E-Business
Secure Identity Alliance Welcomes 3 New Members

The Secure Identity Alliance has welcomed three new members to its ranks, marking an important step in growth of the newly formed organization.
HID Global, a leading provider of secure identity solutions, will play a crucial role in establishing the Alliance as the foremost advisor on the security and adoption of eGovernment services around the world.
American Banknote Corporation (ABnote) brings its long and global experience in the supply of secure documents, services and systems.
Backed by a 150 year heritage, Trüb AG brings a wealth of e-ID and e-Passport experience to the Alliance’s workgroup programme.
Led by leading secure eDocuments companies Gemalto, Morpho (Safran), Oberthur Technologies and 3M, the Secure Identity Alliance was established in May 2013 to develop the usage of government-issued eDocuments (identity, health cards, driving licenses and ePassports in particular) for increased security, and to encourage deployment of secure convenient online services strengthening the privacy of the end-users.
Already, two workgroups have been launched to tackle the ongoing security, identity and privacy challenges governments face.The ‘Secure Documents’ and ‘Digital Identity’ groups are expected to report back at Cartes in November 2013.
Frédéric Trojani, chairman, Board of the Secure Identity Alliance, said: “I am delighted to welcome HID Global, ABnote and Trüb AG to the Secure Identity Alliance.
With eGovernment initiatives on the rise, electronic identification has become a real catalyst for the rapid adoption of online services. Convenience, privacy protection and security are the three pillars of trust in modern, efficient electronic government services. The need for an independent forum able to address common areas of interest for all public and private stakeholders is clear to build today’s generation of online services.”
“Through the Alliance we hope to play an instrumental role in helping governments streamline the integration and interoperability of new systems and processes –ultimately making government-to-citizen ID programs more secure and effective,” said Rob Haslam, vice president of Government ID Solutions for HID Global.
Uwe Ludwig, CEO International Business Unit, ABnote said: “The challenges of meeting today’s requirements – to provide secure solutions to governments that are also convenient for citizens, provides many opportunities for innovation and collaboration. We look forward to participating in the Secure Identity Alliance, and feel that with our experience and expertise ABnote can make a significant contribution.”
Fernando Dal Zotto, CEO, Trüb AG said: “The identity document market has evolved significantly since the introduction of the first polycarbonate ID card in the 1990s and the launch of the first electronic-ID documents in the 2000s. Novel use cases like e-voting have been developed and found great acceptance, yet mainly on a national scale only. In joining the Secure Identity Alliance, we can bring in our weight of expertise in order to support the collective effort to deliver rapid solutions to emerging challenges and to develop the market towards European solutions.”
E-Business
Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon wrote in an email to employees.
He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.
According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.
Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.
However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.
“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.
The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.
Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.
The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.
E-Business
BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.
He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.
“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.
Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.
He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.
“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.
He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.
According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.
He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.
Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.
He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.
Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.
Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.
E-Business
FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.
He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.
“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.
“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.
He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.
In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.
The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.
Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.
It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.
- Telecom2 days ago
ALTON Clarifies on Migration to End-User Billing for USSD Services
- E-Financial2 days ago
Nigerian Stock Market Suffers ₦183 Billion Loss Amid Profit-Taking
- News2 days ago
DStv Rewards Loyal Customers with Free Package Upgrades
- Telecom2 days ago
Lagos Future Conference 2025: Stakeholders Call for Digital Responsibility and Grassroots Innovation
- General News2 days ago
African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service
- News1 day ago
Lasaco Assurance to Invest in Technologies, Systems to Deliver Value to Clients
- E-Financial2 days ago
SEC Working on Stablecoin Regulation Framework
- News2 days ago
FCCPC Orders Air Peace to Appear Over Alleged Refund Violations