News
Osun Trains 20,000 Youths on ICT

Osun State Government said it has engaged several youths in productive venture through its various empowerment programmes, especially, the training of about 20,000 indigenes in Information Communication Technology, ICT.
This was revealed over the weekend during a briefing by Mr. Abiodun Fesobi, Project coordinator of Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme Technology (OYESTECH), in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.
According to him, the programme is designed as an exit plan for OYES volunteers in the state and also to serve as support base for other interested participants to be self-reliant.
He hinted that the objective of the programme is to impact participants with required skill which will enable them to be employable by any organisation and become business owners.
“OYESTECH is an information and Communication Technology branch of the widely accepted Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES which is aimed at impacting the participants with required skills so as to enable them employable and become business owners.
“The scheme is all about skill acquisition through knowledge transfer with 10 training centres across the state which gives training on various sections such as phone repairs, electronics computer assembling, computer usage and entrepreneurship.
Aside 5,000 participants trained in the first batch of the scheme, additional 15,000 have been trained in different aspect of applied technology and they also re-trained many others.
He said, “Some of our graduates have also gone ahead to train over 150 persons; with success stories in their businesses.
“In order to achieve this set objectives, the government, through its investment arm- Osun State Investment Company Limited, OSICOL- embarked on selection of technical partner- RLG- and through signing of memorandum of understanding and admission of 5000 trainees per batch in four batches and at the end of it certificate were issued to participants.
In separate interviews, the beneficiaries said that the programme has enhanced their living condition and that of their families by making them productive and enable them to give back to the society.
One of the beneficiaries identified as Oseni Ibrahim, said, “I am one of the beneficiaries of the OYESTECH, the government have tried by giving us the best and also sending us to Ghana for training. We were trained on information technology and at our return; government equipped us with necessary tools which we are all satisfied with.
Another beneficiary who is now Mr. Abdul-Hakeem Babatunde, Director of Bayotek Computer Service, relaying his experience, said, “Bayotek computer service was founded after I graduated from the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Technology in 2011 and we were given a mandate to empower other youths so as to complement government’s efforts at reducing unemployment among the youth.
“I have one of my centres at Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State and also have a Cybercafe as an extension where I also train students on how to work on software and hardware of computers. I have trained over 100 youths.
Also speaking, Anthonia Ogundare lauded the state government for the opportunity given her and many others to be part of the scheme adding that the scheme has made youths in the state productive.
“I have been a beneficiary of this programme; I was privileged to be chosen among 150 beneficiaries who were sponsored to Ghana by Osun state government for a month internship and at our return I was employed and I have since been working at Adulawo Technology City in Ilesa.
“This is one programme that has helped the youths in securing jobs to help their family and future. I have been learning a lot and gaining more knowledge every day”.
It would be recalled that the scheme which is aimed at job creation through ICT was inaugurated by the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in 2011.
OYESTECH is one of the components of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) which has recruited over 40,000 youths.
The programme now in its sixth year, has successfully scaled down youths unemployment and profitably engaged them in various areas of ICT.
Also, the United Nations in its latest Global multi-dimensional poverty index report on Nigeria ranked the state of Osun as the 2nd state after Lagos with least poverty amongst the 36 states in Nigeria.
This is due to the several empowerment programmes of the government which has successfully moved hundreds of thousands away from the poverty line.
News
Tech Alliance Aims to Transform Africa’s Mapping System

Space42, the UAE-based global AI-powered space-tech company, part of technology group G42, this week announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft and Esri to deliver high-resolution, scalable base maps across all 54 African countries, serving over 1.4 billion people.
Known as the “Map Africa Initiative,” the project will create a comprehensive base map of the continent to date, addressing challenges in infrastructure, investment, and institutional gaps, according to Space24.
The company said the updated mapping system will catalyse economic development through increased access to intelligent solutions that support governments, businesses, and communities.
The five-year collaboration aims to strengthen geospatial capabilities across Africa and the UAE, and provide precise and accessible data to national and regional stakeholders.
Space 24 detailed how the initiative will enable economic opportunities and innovation, saying the program is expected to unlock long-term value across multiple industries including: ports and logistics; renewable energy; security and disaster response; smart cities and digital economies.
It added: “Accurate maps are foundational to urban planning, public services, and technology deployment. The data will be licensed to national governments, enabling ownership and long-term updating by National Mapping Agencies. Over time, the initiative will also support a new commercial ecosystem of African startups. The data will eventually be housed in G42 and Microsoft-managed data centers across the continent.”
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, said: “Partnership is core to the UAE’s DNA, and is central to how Space42 operates. This collaboration with Microsoft and Esri is more than technical; it’s strategic. It advances Space42’s business priorities, strengthens our role as a trusted partner to governments, and delivers meaningful benefits to communities across Africa.
“Accurate, high-quality mapping and the intelligence solutions built on it are essential for growth, resilience, and inclusive innovation. With reliable data, communities and economies prosper.”
While, Jack Dangermond, president of Esri added: “We are proud to support the Map Africa Initiative in partnership with Space42. Transforming satellite imagery into detailed, accurate base maps at continental scale requires advanced geospatial technology and professional production workflows.
“These same capabilities have supported similar national and regional mapping efforts around the world. With Map Africa, we are helping to establish a foundational resource that will drive infrastructure planning, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.”
News
Kenya Tops Global Rankings for ChatGPT Use

Kenya has emerged as the global leader in the adoption of ChatGPT, with a higher percentage of its internet users utilizing the AI chatbot than any other country.
According to the July 2025 Global Digital Report from DataReportal and Meltwater, an astounding 42.1% of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above used ChatGPT in the past month.
This remarkable statistic places Kenya at the forefront of a global shift towards integrating artificial intelligence into daily life, outranking traditionally tech-forward nations such as the United Arab Emirates (42%), Israel (41.4%), Malaysia (39.8%), and Brazil (39.7%). In contrast, major economies like Russia (10.8%), China (7.3%), and Japan (5.8%) showed significantly lower adoption rates.
The report, which provides a comprehensive snapshot of digital trends worldwide, also highlights Kenya’s significant contribution to the platform’s overall traffic. The country is ranked third globally in website traffic to ChatGPT, accounting for 4.81% of all global visits, trailing only the United States and India.
Analysts attribute Kenya’s rapid and widespread adoption of ChatGPT to two primary factors:
- A Young, Tech-Savvy Population: With a median age of just 20, Kenya has one of the youngest populations in the world. This demographic is highly digitally native and has been quick to explore and adopt AI tools for a wide range of purposes, including education, business operations, and content creation.
- High Mobile Internet Penetration: Over 48% of Kenya’s population uses the internet regularly, with the vast majority accessing it via mobile devices. The accessibility of AI tools like ChatGPT on smartphones has been a critical enabler of its adoption, even in semi-urban and rural areas.
The report’s findings come shortly after OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, revealed that the platform now handles over 2.5 billion prompts globally every day. While OpenAI did not provide a breakdown of these prompts by use case, the platform’s popularity for tasks ranging from writing and coding to research and brainstorming is undeniable.
Kenya’s top ranking is a powerful indicator of the country’s dynamic and fast-evolving digital landscape, showcasing an eagerness to embrace cutting-edge technologies and positioning the nation as a key player in the future of AI adoption in Africa.
News
Yahoo Mail Halts Free Storage Service, Caps at 20GB

Yahoo Mail has announced a major shift in its storage policy, slashing the free email storage cap to 20GB and rolling out a new subscription model starting at $1.99 per month for 100GB.
The change, which takes effect immediately, marks a significant downgrade for many long-time users who have grown accustomed to Yahoo’s previously generous storage offering.
In a notice sent to users on Tuesday, the company urged account holders to review their current storage usage and consider paid upgrade options to avoid disruptions.
“Once you reach the 20GB limit, you will no longer be able to send or receive emails unless you either delete existing messages or upgrade your account,” the notice warned.
While access to inboxes will remain intact for now, users will be forced to clean up their accounts or move to a paid tier to maintain full functionality.
Yahoo has unveiled two new storage plans which are 100GB for $1.99/month and 1TB for $9.99/month.
For those seeking a more premium experience, Yahoo is also offering Yahoo Mail Plus, which includes 200GB of storage, an ad-free interface, and additional features. However, users opting for the 100GB and 1TB tiers will still be served ads, a move likely to frustrate those paying for expanded capacity.
To ease the transition, Yahoo is rolling out new tools to help users manage their inboxes more efficiently. These include real-time storage tracking, a usage dashboard, sorting options for large emails, and an attachment manager to help clear out space-consuming files.
Despite the enhancements, the abrupt downgrade has sparked concerns among users, particularly those with email archives spanning more than a decade. Critics argue the change could pressure many into paying for what was previously free, without a proportionate upgrade in value, especially considering ads remain in place for all but the premium Plus tier.
Yahoo’s new model brings it closer to competitors like Gmail, which offers 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Google’s paid plans also begin at $1.99/month for 100GB, but offer additional benefits such as photo backups and expanded cloud services. Gmail also provides a cleaner experience, with minimal ads even on its free plan.
Yahoo Mail’s new 20GB limit applies exclusively to email storage, a slight advantage for users who don’t rely heavily on broader cloud services. But the real test will be how users respond to the newly imposed constraints and whether the value proposition is strong enough to convert them into paying subscribers.
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