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ICT Stakeholders Highlight Need for Sectoral Collaboration to Harness Benefits of AI

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A cross section of participants at NITRA ICT Growth Conference 4.0 with the theme: “Impact of AI on National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria” held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
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Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and other stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have underscored the need for collaborative efforts by opinion moulders in the sector to harness the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for economic growth.

A cross section of participants at NITRA ICT Growth Conference 4.0 with the theme: “Impact of AI on National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria” held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The stakeholders stated this at the NITRA ICT Growth Conference 4.0 with the theme: “Impact of AI on National Development: Prospects, Policies, and Challenges in Nigeria” held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Akinsanya who was represented by Peter Oluka, member, Executive Board of Directors, NiRA emphasized that AI has the potential to drive economic growth, improve businesses and public services, as well as enhance the quality of life in Nigeria.

He hinted that realizing these benefits requires careful consideration of the prospects, the formulation of sound policies, and addressing the accompanying challenges.

According to him, “As AI continues to evolve, it’s potential to drive economic growth and improve businesses and public services, and also enhance the quality of life in Nigeria is immense”.

Adding that the complex challenges associated with AI cannot be solved by any single entity rather it requires partnerships, shared knowledge, and collective action that can drive the kind of growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and transformative.

Prof. Obadare Peter Adewale, Founder and chief visionary officer, CVO, Digital Encode, emphasized the need for Nigeria to understand the threat landscape and the critical role of cybersecurity in protecting against these threats.

Prof. Obadare represented by Mr. Oluwakayode O. Olatunji, CISO and Group Head of InfoSec & GRC Advisory, Digital Encode, underscored the importance of driving sub-sectoral digital growth through Artificial Intelligence (AI) while also decrying that many African countries lag behind in cybersecurity.

He further highlighted the potential of AI across various sectors, including finance, health, energy, transportation, defense, medical, and agriculture.

He underscored AI’s ability to predict productivity and its diverse benefits but quickly cautioned against the dangers of AI misuse, stemming from issues such as bias and fairness, security vulnerabilities, data privacy concerns, and ethical and moral dilemmas.

The cybersecurity expert discussed the use of AI in threat landscape profiling, crime detection and prevention, and reporting capabilities.

He stressed the importance of responsible AI usage and the need for continued investment in AI and cybersecurity.
Earlier, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) was displeased with the abysmally low adaptation trend by Nigerians to new technologies.

He urged stakeholders in the sector to lay more emphasizes on technology adaptation, adding that the country is number one in the usage of internet in Africa but lags in connectivity and internet penetration.

According to him, “There has been a known trend in Nigerians’ adaptation of new technology, where usage is higher than implementation.

“For instance, we are number one in the usage of internet in Africa but lags in connectivity and internet penetration.

“Artificial Intelligence has followed the same trend, Google search trends reported recently that searches for artificial intelligence (AI) have continued to rise around the world, with Nigeria experiencing a 130% increase in 2024.

He called on relevant ICT stakeholders in the sector to collaborate with government agencies to fashion out / design a curriculum for school to ensure that the study of AI is included in secondary schools.

He also warned that we should avoid the ugly trend / situation where for instance most students of computer science in our higher institutions do not have the opportunity to have a hands-on experience with a physical Computer throughout their duration in school.

Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, founder of Hyperspace and NeuRal AI, highlighted AI’s challenges and opportunities, reassuring that AI will enhance human capabilities, not replace them.

He showcased AI applications in transcription, translation, and education, demonstrating its potential to drive innovation and inclusive development.

A panel discussion composed of representatives from the NCC, private sector, and media and moderated by Mr. Hillary Damissah, explored how to navigate AI’s dangers in a developing economy.

They emphasized the need for policy frameworks, regulation, and collaboration to mitigate AI’s negative effects and ensure its benefits are equitably distributed.

The conference underscored AI’s significance in Nigeria’s development, urging stakeholders to work together to create an environment conducive to innovation, research, and tech adoption.

As AI continues to evolve, Nigeria must prioritize strategic planning, ethical considerations, and inclusive growth to harness its full potential.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Cybersecurity Experts Seek Improvements to Maximise Protection

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A study titled “Improving resilience: cybersecurity through system immunity” conducted by Kaspersky, explored how organisations currently manage cybersecurity and how they are preparing for future challenges.

This research surveyed 850 IT professionals responsible for cybersecurity in large companies across Europe, the Americas, APAC, Russia, and the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, and South Africa.

These respondents represented a diverse range of industries and organisational levels, offering a comprehensive view of current security postures and pain points.

The survey reveals that, despite high satisfaction levels—with 94% of experts from the META region stating they are “satisfied” to “extremely satisfied” with their current protection—the desire for stronger and more adaptable defenses remains widespread.

Although only 6% of respondents from META expressed dissatisfaction with their cybersecurity measures, most recognise the need for improvement. Specifically, 64% believe there are “a few” or “some” areas that could be enhanced, while 35% advocate for significant upgrades.

When asked to identify the weakest aspects of their cybersecurity systems that they would like to improve, respondents from the META region pointed to various operational and technical challenges. The most common issues included:

  • Manual processes consuming excessive time (31%)
  • Reactive protection lacking proactive threat detection (28%)
  • Shortage of skilled personnel (28%)

The reliance on manual processes leads to increased operational overhead and delays in identifying and responding to threats, while the absence of proactive threat detection reduces the ability to prevent breaches before they occur.

Among other critical weak sides of their current cybersecurity systems noted by respondents in the META region were high risks of systemic collapse following breaches (24%), overly complex IT/OT environments (22%), and outdated threat intelligence (21%).

Additional concerns included “alert fatigue” (22%) and insufficient functionality of current solutions (19%), complexity of managing disparate solutions (19%), and poor control over security policy implementation (19%).

The management of multiple different security solutions leads to gaps in coverage, misconfigurations, and increased risk of oversight, as security teams struggle to maintain an integrated, effective defense across diverse systems.

The fragmentation hampers swift response times and increases the likelihood of overlooked vulnerabilities, ultimately weakening the organisation’s overall security posture.

These findings highlight the urgent need for streamlined intelligent security tools to address these vulnerabilities effectively.

As organisations worldwide strive to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, this research highlights that, alongside enhancing traditional cybersecurity solutions, vendors are working to develop innovative approaches: shifting from protecting inherently vulnerable software with applied security measures toward creating secure-by-design systems with innate resilience. Such systems are capable of safeguarding their core assets even when compromised, often with minimal or no additional cybersecurity spending.

“More and more organisations are beginning to understand that modern challenges require not just strong protection but also a proactive and cohesive security strategy that strengthens every aspect of their digital landscape against potential breaches.

“That’s why it is essential for companies to adopt a transformative approach, integrating advanced threat intelligence and streamlined processes, and applying reliable, all-encompassing solutions to protect their assets while ensuring operational continuity and building customer trust,” says Alexander Kostyuchenko, Head of Technology Solutions Product Line at Kaspersky.


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NCAA Orders Airlines to Enforce $10,000 Currency Declaration Rule

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has ordered all international airlines flying into Nigeria to enforce the $10,000 currency declaration rule.

The authority said the rule is required for passengers to declare cash or negotiable instruments above the limit, as part of efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering compliance.

According to the NCAA, the directive, referenced as NCAA/CPD/ABV/298, dated 24 April 2025 seeks to address gaps in the enforcement of existing currency declaration obligations for inbound passengers.

This was announced in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, via his official X account on Tuesday.

“International carriers must take two key actions, which include “Make inflight or pre-landing announcements informing passengers of their legal obligation to declare any currency or Bearer Negotiable Instruments exceeding $10,000 USD or its equivalent upon arrival in Nigeria.

“Distribute currency declaration forms onboard for passengers to complete before landing. The NCAA has received reports indicating that some airlines are yet to comply with this directive”, the statement read.

The NCAA said these requirements are consistent with international best practices and are vital to preventing the illegal movement of large sums of money across borders.

The Authority warned that full cooperation from international airlines is essential, saying, “Please note that the cooperation of all international airlines operating in Nigeria is critical to supporting the country’s efforts to align with global financial standards.”

Accordingly, the authority emphasised that full implementation of this directive, particularly as it concerns inbound passenger declarations, is of utmost importance.

“Compliance will be closely monitored, and non-compliant airlines will face appropriate sanctions,” it added.


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Appeal Court Nullifies Registration of ‘KPMG Professional Services’

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The court of appeal in Lagos has asked the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to revoke the certificate of registration of “KPMG Professional Services”.

Appeal Court Nullifies Registration of ‘KPMG Professional Services'

In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, the appellant court granted the reliefs sought by KPMG Nigeria against CAC and KPMG Professional Services.

The judgment was read by Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero, the judge.

The two other judges are Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo and A.M. Talba.

In 2002, KPMG Professional Services was registered as a company with CAC despite the existence of KPMG Nigeria, comprising its audit, tax, and consulting arms.

The KPMG Nigeria has long been registered in Nigeria before 2002.

KPMG Audit was registered in 1969, KPMG Tax Consultants in 1990, and KPMG Consulting in 1969.

Displeased with the registration of KPMG Professional Services, KPMG Nigeria approached the federal high court.

The consulting firm had argued that the name “KPMG Professional Services” was deceptively similar to its long-established identity.

In 2005, the lower court dismissed KPMG Nigeria’s case, citing an alleged merger between KPMG Nigeria and Akintola Williams Deloitte as reason the company could no longer assert rights to the name.

The lower upheld the second respondent’s (KPMG Professional Services) counterclaim and ordered that KPMG Nigeria’s name be struck off the CAC register.

The lower court had premised its decision on newspaper articles stating that KPMG Nigeria reportedly merged with Akintola Williams Deloitte.

Delivering the judgment, Bayero ruled that the lower court erred by relying on newspaper articles to ascertain that KPMG Nigeria allegedly merged with another company.

The judge said the documents showing the alleged merger were not presented before the lower court, and the form of the alleged merger could not have been known.

“In any event, the only branch of KPMG, if any, that entered into a merger with Akintola Williams as stated in the newspaper articles 18, is KPMG Audit,” the judge ruled.

“The other spheres were totally unaffected. It would therefore be wrong to state that the merger (which has not been shown to this Court) of KPMG Audit with Akintola Williams means all the other areas of business, including KPMG Consulting and KPMG Tax Consultants, also ceased to exist.

“Even if the Appellants (KPMG Nigeria) had ceased to do business as the Court seemed to have held, the 2nd Respondents (KPMG Professional Services) should not have been carrying on business until the Appellant’s certificate of registration is withdrawn or set aside.

“They cannot use the name until the Appellant’s certification of registration is withdrawn or set aside. They cannot use the name until the name is removed from the 1st Respondent’s (CAC) Register of Names.

“The 1st Respondents can only assign the name to the 2nd Respondents after first taking it away from the Appellants.”

The court ruled that CAC erred by registering KPMG Professional Services despite the existence of a business name, which is already registered.

The judge reversed the earlier ruling of the lower court and reaffirmed the primacy of statutory protection for existing business names under Nigerian corporate law.

 

 

 


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