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Report Finds Africa’s SMEs Grapple with Tech Costs, Skills Dearth

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Although small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa are increasingly investing in digital technologies, their innovation journey is hindered by the high cost of technology upgrades, the lack of digital skills, and regulatory and compliance issues.

This is the key findings of a research report, titled “Levelling the SME playing field”, jointly commissioned by Vodacom Group, Vodafone Group and Safaricom.

It is the sixth research paper under the Africa.connected initiative, which aims to drive sustainable development by closing the digital divide in Africa’s key economic sectors through strategic partnerships.

The research is based on conversations with 400 SMEs across eight African countries − South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lesotho − ranging in size from one to 200 employees.

The survey is run in partnership with World Wide Worx, a local research firm that focuses on trends in information technology and telecommunication.

According to the findings, digitalisation has been a game-changer for African SMEs, with the respondents highlighting the positive effect of technology on enhancing growth, efficiency, competitiveness and customer service.

Nearly 70% of surveyed SMEs invested in technology in the past 12 months to help boost growth and resilience – an indication that SMEs are embracing the positive impact of technology, reveals the survey.

While there are numerous opportunities that unlock the full potential of digitalisation for these businesses, addressing barriers − such as infrastructure, connectivity, the high cost of implementing technology, lack of adequate tech skills and developing best practice frameworks for better collaboration − remains key to business growth.

“SMEs play a pivotal role in both the global and African economy, contributing to job creation, innovation, economic growth and regional development,” says Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO.

“In fact, the World Bank reports that SMEs are responsible for more than 80% of Africa’s employment and 50% of the GDP.

“But SMEs in Africa face a number of distinct challenges, which include access to finance and markets, regulatory barriers, inadequate technology adoption and limited management capabilities. To address these stumbling blocks, strides must be made to promote financial inclusion, simplify regulation, enhance technological infrastructure and encourage innovation. The technology pieces of this puzzle – as our research shows – are incredibly important.”

When it comes to technology use and adoption, the research shows SMEs work relentlessly to secure finance to address the high costs of technology and the associated implementation. But the initial start-up costs are only the beginning of what will be required throughout their digital journey.

In the study, 58% of respondents cited the high cost of technology upgrades and renewals as key hindrances (39% in SA), with 32% citing difficulty in integrating new technologies with existing systems and regulatory confinements.

Limited internet connectivity and access affects 30% of respondents (17% in SA), while 14% grapple with lack of support and training for employees to use technology (39% in SA).

SMEs that have integrated technology into their business are increasingly making use of e-commerce platforms, social media and digital payment solutions, such as e-wallets and micro-financing services. Innovative use of data analytics tools can further help SMEs to expand their reach, access valuable data insights and streamline operations, according to the report.

Unfortunately, the workforce is often resistant to digitisation, especially those working for SMEs with strong human relationships.

The lack of digital skills and knowledge, support and training for employees and executives around the values and use of specific tools and technologies compound this issue, states the survey.

Added to this, SMEs can no longer ignore the threat of cyber security concerns, as criminal attacks or breaches do not discriminate against business size, it points out.

To reap the many benefits that technology brings, laying the right foundations is key.

“This starts with investing in training for employees, either through online resources, hiring IT consultants, or partnering with local technology firms to equip teams with the skills and knowledge needed to manage the challenges of the digital landscape.”

Regulatory and compliance issues can be a significant hurdle, so it’s vital that regulators develop effective policies rooted in a deep understanding of the myriad constraints SMEs face and implement targeted programmes that empower these small ventures to succeed.

“While these businesses might be ‘small’, their impact is significant, which is why it is essential that regulatory bodies are willing to engage in discussions with SMEs regarding compliance requirements.

“Regulators should also assist smaller firms in navigating different regulatory frameworks. This is crucial when it comes to data and its utilisation. For SMEs, much like any other business regardless of size or industry, the ability to access the right data can provide a critical competitive-edge and enable them to better fulfil customer needs,” notes the survey.


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Toll Collection on Lagos-Calabar Highway Begins December

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Senator David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has announced that a section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be tolled starting in December.

Umahi disclosed this during an interview for a forthcoming State House documentary marking the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said: “By December, we will toll Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway. We project a 10-year return on investment.

“The road has solar-powered lighting and CCTV infrastructure, and offers carbon credit advantages.

“It is more than a road; it is an economic corridor and a catalyst for regional growth.”

According to the minister, 30 kilometres of Section 1 have already been completed, with an additional 10 kilometres in Section 2 nearing delivery. Both segments feature six-lane concrete-paved carriageways, designed to meet modern standards for safety and durability.

Umahi further revealed that construction had commenced on Sections 3 and 3B of the highway, spanning a total of 65 kilometres, covering 38 kilometres in Cross River State and 27 kilometres in Akwa Ibom.

He described the positive response from local communities as a clear indication of the project’s wide-reaching socioeconomic benefits.

“Just days ago, we flagged off Sections 3 and 3B—65 kilometres in total, covering 38 kilometres in Cross River State and 27 kilometres in Akwa Ibom. The host communities’ excitement speaks to these projects’ transformative impact,” he said.

Umahi also highlighted the administration’s renewed focus on the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, which he noted was part of a broader vision dating back to colonial-era trade plans.

“The Trans-Saharan trade route dates back to colonial-era planning. President Tinubu is now bringing these long-abandoned visions to life,” the minister explained.


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Kaspersky Uncovers Dero Crypto Miner Spreading via Exposed Container Environments

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Kaspersky Security Services experts have identified a sophisticated cyberattack campaign targeting containerized environments to deploy a miner for the Dero cryptocurrency.

The attackers abuse exposed Docker APIs — parts of Docker, an open-source container development platform. In 2025, there are a significant number of Docker API default ports that are insecurely published, accounting for almost 500 occurrences worldwide on average each month.

In the discovered campaign, cybercriminals inject two types of malwares into the compromised systems: one is the miner itself and the other is a propagation malware that can spread the campaign to other insecure container networks.

Kaspersky experts discovered this malicious campaign as part of a compromise assessment project. According to expert estimates, any organisation that operates containerized infrastructure — while exposing Docker APIs without robust security controls — can be a potential target. These may include technology companies, software development firms, hosting providers, cloud service providers and more enterprises.

According to Shodan, in 2025, there are 485 published Docker API default ports¹ worldwide each month on average. This figure illustrates the campaign’s potential attack surface by tallying the “entry points” — or insecurely exposed ports that attackers might target.

Once attackers identify an insecurely published Docker API, they either compromise existing containers or create new malicious ones based on a legitimate standard Ubuntu image. They then inject two malware types into the compromised containers: “nginx” and “cloud”.

The latter is a Dero cryptocurrency miner, while “nginx” is a malicious software that maintains persistence, ensures execution of the miner and scans for other exposed environments. This malware allows attackers to operate without traditional Command-and-Control (C2) servers; instead, each infected container independently scans the Internet and can spread the miner to new targets.

“The campaign has the potential for exponential growth of infections, with each compromised container acting as a new source of attack, if security measures are not immediately put in place in the potentially targeted networks,” explains Amged Wageh, an incident response and a compromise assessment expert at Kaspersky Security Services.

“Сontainers are foundational to software development, deployment, and scalability. Their widespread use across cloud-native environments, DevOps, and microservices architectures makes them an attractive target for cyber attackers. This growing reliance demands organisations adopt a 360-degree approach to security — combining robust security solutions with proactive threat hunting and regular compromise assessments”.

The attackers embedded the names “nginx” and “cloud” directly in the binary — an inflexible executable file composed of instructions and data for the processor, not for humans. This is a classic masquerading tactic that lets the payload pose as a legitimate tool, trying to deceive both analysts and automated defenses.


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Manager, Others Arraigned for Allegedly Hacking into Premium Trust Bank’s Server

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, charged five defendants before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly hacking into the server of Premium Trust Bank.

Manager, Others Arraigned for Allegedly Hacking into Premium Trust Bank’s Server

The defendants are listed as the bank’s e-payment service manager, Matthew Adeniyi; Kehinde Odeyemi, a nursing mother; Samson Latshin, Bolaji Omotosho and Sunday Okunnola.

They were charged before Justice Alexander Owoeye, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime and unlawful access to the bank’s database.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Mrs. Zeenat Atiku, prosecutor, alleged that they committed the offence between April and May this year, in collaboration with three others, now at large.

Those still at large are Isa Ismaila, Victor Joshua, also known as ‘Oracle’ as well as one other, simply identified as Humble.

According to the charge, the first defendant unlawfully disclosed sensitive credentials, including the bank’s server IP and domain details, to these parties.

She said this enabled an unauthorised access to the bank’s database and the consequent data breach allegedly resulted in financial gains of $10,000.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants attempted to intercept the bank’s network and procured a Hewlett-Packard ProBook 440 G9 laptop (serial No. SN#5CD2473N6G) configured to bypass the bank’s security systems.

The anti-graft agency said the alleged offences contravened the provisions of sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c) and 28(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).

Following their pleas, the prosecutor, requested for a trial date and sought an order to remand the defendants in custody.

Meanwhile, the court declined an oral bail by the defence counsel and directed that a formal bail application be filed.

He adjourned the case until June 30, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian correctional centre, pending bail.

The court, however, added that the defence may apply for an earlier trial date, upon filing their bail applications.

 


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