General News
Technology is About Value Adding – Lawal
Lawal Abdu-Rahman is the CEO of KITS Technologies Limited. He is an experienced ICT professional having spent over 14 years in the industry most of which were in management positions. He is a creative engineer combining good blend of engineering with business, he is passionate about value driven ICT initiative. He spoke to funmi ilesanmi.
Relationship with Gilat
Satellite communication network is very broad and there is virtually no single company all over the world that does it all alone. Gilat is a service provider that focuses on hub management and issues that has to do with space segment, they do not have a satellite in the space; they work hand-in-hand with several other satellite companies like Intelsat, Newskies, Intersputnik the owner of ABS or LMI, Panamsat, Amos among others, and they also work with equipment vendors like Shiron, Comtech, IDirect, and a lot of other equipment manufacturers; because Gilat does not manufacture equipment. So in the same vein, Gilat is also partnering with KITS. KITS focuses on earth stations issues. There are basically three major divisions in Vsat network. We have the hub, the satellite and the earth station, so our role is to manage issues that have to do with earth station in terms of site preparation, installation, configuration, and maintenance. That is simply what KITS is doing with Gilat.
Future of Vsat and Fibre in Nigeria
This is not the situation, it’s just like saying that Wimax and fibre optics are two opposing technologies, no we can’t say that, Vsat and fibre optics are complementary technologies, they are not in anyway opposing each other. Fibre is an infrastructure that delivers higher bandwidth over the terrestrial network and Vsat is an infrastructure that delivers bandwidth over the satellite network. They are two separate technologies that can be appropriately applied to deliver services to the end user depending on the situation. We have customers requiring fibre optic for their installations and we also have customers requiring satellite for their deployment, so we apply the two together to make our customers happy.
As Globacom and other communication companies are laying fibre optic cable across the globe, the fate of Vsat is simply a growth change. Several fibre optics links aside Glo1 have entered Nigeria and more will soon join, this is what everybody in this industry has been expecting and it is a remarkable growth to our local telecoms infrastructure. This has nothing to do with Vsat because fibre and Vsat are two different but complementary technologies that can run side by side and as the case dictates, the difference is that you apply the appropriate technology in the appropriate environment. For instance, the customer needing fibre optics is given fibre optics and the one that demands satellite is given satellite, so it is not an issue of rivalry between fibre and satellite but an issue of expansion of options. Certainly satellite will continue to be used for areas where satellite is most appropriate and fibre where it is appropriate, but we expect to see a change, change in terms of the areas where you had initially deployed satellite which now you have an alternative to use fibre optic then it may change to fibre but for areas where you still have to use satellite, it will certainly still be satellite.
Even for critical fibre optics link, Vsat would continue to serve as back-up for redundancy in case you have a break of fibre optics cable. And as you are aware, a number of satellites are coming up to focus on Africa, you would recollect that after the unfortunate event that led to the lost of Nigcomsat1; there is currently an ongoing process to have a replacement satellite in the space, so the numbers of satellites that are coming up are on the increase, this is evident to the fact that the necessary demand for satellite connectivity is still very relevant to complement the deployment of fibre in Africa. The only issue that will be better defined henceforth is that we now have the option of using the appropriate infrastructure for the right environment.
Value Added Services
We add value added services to our relationship with Gilat. We are very close to our customers. We visit our customers and know each of them by their names and addresses. We go to them and check their LAN for them, we check their systems for them, we do whatever is required to ensure that their link is up, running and smooth, we know that bandwidth is expensive, and we understand with our customers that every second counts, so our customers can not afford to be down without a solution that is prompt and close to them, this is the most important value adding service that must accompany any ICT products and services. I mean after sale support, and that is why we have our Customer Support Centre to guarantee excellent service for the customers, and that was the basis for our partnering with Shiron, the manufacturer of the Vsat modem /terminal that we use. We built and invested into a relationship with them as the Nigeria Shiron repair centre. Though equipment failure is not a common issue but they do happen, of course you can imagine the loss that may arise from managing a faulty modem, so, that was why we have to partner with the manufacturers of our equipment. Our technicians are trained and certified to handle hardware faults. This has helped a lot to promptly address hardware failure for equipment that is out of warranty. If there is a fault during the first 12 months of warranty period, what we do is outright replacement. And it is the same across all other products, we place emphasis on training to ensure that our technicians and engineers are well trained on all the hardware of the products that we deal in, to ensure that when there is a fault, we correct them locally. Also, we realise that knowledge gap has been the major barrier with the end users because they are new to satellite communication, so what we do is to offer detailed technical handling training free of charge to our customers, so that the customers will have right knowledge to fix minor issue by themselves.
About KITS Technologies
KITS Technologies Limited offers ICT solutions that address business problems. We offer end to end solution that covers both software and hardware. Our range of products and services include Satellite based communication, Internet distribution, Vsat, fibre optics, wireless communications, IP PBX, VPN networking, data storage, IP surveillance, video conferencing, data centre implementation, management and enterprise solar power.
We also offer some corporate technical training that provides ongoing professional and continually improved courses that reflects latest industry information and communication solutions globally. As a matter of fact, it is not as if we run a training school but being part of our vision, to be known globally as a centre for transfer of knowledge, experience and expertise; we have added well structured professional training packages to our program as our own way to share with Nigerians what we know. That is part of our contribution to improve on ICT workforce, awareness and ICT penetration in the country.
Providing Services to Cities Outside Lagos
This is very simple, irrespective of where these services are requested, we are always there, it is simple because our satellite has an excellent coverage of the entire country, so all we do is deploy our engineers to the area depending on the location of the customer, if it is from the northern part, the request goes to Kano, while the southern or eastern part is been handled by Lagos office.
Disaster Recovery and Data Centre
What I can see as reasons for some companies reluctance in embracing data protection has to do with value proposition, attitude and awareness. Many do not take things serious until there is crisis and a lot do not understand the benefits of investing in an automated storage system that guarantees 100% recovery. That is the problem and until these services are embraced just as we have all over the world several companies would still be faced with loss of critical data. Now we are talking about e-economy which means we are going to translate almost all transactions and activities into data to be kept. Imagine what will happen if you wake up tomorrow only to be told that the database that keeps your ATM pins, balances, transactions history is lost, or that JAMB after preparing the whole lot of the result claim a loss of the data, or if your pension manager claims same and other critical data like that, so we need to see the big picture of this implication and take proactive measures to address these issues.
The major barrier of these technologies is knowledge gap and awareness and then the attitude, people thinking that we can still manage and that nothing has happened after all these years without the right infrastructure. A lot of companies are running without having any storage systems at all, what is important for companies is to get the appropriate knowledge on all alternative networks available options in terms of storage so that they can implement. We need to start imagining and estimating the price of loosing critical data for us to take actions. That is why KITS offers regular knowledge transfer programme on data storage and data centre.
Challenges in Deploying CCTV in Cities Across Nigeria
Close Circuit Television (CCTV) is the analogue system video surveillance system, right now we are talking about digital video networking, running video surveillance on IP network also called IP surveillance. Its flexibility is just like other IP based services. The major challenge that IP surveillance system is having in Nigeria is mainly infrastructure and the number one of them is power. Until the power issue is solved, it will not be easy to deploy effective surveillance system in Nigeria.
The second problem is awareness which is common with many ICT solutions. For instance if we are talking about having IP surveillance system installed in a state, this is not something you just think about and then it happens, it has to go through series of bureaucratic process and most of the time people who take the final decisions may not thoroughly understand what one is talking about and how best to go about it. In fact, if surveillance system can be installed properly, it is going to bring a lot of value to the lives of the people by reducing crime rate, helping in traffic management and road accident. The people in the helm of affairs must understand the need for this technology and encourage the use of it. Surveillance is going to be like a watch dog for all our activities. The same issue also affects video conferencing; a lot of people who are supposed to be using video conferencing are not doing that at the moment, not because of cost but rather because of awareness. People are not aware of the benefits of having a technology that can enable them save money. You can imagine how much we would save in a year on all of those allowances, if the travelling rate of our executives for conferences here and there is cut down substantially by not travelling, but rather sit in your office and hold your meeting right there in your office through video conferencing.
We believe in applying technology appropriately not about all that is latest. We believe in what is latest only if it adds value to lives, we are very careful in terms of solution that we select, we focus on value to the lives of the people. If it is not going to add value definitely Kits will not encourage people to patronise it, because technology is not about wasteful on executive technological toys but getting value from technology.
Association of Set-Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN) has accused the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of sidelining indigenous manufacturers and flouting a subsisting court order in its push to launch a new satellite-driven Digital Switch Over (DSO) scheme, tagged ‘The Big Picture’.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC
The group is calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene.
STBMAN, in a statement issued by Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, its chairman, described the NBC’s approach as “incoherent and unfair”, alleging a consistent pattern of disregard for existing agreements and stakeholders.
“It is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem,” the group stated.
The manufacturers expressed concern over NBC’s plan to import five million hybrid set-top boxes from China, despite a presidential executive order promoting local content in procurement.
They argue this move contradicts the “Nigeria First Policy” and undermines years of local investment.
“NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments,” STBMAN said, highlighting that its members still hold unsold boxes manufactured to NBC’s original specifications.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
PRESS RELEASE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA, ON THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE DIRECTORS GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION (NBC) AND NIGCOMSAT ON THE UNVEILING OF SATELLITE DRIVEN DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO) TAGGED ‘‘THE BIG PICTURE’’.
The Association of Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN)is once again compelled to issue a statement on the very incoherent and unfair practices being pursued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)in its implementation of the FGN’s policy on the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. Regrettably, it is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem.
The public is invited to note that STBMAN is a body of technology driven businesses and is not averse to the introduction and use of new technologies.
Similarly, it should be noted that the Association is not alluding to any inference that it should be the ultimate determiner of how the project is implanted.
For any keen follower of the DSO since its conception by the DigiTeam, it is not far- fetched to recall its decision on the adoption of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) option as against the DTH on grounds of the cost that will be difficult to bear by the larger part of the TV viewing population.
Secondly, as at today the Federal Government of Nigeria has spent close to over N60Billion on DSO program, excluding Millions of Dollars spent by Broadcast Signal Distributors, local DTT factories and other stakeholders who have deployed DTT Infrastructure. This is not minding the over 10 million Poor Television Households that will be impacted by mindless action of hybrid box.
As we are not averse to any change of any government policy, it is on record that STBMAN at various times have encouraged NBC to partner with NIGCOMSAT to provide the necessary signal transmission/ coverage to ameliorate the heavy cost that was being paid to foreign satellite distribution/ carriers but the NBC outrightly refused to consider this.
It is heart-warming to note finally that NIGCOMSAT is now the latest and best to provide signal coverage.
Curiously, the Press Release stated that local manufacturers would be engaged to produce hybrid compliant reception devices yearly, yet there has been no form of engagement with the 13 licensed STB manufacturers who have committed huge financial cost in the manufacture of DTT boxes specifically ordered and made to specifications provided by the NBC/ Digiteam.
It is imperative for the public to note that the STB manufacturers have toiled and sacrificed for the success of the DSO but at each turn, there appears to be deliberate and calculated move to scuttle their efforts and investments.
For almost 10 years, members of STBMAN have been left with scores of boxes in their warehouses without being able to sell because of NBC’s inability to deliver on its obligations and contractual agreements.
The least that any well-meaning governmental body that cares for the growth of its economy should have done, would have been an engagement with the existing licensed manufacturers to work out an acceptable arrangement, considering the financial investments as well as the changes in technology that have become necessary to undertake.
The public is invited to note further that it was on grounds of this and NBC’s attempt to undermine the agreement and the exclusivity granted the pioneer manufacturers that the Association took out a Writ of Summons in Suit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/442/2024 to protect its interest by seeking Court intervention to stop any attempt at licensing new manufacturers of STBs. It is *instructive to emphasis here that on the 11th day of September 2024, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Abuja made interim orders restraining NBC from taking any further step in relation to the reliefs being sought by the Claimants.
Notwithstanding the fact that NBC is not only seized of the pendency of the case/ action but has joined issues with the Claimants, it has chosen the path of contempt to short circuit the ends of justice.
An order of court, whether valid or not must be obeyed if it is subsisting by all no matter how lowly or lightly placed in society until it is set aside. This is what the rule of law is all about.
As if NBC is running a different Government, in the press release, they intend to import 5,000,000 Hybrid/DTH Set Top Boxes from China, in total disregard of the Presidential Executive Order “The Nigeria First Policy’ which makes it mandatory, that Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes.
No foreign goods or devices that are already produced locally will be procured without a clear justified reason. Accordingly, the policy reflects the vision of President Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in industrializing Nigeria, shielding the economy from global shocks and building sustainable local capacity. NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments.
In the light of the foregoing, we call on Mr. President, Alh. Bola A. Tinubu GCFR to urgently wage in and stop this rather dangerous trend sought to be perpetrated by the NBC leadership and its advisers.
Thank you.
For: ASSOCIATION OF LICENCED SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA. (STBMAN)
SIR GODFREY N. OHUABUNWA
CHAIRMAN
Jumia, Africa’s e-commerce platform, is celebrating 13 years of transforming the way Nigerians shop. Since its launch in 2012, Jumia has evolved into more than just an online shopping destination. It has become a catalyst for economic growth, digital inclusion, and everyday convenience for millions of Nigerians.
From small business owners and rural consumers, Jumia has played a key role in shaping a more inclusive digital marketplace. Over the past decade, the platform has helped hundreds of local and international brands reach customers across the country, while also supporting thousands of sellers with tools, training, and access to logistics and digital payments.
To commemorate this milestone, Jumia is launching the 2025 Anniversary Campaign under the theme “Enjoyment Overload”, running from June 2 to June 22. While the campaign will feature attractive deals from Nivea, Xiaomi, Itel, Diageo, Ecoflow, Skyrun, Oraimo, Adidas, Reebok, Unilever, Reckitt, and more, it also reflects a deeper celebration of the brand’s enduring impact.
“We are proud of the journey so far, not just in terms of business growth, but in the real-life stories of empowerment and access that Jumia has made possible. With this anniversary campaign, we’re pulling out all the stops to create a celebration that rewards loyalty, excites new users, and showcases the very best of what e-commerce can offer.
This is our way of saying thank you to the millions of Nigerians who have grown with us, challenged us, and inspired us every step of the way,” said Sunil Natraj, CEO, Jumia Nigeria.
“Beiersdorf Nigeria owner of Nivea Brand, is proud to partner with Jumia as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2025 Jumia Anniversary Celebration. This three-week event allows us to showcase our commitment to skincare innovation and reward consumers nationwide.
“NIVEA will highlight key innovations, including our new NIVEA SUNSCREEN – UV Face, re-launched Deep Maxx Tech Body Lotion, and Radiant & Beauty Even Glow, specially designed to meet the unique skincare needs of African skin.
“Through this partnership, we’re bringing trusted skincare solutions to more Nigerians, with exclusive discounts and a 4.5 million Naira grand prize for the top shoppers,” said Dele Adeyole, Country Manager, Beiersdorf Nivea Consumer Product Limited.
Shoppers can look forward to daily flash deals, brand days, games, treasure hunt, and exciting giveaways from Jumia and partner brands.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to evolve, Jumia remains committed to simplifying daily life through technology, innovation, and a customer-first approach.
Kaspersky has released its annual report on children’s digital interests, with the analysis covering the period from May 2024 to April 2025. It reveals a growing fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots, the viral rise of Italian brainrot memes like “tralalero tralala”, and growing attention to Sprunki — a rhythm-based game combining music and motion. YouTube remains the most popular app among children globally, while WhatsApp overtook TikTok for second place.
In today’s interconnected world, children are engaging with digital technology more than ever before. Recent studies indicate that 8-10-year-old children spend an average of six hours daily on screens, while preteens (ages 11–14) average about nine hours per day.
With such a significant portion of their lives unfolding online, it becomes especially important for parents to understand what captures their children’s attention in the digital space — what they search for, what platforms they use, and which trends influence their interests and behaviour.
Every year, new digital trends shape the way children explore the world. In this year’s report, Kaspersky found a surge of interest in AI tools. While no AI apps appeared in the Top 20 most-used applications in 2023-2024 time period, “Character.AI” has now entered the list, showing that children are not only curious about AI but are actively integrating it into their digital lives.
More than 7.5% of all search queries were about AI chatbots, led by well-known names like ChatGPT, Gemini, and especially Character.AI — a platform that lets users create or interact with bots mimicking fictional or real characters. This marks a sharp rise from last year: in the 2023–2024 report, AI-related queries made up just 3.19% of all searches, increasing more than twice this year.
However, not all chatbot interactions are risk-free. Some bots may expose children to emotionally intense content, misinformation or age-inappropriate themes, especially when created or customised by other users.
Since these platforms often rely on user-generated content and may lack strict moderation, it’s crucial to talk openly with children about how they use AI tools — and to set up apps for digital parenting, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids, that help families stay aware, involved and protected.
In Nigeria, the top 5 of the most popular Android apps were WhatsApp (28,42% – the amount of time spent on the platform), YouTube (17,41%), Chrome (11,29%), Snapchat (10,33%) and Free Fire (5,16%).
While memes made up a small portion of searches this year, they still reveal another layer of children’s digital culture. Many of the most popular memes fell into what’s called “brainrot” — a kind of absurd, deliberately chaotic humour that spreads through short videos.
Among the most searched were the Italian phrase “tralalero tralala” and a meme track called “tung tung tung sahur”. These phrases may sound random to adults, but for many children, they represent shared jokes that move quickly from platform to platform.
Among the newcomers that caught analysts’ attention was Sprunki — a rhythm-based browser game that blends music and visual interaction. Players must hit beats in sync with fast-paced audio, making the experience both immersive and physically engaging.
Its bright, cartoonish design and addictive gameplay have made it increasingly popular with younger audiences. This is reflected not only in Google searches but also on YouTube, where Sprunki entered the top five most searched gaming topics, standing alongside long-time favourites like Brawl Stars and Roblox.
At the same time, more familiar habits remain strong. The most common online activity among children was searching on Google for streaming platforms — almost 18% of all queries were related to watching videos. Unsurprisingly, YouTube remains the clear favourite Android app, growing from 28.13% to 29.77% over the past year.
WhatsApp rose to second place with 14.72%, overtaking TikTok (12.76%), while Snapchat and Facebook continued to decline. This shift may reflect evolving communication habits — children are using chat apps more frequently to share links, memes and short videos with friends.
Video content and games also remained popular topics in children’s search behaviour. Platforms like Netflix, Twitch and Disney+ held strong — a trend that also echoed findings from Kaspersky’s recent streaming report, which highlighted how entertainment platforms often become targets for cybercriminals. At the same time, in the gaming world, children continued to favour Roblox, Minecraft and increasingly, the browser-based portal Poki — a portal offering hundreds of free games, often simple, fast-paced and instantly accessible in a browser.
“This year’s trends show just how fast children’s digital culture is evolving — one day they’re chatting with AI bots, the next they’re all humming an Italian meme song you’ve never heard of. But behind every trend is a chance for connection.
“When parents take time to understand what their children are watching, playing or searching for, it opens the door to meaningful conversations — and helps build safer, more trusting digital habits. Apps for digital parenting can be a helpful tool in this journey — not only to protect, but to stay involved,” comments Anna Larkina, privacy expert at Kaspersky.
To keep children safe from online threats, Kaspersky recommends the following:
- Maintain open communication with children about potential online risks and establish clear guidelines to ensure their safety.
- Secure gaming experiences by installing a trusted security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, to prevent malicious file downloads.
- Stay informed about emerging threats and actively monitor children’s online activities in order to create a safer digital environment.
- Introduce children to cybersecurity basics using educational tools like the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet — a free downloadable book that explains key concepts, cyber hygiene rules, and how to avoid fraud.
. Use digital parenting apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids to protect children both online and offline, manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and track their location for greater peace of mind.
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