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E-Business

NOTAP DG Cautions Regulators on Policy Implementation

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Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Techologies (l) presenting award to Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) at the National Software Think Tank (NSOFT) cocktail held in Lagos last week.
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Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has cautioned regulators in the country to be firm in implementation of government policies for impact.

NOTAP DG Cautions Regulators on Policy Implementation

Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Techologies (l) presenting award to Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) at the National Software Think Tank (NSOFT) cocktail held in Lagos last week.

He said that government policies cannot deliver good results if regulators implementing such policies are not firm and greedy. “If regulators are not firm with government policies there is no way you can see impact of those policies,” he said.

Dr. Dan-Azumi, stated this at a cocktail organised in his honour by the National Software Think Tank (NSOFT) in Lagos. He reiterated how NOTAP started local vendor policy which is aimed at building capacity in software ecosystem. The vendor policy means that before any agreement on software is registered in NOTAP, there must be a Nigerian IT company involved in the deployment and maintenance of that software.

“It was a very bold initiative but not without resistance from many angles, the idea is that if Nigerian professions or talents are involved in the deployment and maintenance, original equipment manufacturers have no reason not to come and develop our talents. So, this software local vendor policy became fully entrenched and we insist that at no time will any agreement be registered without a local vendor company.

“We have had blackmails, threats among others, but it is a regulator, if you remain firm those companies coming into this country have no choice than to queue into the policy provided you are not greedy. If you are greedy they can compromise you and that is the end of any regulation.

“After our joint seminar with CWG Plc we discussed freely and found out that software is a sector that must have a deliberate policy not only to develop capacity but to ensure that the policy put in place will force the system to begin to materialise to what is known as locally developed software.

To this end, we set up a Think Tank committee that did a very thorough work. I must commend you, when I saw the quality of work that you produced, if we are able to work along that line I belief it is a matter of time Nigeria will be like India. With the quality of people we have what we need is the policy to strengthen the implementation of those recommendations, he noted.

In his remarks, Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Technologies, organiser of the Cocktail, said that no other sector can provide the strategic, prosperous and sustainable solution for Nigeria’s future, development, security and survivability other than software.

“Software is not just about information technology, but indeed the oxygen for human existence. Our entire life is an infinite genetic Code. That is the absolute significance of software ecosystem.

“The National software think tank (NSOFT) is a convergence of ICT expert group setup by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) as a significant fallout on the resolution of the 2-day ICT stakeholders roundtable on the application and use of software in the financial sector- jointly hosted in Lagos by NOTAP and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

“The main thrust of NSOFT is to advance a 5 year strategic plan to encourage adoption of indigenous software for the security and growth of the economy, build commensurate capabilities and capacities to alleviate the critical challenges of the indigenous software ecosystem and provide a formidable roadmap for the advancement, sustainable development and competitiveness of software Nigeria.

“Ultimately, this strategic plan aims at ensuring the provision of massive employment opportunities for millions of Nigerian youth, contribute to the GDP and become a viral export resource for wealth creation and national security,” he said.

According to him, “in the UNCTAD 2012 edition, special attention was given to the role of software capabilities in accelerating progress towards a more inclusive information society – with particular reference to developing economies including Nigeria”.

He outlined the key issues covered which included but not limited to the following;

  1. The link between software capabilities and development
  2. Critical and regional trends in production, spending, trade, investment, venture capital and employment in the software sector.
  3. The evolving ICT landscape and its impact on software production patterns
  4. Trends and implications related to free and open source software (FOSS)
  5. An analysis of the market orientation of software production in developing in countries.

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E-Business

Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan

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Nigerian government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity and clean up the nation’s cyberspace.

Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan

Recognizing that cybercrime knows no borders, Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering stronger global partnerships within the cybersecurity ecosystem.

This announcement was made during a press conference before the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja from July 9th to 11th, 2025.

Sa’ad Abubakar, national cybersecurity coordinator from the Office of National Security Advisor, said fighting cybercrime must take the whole of society and the whole of the government approach.

According to him, “Apart from the deterrent approach whereby government agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest individuals, take them to court and prosecute them, the youth can be nurtured into better citizens who can showcase their capacity in better ways and be useful to the country.”

Similarly, Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, NITDA,  also stressed the need for collaborative efforts in fighting cybercrimes.

According to him “Then, in addition to that, we also want to build a stronger global collaboration with the global cyber security ecosystem, because when you look at cybercrime in general, it doesn’t respect the borders.

“Someone can commit a crime from Ghana using a Nigerian ID in the US. So you can look at him physically in a different jurisdiction, pretending to be in another jurisdiction, committing the crime in another jurisdiction.

“So without that kind of synergy and working together, it will be difficult to address these challenges. The third one is challenge. The third one is getting an alternative to cybercrime for our kids in Nigeria. We have this as a major challenge.”

Inuwa further highlighted the upcoming conference’s importance, noting that it would tackle key issues through workshops, discussions on emerging threats, cross-border cybersecurity collaboration strategies, and training programmes.

He also announced that the National Cybersecurity Conference 2025 would feature the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, recognising top contributions in the field.

The DG extended an invitation to global partners to collaborate with Nigeria in building a safer digital future.

The press conference was attended by notable figures, including Ahmad Sa’ad Abubakar, National Coordinator of, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC); Hanniel Jafar, Representative of the President, of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN); Ankit Shukla, Managing Director, QNA Marketing Management LLC and members of the press and other stakeholders.


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AXIAN Telecom Invests in Jumia Post-MTN Era

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XIAN Telecom has acquired an 8% stake in pan-African e-commerce company Jumia Technologies, citing the platform’s fintech and logistics strengths as key drivers of its backing.

This marks the first major telecom investment in Jumia since MTN Group’s exit in 2020.

AXIAN, a fast-growing telecom and digital services provider with operations across Africa, disclosed the purchase in a Schedule 13D filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

While the financial terms were not disclosed, AXIAN Telecom CEO, Hassan Jaber, described the move as a strategic alignment with Jumia’s growth trajectory and digital ecosystem.

“Jumia’s achievements in digital retail and fintech, particularly through JumiaPay and its logistics network, make it a very attractive investment for us. We believe in Jumia’s potential to promote financial and economic inclusion, which aligns with our core values,” said Jaber.

Once dubbed the “Amazon of Africa,” Jumia became the first African-founded tech company to list on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019.

But years of underperformance, leadership changes, and competitive pressures dented investor confidence.

In October 2020, South Africa’s MTN Group offloaded its 18.9% stake for $138 million, well below the $698 million value it once held post-IPO.

Since then, Jumia has undergone a significant transformation. Under CEO Francis Dufay, appointed in 2022, the company exited low-performing markets like South Africa and Tunisia, cut costs, and doubled down on core markets – Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.

The firm is now focused on high-growth verticals, including everyday essentials and digital financial services.

Jumia’s regional CEO for East Africa, Vinod Goel, recently revealed plans to scale up international brand offerings and open its logistics network to third-party businesses.

Jaber underscored that AXIAN Telecom’s investment signals renewed confidence in Jumia’s long-term potential.

The telecom firm’s CEO said the company views Jumia as a key player in advancing Africa’s digital economy, aligning with AXIAN’s mission through its fintech and digital infrastructure brands such as Yas and Mixx by Yas.

 


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NIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December

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Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general, National Identity management commission (NIMC) has said that the commission is set to register 95 percent of Nigerians into the National Identity Database before December 2025.

NIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December

Abisoye Coker-Odusote,, DG, NIMC

She made this statement at a press briefing to highlight the commissions goal aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on digital governance and inclusive development.

The mass enrollment drive will be powered by a combination of improved infrastructure, expanded registration centres, and robust public sensitization campaigns.

As of May 2025, NIMC reports over 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled, and about 100 million more would be captured by December.


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