E-Business
NOTAP DG Cautions Regulators on Policy Implementation

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.

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;
- The link between software capabilities and development
- Critical and regional trends in production, spending, trade, investment, venture capital and employment in the software sector.
- The evolving ICT landscape and its impact on software production patterns
- Trends and implications related to free and open source software (FOSS)
- An analysis of the market orientation of software production in developing in countries.
E-Business
MRA Flags AI Concerns ahead of Press Freedom Day Today

Media Rights Agenda (MRA), has unveiled a visual brief emphasizing the critical need for responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism, particularly within Nigeria’s evolving media environment.
This is coming ahead of World Press Freedom Day today.
The visual brief, developed under this year’s global theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” explores the opportunities and dangers AI poses to media freedom in Nigeria and across the world.
In a statement released in Lagos by John Gbadamosi, its programme officer,MRA noted that AI is quickly changing the way news is produced and consumed, adding that it offers powerful tools that can assist journalists in analysing data, translating stories into local languages, and extend the reach of vital information, especially to underserved areas with limited media infrastructure.
Gbadamosi added that AI can help to ensure that essential news and information are also disseminated to local communities.
However, Gbadamosi warned that the same technology is being weaponised to undermine truth and press freedom, saying: “While AI can be used to advance journalism, it can just as easily be exploited to spread disinformation, create deepfakes, and drown out independent voices with algorithmically generated propaganda.”
According to him, “In Nigeria, journalists face threats that go beyond just physical dangers; such threats now also encompass digital, algorithmic, and systemic harms and challenges, which requires media professionals to ensure that AI enhances, rather than undermines, media freedom and that technology is used to promote the truth, not distort it.”
“The visual brief breaks down key concepts like misinformation, disinformation, mal-information, and information overload, which are increasingly shaping Nigeria’s digital media ecosystem. It also raises concerns about AI-enabled surveillance, political manipulation, and the marginalisation of community-based journalists.”
Gbadamosi stated that the visual brief also advocates support for independent media, transparent AI regulations aligned with Nigeria’s context, increased digital literacy, and stronger accountability from tech companies regarding platform content and influence.
He therefore urged all stakeholders to advocate for responsible AI usage and a free, independent, professional and vibrant media environment in Nigeria, stressing that “when media freedom thrives, democracy lives.”
E-Business
Nigerians to Pay More for IDs as NIMC Raises Service Fees

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised the fees for all its products and services, including charges related to data modification on the National Identification Number (NIN) database.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, announced that the updated service fees are published on the commission’s official website.
Adegoke noted that the new pricing structure for NIMC’s services and products marks the first comprehensive review of its fees in over a decade.
The statement stated that the revised pricing is designed to align with prevailing operational costs and industry standards, while continuing to ensure that services remain accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.
The statement warned its Front-End Partners (FEPs) to comply with the newly approved rates, stating that any failure to do so could attract strict sanctions, including possible license revocation.
“The new structure ensures that the quality and integrity of our services remain uncompromised. We are committed to protecting the interests of Nigerians through fair and transparent pricing,” the statement read.
NIMC urged the public to report any Front-End Partners (FEPs) found charging beyond the approved rates. Reports can be directed to the Commission’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit via email at ieu@nimc.gov.ng
It further reaffirmed its commitment to delivering secure and dependable identity services. A complete list of the revised service fees can be accessed on its official website at www.nimc.gov.ng.
In a related development, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), expressed sincere appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support in enhancing the National Identity Database (NIDB).
She also extended her gratitude to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and other key partners for their pivotal roles in advancing a sustainable and effective identity management system.
E-Business
PwC says AI Adoption by African Businesses will Unlock Growth

Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption could boost Africa’s gross domestic product by an additional 4.9 percentage points by 2035, as the African economy is reshaped by the emerging technology.
This is according to PwC’s recently released report: Value in Motion. It is based on data-driven scenario analysis, which reveals that globally, AI has the potential to boost economic output by up to 15 percentage points over the next decade.
The global growth dividend from AI varies according to the region and depends on more than technical success – it also hinges on responsible deployment, clear governance, and public and organisational trust, notes the report.
This would effectively add one percentage point to annual growth rates − on par with the growth increment the world began enjoying with 19th century industrialisation.
In other scenarios analysed by PwC, characterised by lower trust and co-operation, the incremental boost to the economy from AI would be more muted at 8%, or in a pessimistic scenario just 1%.
The research finds that rapid reconfiguration of the economy is already under way. PwC analysis indicates the pressure for African businesses to reinvent themselves is at some of the highest levels seen in the last 25 years across six out of nine sectors in Africa.
The $150.54 billion in revenue in Africa is set to shift between companies in 2025 alone, a trend that begun prior to the recent global increase in tariffs.
PwC’s research suggests that over the next decade, industries will reconfigure to meet human needs in new ways, leading to the formation of new ‘domains’ that cross traditional sector lines.
Dion Shango, PwC Africa CEO, explains: “As the structure of the economy transforms, value will increasingly come from organisations that can connect the dots across traditional industry boundaries. By focusing on evolving customer needs and using technology to dramatically change the way business operates, business leaders can unlock a step change in growth.”
According to Google’s Digital Opportunity of Africa report, AI could contribute up to $30 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy by 2030. Africa stands to accelerate its growth through AI as more people gain connectivity and harness technology for good, it notes.
“Across the continent, a new generation of innovators are harnessing technology to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” says Google.
In terms of AI’s impact on the climate, PwC’s analysis shows that while AI is set to accelerate growth, the costs of physical climate threats will impose economic constraints.
PwC’s economic modelling suggests that physical climate impacts could result in the African economy being over 12%smaller (globally: 7%) by 2035 in all scenarios than it would have been otherwise.
“Increased AI adoption is expected to lead to increased energy use by data centres. However, modest use of AI to drive energy-efficiency could offset this increased use of energy. PwC estimates that the energy use and emissions impact of AI would be neutral if each additional percentage point of AI use led to innovations which cut energy intensity by just 0.1% globally,” says the report.
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