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E-Business

Swedish Embassy, NOTAP to Collaborate in Capacity Building for Nigerians in Technology, Innovation

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The Swedish Embassy has expressed willingness to collaborate with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in building capacity for Nigerians in Science, Technology and Innovation.

Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria Carl Michael Grans made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of NOTAP Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim.

He said that the capacity building initiative of the Consulate to Nigerians has become necessary in order to meet up with the fast changing dynamics of world economies occasioned by technological advancements.

He disclosed that the Consulate had undertaken capacity building workshops for different organizations in Nigeria including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with the support of Ericsson, the largest Swedish company operating in Nigeria with staff strength of 230 adding that about 35 Swedish companies are presently operating in Nigeria with the attendant value addition to the economy in terms of knowledge and infrastructure.

The Ambassador said he was in NOTAP to learn about its activities describing the agency as a very important organization. While commending it for its efficient regulatory role which has created the enabling environment for international businesses in Nigeria, he called for enhanced support towards Swedish businesses in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Director General of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim said the Office was established by government with a mandate to regulate the inflow of foreign technology and promote the development of indigenous technologies.

He decried the present situation in the country whereby over 90 percent of the technologies that power the economy are imported adding that no nation that is aspiring to be economically independent should fold its arms and allow business as usual.

He added that in order to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign technologies, the Office initiated several programmes like the NOTAP-Industry Partnerships to provide the much needed synergy between the academia and Industry that will lead to Research and Development (R&D) and by extension the development of products and services.

Dr. Ibrahim stated that in advanced nations, most of their researches are being sponsored by private companies because of the strong synergy between the academia and Industry.

“There must be a deliberate effort to see our private sector and the academia work together. The advanced world has a strong synergy between academia and industry which has led to the development of products and services and that is what we want in Nigeria.” He emphasized.

The DG noted that NOTAPs intervention in strengthening research activities in Nigeria has led to the institution of the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF) being sponsored by private companies to train intelligent Nigerians with masters degree to PhD level who will in turn provide the much needed manpower for technology development in Nigeria.

He added that 15 candidates have so far been enrolled in the scheme sponsored by companies like Nestle Nig. Plc., Airtel Networks Nig. Ltd, Friestland Campina WAMCO, Julius Berger Plc., PZ Cussons Plc., Promassidor Nig. Ltd, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dufil Prima Foods Ltd and Procter & Gamble.

The NOTAP boss further said that under another partnership with Industry, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc had committed 115 million naira for the upgrade of three Chemistry laboratories at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu Alike Ebonyi State and National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) Zaria respectively.

He added that the positive impact of the upgrade of the three laboratories were acknowledged by PZ research team when they visited the facilities and has encouraged the company to further commit the sum of 360 million naira for the upgrade of six additional laboratories, one in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

He expressed appreciation to the Swedish Ambassador for the visit and said that NOTAP will continue to support any foreign company willing to do business in Nigeria within the ambit of the law adding that with the ongoing automation process of its technology transfer registration process which is about 90 percent completed, the Office is geared towards enhanced service delivery.

The Swedish Ambassador was accompanied on the visit by Mr. Peter Olusoji Ogundele, the Embassy’s Director in charge of Government and Industry Relations.


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NIMC Denies Blocking Police Commission from Verification Server

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National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified that all its verification service platforms remain fully functional and accessible to all authorized partners, including security agencies.

NIMC Denies Blocking Police Commission from Verification Server

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, DG, NIMC

In a statement on Thursday, the Commission firmly denied claims that it had denied the Police Service Commission (PSC) access to its verification server.

Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head of Corporate Communications, NIMC, described the reported “inability of the Police Service Commission to access the NIMC verification server” as misleading and inaccurate.

He suggested that any challenges faced by the PSC may be due to internal issues within the commission itself, not from NIMC’s end.

The statement reads: “To set the record straight, the NIMC granted verification access to all Nigerian Police formations for the verification of the National Identification Number (NIN). The NPF, PSC and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years.

“NIMC has provided top-notch verification services for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, as conducted by the PSC and at no time have there been any complaints or issues regarding NIN Verification by the NPF or PSC.

“The Commission has a robust and harmonious working relationship with the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission. The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) department of the Nigeria Police Force is actively managing the long-standing verification and integration service between the NIMC and all Nigeria Police formations.Entertainment tourism packages

“NIMC will continue to provide flawless verification services for the purpose of recruitment, security mapping, cybercrime control, and any other security matters.

“The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and NPF has confirmed the verification services have continued to be available. We therefore believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters.

“NIMC is committed to providing excellent verification services to the PSC, NPF and all its partners but the terms and conditions inherent must be adhered to for uninterrupted flow of service.”


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Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan

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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.

Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan

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.


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AXIAN Telecom Invests in Jumia Post-MTN Era

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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.

 


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