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General News

Galaxy Backbone, Microsoft Join Hands on Job Creation

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Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, Galaxy Backbone
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Galaxy Backbone Plc, in collaboration with Microsoft Nigeria, devices and services giant, is set to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians through the Employable Skills Development Internship Program (ESDIP) of the Government Wide Messaging and Collaboration (GWMC) project based on the Microsoft platform.

The ESDIP Initiative is a project targeted at providing capability development programs and training in the federal public sector for the already deployed GWMC platform, while also enhancing adoption and usage of the platform.

Galaxy backbone is a government agency charged with the responsibility of providing a common information and communications technology platform for Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

By this, Galaxy Backbone will enhance modernization in government via the increased adoption of the already deployed government wide messaging platform, elevate the security stature of government data, by ensuring all sensitive government communication move from public mail infrastructure to the secured and award winning 1-gov.net platform  (United Nations Public Service Awards for 2013 – “Promoting Whole-of-Government Approaches in the Information Age” Category) and help drive skill development and contribute to employability/job creation in Nigeria.

Gerald Ilukwe, chief executive officer, Galaxy backbone in his remarks said, “the Government Wide Messaging and Collaboration platform (GWMC) is about efficiency, cost-savings, increased productivity and the effective delivery of public services to the citizenry by modernizing the way public officials communicate within government. For Galaxy, there is a linkage with the Employable Skills Development Internship Program (ESDIP) which is a capacity building initiative that seeks to enhance the employability of participants in the marketplace. The essence is to empower public officials and the interns to be more effective and efficient in their endeavors”.

In view of the strategic nature of the project, Microsoft will lend its support in certain key areas including “Change Management” – with a view to build capacity, drive benefits management and encourage early and rapid adoption of the solution by end users.

The organization will also partner with the Integral Assets Limited (a capabilities consulting firm) on recruitment of Interns, delivery of train the trainer sessions for Interns – WP8 &MS Outlook, on-site activation of devices and training of government officials, making GWMC the foundation to the e-government journey towards Gov3.0, amongst others.

Speaking on the partnership, Olayinka Oni, chief technology officer, Microsoft Nigeria explained that “the objective of the program is to train interns to develop transferable and employable skills that will facilitate their placement in organizations. At the same time, leverage the interns to support the GWMC program through the distribution of devices and training of recipients in the use of the devices.”

Through the program, Microsoft will distribute over 500 windowsphones in support of the GWMC program, while Integral Assets Limited will recruit and train the interns on behalf of Microsoft that would be responsible for the distribution of these phones to their respective recipients.

The Employable Skills Development Internship Program (ESDIP) with GWMC will run until the 30th of January 2014 and Microsoft is targeting 75% placement of the interns with companies especially the partner community at the end of the program.

Interns will participate in a comprehensive 10 week training program covering MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Report Writing, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Time Management, Windows Phone 8, Customer Service, Employment and Interviewing Skills, etc. Each intern will also receive a 20 page Insights Discovery Personality Profile to facilitate self and social awareness based on an online evaluator.

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

General News

NITDA Inaugurates Start-up Consultative Forum

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Nigeria has taken a bold step toward deepening its innovation ecosystem with the official launch of the Start-up Consultative Forum, an initiative designed to accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Start-up Act (NSA) and strengthen the country’s tech startup ecosystem.

While addressing the forum, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who was represented by Barrister Emmanuel Edet, the Ag. Director, Regulation and Compliance described the platform as more than just a stakeholder meeting.

“It is a commitment to building a stronger tech ecosystem through collaboration, inclusion, and data-driven governance, marking a new phase in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act,” he said.

He noted that the Nigeria Startup Act is more than legislation—it is a framework for national development. “Startups are not fringe players. They are central to Nigeria’s economic future,” he asserted.

Inuwa further mentioned that over the past eight months, NITDA has driven key activities under the Act. These include stakeholder workshops across 10 states, roadshows at tech events like Lagos Tech Week, the Omniverse Summit, Moonlight Conference and the Akwa Ibom Tech Week, and awareness campaigns through digital and direct engagement.

The forum, according to Inuwa, will serve as a feedback engine, spotlighting regulatory gaps, guiding policy improvements, and shaping a startup-friendly environment.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA continues to support startups through initiatives like the Startup Portal, tech infrastructure deployment, and digital skill training across the country.

The DG emphasised that for startups to thrive, policies must be inclusive and responsive. “Inclusion is not charity. It is a strategy,” he said, calling for equal representation across gender, region, and sector.

While inaugurating the members if the Conservative Forum on behalf of the Director-General, the Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions, Oladejo Olawunmi, ignited the forum with a call to action, envisioning it as a vital nexus for collaborative breakthroughs.

He inspired the members, saying, “We remain deeply committed to nurturing a space where innovation can flourish, and I call upon each of us to embrace the task ahead by shaping ideas into concrete policy and outcomes that leave a lasting impact.”

Earlier, Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), in her opening address called the Forum, a “structured dialogue between those building the future and those enabling it.”

She outlined five key pillars for success: access to funding, capacity building, supportive policy, inclusive innovation, and global competitiveness.

She urged startups to speak boldly, private sector players to offer more than capital, development partners to scale what works, and government to harmonize efforts. “This Forum must be a problem-solving platform, not another talk shop,” she concluded.

With the Startup Consultative Forum now launched, NITDA aims to turn policy into action, ensuring startups are no longer on the sidelines, but at the center of Nigeria’s innovation journey.

The virtual event was attended by private sector players, development agencies, verified Ecosystem Support Organisations (ESOs), angel investors, venture capital firms, and labelled startups from across the country.


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NFIU Alerts Nigerians of Rising Ponzi Schemes, Unregulated Crowdfunding Scams

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The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) issued a detailed advisory on yesterday, warning Nigerians about the growing threat of Ponzi schemes and unregulated crowdfunding scams, particularly in digital assets, agriculture, and real estate.

These sophisticated scams, often disguised under appealing brand names, promise unrealistically high returns, exploiting vulnerable citizens facing economic hardship between 2022 and 2025.

Digital asset scams, like Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) and Chinmark Group, leverage cryptocurrencies’ anonymity and limited regulation. CBEX, promising 100% returns in 30 days, collapsed with over ₦1.3 trillion in losses, using blockchain to obscure funds.

Chinmark, posing as a conglomerate, defrauded investors of over ₦10 billion via social media and religious endorsements. “We are committed to saving Nigerians from the troubles associated with Ponzi schemes,” the NFIU stated, pledging to pursue major actors.

Agricultural Ponzi schemes, such as Farmforte Ltd and Green Eagles Agribusiness, promise unsustainable farming returns, with one Lagos operator collapsing after processing ₦400 million with 16% monthly return pledges. Red flags include guaranteed high returns, unlicensed operations, and reliance on referrals.

The Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 imposes fines of ₦20 million and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for promoting Ponzi schemes, empowering the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate digital assets. The NFIU urged licensing for Virtual Asset Service Providers, advanced fraud detection, and stronger KYC/AML compliance by financial institutions.

It advised the public to verify platforms with the SEC, question return mechanisms, and report suspicious schemes promptly.


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EFCC Declares Foreigner Wanted for Alleged CBEX Cryptocurrency Scam

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared one foreign national, Elie Bitar wanted for his alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency fraud linked to the online trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange.

According to an official bulletin issued by the Commission, Bitar, 41, is wanted for a suspected fraudulent scheme carried out via CBEX, which has reportedly defrauded multiple unsuspecting investors across Nigeria.

“The public is hereby notified that ELIE BITAR, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX),” the EFCC stated.

The Commission disclosed that Bitar’s last known address is at Eng. George Enemoh Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos State.

The EFCC has urged anyone with useful information regarding Bitar’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja.

The public can also reach the commission via the phone number 08093322644 or email at info@efcc.gov.ng.

CBEX emerged in the wake of Nigeria’s growing appetite for cryptocurrency investments.

It promised users quick and high returns through crypto trading and investments but soon drew suspicion over its lack of regulatory compliance and transparency.

The EFCC’s investigation into CBEX has reportedly uncovered a trail of transactions linked to Bitar and individuals, some of whom have been arrested.

Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, signed the wanted notice, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to tracking down individuals exploiting Nigerians through financial fraud schemes.


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