Connect with us

News

Pomp, Ceremony @ 5-Star Presentation of TD Mobile

Published

on

(L-R) picture shows Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, GMD of Fidelity bank; Mr.Lucas Dada, ED of Etisalat; Mr. Mattew Willsher, Etisalat CEO; and Leo-Stan  Ekeh, chairman, Zinox Group at the unveiling of TD Mobile
Kindly share this post

Glamour and glitz were out in force at the weekend as the crème of the Nigerian society and elsewhere line lined up the red carpet for official unveiling of TD Mobile, the revolutionary scion of Technology Distributions (TD) Ltd, sub Saharan Africa’s’ largest ICT Distributions company.

The five-star event held at the prestigious Expo Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotels in Victoria Island, Lagos drew who is who in Nigeria; top celebrities; and musical acts.

The guest included: CEOs of top banks in Nigeria like: Phillips Oduoza of UBA Plc; Nnamdi Okonkwo of Fidelity Bank; and Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank.

A-list musical acts like Naeto C, JMartins, Inyanya, Teckno Emma Nyra and a host of others also headlined the event.

Mrs Gozy Ijogun, business manager of TD-Mobile, in her welcome address, cited the desire to win and to further expand the frontiers of internet access as driving motivation behind the launch of TDMobile.

Her words: “We are well aware that despite the increasing growth rate in the ICT industry, over sixty percent of Nigerians still have limited access to the internet.

“TDMobile is the window to the world of access. Our aim is to bridge the divides between the rich and the poor, between the young and the old, between East and West and between North and South through the distribution of a range of smart devices such as Phones, Phablets, Tablets, Laptops, Mobile Printers and devices. We are focused on distribution of genuine Mobile devices  through our hundreds of Partners that will radically change the way we live and do business.” She added

She paid glowing tributes to partner organizations such as HP, Nokia, Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo, IBM, among others and to the TD Mobile team for the support and hard work which went into making the launch a reality.
 
Ime Umoh, managing director of HP Computers, hailed the launch of TD Mobile as a timely response to the dynamic and changing face of the industry and end-user requirements.

According to him, we are living in a technology-mediated world; one in which the customers demand more and more innovative solutions not only in the area of pervasive devices but in other modes as well. In his view, the successful launch of TDMobile is testimony to the vision of the Management of Zinox Group especially that of its Chairman Leo Stan Ekeh, who has continued to drive changes in the ICT industry.

In his Keynote address, Mr. Mattew Wilshire, chief executive officer of Etisalat Nigeria, saw a congruence between the indefatigable Nigerian spirit and the launch of TDMobile. In his words:

“I have been in this country for only about 18 months but I have been impressed about a number of things with this country. The most striking is the people. Nigerians are a resilient, vibrant people who love to take on new challenges and this is crystallized in the launch of new companies as the one we are witnessing today.

“It’s not an easy task but it is a similar story to ours at Etisalat as we are just six years old but we are proud to be associated with TDMobile as major partners.  I am optimistic that the launch of TDMobile signifies the beginning of a new dawn in the area of access to technology for Nigerians and we are glad to be a part of that.”

Mr. Stan Ekeh, chairman/chief executive officer of the Zinox Group, in a landmark speech, traced the history of the organization and also offered an insight into the future with the launch of TDMobile.

“ We are keen to expand the market and move from being the biggest ICT distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa to the  number one position in Africa and this we intend to achieve in the next 18months”. Mr.Ekeh said from October 2nd, Technology Distributions Ltd will split into three arms: TD-Mobile, TD- Mainstream and TD Solutions and Services distributions .He also announced that the group has raised N18B for expansion and our financiers insist we invest a percentage to expand TDGroup while a reasonable percentage is meant for Research and Development and local capacity building in support of the new local content policy of the federal government in the ICT sector. He appreciated the fund syndicators for the trust and assured of prudent use of the fund.  He also said part of the money raised will be for the establishment in Abuja of the single largest ICT Service and Support Center and Products Showroom in Africa. These will be commissioned before end of November this year and subsequently in other regions in Nigeria. “We are fulfilling these commitments this year” Mr.Ekeh said. He also announced the selection of TD Champions this year and assured that partners shall be selected based on their total achievement and winners shall in addition to other perks, will enjoy the benefit of direct mentorship by him.

Mr Ekeh also talked about a 24hour intelligent Hub that will go live in the month of November to support end users of ICT products from credible brands.

This and the authentication system will help reduce the abuse of the Nigerian ICT market with fake products.

He also assured friends, the Press and Partners of the Group, that the Group is tinkering listing in the stock Market but that is after achieving number One position in the whole of Africa. He advised all stakeholders in the industry to expect major global positive disruptions in the ICT sector and should be prepare to take advantage of these.

The event ended with a worldclass movie like multimedia presentation by TD-Mobile.


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

News

NIA Questions Legality of Reps’ Financial Probe

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Nigerian Insurers Association has urged the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to respect the constitutional separation of powers as it carries out a probe on over 20 insurance firms.

In a statement on Tuesday night, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIA, Mrs Bola Odukale, said the decision of NIA and the affected firms to approach the court was to seek clarity on the constitutional limits of the House Committee’s probe.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives on Monday is investigating no fewer than 25 insurance companies operating in the country for various financial infractions spanning financial reporting, claims settlement, premium remittance, and issuance of policies.

The Chairman, House Sub-Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Kwamoti Laori, during a meeting with the management of the insurance companies at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, said the meeting was convened following the receipt of a petition on infractions by the insurance companies.

In the statement, Odukale said, “The Association wishes to state unequivocally that all actions taken by the NIA and the affected member companies in response to the Committee’s invitations and pronouncements were based entirely on legal advice by its Solicitors. It was on the firm instruction of legal counsel that recourse was made to the courts.

“The objective of approaching the Court is to seek judicial guidance on the legality, propriety, and constitutional limits of the Committee’s intervention in order to safeguard institutional integrity, uphold regulatory independence, and ensure that legislative oversight remains within the bounds of law.

“The Court action seeks to determine whether the current posture of the Committee reflects an exercise of legislative judgment, which, by constitutional design, is the exclusive province of statutory regulators, such as the National Insurance Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Exchange, Financial Reporting Council, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and the National Information Technology Development Agency.

“This raises serious questions about legislative overreach and an erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”

Odukale maintained that the NIA was committed to lawful and constructive engagement with all arms of government, provided that such engagement respects the autonomy of statutory regulators and the boundaries established by the Constitution.

“The NIA will continue to provide its full support to all member companies while upholding the principles of legal compliance and sector-wide integrity,” Odukale concluded.

17 of the companies that went to court were represented by their lawyer, Mr Abimbola Kayode, at the meeting with the committee.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

Horn of Africa Leaders Seek Enhanced Digital Integration for Increased Regional Growth

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Finance ministers and development partners from the Horn of Africa have called for enhanced digital integration to boost trade, drive economic growth and promote regional stability during the 25th Ministerial Meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI).

Held in Nairobi, on July 14, the meeting was co-chaired by the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo and Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Bihi Iman Egeh. Discussions underscored the critical role of digital integration in reducing trade barriers, boosting government service delivery and creating employment — particularly for the region’s youth.

“Digital technologies are shaping today’s economy and tomorrow’s industries. By embedding these technologies into our programs, we can not only improve inclusion but also leapfrog outdated development models,” said Nwabufo.

She called for digital integration a “central enabler” in each of the Horn of Africa Initiative’s pillars – trade, infrastructure, resilience, and human capital,

Learning through experience

Drawing from global and regional success stories, speakers highlighted the transformative potential of technology-led development. The ministers pointed to the Philippines as a strong example, where ICT has generated millions of jobs in business process outsourcing. Similarly, Kenya’s fintech innovation—especially the success of M-PESA—was cited as a model for scaling digital financial services across the region.

Participants urged governments to proactively foster digital ecosystems by capitalizing on the demographic dividend, identifying infrastructure upgrades, tighter regulatory reforms, and digital skills trainings as priorities to enable broader participation in the digital economy.

Minister Egeh reiterated the need for more coordinated regional efforts to create the enabling environment required for accelerated digital integration and expansion. He referenced the HoAI Digital Policy Matrix, adopted in 2023 which provides a blueprint on how to address key obstacles to achieving effective digital integration across the region.

Barack Makokha, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury, underscored the importance of regionally-aligned public private partnerships and advocated for blended financing to reduce investment risk and expand digital access in underserved areas.

World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ndiame Diop, called for a comprehensive multi-pronged approach, combining cross-border coordination, large-scale financing, robust policy support, and digital infrastructure investments. He pointed out that such measures could transform digital integration into, “a powerful engine of economic transformation” for the Horn of Africa—ensuring no one is left behind in the digital era.

The meeting concluded with a shared recognition that sustained political will and the determination to implement a multifaceted approach are essential to unlocking the region’s economic potential and driving long-term growth.

The event also welcomed observers from the East African Community, Agence française de développement, and Shelter Afrique, reflecting strong regional and international backing for the HoAI in the development community.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

CSCS Inaugurates Custodian Portal to Enhance Digital Access, Operational Efficiency

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure provider, has launched its Custodian Portal, a user-centric digital solution designed to optimise custodian operations through intuitive, secure and efficient features.

Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CSCS, announced this in a statement on Monday.

The CSCS is a Public Limited Company with a diversified shareholder base, which serves as the Central Securities Depository for the Nigerian Capital Market.

It serves as the Central Depository for Equities, Commercial Papers, Corporate Bonds, Sub-National Bonds, certain Sovereign Bonds like the FGN Sukuk and the FGN Savings Bond, Equity-traded Funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts, Mutual funds and Commodities.

Jalo-Waziri said that the custodian portal offered a streamlined experience for market participants with powerful tools that facilitate comprehensive portfolio and trade management, document tracking, share transfer operations, client symbol search, and real-time access to vital data.

He explained that the portal, designed to operate through a flexible subscription-based model, empowered users to manage their records effortlessly and securely through convenient payment channels such as GTPay and Paystack.

According to him, “Digital transformation remains at the core of our strategy to enhance the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of Nigeria’s capital market services.

“The custodian portal is a significant leap in that direction, offering custodians a centralised platform to manage critical processes in real-time.

“We are excited about the value this innovation brings to our stakeholders, and we will continue to evolve the platform in line with users’ needs and industry trends.”

The CEO also explained that the portal was designed with user experience in mind with feature tools like portfolio viewing and downloads in PDF or Excel format.

He further said that it also featured tracking of stock movements across date ranges, inbox messaging and request tracking, as well as robust user management capabilities including role assignment and status tracking.

Similarly, the Divisional Head, Business Technology and Digital Innovation, CSCS Plc, Tobe Nnadozie, said that the portal aligned with CSCS’s drive to automate the market.

“In addition to the normal features, the platform is a part of an omnichannel platform for custodians, and includes API services.

“It also connects to the market-wide workflow, which CSCS has built to ensure secured communication and approvals across all major stakeholders in the market.

“The platform is well secured with best-of-breed cybersecurity solutions and our SOC,” he said.

The Custodian Portal reinforces CSCS’s commitment to leveraging technology to streamline back-office functions and support a more agile, data-driven capital market ecosystem.

All custodians in the Nigerian capital market have now been successfully on-boarded on the Custodian Portal, marking a significant milestone in CSCS’s ongoing drive to enhance collaboration, standardise operational processes, and promote digital adoption across the market.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending