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E-Business

Kaspersky Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility in First ESG Report

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In its first Sustainability (ESG) report, Kaspersky revealed projects and initiatives implemented to reduce its carbon footprint, narrow the gender gap, and continue to educate the public about the basics of cybersecurity.

The report, released in accordance with the GRI and SASB international standards, focuses on the results of the company’s sustainable development for 2021 and the first six months of 2022.

Building a safe and sustainable digital world has been Kaspersky’s main goal for a quarter of a century. At the same time, the company has been focused on creating positive long-term change by continuously implementing socially significant activities to ensure that a safer tomorrow is more sustainable too.

The company’s Sustainability report is grounded on five key areas of sustainable development: safer cyberworld, ethics and transparency, future tech, people empowerment, and safer planet.

“Implementing a sustainability strategy is an integral step for us as a company that strives to make the world better. Kaspersky sees the fulfillment of its mission first of all in making the digital space more resilient to threats by building Cyber Immunity.

However, being a global socially responsible company, we cannot ignore a need to tackle challenges, which include reducing our carbon footprint, tackling the lack of cybersecurity basics and cyber-hygiene, narrowing the gender gap and leading transparency in cybersecurity.

We believe that business’ contribution to building a sustainable agenda is essential, and only by uniting efforts we can ensure a better tomorrow for future generations,” commented Maria Losyukova, Head of Sustainability.

Reducing the negative impact on the environment

Kaspersky supports the industry’s trend on continuous adoption of Electronic Software Distribution (ESD): the company has halved its production of tangible products and has been driving digital sales, which has a lower impact on the environment.

In addition, by implementing a more conscious business trip organisation process and decreasing their overall number, the amount of air emissions was reduced by 81% between 2019 and 2021.

Moreover, the company maintains energy savings of its data centers and uses only modern power consumption and power supply technologies in its equipment. Kaspersky also has a number of internal initiatives in different business units focused on developing a more responsible approach to environmental issues.

These include holding educational activities about carbon footprint minimisation, switching to more sustainable marketing materials, setting up more eco-effective office infrastructure, and recycling activities for employees aimed at gathering waste fractions that are not subject to household processing.

Taking care of the employees and nurturing new talents

People are the most valuable asset of the company, which is why Kaspersky does everything possible for the team to thrive.

In 2022, the Employee Net Promoter Score® (eNPS) that measures employee satisfaction within the organisation has increased and amounted to 53% in total.

During the reporting period, the company has constantly been expanding its portfolio of internal courses for employees, offering more than 100 professional development courses. Over 40% of employees have already taken up this opportunity by taking at least one course.

Moreover, Kaspersky has a highly diversified corporate volunteer program, which enables its employees to engage in socially responsible activities, including fundraising, pro bono work, blood donations, and sports activities.

In addition, the company continued to work on promoting a diverse workforce and reducing the gender imbalance: 26% of the company’s employees are women, of which 17% work in R&D.

This lines up with the employment distribution in the rest of the industry. The company’s goal is to further inspire women to pursue careers in IT.

Furthermore, Kaspersky is investing in nurturing new talent by maintaining the development of the company’s educational division, Kaspersky.Academy, which has over 100 partner universities around the globe.

It is also continuing to organise the Secur’IT Cup, a student competition of cybersecurity projects in which more than 6,000 students from all over the world have participated since 2018.

Maintaining users’ trust

Ensuring maximum transparency with regards to products, internal and business processes is a vital element in digital security.

Kaspersky has been following a comprehensive approach to user data privacy, consisting of employee training and standardisation of data handling in each country where its users are present.

Every year since 2019, the company has certified its data management systems to the ISO/IEC 27001 international standard, confirming their high level of protection.

Moreover, Kaspersky continued to make additional efforts within the Global Transparency Initiative, and opened three more Transparency centers in the reporting period. There customers can review the company’s source code.

Kaspersky also relocated cyberthreat related data-processing for users in APAC, Latin America and the Middle East to Switzerland. Overall, the company has invested $5.6 million since 2018 in building a data infrastructure in Switzerland.

Keeping up the fight for secure tomorrow

Kaspersky has been continuously contributing to the global fight against cybercrime by cooperating with international law enforcement agencies and intergovernmental organisations.

During the reporting period, Kaspersky participated in around 30 joint cybersecurity events with stakeholders all over the world, and helped to disrupt a high-profile cybercriminal gang by sharing threat intelligence information and technical expertise.

Kaspersky has also been working to educate and protect those in need constantly, developing special courses such as TRAPEZE, an educational course aimed at teaching the older generation, and DeStalk for female victims of domestic violence, supported by the European Commission.


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Minister Seeks Digital Tech Adoption to Improve Agriculture, Boost Food Security

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The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has called for the urgent adoption of digital technology in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to boost food production, curb rising prices, and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.

Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta at the Ogun Tech Forward Innovation & Startups Roundtable session, Tijani stressed that Nigeria’s vast arable land and large population could only be effectively harnessed through technological intervention.

He warned that without embracing innovation, traditional farming practices would remain inefficient and expensive, putting food security at risk.

“Technology innovation has already contributed 16 to 18 per cent, but we are aiming for 21 per cent. We need to introduce our technology into agriculture to produce enough food to feed ourselves

“Without technology, countries like Nigeria cannot practise agriculture effectively. We have the vast land, but without technology, we won’t do it well,” the minister said.

Tijani noted that the continuous rise in food prices and the country’s dependence on foreign exchange to import grains that can be grown locally is unsustainable.

He emphasised that leveraging tools such as mobile apps, drones, sensors, and data analytics could transform Nigeria’s farming landscape by enabling precision agriculture and providing real-time insights on soil conditions, pest control, crop health, and intruder detection.

He maintained that the deployment of such technologies would not only enhance farming efficiency and sustainability but also lead to higher yields, lower production costs, and ultimately, more affordable food for Nigerians.

The minister also made a broader case for inclusive innovation across the country, cautioning that Nigeria’s technological future cannot be shaped by a few urban centres alone.

He said the federal government would support emerging tech ecosystems, especially in states like Ogun, to ensure grassroots participation in the digital economy.

Tijani declared, “We can’t leave innovation in the hands of just a few cities. Every part of Nigeria, including towns and rural areas, must be part of the digital journey. The more people we carry along, the stronger we become as a country.”

Tijani, however, revealed that the federal government would back Ogun Tech Hub’s initiative aimed at creating 300 jobs through business process outsourcing as part of a broader vision to transform Nigerian states into ‘talent cities’.

He said, “If we don’t invest in our own people, we’ll keep depending on others for solutions. We must create space for local ideas to grow and become real businesses.”

The minister further called for the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones into key sectors, particularly agriculture, while advocating for the adoption of generative AI in education to support personalised, accessible learning across communities.

In his remarks, the President of the Ogun Tech Community, Adekunle Durosinmi, called on the federal government to provide strategic support to accelerate the growth of the state’s digital ecosystem.

He urged the minister to facilitate the establishment of a functional innovation hub and a permanent secretariat to nurture local startups.

Durosinmi highlighted the critical role Ogun State plays in Nigeria’s economic framework, describing it as a major industrial hub and strategic transport corridor linking Lagos with the rest of the country and West Africa.

He said that with 57 per cent of its 7.1 million projected population in the working-age category, Ogun State possesses immense potential for digital innovation, job creation, and youth development.

“Ogun State is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in technology and entrepreneurship. We have more than 29 tertiary institutions—more than any other state in the country—which makes us a natural home for innovation,” he said.

Since its launch in February 2022 and formal registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Durosimi stated that the Ogun Tech Community has organised various initiatives aimed at strengthening digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and grassroots tech engagement.

He noted that the community has created 19 active clusters, ranging from developers and mentors to women in tech and agritech specialists, all working together to drive inclusive growth in the tech space.

He reiterated the community’s alignment with the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2024, stressing that its programmes, governance structure, and advocacy are geared toward promoting digital literacy, supporting startups and SMEs, encouraging e-government services, and fostering responsible digital innovation.

He also stressed that collaboration between government, industry, academia, and the tech ecosystem is key to achieving national development goals.

He expressed appreciation for Tijani’s presence at the roundtable, describing it as a clear indication of the federal government’s commitment to inclusive innovation.

“We want to see such solutions replicated across the country. To accelerate this, we need your support. Ogun urgently needs a fully functioning physical secretariat and, importantly, a dedicated innovation hub to nurture and grow even more startups,” he said.

 


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NOTAP, REVASS Ink Agreement to Strengthen Tech Compliance

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National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has signed an agreement with Revass System limited to strengthen technology acquisition compliance through its regulatory framework and boost sustainable capacity in the country.

NOTAP, REVASS Ink Agreement to Strengthen Tech Compliance

Speaking during the signing of the agreement in Abuja, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general and chief executive officer, NOTAP, said that the agreement is to reinforce NOTAP’s core mission of ensuring that technology imported into the Country serves the broader interest particularly in advancing local content development, nurturing indigenous capabilities and ensuring sustainable job creation.

In a statement made available to journalists by Raymond Ogbu, assistant chief information officer, NOTAP,  the DG said that the major purpose of the agreement was for Revass Systems limited to design, develop, deploy and manage a secure and efficient digital revenue collection system for NOTAP that will be in compliance with NOTAP Act, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN financial guidelines, NITDA policies, and other applicable Nigerian laws.

The DG said that the app should enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in revenue collection and management as well as build the capacity of NOTAP staff through structured training and technology transfer initiatives.

Dr. Amadiobi stated that the agreement reflects a strategic approach to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and technological independence by ensuring that every technology transferred into the country delivers tangible value to Nigerians.

“This partnership represents a pivotal step in ensuring that technologies coming into Nigeria are not only in compliance with Nigerian laws but also aligned with the country’s developmental priorities”.

“The goal of the agency is to ensure that every agreement NOTAP registers, contributes meaningfully to critical skills development, job creation and growth of local enterprises” she said.

The Director General reaffirmed that the milestone is in consonance with the strategic vision of the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy driven by local capabilities, productive collaborations, and build globally competitive talents.

“No meaningful developments could happen in critical areas of our economy without the deployment of technology hence the office is making every effort to deploy technology in all its operations to ensure efficient and timely service delivery” she added.

 


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NEPC, NBS Sign MoU on Data Capturing

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Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate data collection from Informal Cross Border Trade.

NEPC, NBS Sign MoU on Data Capturing

Nonye Ayeni, executive director/CEO of NEPC, at the signing ceremony held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital said the event marked a major turning point in Nigeria’s quest to grow its export trade through the capturing of data in the informal sector.

“Existing trade data primarily capture activities within the formal sector, offering limited visibility into informal export trade transactions, despite their significant volume and economic impact. In 2024, formal export trade records indicate that 7.291 million metric tons of non-oil products valued at US$5.456 billion, were exported from Nigeria. This figure excludes informal export trade data”, she added.

She stated that the Informal cross-border trade is not just a distant, peripheral activity but real trade that fuels livelihoods, strengthens regional supply chains, and contributes significantly to our national and continental economic resilience.

According to her, “Informal export trade representing millions of dollars in goods and services has remained largely outside our official records. Informal export trade data collected by NEPC State offices from major corridors in Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Lagos, Ogun, and Adamawa reveal transactions valued at over $31.8 million in some months of 2024”.

Ayeni disclosed that reports from the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), shows that over 1.6 million bags worth of the commodity were traded informally to neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Cote D Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, and Niger Republic.

The NEPC boss pointed out that these impressive achievements were not captured in the national export trade statistics thus portending real implications for economic planning for the country.

“It weakens Nigeria’s voice in regional and global trade negotiations, it denies informal traders the recognition and support they need to thrive as well as diminishes Nigeria’s economic potential, especially the vital contributions of women, youth, and MSMEs”.

Ayeni explained that the collaboration between the Council and the NBS was borne out of the desire to correct the imbalance and capture the full spectrum of Nigeria’s export trade activity.

Adeyemi Adeniran, statistician general of the Federation, noted that the meeting of key players from national and sub-national agencies, regional institutions, international development partners, and the organized private sector, reflects the strong spirit of collaboration required to address one of the most pressing challenges in Nigeria’s trade data architecture, capturing and integrating data from informal trade and trade in services into the national framework.

Adeniran was of the view that the data gap severely impedes evidence-based policymaking, limits capacity to engage in fair trade negotiations, and undermines the accuracy of  macroeconomic indicators adding that traditional trade measurement systems have long focused on formal, large-scale transactions while overlooking the vibrancy of informal trade routes.

He disclosed that informal trade in Sub-Saharan Africa contributes between 20 to 40 per cent of intra-African trade, with Nigeria accounting for a significant share due to its long and porous borders.

“These are not just gaps in data, rather, they represent gaps in our understanding of economic life and the well-being of millions of Nigerians who engage in these activities daily”, he said

Adeniran said the collaboration with NEPC, presents a timely opportunity to update and harness current trends, identify new opportunities, and design data-informed strategies to support trade formalization, enhance competitiveness, and ultimately foster inclusive economic growth.

“Capturing informal trade data will also help us design smarter border policies, enhance food security, facilitate small and medium enterprise development, and monitor regional integration efforts,” he added.

 


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