E-Business
Kano Makes History with eCommerce Project
Kano state has begun an eCommerce project; seen as a turning point in the history of commerce in the state and the Northern region of Nigeria and the state government and leading lights in the state are happy about it.
At the launch at Government house, Kano, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano state governor, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano State, and other Northern leaders, hailed the initiative.
Launched in collaboration with eTranzact International Plc, Africa’s leading provider of mobile banking and payments services; and Bizi Mobile; the Kano State eCommerce business improvement and empowerment project will kick off with a comprehensive registration of all the traders in Kano state at all levels, identifying their type of business, products and so on.
eTranzact International Plc, will be providing technology and business services that will provide an avenue for active participation of the private sector in economic development, create new job opportunities, empower the citizens and alleviate poverty in Kano state and northern Nigeria.
In the next phase, the project will see a gradual migration of traders to e-commerce in line with State Government’s drive to be the leading electronic payment/transaction State, to align with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless Policy initiatives.
In order to ensure that this project continues after the exit of the present administration, the governor announced that an edict of law in the state; Law No. 4 of 2014, mandates every trader to register his/her business in Kano State.
An electronic trader’s ID Card from the eTranzact team was also unveiled and certified by the Governor at the ceremony.
The ID Card will be compulsory for all traders and businesses in the state, and will also serve as a transaction card duly accepted on POS, ATM and the internet, and a companion for a Kano state customized version of eTranzact’s mobile money solution, PocketMoni.
In his remarks, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, executive governor of the State, explained that the biometric identity card was introduced for all business operators in Kano to enhance security, provide government with a database on business operators and enable traders to migrate to e-commerce, in line with best practices in the global business environment.
In this regard, he appealed to business enterprises and individuals operating in the state to cooperate with the state government on the project, in view of its importance to trade, investment and financial inclusion objectives of the state government.
Speaking at the unveiling of the project, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, said; “Education and health are the key areas that every responsible government should pay attention to, and inadequate focus on these sectors is responsible for the current security and economic challenges facing the country”.
The Emir, therefore, lauded the Kwankwaso-led administration for embarking on employment generation and infrastructural development programmes, assuring that the Kano Emirate Council will continue to work hand-in-hand with the government to achieve the set goals.
Also speaking about the project, Mr Sullivan Akala, executive director, Business Development, eTranzact International PLC said, “eTranzact is at the forefront of technological innovation in commerce and business, and we are proud to be able to offer our expertise and solutions to the government and good people of Kano state.
“Our key value proposition is the provision of a robust e-payment platform/service that cuts across the Web, POS, Cards and Mobile payments.
“We have been working on this unique solution for all level of government and businesses for a while, and we congratulate the Kano state government for being among the first set of states to come on board the initiative, setting the pace for other states that will be rolling out customized versions of the solution”.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mastercard to enhance data protection in Nigeria.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commissioner, NDPC and Derek Ho,deputy chief privacy officer, Mastercard
The agreement was sealed during a workshop where 150 Data Protection Officers (DPOs) were trained on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commissioner, NDPC, said the event kicks off activities for the 8th NADPA conference, highlighting government efforts to train more certified DPOs.
Olatunji also disclosed the Federal Government’s commitment to increasing the number of certified DPOs with the required skills to manage data protection.
He noted that Nigeria’s digital-savvy youth are key to driving this agenda.
“Human capital is really key to us, and the ecosystem we are regulating is very special. It is still new, still emerging, and we need all we can to build the capacity of officers.
“We want to build the capacity of our people so we can be able to deliver on our mandate and fully deepen privacy in Nigeria.
“We are targeting to build the capacity of 250,000 DPOs annually, and we are working with partners like Mastercard to achieve that,” he said.
Derek Ho,deputy chief privacy officer, Mastercard, also stressed the need for collaboration to build trust in the digital economy and urged participants to embrace training as data protection keeps evolving.
Central Securities Clearing System PLC (CSCS) has announced the launch of *7270#, its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code service, set to go live on May 8th, 2025.
The USSD code service is an innovative solution designed to enhance the ease and accessibility of investment services for all users.
Also, this service leverages the network capabilities of MTN Nigeria to bring unparalleled convenience to investors.
Driven by a relentless commitment to innovation, CSCS aims to revolutionize information access within the Nigerian capital market through this USSD code service.
As the Central Securities Depository (CSD), CSCS focuses on enhancing investor experiences and providing deeper market insights with unparalleled convenience.
The CSCS USSD code service offers seamless access to essential market information directly from mobile phones, eliminating the need for internet connectivity or specialized trading platforms.
Investors can now effortlessly retrieve Clearing House Number (CHN), check Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) status, view stock positions, account balances, and account status confirmations.
Haruna Jalo-Waziri, managing director/chief executive officer of CSCS, said ” We are excited to launch the *7270# USSD code service, a significant step in leveraging mobile technology to democratize access to account and portfolio information.
“This service empowers every investor, regardless of their location or resources, to stay informed about their investments. At CSCS, we believe that financial inclusivity is key to driving economic growth.
“Our partnership with MTN Nigeria on this project represents a significant leap toward a more inclusive financial landscape, leveraging the spread of the MTN network.
“This collaboration enhances the investing experience, reinforcing our shared commitment to empowering individuals with the tools they need to manage their financial futures effectively.” he added.
The CSCS USSD code service will initially be available to MTN users only. However, CSCS plans to expand this service to other networks soon.
This innovative service offers investors streamlined and secure access to critical market information at their fingertips.
Aisha Umar Mumuni, chief digital officer of MTN Nigeria, said, “This collaboration with CSCS on the *7270# USSD service underscores MTN’s commitment to harnessing the power of mobile technology to simplify complex processes for our users.
“By making critical investment information available at the touch of a button, we are helping to democratize access to the capital markets and, in the process, enhance investor engagement and market transparency,” she said.
CSCS continues to lead the way in technological advancements, reinforcing its position as a pivotal player in the Nigerian capital market ecosystem.
This initiative underscores our dedication to enhancing market efficiency and empowering investors with the tools they need for informed decision-making.
The need to maximise local digital assets, amid dwindling Oil revenues and a struggling economy, has been reiterated by the Chief Executive Officer of Quomodo Systems Africa, Oluwole Asalu, who maintained this measure remains the path to prosperity.
Asalu, while addressing the press in Lagos, recently asserted that global shift towards digital economies, presents a pivotal opportunity for Nigeria at this time to mobilise sufficient resources towards effective governance.
He emphasised harnessing the burgeoning local digital economy to expedite national diversification goals, while break away from overdependence on oil output.
Asalu, boasted further that Nigeria’s tech-savvy, youthful population and increasing recognition from global tech giants already position its digital sector as a driver of inclusive growth and job creation.
“Nigeria’s overreliance on oil is no longer tenable. As global markets shift towards renewable energy, the urgency to diversify has never been greater. Technology stands out as the most promising avenue, not merely as a sector, but as an enabler of growth across all facets of the economy,” he explained.
According to him, Nigeria’s tech talent remains the new oil, a renewable resource with the potential for significant returns, if strategically harnessed.
Like India’s successes in information technology services, Asalu want Nigeria to tap into lucrative outsourcing industry to draw foreign investment.
“Foreign investment in Nigeria’s tech sector is rising. Programmes like Digital Explorers have led European firms such as Telesoft to establish operations in Nigeria. Tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook have followed suit, injecting capital and creating jobs,” he stated.
He again pointed to the emergence of three unicorns within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem as a breakthrough and sign of maturity.
“Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is already showing signs of maturity, with three unicorns emerging from its soil. These success stories, powered by local innovation, underscore the viability of a home-grown, world-class tech sector,” he affirmed.
He however emphasized urgent need to close existing gap in skills and infrastructure, in addition to embracing governance and collaboration to fully harness digital potential cum future.
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