E-Business
Microsoft Nigeria, Nokia Collaborate to Launch 9jApps Contest
Microsoft Nigeria in partnership with Nokia Nigeria, today has formally declared open its 9jApps contest, a challenge designed to empower local developers to take advantage of Microsoft’s new tools and resources by developing locally appealing and locally-relevant apps for the Windows platform, utilizing Visual Studio 2012 and the Windows Phone SDK in addition to the Windows Azure SDK.
The 9jApps contest is billed to run for 3 months teeing-off in the month of March and climaxing at the end of June, 2013.
This contest is timed to have great impact on our next generation developer audiences by being aligned to the launch of the 4Africa Initiative Pan-Africa, and this will drive innovation and grow the local software economy, which is one of the key initiatives under the innovation pillar of the Africa Plan.
Through this, and as part of the commitments announced earlier this year through the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, Microsoft is creating platforms for Inspiring Nigerian Developers – Students, Entrepreneurs, Independent developers – to create the next generation of amazing apps on the Windows Platform.
At the press briefing to get the project off the ground, Emmanuel Onyeje, country manager, Microsoft Nigeria said,” Nigeria is blessed with enormous talents and Microsoft is giving our developers an opportunity to explore their potentials”.
Disclosing the rationale for the project, Shina Oyetosho, Developer and Platform Evangelism Lead, Microsoft Nigeria, said: “Microsoft through its 4Afrika initiative is bent on encouraging competitors to take the next step to publish their apps, whilst making some revenue from it”.
While fielding questions from journalists at the event, Shina explained, the entries criteria for the contest would be judged by competitors who meet the following conditions:
• Apps entries should be in the respective stores (Windows 8 or Windows Phone) by 14 June 2013.
• Apps published and available in store before the contest period are not eligible to participate.
• Apps developed for the Windows Phone platform must be compatible with low-end Windows devices.
And Prizes to be won in both categories of the contest includes:
Windows 8 Apps Category:
• Grand Prize: 2012/2013 KIA Rio automobile
• Second Prize: NGN750, 000 cash
• Third Prizes: A Windows 8 device each (X5)
While, Windows phone Category:
• Grand Prize: NGN750, 000
• Second Prize: NGN500, 000
• Third Prize: A Windows Phone 8 device (X5)
Speaking on the partnership, Partner Manager, Developer Experience, Nokia, West Africa, Mr Olumide Balogun noted that Nokia is thrilled to partner with Microsoft, to bring the 9ja apps competition to both students and independent developers. We are looking forward to some great solutions on the phone side leveraging both Microsoft WP and our Lumia devices capabilities to deliver locally relevant apps that we can export to the world.
9japps contest is a Microsoft initiative aimed at fostering innovation and creating personality around developers and their apps, in collaboration with Nokia, Dell and CCHub Nigeria. Competitors have until 14 June 2013, 23:59:59 GMT to submit their entries in both categories.
E-Business
INEC Sets Up AI Division to Strengthen Electoral System

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its ICT Department.
This marks a significant stride toward enhancing electoral integrity, efficiency, and innovation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
This decision was reached at the Commission’s regular weekly meeting held in Abuja, following a series of consultations and engagements on the global and continental impact of AI on elections.
In a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC underscored that the growing relevance of AI in electoral matters necessitated a proactive institutional framework to manage both the risks and opportunities it presents.
“Our interactions with electoral bodies across Africa highlighted both the risks of AI—such as fake news and content manipulation—and the vast potential it holds for data-driven decision-making, risk mitigation, automated voter services, and geo-spatial intelligence for logistics,” Olumekun noted.
According to him, the newly created division will centralise the Commission’s AI efforts, ensuring a harmonized approach to deploying intelligent systems that enhance decision-making, improve voter engagement, and boost the credibility of the electoral process.
“The creation of this division puts the Commission at the forefront of institutionalizing AI capabilities in electoral management.
It is also part of our ongoing reforms in areas where administrative action is sufficient to drive change,” he said.
He added that the AI Division will help INEC better coordinate its existing technological investments while providing safeguards against the misuse of AI technologies.
“We are positioning ourselves to maximise the positive impact of AI while mitigating its negative implications. This step strengthens the credibility and transparency of elections in Nigeria,” Olumekun concluded.
The initiative, INEC emphasised, reflects its commitment to embracing innovation in safeguarding democracy and improving electoral services nationwide.
E-Business
CAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has unveiled a new Application Programming Interface (API) integration system to allow private firms access company data from the Commission’s database.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), registrar general of CAC, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling said the system would give selected private organizations access to CAC services through technology-based companies, called “super agents.”
“This is a practical step to show that the Commission is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” he said.
Magaji explained that the integration allows the agents to retrieve data from the CAC database for use in specific client requests, outside the standard services provided by the Commission.
“Before now, only a few government agencies had this integration, especially those involved in investigations, anti-money laundering, and terrorism financing. Now, private companies that meet the criteria can also access it,” he said.
He said the system complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth may be restricted.
“This is a call to law firms and companies with the right technology. We’ve started with NIPS because of their credibility. Embassies and banks can now authenticate company records directly through them.”
“There are prescribed fees. We already collect them on our portal, and now customers can also pay through these agents,” he explained.
He named NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE as some of the companies involved.
“OPE and MoneyPoint handle only registrations. But NIPS has moved further into validation and verification,” he said.
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at NIBSS, who represented Premier Oiwoh, managing director, said the service allows secure and efficient data verification.
“This is the result of years of effort to connect our systems with CAC. It will help users verify data within the limits of data protection laws,” she said.
She said the move is a way to lower costs and promote interoperability across the financial sector.
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.
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