E-Business
Digital Encode Empowers Young Talents to a Great Height
Millennials are currently the largest generation in the Nigeria labour force and will comprise more than 75% of the workforce by 2025 (globally). In fact, Millennials now have the most spending power of any generation, which means that creating a work environment that they can thrive in matters a lot for them.
Yes, change is certainly happening among the Millennials, yet progress is still needed. Unfortunately, many corporate entities are stuck in outdated norms, many of which are still tailored to older generations. This is particularly true when it comes to management.
So, it is usually heart-warming to see firms like Digital Encode doing everything to develop this group of leaders. Digital Encode, itself is a millennial company; the leading cybersecurity and compliance advisory firm was founded in 2003. In other words, it turns 19 this year!
The Founders, Oluseyi Akindeinde and Dr. Peter Adewale Obadare have demonstrated great understanding that today’s workforce (i.e, the Millennials) don’t need some ‘Big Brother’ figure hovering over them to tell them that budgets are cut, “that we will be in big trouble if we don’t meet deadlines, and to ‘make do with less’”.
So many things set Digital Encode apart from its peers – it understands and speaks the language of the Millennials without missing out on the needs of the laggards too.
They have shown leadership qualities by setting these young people (team members) up for success; instil in them a sense of bigger purpose, and giving them the confidence to persevere when the work gets challenging.
In line with Digital Encode philosophy of making its employees better than as they were employed that the Company took them to a retreat in Dubai.
According to Dr. Wale Obadare, co-founder and chief operating officer, Digital Encode, “Since inception of Digital Encode in 2003, It has always been our dream, our passion, to build a game-changing organisation; a place where employees have a sense of belonging, a big family, a great place where everyone is proud of. This year in pursuant of the dream, we decided to take all of our staff on this trip to Dubai for the 2019 Annual Retreat. Digital Encode is passionate to attract, motivate and develop a dynamic workforce that conquer the world from Lagos, Nigeria”.
“The only way that each and every person is going to get better at what they do is through reflection. The best CEOs always take time out to get away from work and think. They may sit on a luxury cruise ship or run away to a cabin in the woods, which was part of the team retreat activities.
“A time to reflect enables everyone to look back at what they have done in the past few months. They have the chance to consider how they can improve and what their flaws are.
Not only is this crucial for self-development it’s essential for the continuing progress of the company”.
Also speaking Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, co-founder and chief technical officer, Digital Encode, said: “We all can attest to the bustles and hustles in Lagos (Nigeria). The big issue that a lot of people have with the office is that it can become a stressful place. There are always busy times during the year. So, retreat is an avenue to come around, and ease-off.
“By taking the team away from a stressful environment, Digital Encode has made sure that they decompress all over again because as the saying goes, “less stress means more productive workers”.
“Workers are more demanding than ever before. Just because you are paying them doesn’t mean that they are going to give it their all. As far as they are concerned, a salary is just a means to an end. They do it because they have to, and that’s not a good mindset to have for your (modern) business.
“You need to come up with ways in which you can improve company morale. Studies indicate that companies with high morale outperform their counterparts by 20%.
The way to do this is through a corporate retreat. You are showing that the company cares about the well-being of its employees. It’s supposed to be a treat and a reward. It’s not something you have to do but it’s something you should do. So, Digital Encode has achieved this too!
Empowers young talents to a great height
Digital Encode, a multi-award winning and leading consulting and integration firm that specializes in the design, management, and security of business-critical networks, telecommunications environments and other Information Technology (IT) infrastructures, recently sponsored some kids among whom where children of the Company staff, to five-week training on Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 3D Printing and game development.
This is a clear demonstration of believe in the Generation Y; the generation of people born during the 1980s and early 1990s. Importantly, they are grooming talents that will bring new digital skills and tech savvies that will be critical to transforming the business. This is one reason why so much is written about millennials.
With what Digital Encode is doing, these youngsters will bring their values, ideas and skills to shape society, markets and companies. Of particular interest are their attitudes to work and the implications these hold for firms and economies.
In the heel of that development, the firm sponsored the team to one-week retreat at the United Arab Emirates; Dubai precisely! Team retreat is a growing trend in the corporate world. There are so many benefits of team retreats that even smaller companies are thinking about how they can take the office out of the office for a weekend or just for a day.
Discovering hidden talents
A company can spend millions of naira to hire event comperes without knowing that Engineer (in the office) who carries wire about can also ‘talk’. If you’re doing the same things every single day, the chances are people are not going to realize their true talents. Coworkers often fail to realize just how extraordinary each person is because nobody ever gets the chance to reveal who they truly are.
Team retreats allow a group of people to indulge in tasks that just don’t happen in the normal office environment. For the first time, you may discover that Nkechi from accounting is really good at storytelling. But how does this translate to any actual value for the company?
To put it simply, you learn to know a person. You can better identify with them. You may even bond over the fact that you have the same interests as them. A hard skill can reveal a bunch of other soft skills, so it’s always useful to find out more about a person.
In a new report, Kaspersky identified over 7 million compromised accounts belonging to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and others. For millions of Gen Z users, these streaming platforms play a central role in how this generation socialises and connects with global culture.
To raise their awareness and build digital resilience, Kaspersky has launched “Case 404” — an interactive cyber-detective game that helps Gen Z recognise hidden dangers and learn how to protect their digital lives.
Streaming platforms have become digital sanctuaries for Gen Z. According to recent studies, Gen Z not only spends more on streaming platforms than any other generation but also actively participates in online fandoms, sharing clips, memes and fan theories across social media: episodes become memes, quotes turn into tweets, and characters live on through edits, debates, and TikTok trends.
Yet this always-online, highly engaged behaviour comes with hidden risks. The very devices Gen Z uses to stream their favourite shows can become entry points for cybercriminals through malware infections. These threats often hide in unofficial downloads, pirated content, browser extensions, or compromised apps, silently collecting login credentials, session data, and other personal information.
Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence team analysed compromised credentials linked to the major streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Max) and uncovered 7,035,236 cases in 2024. These weren’t stolen directly from the platforms themselves but were collected as part of broader credential theft campaigns.
Netflix: A major target for cybercriminals
It’s no surprise that Netflix is the defining streaming brand for Gen Z. Netflix leads both in popularity and in exposure, with 5,632,694 compromised accounts detected. Brazil had the highest number of exposed Netflix credentials in 2024, followed by Mexico and India.
Disney+
Kaspersky experts detected 680,850 Disney+ accounts in leaked datasets. Again, Brazil stood out as the country with the most breached accounts, followed by Mexico and Germany.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video, though smaller in volume with 1,607 compromised accounts, still plays a significant role, especially among Gen Z viewers looking for more subversive or edgy narratives. In 2024, Mexico, Brazil, and France were the top countries with leaked Prime Video accounts.
Once a device is infected, cybercriminals don’t stop at the streaming app. Malware collects sensitive data — account credentials, cookies, bank card details — which are then sold or leaked on underground forums. Sometimes, attackers give this data away just to build their reputation.
These forums are active, fast-moving, and accessible to a wide range of malicious actors. What begins as a compromised Netflix password can quickly snowball into broader digital intrusion, identity theft, or financial fraud, especially if the same credentials are reused across services.
As streaming platforms, fandom culture, and social media become deeply woven into Gen Z’s everyday experience, cyberthreats are adapting to target the spaces they trust most. To respond to this shift, Kaspersky has created “Case 404” — an interactive cybersecurity game explicitly tailored for Gen Z users.
In this digital quest, players step into the role of AI-powered cyber-detectives, investigating realistic online crimes inspired by current threats. Upon completing all cases, users receive a discount on Kaspersky Premium, turning new knowledge into actionable protection.
“For Generation Z, streaming is more than entertainment; it’s a daily habit, a source of identity and community. But that emotional connection also creates a blind spot. Malware hidden in unofficial downloads or third-party tools silently steals login credentials and personal data, which are then traded or sold on cybercriminal forums.
Protecting your streaming account today means thinking beyond passwords — it means securing your devices, avoiding suspicious downloads, and being mindful of where your clicks lead you,” comments Polina Tretyak, digital footprint analyst at Kaspersky.
In a powerful stride towards an inclusive digital future, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is spearheading a transformative drive to empower Nigerian women in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital economy.
This commitment was resoundingly reiterated by NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, at the “Innovate Her 25” conference, the 10th National Conference and 11th Annual Meeting of Nigerian Women in Information Technology.
Speaking at the event themed “Women in AI: Unlocking Resilience, Fostering Innovation and Leadership,” Inuwa, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, emphasised that true innovation blossoms not in isolation, but through synergistic partnerships and collective endeavor – principles deeply embedded in NITDA’s operational ethos.
Highlighting Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, Inuwa added that inclusivity is embedded as a core objective: “Our strategic roadmap mandates that at least 40% of our programmes directly benefit women and underserved groups. We have also developed a Gender Inclusion Strategy to guide interventions in areas such as training and infrastructure,” he explained.
Further underscoring Nigeria’s leadership in the digital space, Inuwa excitingly announced that in September 2025, NITDA will proudly host a Leadership Summit on AI. This landmark event will convene stakeholders from across the African continent, fostering a collaborative environment to forge a unified AI vision for Africa.
In alignment with the conference’s focus on empowering women in technology, the DG detailed NITDA’s diverse capacity-building initiatives spanning AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. “We work with partners such as the Renew Hope Initiative to train thousands of women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones,” he revealed, highlighting the agency’s broad reach.
NITDA stands ready to collaborate with organisations like the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIT), actively encouraging proposals for bespoke programmes that cater to specific community needs. “We focus on targeted training with measurable outcomes, rather than generic approaches,” Inuwa affirmed, emphasising a results-oriented methodology.
He further spotlighted NITDA’s “Digital Literacy for All Initiative,” which seeks to equip 70% of Nigerians with digital literacy by 2027. Through strategic partnerships with the NYSC and the integration of digital literacy into national school curricula, the agency plans to train over 30 million Nigerians — with a dedicated focus on underserved communities and public servants.
Addressing critical concerns surrounding ethical AI, Inuwa emphasised the importance of developing indigenous datasets and large language models reflective of Nigeria’s unique realities: “We are working closely with stakeholders to build local datasets that safeguard Nigerians’ digital rights and ensure ethical AI use,” he assured.
NITDA is also championing mentorship for women in technology through impactful initiatives such as Women Innovate. The agency warmly welcomes collaboration with NIWIT to design structured mentorship programmes and is open to formalising such partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
“NITDA is committed to fostering inclusive economic growth through innovation. Partnership and collaboration remain the way forward,” Inuwa declared.
The session concluded with a resounding call to action, urging women-focused organisations to leverage NITDA’s open-door policy and unite in advancing digital inclusion across Nigeria. The future of Nigeria’s digital economy is inclusive, and women are at its forefront.
Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.
Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon wrote in an email to employees.
He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.
According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.
Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.
However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.
“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.
The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.
Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.
The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.
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