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Metaverse, Future of Work Among Disruptive Tech to Shape 2022
While connectivity, digital transformation and telemedicine dominated 2021, this year is expected to be shaped by the metaverse and the future of work.
This is according to data and analytics company GlobalData’s “Tech, Media & Telecom Predictions: 2022” report, which identifies the top 30 themes impacting the tech, media and telecoms (TMT) industry.
GlobalData describes a theme as anything that keeps a CEO up at night. Its focus on themes aims to give companies an opportunity to invest in the right areas in their industries to become success stories, notes the firm.
During a webinar presentation of the TMT Predictions 2022 yesterday, GlobalData analysts offered a deep dive into eight of the 30 themes, namely environmental, social and governance (ESG), metaverse, the future of work, quantum computing, space economy, crypto-currency, batteries, and mergers and acquisitions.
“Technology is making it even easier for new entrants to disrupt even the most established businesses, so investment in the right themes is key to a company’s success,” says Emilio Campa, analyst on the Thematic Team at GlobalData.
Top among GlobalData’s TMT Predictions 2022 is the metaverse.
Though the metaverse may not yet be fully realised, early prototypes and use cases will emerge as tech companies strengthen their metaverse capabilities and start-ups develop solutions around data visualisation, collaboration and training, says the report.
According to Emma Taylor, GlobalData’s thematic analyst, the metaverse has the potential to transform how people work, shop, learn, communicate, socialise and consume content.
Taylor comments that big tech will increasingly invest in the metaverse in 2022.
Last year, she notes, there were significant investments made in the metaverse. In April 2021, Epic Games announced a $1 billion funding round to develop the metaverse platform within Fortnite. More recently, in November 2021, SoftBank Group announced it was investing $150 million in a South Korean metaverse platform.
She explains: “The metaverse is attracting significant media attention, including predictions that it will form the next incarnation of the internet. As such, competition will intensify as the tech titans battle for market dominance and non-tech brands explore how metaverses could deliver operational improvements.”
Taylor anticipates game publishers such as EA and Tencent will also join the metaverse development race. “GlobalData estimates cloud gaming alone will generate $30 billion in revenue by 2030.”
In addition, enterprises are expected to be the prime market for metaverse developers in 2022, she states. “New use cases will emerge as Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta and HTC strengthen their metaverse capabilities, and start-ups develop specific solutions around data visualisation, collaboration and training.
“The big players will engage in key mergers and acquisitions to bolster their metaverse offerings.”
According to Taylor, the use of augmented and virtual reality will be integral in the metaverse.
The metaverse is loosely defined as an extensive online world where people interact via digital avatars. Companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) have announced plans to develop metaverse experiences, services and hardware.
GlobalData analyst Rachel Jones points out that it’s no surprise ESG remains the major theme for 2022.
According to Jones, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) brought climate action to the forefront of the political agenda, where discussions regarding climate inaction were debated.
Jones says ESG will be discussed in all corporate boardrooms throughout 2022, with GlobalData predicting ESG disclosures will be an expectation in 2022.
“The role of the private sector in assisting the transition to a low carbon economy is becoming increasingly prominent thanks to the exposure created by COP26.”
GlobalData is of the view that commitment to the SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) and Amazon’s The Climate Pledge will accelerate in 2022, Jones noted during the webinar presentation.
“Where companies pledge climate action, they will win stakeholder approval, which can therefore drive a competitive advantage.”
GlobalData predicts there will be a regulatory crackdown on big tech, especially regarding how they manage misinformation and online harm, says Jones.
Therefore, companies that disclose their ESG policies effectively and actively improve their ESG are the winners in this theme. Those that don’t will lose out, she expresses.
“Governance is a key issue in the tech sector as they [big tech companies] repeatedly evaded accountability for things such as data breaches, fake news and online abuse, which has persistently spread across the various social media platforms. However, it seems the time of this regulatory Wild West is up.”
Turning to the future of work, GlobalData’s Amrit Dhami notes hybrid working will remain commonplace in 2022, as workers enjoy the flexibility and lack of a commute.
“Companies must be flexible to retain and attract top talent,” Dhami says. “The gig economy will also continue to expand, catalysed by COVID-19 lockdowns and the explosion of quick commerce.
“However, the gig economy model will become increasingly unsustainable, due to landmark regulatory changes across Europe, classifying more and more gig workers as employees rather than independent contractors.”
According to GlobalData analyst Dan Clarke, the US and Europe will work to consolidate their own lithium-ion battery supply chains in 2022.
US manufacturers in the transportation equipment, electronics and chemicals industries will re-shore production due to concerns over electronic vehicle battery production and domestic semiconductor supply.
Says Clarke: “Batteries are crucial in digital technology, renewable energy and electric vehicles, three areas that are important now and will be increasingly important in the future. There is also likely to be a lot of vertical integration next year, where automakers move into building batteries or processing plants, or simply securing long-term partnerships as Tesla and Panasonic have done.”
The GlobalData report indicates that decentralised finance (DeFi) will disrupt traditional financial institutions and is set to be the killer use case of crypto-currency.
“Start-ups will lead DeFi platform innovations with retail investors as the primary targets. Institutional bodies will catch up with the trend through the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currencies and the adoption of stablecoins.”
The cyber security industry will develop quantum-resistant encryption before RSA codes are broken, notes the report. However, future quantum computers could break secure communications captured today. “Therefore, companies will implement quantum security solutions in 2022.”
In terms of the space economy, the report reveals the expansion of satellite networks will provide almost 70% of the space economy’s growth in the near term, facilitating larger aspirations.
“Plans for space business parks from aerospace leaders will see commercial actors have a more sustained presence in space, signalling a commercial infrastructure boom in the longer term.”
In a bold step toward gender equality in STEM, the Tosin Eniolorunda Foundation, alongside Moniepoint Group and the Association of Professional Women in Engineering (APWEN) Ile-Ife chapter, held a financial literacy workshop at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
Cross section of guests and participants at the Financial Literacy initiative which was held on the campus of the OAU, Ile-Ife.
Organized as part of International Women’s Day (IWD) activities, the event aimed to equip over 250 female STEM students with essential financial skills to thrive in their careers and personal lives.
Aligning with this year’s IWD theme, “Accelerate Action,” the initiative focused on dismantling systemic barriers such as unequal pay, restricted education opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership, while fostering confidence and ambition among women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The event is part of the foundation’s wider efforts to advance STEM education in Nigeria. Recently, it donated a state-of-the-art CAD/CAM laboratory to OAU, underscoring its commitment to innovation and inclusivity in critical fields.
Tosin Eniolorunda, OAU alumnus and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc., highlighted the importance of financial literacy as a cornerstone for financial inclusion. He referenced Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data showing that only 38% of Nigerian adults are financially literate, stressing the urgency of addressing this gap.
“Financial literacy is vital for empowering young women pursuing STEM careers. It enables them to make informed decisions about education, professional development, and entrepreneurship,” said Eniolorunda.
Key university figures, including the Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Prof. Lasisi Umoru, and APWEN Ile-Ife Coordinator, Prof. Mrs. Bello Sururah, attended the event. Prof. Omotayo Aregbesola delivered an inspiring keynote lecture titled “Now and Beyond: Excelling as Females in STEM.”
The workshop concluded with a dynamic session on financial literacy strategies, led by Yomi Ojute, Learning and Development Specialist at Moniepoint Inc. Attendees left with actionable insights and tools to take control of their finances and future.
This initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration in breaking down gender barriers, inspiring a new generation of female STEM leaders, and building a more inclusive future for Nigeria.
In a significant move to safeguard Nigeria from potential fraud, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has led a team of senior lawyers to represent the Federal Government at a Supreme Court hearing over the Petro Union Oil and Gas Limited case.
The development marks the first time the Federal Government was represented at such a high level since the little-known company secured a judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja for £2.556 billion.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had concluded in its investigation report that Petro Union obtained the judgment by allegedly using a Barclays Bank UK cheque to draw from an account closed five years before it was presented.
The anti-graft agency’s finding led to the ongoing prosecution of the oil company’s directors before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The directors, Prince Kingsley Okpala, Prince Chidi Okpalaeze, Prince Emmanuel Okpalaeze, and Abayomi Kukoyi (trading as Gladstone Kukoyi & Associates), are facing a 13-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, and fraud before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
Chief Fagbemi’s appearance in the controversial case is particularly notable because it demonstrates the Federal Government’s resolve to fight the March 11, 2014, court order, which directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Union Bank of Nigeria, the Minister of Finance, and the Attorney-General to jointly pay Petro Union the judgment amount along with 15 per cent interest per annum.
During the March 17, 2025 proceedings, Chief Fagbemi led a team of lawyers, including Mohammed Gazali (SAN), a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, and other lawyers representing the Federal Government and its agencies.
Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) led the legal team for Union Bank, while the CBN’s legal representation was headed by Damian Dodo (SAN) alongside Mrs. Olabisi Soyebo (SAN) and others.
Chief Awomolo argued an application to amend the Notice of Appeal by adding eight additional Grounds of Appeal.
While the AGF and the CBN’s lawyers supported the motion, Petro Union’s legal team opposed it.
After listening to arguments on the matter from the lawyers, the Supreme Court reserved its ruling for a later date to be communicated to the parties.
The judgment sum against the Federal Government, CBN, and Union Bank now stands at over £15 billion, including interest—exceeding 50% of Nigeria’s foreign reserves.
Legal experts have compared this situation to the infamous $10 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) case.
The troubling events leading to this judgment began in 1994 when Petro Union allegedly fraudulently obtained a cheque worth £2.556 billion from a Barclays Bank branch in the UK.
The company presented this cheque at a Union Bank branch in Lagos, claiming it was for a contract related to refinery construction and the establishment of a bank.
Subsequent investigations by the CBN and Union Bank unveiled that the cheque, dated December 29, 1994, and drawn in favour of Gladstone Kukoyi & Associates, was confirmed by Barclays Bank to be counterfeit.
Barclays Bank had also indicated that Gazeaft Limited, the issuer of the bill of exchange, did not have an account with them and was not listed as a registered company in the UK.
Despite these findings, Petro Union and its agents persisted in their claims that Union Bank had received £2,556,000,000.00 on their behalf and had transferred £2,159,221,318.54 to the CBN while retaining £396,778,681.46. This led to court actions against the CBN and Union Bank based on these dubious claims.
In a concerning development, Petro Union managed to secure a judgment by presenting an alleged statement of account from the CBN, neglecting the fact that a Central Bank serves as a banker to the government and banks, not to individual companies or persons.
Following these proceedings, both the CBN and Union Bank filed appeals to overturn the judgment, particularly as evidence of fraudulent motives began to emerge during the ongoing criminal prosecution of Petro Union and its executives at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Additionally, information already presented to the Supreme Court suggests that Petro Union may have obtained the judgments at lower courts by allegedly providing evidence that appears to be based on falsehoods, forgery, misrepresentation of facts, and concealment.
Given Nigeria’s increasing debt profile, many observers are alarmed by the prospect of this additional £15 billion ‘debt’ looming over the nation. They are looking to the Supreme Court to deliver justice in this complex matter.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Dr Fene Osakwe on winning the Cyber Personality of the Year award at the 2025 Cyber Security Awards in the UK.
Dr Fene Osakwe
According to Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the President in a statement, Dr Osakwe is the chairman of the Lagos State Cybersecurity Advisory Board and the first African to win in the Cyber Security Awards category.
He was recognised for his exceptional leadership, advocacy, and expertise in cybersecurity and data privacy, clinching the prize ahead of other finalists from the United States, the UAE, Qatar, the Netherlands, and the UK.
President Tinubu celebrates Dr Osakwe’s achievements, underscoring his immense contributions to cybersecurity and his efforts to evolve new horizons in the field.
The President described the 2025 Cyber Personality of the Year as an exceptional Nigerian and a worthy representation of Nigeria’s talented, innovative, and pace-setting youth.
While extolling the youth as Nigeria’s greatest asset, President Tinubu stated that Dr Osakwe’s nomination and subsequent win foreground the global impact of young African professionals in cybersecurity.
The President wished Dr Osakwe more success in his endeavours.
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