General News
Slash Internet Licensing Fees for Affordability, Access- Oyedokun

Dr Oyewole Oyedokun, president / chairman, Governing Council at Institute of Information Management – Africa, started hi professional career in the late 90s .
He is also the president, RIMA Foundation (Nigeria & South Africa) and WM and managing director/CEO, Wolexdok Micro-processor.
Oyedokun has received different international awards for his contribution towards the development of the Information Management industry in Nigeria and Africa.
He spoke to peter ugwu on matters of urgent importance in the cyber space, national database, among others, in Nigeria.
Relevance of Information Managers in Big Data Era
The advent of Big Data has buttress the need for proper records and information management. What is the essence of us having data or information that cannot be utilized for better decision-making? How do we make the retrieval easy?
These are some of the issues that Big Data has brought to the table. Every company that want to make adequate usage of Big Data must have Good Information Governance (GIG); that is, you know what you have, where they are located, the person that is in-charge, the retention period, the corporate format to keep the information, these must be in place for individuals or organizations to have control over information they have.
Government and Proper Information Management
First, I will commend the Federal Government and the lawmakers for passing the Freedom and Information (FOI) Bill into law.
I can say authoritatively that the process has changed the game. In the past, most Government Institutions do not see the need for records management due to lack of openness in governance. This led to secrecy with certain information management.
The passage has sent a positive signal to workers in the public service as the law requires them not to stop the public access to certain documents.
But, on the implementation government is not doing enough. Beyond just ordinary training, information management training is an essential ingredient to ensure the FOI regime becomes a reality.
Without GIG, retrieval becomes an issue while individuals require certain documents.
The government has the largest part of information generated in the country. So, training of workers ought to be a continuous process.
Synergy between Information Management and Information Security
Well, information management an umbrella also caters for information security. When we refer to cyber space, it is just a medium.
Physical environment is another medium. So, if you have GIG in place, then you can have principles guiding the cyber space and the information physical environment.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to note that for you to have control over the cyber space; you ought to have developed a functional physical space.
It is what you have physically that will be transformed into digital content. Today, quite a number of organizations in Nigeria do not event have information management policy; they do not understand the specifications, standards, procedures, manuals.
If you have employee handbook, then you should a kind of manual that guide information management, so that you can get it right from the time data is generated through disposal which is regarded as information life-cycle.
For instance, there are information that are permanent in nature; in as much as such organization exists it must be there.
Hence you do use them regularly, they should be archived in an off-sight location, which could be physical or in the cloud.
Information Management Policy Negligence
By not having the policy in place, you will be exposing the organization to risks. The risks include information theft, penalties by regulatory authorities, legal tussles, and efficiency becomes a nightmare.
Such organization will discover that the staff spend time and resources searching for information they may end up not able to lay hands on.
It could cost the company a whole lot of revenue. When I was still in the oil & gas sector, there was a particular document that the company needed; they ended up spending millions of dollars to get a copy from the original designer of a particular project. It was just an A4 document.
The issue of storage becomes problematic too, because at a point you wouldn’t know which document to keep or dispose.
This is prevalent in public sector where rooms are designate for stack of old documents and files. Those spaces would have been put to use for other arrangements. They are even stored that retrieval is difficult; hence there is no classification or proper arrangement.
Message of InfoSecurity Conference 2014 And Nigeria’s Cyber Security Bill
It was a wonderful experience. Part of the sessions I attended the minister of Internal Affairs (UK), said something that drew my attention.
According to him, 10% of UK’s gross domestic earnings come from the cyber space. This is something we should be looking at.
We want to build or develop our economy, then, of what benefit has the cyber space been to us? How well are we taking the advantage?
A country like UK achieving 10% of their GDP through the internet, it means we can do better. Here, we have a lot of resources: human, natural resources and even the finance, and commodities we can invest online. The government could generate revenue from that.
To me, some of the take-homes from the conference actually came from that message, because, we are taking things with levity.
For the fact we have oil, we seem to be blindfolded in exploiting other sectors for employment generation, investment opportunities and increase in GDP.
Aside that, there are technologies trending presently that organizations in Africa should be tapping into. For instance, data analytics, I was stunned by some of the solutions I saw there, because there are so many things you could do.
We are emphasizing on cyber security, there are technologies that help in shedding off hijackers along the line. Even if they succeed in hijacking it, the hackers wouldn’t have access to the content, because they are encrypted.
There are some that even if I mistakenly send you an email, and discover it, I could swiftly block it from my end. You will receive it but with no access to the content.
There are software that could aide to track if your email was delivered or opened by the other party. In fact, there are several technologies that cloud has provided us with today, reducing stress on organisations’ infrastructure and resources.
Benefit from Cyber-Entrepreneurship
Foremost, government has a lot of works to do. They need to encourage local software developers. Secondly, the entrepreneurs need an environment that protects their interest before they can excel.
We have a number of them that with little support from government they will build amazing software. I have seen locally developed applications that you would never believe are developed in Nigeria.
If we were able to do that, other countries will subscribe to them, are we not earning foreign exchange by then? It will help our economy to blossom.
To individuals, the cyber space has created a lot of opportunities. If you have products or services, you could launch them online. Without restrictions, clients could be coming from different part of the world. It has really bridged the digital divide.
This innovation has even heightened with the cashless policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It is one of the major requirements for people to thrive in e-commerce.
Recently, Paypal came into Nigeria. To me, that was a major breakthrough for this economy. It has increased the confidence or trust level of outsiders with regards to Nigeria. Before now, transacting an online business has been a nightmare.
Then, you must visit the banks for transfers. Banks would also delay in approving certain conditions for the transactions to go through. But Paypal has come up with a very simple system where you just link your bank account even in local currency. It makes life easier and seamless.
Internet Availability and Affordability
To me, we still have a lot to do in that area. There is need for more companies’ participation in the sector.
To do this, the licencing fees should be slashed, because for any industry to thrive, we need competition.
By the time we have increased number of service providers, the cost will drop automatically. The monopoly few players are enjoying is responsible for the high subscription costs.
Should we have more investors, the country will be surprised with the kind of services they will roll out.
National Identity Management Project
It is a wonderful development, because we have been craving for this for a long time. And for the very first time, Nigeria will seem to be on track. But my major concern the partnership with the international organization.
Enactment on a policy for Information Protection & Privacy (IPP) is something that the government needs to take cognizance of.
As a country, we cannot entrust our data into the hands of corporate entity like the company they are partnering with. If they have to toe that part, it means our information are not protected. Before going into this, the government ought to have put a policy in place. Nigeria, as a country, do we have information privacy policy? It’s not in place. What do we think will govern our relationship with these international organizations?
What will govern the way and manner our government will entrust data in their hands? How well are we protected? Before they go into full implementation, I would want the Nigerian government to look into this privacy act. These are very key.
General News
PalmPay’s Bold Move For Social Impact in Northern Nigeria

In the busy Fagge Market in Kano, Zahra Bello, a middle-aged entrepreneur who runs a fabric store, speaks about her experience with mobile banking and how this has simplified business transactions and improved her small business.
Behind the growth of these resilient women entrepreneurs lies a story of transformation powered by technology.
“My name is Zahra Bello, I’m from Dambatta in Kano State, and I’m a fabric trader. I first heard about PalmPay from my elder brother in March 2024. He told me how he used the PalmPay Target Savings feature to buy new machinery for his farm and even earned interest. That inspired me to try it too.”
Zahra downloaded the PalmPay app that very day. By December, she’d used the Target Savings plan to restock her shop with new fabrics, an achievement she never thought possible within such a short period. “I was so happy,” she smiles. “The interest I earned on my savings motivated me to save more. PalmPay has become my savings box. I use it for all my transactions now.”
Her story, like many others, is the inspiration for PalmPay’s evolving vision of inclusive banking in Nigeria’s underserved communities.
Women, SMEs, and Technology
Financial exclusion remains a critical challenge in Northern Nigeria. According to EFInA’s 2023 Access to Financial Services survey, an estimated 28.8 million adults in the North are excluded from the formal financial system, with exclusion rates as high as 47% in the Northwest.
Among women, especially those in rural areas, the figures are even more concerning, as these numbers represent the daily reality of millions of women who run informal businesses and contribute to household income without access to banking, credit, or digital tools.
PalmPay’s initiative addresses this gap directly. 5,000 female entrepreneurs in Kano and Kaduna will receive hands-on financial literacy training on mobile payments and their shops are rebranded with signages, aprons, and other kits that will enhance visibility for their businesses.
“I used to write down every sale in a notebook. Now I track everything with my PalmPay account,” says Rabi Abdullahi, a trader in Kano. “Customers trust me more now that I have a business name and branded store.”
PalmPay has done its due diligence to understand the challenges and has offered a tailored approach to solving these issues which includes this social impact initiative.
Social Impact and Strategic Growth
With over 35 million users in Nigeria, the company is keen to expand in regions where smartphone adoption is rising but digital finance penetration remains low.
Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing and Communications, explains: “We see this as long-term ecosystem building. When you give small business owners the tools to grow, you don’t just gain users, you build loyalty, trust, and sustainable impact.” This also aligns with Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Strategy goal to reach 95% inclusion by 2025, a benchmark that can’t be reached without focused efforts in the North.
The project has earned the support of traditional leaders, most notably His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, who praised the initiative and called for greater collaboration between the private sector and community stakeholders.
With the success of this initiative, PalmPay has continued to expand its solutions in these regions offering support to even more women.
In Northern Nigeria, where the need is great and the gap wide, PalmPay is proving that true impact goes beyond offering products to providing support and meeting the needs of its users at the grassroots.
General News
Moniepoint Demonstrates Commitment to Nurturing Africa’s Future Leaders

Moniepoint Inc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions partnered with the Mega Impact Foundation to support the 5th edition of the NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition in Asaba, Delta state. This collaboration showcases Moniepoint’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development across the African continent.
The competition, which was held commemoratively to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Boy Child, brought together SS2 students from across Delta State to address the critical theme: “The Role of Financial Inclusion and Technology in Shaping a Brighter Future for Young People in Africa.” Moniepont has received critical acclaim over its core mission of advancing financial inclusion through innovative digital financial technology solutions and payment services..
The oratory competition showcased exceptional talent among Nigeria’s youth, with Otovo Praise of Crystalloid International School emerging as the champion.
His outstanding performance earned him a full-year scholarship through the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation, reflecting Moniepoint’s philosophy of investing in educational excellence. Second-place winner Audi Innocent of St Patrick’s College received ₦300,000, while third-place winner, Asher David of Glorious Kids Academy was awarded ₦200,000.
“At Moniepoint, we believe that driving sustainable innovation begins with future-proofing and expanding the talent pool by empowering the next generation with the tools that they need to succeed especially basic literacy skills which remain fundamental pillars in socio-economic development,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO Moniepoint Inc.
“These young voices represent the future of African leadership, and their insights into financial inclusion and technology demonstrate the remarkable potential that exists within our communities. Through our various educational and developmental initiatives such as the CAD/CAM lab we donated to OAU last year or the Moniepoint DreamDevs programme, we are betting big on an investment in Africa’s future.”
The initiative extends beyond monetary rewards, creating meaningful platforms for young people to express their ideas on a global stage. Through its support of the NextGen Connect Conference and Tech-In-School conversations, Moniepoint is fostering an environment where youth can develop critical thinking skills, build confidence, and engage with pressing societal issues.
In her remarks, Founder, Mega Impact Foundation, Florence Ogonegbu said that “we reaffirm our commitment to building an Africa where every young person has simplified access to sustainable education, capacity building, and empowerment.
By leveraging technology and local initiatives, we are creating platforms that enable our youth to thrive and transform their communities. Together with partners like Moniepoint, we are not just shaping futures—we are driving a movement for social development that will resonate globally. Every boy, every young person, deserves the opportunity to unlock their full potential and drive lasting impact across our continent.”
The competition received additional support from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Delta State, highlighting the collaborative approach required to nurture young talent effectively.
General News
African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service

African legislators across the continent are increasingly demanding answers from mobile network operators for chronic poor service. Parliamentarians in Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia are demanding answers on data pricing, network connectivity needs in rural regions, contributions to job creation, data security and privacy, and adherence to universal service obligations.
Zambia is the latest country to question telcos over quality of service, and National Assembly speaker Nelly Mutti has ordered minister of technology and science Felix Mutati to deliver a ministerial statement on the Airtel network’s repeat outages and the steps being taken to resolve them.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the impact of inconsistent connectivity, particularly in rural areas where mobile communication is important for emergencies and essential services.
This come after telecoms regulator, Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) read the riot act to Airtel, after its most recent outage last week.
This was not the first time the telco had experienced service interruption, which prompted ZICTA to threaten the telco with a fine.
Meanwhile, the speaker of parliament declared that the nation has to be informed about the causes for the network provider’s bad service and the steps being taken to address the issue.
Mutti said: “This matter is affecting everyone. We need to know why the services are poor and what is being done to ensure service providers comply with stipulated guidelines.”
The move by the Zambian parliament comes a few days after South African parliament also summoned mobile network operators to respond to a range of concerns that lawmakers felt impacted consumers.
The following issues were considered by parliamentarians: network connectivity standards in rural areas, contributions to job creation, transformation, and economic inclusion and empowerment for blacks in general, women, youth, and people with disabilities, data security and privacy, adherence to universal service obligations, and spectrum conditions for universal connectivity.
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