s commitment to increasing the number of certified DPOs with the required skills to manage data protection.
He noted that Nigeria’s digital-savvy youth are key to driving this agenda.
“Human capital is really key to us, and the ecosystem we are regulating is very special. It is still new, still emerging, and we need all we can to build the capacity of officers.
“We want to build the capacity of our people so we can be able to deliver on our mandate and fully deepen privacy in Nigeria.
“We are targeting to build the capacity of 250,000 DPOs annually, and we are working with partners like Mastercard to achieve that,” he said.
Derek Ho,deputy chief privacy officer, Mastercard, also stressed the need for collaboration to build trust in the digital economy and urged participants to embrace training as data protection keeps evolving.
Central Securities Clearing System PLC (CSCS) has announced the launch of *7270#, its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code service, set to go live on May 8th, 2025.
The USSD code service is an innovative solution designed to enhance the ease and accessibility of investment services for all users.
Also, this service leverages the network capabilities of MTN Nigeria to bring unparalleled convenience to investors.
Driven by a relentless commitment to innovation, CSCS aims to revolutionize information access within the Nigerian capital market through this USSD code service.
As the Central Securities Depository (CSD), CSCS focuses on enhancing investor experiences and providing deeper market insights with unparalleled convenience.
The CSCS USSD code service offers seamless access to essential market information directly from mobile phones, eliminating the need for internet connectivity or specialized trading platforms.
Investors can now effortlessly retrieve Clearing House Number (CHN), check Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) status, view stock positions, account balances, and account status confirmations.
Haruna Jalo-Waziri, managing director/chief executive officer of CSCS, said ” We are excited to launch the *7270# USSD code service, a significant step in leveraging mobile technology to democratize access to account and portfolio information.
“This service empowers every investor, regardless of their location or resources, to stay informed about their investments. At CSCS, we believe that financial inclusivity is key to driving economic growth.
“Our partnership with MTN Nigeria on this project represents a significant leap toward a more inclusive financial landscape, leveraging the spread of the MTN network.
“This collaboration enhances the investing experience, reinforcing our shared commitment to empowering individuals with the tools they need to manage their financial futures effectively.” he added.
The CSCS USSD code service will initially be available to MTN users only. However, CSCS plans to expand this service to other networks soon.
This innovative service offers investors streamlined and secure access to critical market information at their fingertips.
Aisha Umar Mumuni, chief digital officer of MTN Nigeria, said, “This collaboration with CSCS on the *7270# USSD service underscores MTN’s commitment to harnessing the power of mobile technology to simplify complex processes for our users.
“By making critical investment information available at the touch of a button, we are helping to democratize access to the capital markets and, in the process, enhance investor engagement and market transparency,” she said.
CSCS continues to lead the way in technological advancements, reinforcing its position as a pivotal player in the Nigerian capital market ecosystem.
This initiative underscores our dedication to enhancing market efficiency and empowering investors with the tools they need for informed decision-making.
The need to maximise local digital assets, amid dwindling Oil revenues and a struggling economy, has been reiterated by the Chief Executive Officer of Quomodo Systems Africa, Oluwole Asalu, who maintained this measure remains the path to prosperity.
Asalu, while addressing the press in Lagos, recently asserted that global shift towards digital economies, presents a pivotal opportunity for Nigeria at this time to mobilise sufficient resources towards effective governance.
He emphasised harnessing the burgeoning local digital economy to expedite national diversification goals, while break away from overdependence on oil output.
Asalu, boasted further that Nigeria’s tech-savvy, youthful population and increasing recognition from global tech giants already position its digital sector as a driver of inclusive growth and job creation.
“Nigeria’s overreliance on oil is no longer tenable. As global markets shift towards renewable energy, the urgency to diversify has never been greater. Technology stands out as the most promising avenue, not merely as a sector, but as an enabler of growth across all facets of the economy,” he explained.
According to him, Nigeria’s tech talent remains the new oil, a renewable resource with the potential for significant returns, if strategically harnessed.
Like India’s successes in information technology services, Asalu want Nigeria to tap into lucrative outsourcing industry to draw foreign investment.
“Foreign investment in Nigeria’s tech sector is rising. Programmes like Digital Explorers have led European firms such as Telesoft to establish operations in Nigeria. Tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook have followed suit, injecting capital and creating jobs,” he stated.
He again pointed to the emergence of three unicorns within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem as a breakthrough and sign of maturity.
“Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is already showing signs of maturity, with three unicorns emerging from its soil. These success stories, powered by local innovation, underscore the viability of a home-grown, world-class tech sector,” he affirmed.
He however emphasized urgent need to close existing gap in skills and infrastructure, in addition to embracing governance and collaboration to fully harness digital potential cum future.
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