E-Business
ISPON Wants 70% Software Budget Spent on Local Solutions

The next battle field for globalization will be of constructive National Policies and Strategies on software, digital Security and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoTs), said Mr. Olorogun James Emadoye, president of the Institute of Software Practitioner of Nigeria (ISPON).
Other sensitive areas, he said, include, but not limited to: Empowering the Youth and the New Creative Class; Understanding and Classifying Software as essential products such as Food & Drugs; Devote great interest to promoting Digital Games with African Content; Engaging and facilitating Access to Mobile Broadband technology/IPv6 and reduce the unavoidable Africa e-Culture Shock of 21st Century.
In lieu with the drives, ISPON President said that President Mohammad Buhari will be doing his government great good by ensuring that the 70% of the over 15Billion Naira budgeted in 2016 for Computer Software Acquisition is spent only on software produced by Nigerians and Nigerian companies.
“The concept of fear and/or ignorance of Technology and Information Technology in particular (in top government policy-makers and informed citizens) have become a critical factor for the advocacy of e-readiness for the financial transaction Ecosystem.
“Government-to-Government (G2G) process automation is fundamental to the actualization of the objectives set forth in our National Economic Empowerment Development Plans; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
“These plans are focused on how Government-to-Citizen (G2C) interface can grossly benefit the citizenry. Above all, G2G is critically essential to facilitate and accelerate the transformation and enhancement of the vital component of Government-to-Business (G2B) processes.
“President Mohammad Buhari will be doing his government great good by ensuring that the 70% of the over 15Billion Naira budgeted in 2016 for Computer Software Acquisition is spent only on software produced by Nigerians and Nigerian companies.
“This will ensure that the over 65% of our population who are Youth benefit greatly and shall serve as the tunic and pathway from the current recession”, he said.
Speaking on “Nigeria At 56 Which Way”, Emadoye recalled that the United Kingdom (U.K) has introduced coding into the national school curriculum; the Department for Education said its aim was to prepare children for ‘life in modern Britain’ the first G20 country to take this step.
“The clock is clicking and the time can no longer wait for a people who are not ready to take their destiny seriously. It is in the light of the above that I humbly wish to recommend to the Nigeria government as follows: E-Government skill acquisition should be made mandatory for all government policy makers, strategists and Political Leaders to drive social inclusiveness.
“And readiness for e-Everything; establishment of software development fund through the Bank of Industry (BOI) to be administer by the BOI at an interest rate/management fees less than 5% for Software companies and professionals towards developing capacity, attaining standardization and packaging made in Nigeria software to international standards and establishment of special State IT-Innovation Research Laboratories on Indigenous Software Development and Future Technologies and Embedded Systems – focused on Internet of Things (IoT.).
He said that ISPON also believes it’s high time National Software Development Fund (NSDF) be established, to build and estimated 500,000 Developers in 3 years) as large scale IT Workforce, as well as empower Entrepreneurs, Startups, and IT Professionals.
“We also recommend for the establishment of a standing special curriculum drafting committee for primary, secondary and tertiary level of education in Nigeria the committee should constantly retool the curriculums and finally, State should retool all lecturers and civil servants to deliver digital dividend through inclusiveness in the emerging information society (IS)”.
The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), is the Industry-Professional body for Indigenous Software Developers and Practitioners in Nigeria.
ISPON was established in 1999 with the aim of creating an enabling environment for local content developers to thrive locally and internationally.
The Body has been in the forefront of championing the advocacy for the application and utilization of locally developed software in order to boost our economy, GDP and give Nigeria an alternative to Oil as a revenue earner.
E-Business
FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior’s said the initiative forms a key part of its ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency, and significantly improving service delivery to the public.
The new digital platform is designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround times and improved user experience.
The platform allows users to apply for and manage business permits, ensuring that both local and foreign businesses operate legally in Nigeria.
It includes an Expatriate Quota System to manage work permits for foreign employees, helping companies hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
The Citizenship Administration and Management System provides a streamlined online process for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related services.
Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are expected to access the platform through the ministry’s website: https://interior.gov.ng , Direct Portal Access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng , or contact candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support and inquiries.
“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement read in part.
E-Business
NITDA, CISCO Empower Youth with Digital Skills

Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeria’s digital future. “This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she remarked.
According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.
Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion—ensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy. It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.
At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.
E-Business
Cyberattack Could Cost it Up to $400m – Coinbase

Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.
While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.
Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.
Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.
The company has fired those involved, it said.
Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.
Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.
“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.
“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”
The SEC declined to comment.
The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.
Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.
In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.
“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.
Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.
“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.
Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.
The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.
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