E-Business
Pantami Urges NITDA to Engage in Critical Thinking for Growth, Resilience
As part of efforts towards positioning the Digital Economy sector on the path of sustainable national development, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has tasked the Board and Management Staff of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to continuously engage in critical thinking in order to solve complex problems that will benefit Nigerians and humanity at large.
Pantami said this during a Ministerial Training on “Skills For Successful Leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, organized by the Ministry.
“There is no problem that exists in the world that has no solution, globally, there is non. The only challenge is being able to engage in critical thinking”, Pantami maintained.
He highlighted customer centricity, long-term thinking, passion for invention, and surrounding one’s self with mentors as key to staying relevant and impactful.
The Minister said “Create the future and be the driver of it. When hiring, look at taking-in people with discipline, expertise, capacity to deliver and do away with sentiments”.
While urging the participants not to compromise their core values, the Digital Economy Boss advised that engaging in compromises attract negative results in the long run and so, it should be avoided.
Prof. Pantami took time to explain the modus operandi of managing success, failure, crisis, and leadership in the work space, adding that facts should always precede emotions.
According to the Minister, leadership is about being brave and taking hardcore decisions, especially when it is for the good of those concerned, he however, stressed that they should be taken after critical evaluations of the subject matter.
“As a leader if you want to be successful don’t be worried about today, rather be worried about the legacies you would leave behind.”
“Always be consistent in your determination to do the right things and have a high level of decisiveness”, the Minister admonished.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who welcomed the participants, expressed delight in the theme of the training which he said aims at equipping the Board and Management Staff of the organization for growth and resilience in the fourth Industrial Revolution.
Inuwa particularly appreciated the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, for taking the initiative to share his knowledge and expertise on the subject matter; the knowledge sharing initiative, Inuwa said he has benefited from for twenty-five years.
The DG emphasized that the fourth Industrial Revolution is upon Nigeria, affirming that it presents great opportunities for leapfrogging Nigeria in the digital economy.
“To seize the opportunities that abound, we need to fully equip ourselves with relevant knowledge, skills, expertise and tools in order to position Nigeria to create and capture value from the fourth Industrial Revolution”, Inuwa stressed.
He described the Minister’s leadership over the years as instrumental to the successes recorded by the Agency, noting that it is a golden opportunity for Board members and Management Staff to grow faster in their service delivery, especially as they are part of the training session which is to be handled by the Minister himself.
Inuwa said “when the Honourable Minister formulated the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), he directed us to implement and with his guidance, all the force-set, that is, from the mindset, skill-set to the look and feel of the agency are all his initiatives we implemented”.
The Director-General encouraged everyone to fully participate in the different sessions as he hoped that the training would transform their lives and by extension impact on their performance at work and the Digital Economy of the Nation at large.
The event featured a presentation of Icon of Digital Economy Award to Prof. Isa Ali Pantami by the Board Chairman of NITDA, Dr Sa’id Abubakar in recognition of his immense contributions to the sector. Meanwhile, a symbolic certificate was also presented to the Board Chairman of the Agency.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Telcos Threaten to Disconnect Banks over Misinformation on New USSD Charges
MTN Nigeria Plans N900Bn in Service Upgrade
NDIC Calls for Inputs to IADI Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance
Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”
DSO: STBMAN Accuses NBC of Contempt, Seeks Presidential Intervention
E-Business2 days agoNIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December
News2 days agoJAMB Waxes Worriedly over Rising Digital Exam Fraud
Telecom2 days ago9mobile Nigeria Inks Agreement to Roam with MTN
Telecom2 days agoIHS Nigeria Moves to Enhance G4S Secure Solutions Site Patrols and Increase Operational Efficiency with Patrol Vehicles
Telecom2 days agoBanks, Telcos to Start Deducting USSD Charges from Airtime Today
E-Business1 day agoAXIAN Telecom Invests in Jumia Post-MTN Era
Telecom2 days agoKonga Launches 3rd Edition of Mid-Year Shopping Festival with Unbeatable Discounts
E-Financial2 days agoFitch Upgrades Fidelity Bank’s National Rating to ‘A+(nga)’, Affirms Long-Term IDR at ‘B’