E-Business
Ispon Taps Mba-Uzoukwu to Lead NCS

The next president of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) may emerge from the software professional domain going by the strong endorsement of the candidature of Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, the former country manager, Microsoft Nigeria by Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (Ispon).
Ispon, the apex body of computer software and related services industry in Nigeria said that after series of productive deliberations, it has been acclaimed that there exists no better time than now for the Nation to concretely address her software challenge and to ensure that Software Nigeria is positioned at the helm of leadership of the affairs at the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).
According to Ispon, the immense contribution of software can be seen in virtually every sector of the economy; software can rightly be said to be the driving force of the global IT business, governance, education and industry.
Above all, it is fuelled by an explosion of ideas leading to creative thoughts and translated into solutions applicable in all aspects of our daily lives.
In endorsing Mba-Uzoukwu as the next president of the NCS at the next national conference holding in Iloko, Osun State, July 24, Ispon said that emergence of professional software personality as the leader of NCS is long overdue, judging by its unwavering support to previous contributions to NCS affairs at all levels of engagement in the past 12 years.
Ispon also said that it has had expert contribution and wise counsel leading to several ground breaking and innovative ideas that have led to the advancement of the NCS in no small measure.
“Ispon, as a founding member of NCS and national advocate of software Nigeria at her recent council meeting has endorsed the personality of a seasoned software professional in the person of Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, the former country manager, Microsoft Nigeria for the esteemed office of the President of Nigeria Computer Society” the association said.
Mba-Uzoukwu , is presently secretary general of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria and as a Fellow of NCS and managing director of InfoGraphics Nigeria Ltd, has severally been recognized for pioneering many innovative solutions especially in multimedia technology as a strategic tool for business growth.
Through Microsoft best-practices, InfoGraphics was awarded two prestigious awards – the 2005 Microsoft Partner of the Year for Enterprise Solutions and Regional Partner of the Year (Nigeria/Ghana).
Global recognition inevitably followed with the Regional Winner, Microsoft Worldwide Partner 2006 Awards and most recently with Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year 2010 Award to consolidate its position as a foremost software design firm in the country and the leading Information Worker and Collaborative Portals solutions provider in West Africa.
Mba-Uzoukwu is also chairman of eShekels Nigeria, an ICT research and market intelligence company and First Principles Consulting, a business process and automation firm.
He is on the board of several other organisations including Nigeria’s leading media monitoring agency, Content and Compliance Monitoring Limited (CCM).
Mba-Uzoukwu has served as a key adviser to governments on Information Ecology and Strategic IT e.g.
Member, Presidential Taskforce on Cybercrime and Cyber-Security. Member, Board of Trustees and Secretary, Technical Sub-Committee of the Nigeria Software Development Initiative (2006).
Technical Adviser , Inter-Ministerial Committee on Microsoft Africa Global Leaders Forum (2009). Member, National Software Policy Committee (NSPC) (2010).
Member, Ministerial Committee, National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy(2012).
Member, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Working Group on collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
Mba-Uzoukwu is a notable public speaker at numerous local and international events on a diverse range of topics including: “Software Process and Product Improvement” – 28th July, 2011, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) 10th International Conference, ITePED 2011 Abuja.
“Digital Media and the new Central Bank”, CBN 2013 Content Managers’ Retreat, Enugu. Financing The Development of IT Local Content Product And Services Global Best Practices, e-Nigeria 2012, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Speaker/Facilitator, NNPC Strategy Review Retreat. Nicon Luxury. Abuja. 10th – 12th December 2010 Local Content in ICT Development in Nigeria, e-Nigeria 2012. The Creative Industry – an Exemplar of Innovation as a National Capability, The BOBTV Conference, Sheraton Towers, Abuja, March 2012.
Interactive Media in an Era of Broadband -Capitalising on the Many Dimensions of Convergence for Explosive Growth”, The BOBTV Conference on New Media, New Ideas, New Possibilities, Sheraton Towers, Abuja, March 2011. considerations on digital media for a renascent Nigeria, BOBTV Conference Sheraton Towers, Abuja, March 2010.
Microsoft in Nigeria: Catalysing and Partnering to Build the New Economy; e-Nigeria 2008. Internet Governance – Where is Nigeria?, 27th November 2008,National Workshop On Internet Governance , National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.
Mba-Uzoukwu has also in the past served variously as Chairman, NISE 2006 Planning Committee Organising Committee, Chairman, NCS Working Group on 2012 NCS -Shell Workshop Technical Committee Meeting, amongst others in addition to his current duties as General Secretary, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).
He is a Fellow of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), a Council Member of the Institute of Software practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and a member of Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).
E-Business
Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

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.
E-Business
BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.
He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.
“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.
Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.
He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.
“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.
He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.
According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.
He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.
Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.
He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.
Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.
Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.
E-Business
FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.
He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.
“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.
“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.
He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.
In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.
The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.
Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.
It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.
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