E-Business
Zinox Boss Urges Review of Education Policy to Foster Unity, Knowledge Era
Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman Zinox Group has called for rejig of the national education policy to foster national unity and create a knowledge era.
Ekeh said that Nigeria is running on a digital age and therefore need to make critical decisions that will bring about a break from the analogue past.
The Zinox boss who spoke when the new executive of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) led by Prof. David Adewunmi, it president paid him a courtesy visit said that the country finds herself in times that are as difficult as 1969, the peak of the civil war, when nationalists and stake holders in education came together in a bid to salvage the ship of state from the vicious grip of ethnicity, religious bigotry and corruption.
“The situation has been compounded by kidnapping, terrorism, our inability to fund education, and the inability of Nigerian graduates to fit into existing vacancies in the industry. There is a need for another look at the national policy on education by people compliant with 21st Century technology.” He stated.
He said that Prof. Adewunmi who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Bell University is coming into the office of the president of the NCS at the right time.
Ekeh urged the president to direct his gaze at the need to restructure education in Nigeria with IT as the main tool.
Explaining further, the Zinox boss explained that with technology the objectives of teaching and learning can be achieved at a lower cost with more competitive outcomes.
He said that “For example, electronic content would cost less while solving the problem of overcrowded classes that have perplexed educational administrators for decades”
Earlier, Prof. Adewunmi congratulated the chairman and management of the Zinox Group for the long relationship with the Nigeria Computer Society.
He recounted a rich history of support dating back to the first President of the NCS, saying it showed the depth of the Zinox commitment to develop the IT sector.
Prof. Adewunmi expressed appreciation for the role that the Zinox Group has been successfully playing in the IT sector – the successful delivery of sensitive and large scale projects at the national level.
He said that Zinox has proved to the world that the Nigerian IT practitioner is a world-class professional with the capacity to match the best in the world.
The Zinox management and the NCS leadership agreed to work together in upholding international standards, enforcing the local content policy, capacity building and serving the unreached.
Both organizations would cooperate on all issues relating to the robust deployment of IT at all levels of education in Nigeria. The NCS and Zinox decried the multiple biometric data collection by numerous Agencies in Nigeria.
They agreed that biometric data is secured data that should be handled only by contractors who have integrity and would not compromise national security.
In addition, Ekeh, noted that the Nigeria Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) is one of the noble legacies that the Prof. Adewunmi led executive has inherited.
He urged the executive to handle NITMA with its characteristic professionalism to protect the lofty ideals for which it was instituted.
Africa’s most integrated IT firm, Zinox Technologies Limited was launched in 2001 and has earned recognition as a world-class solutions company with competencies spanning , certified PC Assembling, Advanced Biometric Solutions, E-Library and Digital Power Solutions, and rated as class “A++” Systems Integrators with local and International capacity to handle sensitive ICT projects.
Zinox successfully intervened for INEC in 2006 and 2011 Voters’ Registration amongst other national and multinational sensitive projects.
Multiple biometrics implementation – challenge is the integrity of the contractors collecting it. Security data
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has set in motion a machinery to checkmate the booming copyright piracy market in the country.
Copyright piracy is said to cost Nigeria an annual loss estimated at billions of naira.
Despite the absence of a coordinated or official statistics to gauge the quantum of loss, John Asein, director general, NCC, said as far back as 2019, Nigeria lost N918 trillion ($3 billion) annually to digital piracy.
The financial damages severely impact local businesses and innovation efforts.
The commission, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has started a project to develop strategies and tools to address the menace.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the WIPO project to address online copyright piracy in Nigeria, Asein said digital technologies have unlocked tremendous opportunities for the creative and innovation sectors.
The NCC boss said technology also poses serious challenges, including online piracy, which he said is growing rapidly.
He said: “Pirate sites continue to emerge rapidly, with statistics indicating a 6.7 per cent increase in user visits. A significant percentage of these users are students aged between 18 and 24, with social media and messaging platforms becoming major gateways for accessing pirated content.”
He added: “No industry is immune. The most affected sectors include television (43.6 per cent), publishing (27.5 per cent), film (12.9 per cent), music (7.0 per cent), and software (6.2 per cent).
“Far beyond mere statistics, the victims are no longer only foreign right owners. Many Nigerians in these sectors have also been bruised and their creative enterprises ruined.”
Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has signed an international mail partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for improved delivery access to over 200 countries without middlemen.
Tolani Odeyemi, postmaster-general and chief executive officer of NIPOST, described the deal as a “major milestone” for the country’s logistics and postal sector.
In a statement on X on Monday, Odeyemi explained that the new agreement marks NIPOST’s first direct international airline partnership for several years.
“For a long time, NIPOST operated without any direct partnerships with international airlines, relying heavily on multiple third-party handlers,” the Postmaster-General stated. This often resulted in delays, higher costs, and uncertainty around the delivery of packages.”
She explained that under the new arrangement, KLM will directly handle all outbound international mail from Nigeria, eliminating the need for intermediaries.
“This translates to faster and more reliable delivery, reduced risk of loss or damage, lower handling charges, and access to over 200 countries through KLM’s global network,” the Postmaster-General stressed.
According to Odeyemi, NIPOST’s breakthrough came after it began settling long-standing debts owed to international carriers, a step she said was key to “rebuilding global trust” in Nigeria’s postal system.
She revealed that talks were also ongoing with Ethiopian Airlines to bolster regional and continental logistics, particularly on African and Eastern routes.
“Our goal is clear and unwavering: to connect Nigeria regionally and globally, efficiently, securely, and affordably,” Odeyemi asserted.
The NIPOST CEO described the development as a significant win for Nigerian businesses and small and medium-scale enterprises that rely on international shipping, stating, “You now benefit from quicker, more affordable international shipping, greater peace of mind with improved reliability, and new potential to reach and grow in global markets.”
Odeyemi commended the teams behind the scenes and pledged continued improvements in service delivery, adding that the deal signals a turning point for the agency.
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