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E-Business

IBM SmartCamps Initiative for African IT Entrepreneurs Begins

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Taiwo Otiti, country general manager, IBM West Africa
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The IBM SmartCamps program which kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya this week will begin in Lagos tomorrow, as part of IBM’s Global Entrepreneur initiative, designed to stimulate innovation and build skills for a Smarter Planet.

Charles Olumuyiwa Moyela, external relations leader for IBM West Africa told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that, the programme has gained more than 50 partners since being launched three years ago, “proving that Africa’s start-up ecosystem is flourishing”.

He highlighted the impact of these entrepreneurs as transformative, for businesses and everyday citizens alike.

Olumuyiwa said: “One of Kenya’s most famous start-ups – MoDe, named IBM’s Global Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 – delivers microcredit to prepaid phones when Africans most need it. Today MoDe is adding credit lines and liquidity to Africa’s mobile payments ecosystem, expected to be worth more than $160bn by 2016.

“Take your startup to the next level.  If you’re a privately-held, early-stage tech startup less than five years old, we want to team with you to help you change the world and build a Smarter Planet.

“Beat the odds. Most tech startups fail. But with 600+ expert mentors and an IBM Relationship Manager to give you one-on one advice, you’ll have the support you need to succeed.

“Get access to 300+ top venture capital firms while keeping infrastructure costs down on free IBM software

“Tap into new markets with IBM’s vast global network of 100,000+ IBM sellers and Business Partners. Get the chance to participate in IBM SmartCamp competitions”.

He added that this year’s winner in Africa will claim a position in the regional finals of IBM’s Global Entrepreneur of the Year competition, pitching their unique technology business idea to a panel of industry experts.

Speaking further, Olumuyiwa shared reasons startups need to join IBM Global Entrepreneur to include; provision of support and resource in the areas participants and startup need most: software, expertise, and promotion.

He said, ““No-charge Software: Access a variety of IBM software for development, test, and demonstration through the IBM Software Access Catalogue at no charge for up to 3 years.

“Software through the cloud: Access security-rich, enterprise-class virtual server environments that are well-suited for development, test and other activities. There’s no charge to open your account, and you can pay as you go.

“Events to help you succeed: Participate in exclusive SmartCamp events held around the world. Connect with venture capitalists, corporate executives, local investors, and serial entrepreneurs.

“IBM relationship manager: Get support from an IBM relationship manager for one-to-one guidance through all stages of your project development. IBM will assign a manager to you when you are accepted into IBM Global Entrepreneur.

“Exposure for your company: Promote your startup and showcase your solutions. View the latest entrepreneur solutions in the Global Solutions Directory.

“SmartCamp with Tech4Africa: By registering to join this exciting entrepreneurial programme, startups can also be selected to participate in one of the prestigious IBM SmartCamp events with Tech4Africa! IBM is the proud Entrepreneur Partner of Tech4Africa 2014”.

The Lagos SmartCamps event is scheduled for Friday, 18th July 2014 at the IBM Client & Innovation Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.


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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.

E-Business

NIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December

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Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general, National Identity management commission (NIMC) has said that the commission is set to register 95 percent of Nigerians into the National Identity Database before December 2025.

NIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December

Abisoye Coker-Odusote,, DG, NIMC

She made this statement at a press briefing to highlight the commissions goal aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on digital governance and inclusive development.

The mass enrollment drive will be powered by a combination of improved infrastructure, expanded registration centres, and robust public sensitization campaigns.

As of May 2025, NIMC reports over 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled, and about 100 million more would be captured by December.


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Farmers to Get Identity Card for Loans, Inputs

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The federal government, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is building a digital registrar that will identify farmers, their farmlands, type of soil and the crops they grow for targeted services.

Farmers to Get Identity Card for Loans, Inputs

The information and the National Identification Number (NIN) will be integrated into a multipurpose identity card that farmers can use to access financial services, inputs and other forms of government assistance.

The digitisation is expected to harmonise farmers’ data across all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the national launch of the Policy Dialogue Initiative on the National Digital Farmers Registry (NDFR) recently in Abuja, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), said the new system would address the issue of portfolio farmers, whom he described as “farmers who have no farm.”

“We are going to register farmers and their farms. Not only that, farmers and the type of crop they grow, farmers and the locality they are, the type of soil they have on their farms. There is no farm that will not have a farmer. But there are many farmers who do not have farms.  This is an encompassing package.

“When we register these farmers, we are going to provide a physical and digital card for them. With the card, many things can be done by the farmers. It can be used as a means of identification, an asset to some gateway – just anything.  It is going to have a handshake with the database of the country, such that with that particular card, the farmer can enter any place and get things done. He or she can redeem inputs and even get a loan, depending on the financial entity,” Ogunbiyi explained.

He said that to accomplish this, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has taken decisive steps to transform their approach to farmer data management, adding, “Chief among these is our strategic partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to implement a far-reaching farmer registration and database project.  At the heart of this initiative is the integration of the NIN, which ensures that every Nigerian farmer is uniquely identified and seamlessly integrated into a national agricultural system.”

Mrs Dede Ahoefa Ekoue, country director/representative of the IFAD in Nigeria, said the United Nations (UN) organisation was proud to be part of the initiative on the National Digital Farmer Registry in Nigeria.

“Our role is to convene all the partners, development partners from the public sector, private sector and the international community to put our resources together to support the effort of the government in establishing and enabling a digital farmer registry for the country,” she said.

Mrs Ekoue said that although there were previous efforts to have a national database of farmers, it had the issues of fragmentation and sustainability.

“The government is now providing us with a sense of direction and matching orders to all the actors to work together. This is what we are doing today with several partners, including the African Development Bank, FAO, the World Bank, the EU, the Islamic Development Bank and UK. Also, what is very key is farmers’ organisations because it is about them, it is for them, it must be with them,” she added.

The country director said the IFAD was happy to bring together the private sector and different ministries, departments and agencies, adding, “It will be a game changer for having a strong, updated and sustainable national digital farmer registry.”

Dr Lekan Tobe, the country director of Heifer International in Nigeria, in his remarks at the official launch of the Policy Dialogue Initiative on the National Digital Farmer Registry, emphasised the critical role of partnership and data in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

He said that this initiative, born from recommendations of previous policy dialogues organised in collaboration with the federal government, aimed to scale up innovative digital technology to enhance food systems across the country.

 

 


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Dyna.Ai Launches Operations in Nigeria

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Dyna.Ai, a global leader in AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS), has launched its operations in Nigeria with an exclusive closed-door ‘Nigeria Dyna Day’ event in Lagos, which saw the introduction and orientation of its suite of AI-powered products and solutions to Nigeria’s emerging financial ecosystem.

Dyna.Ai Launches Operations in Nigeria

The event, tagged ‘Nigeria Dyna Day’ and themed “AI Unleashed: Revolutionising Nigeria’s Financial Future,” brought together leading voices from the country’s AI, financial, fintech, telecom, and other key sectors, including representatives from government agencies and major enterprises.

In his opening remarks, Tomas Skoumal, chairman and co-president of Dyna.Ai,  emphasized the strategic importance of Nigeria and the broader African market, stating, “For us, it makes sense to start in Nigeria.

There is no bigger country in Africa—this is where the momentum is.” He noted that Africa is no longer just “the future,” but is actively transforming today, driven by rapid digitalization and fintech innovation.

“This is the perfect time to be here,” he added, highlighting that Dyna.Ai sees technology as a vital bridge to financial inclusion and long-term growth across the region.

Skoumal introduced Dyna.Ai’s advanced Agentic AI solutions, including its proprietary Agent Studio and industry-specific language models, designed to power intelligent automation across customer service, marketing, collections, HR and more.

He also underscored the company’s long-term ambition to invest in local talent, stating, “We’re not just here to sell a product—we’re here to build infrastructure, create local jobs, and scale innovation from Nigeria to the rest of Africa.”

Dyna.Ai also showcased its advanced AI technologies at the event, including AvatarGPT, an AI digital human delivering interactive experiences; VoiceGPT, a voice agent featuring authentic local accents for seamless communication in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo; along with live demonstrations showing how these innovations empower customer engagement and employee experience.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Tokoni Peter Igoin, Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, underscored the Federal Government’s vision for a secure and forward-thinking digital ecosystem.

“The government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is fully committed to responsible innovation. Our approach to AI and financial technology is rooted in a positive framework. It encourages creativity while ensuring transparency, data protection, and digital security”, he said

Also in his remarks, Olatunbosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner of Innovation, Science and Technology,  gave insights from the government/regulatory perspective.

He announced that the Lagos State government is also taking steps towards the wide adoption and regulation of artificial intelligence in the state with the planned release of the first AI guidelines for the deployment and management of AI in the coming weeks.

 

 

 


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