ICT
Cybercriminals Leveraging On Artificial Intelligence to Wreak More Havoc – Tech Expert
A Tech Expert, Ms Confidence Staveley, says Cybercriminal now leveraging on power of Artificial Intelligence, AI to wreak more havoc on soft target, urging businesses to improve their cybersecurity posture. adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Staveley, said this at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Tech Event/Graduation Ceremony on Thursday 20th July, 2023 in Lagos.
The Founder, CyberSafe Foundation, charges businesses to scale-up investments in cybersecurity to guard against cybercrime and other technological threats.
The NBCC event that had as its theme: “Emerging Trends in Tech and its Impact on Nigerian Businesses: Cyber Security and Data Analytics.”
The tech expert noted that Artificial Intelligence (Al) was making it easier for criminals to create convincing targeted phishing emails leading to a lot more business compromise attacks.
She added that cybercriminals were unleashing problems using stolen credentials and causing havoc for Nigerian businesses by breaking into multiple accounts.
Staveley emphasised the need for businesses to have the right culture and empower employees to protect against cyber threats to implement essential cybersecurity controls.
“Businesses must have a cybersecurity strategy and budget in place and must ensure that their cybersecurity posture is independently validated.
“They must also know all their digital assets and which assets are most important to their business and incorporate best practices for cybersecurity into new product designs,” she said.
Staveley also urged individuals to be careful about phishing emails and malwares they log into, saying cybercriminals have found a way to hack human beings instead of systems.
“To this end, individuals and businesses must be trained to be immune to these threats and change their account passwords as much as you can to guide against account compromise.
“Do things like two steps authentication, data encryption, just do the barest minimum to prevent your information from hanging low for criminals to access.
“Also, hire a cybersecurity professional to analyse where you are now and where you ought to be and create a road-map to safeguard against cybercrime,” she said.
Ms Bisi Adeyemi, President, NBCC, noted that several emerging trends in technology had the potential to impact business, especially in the areas of cybersecurity and data analytics.
She listed some of these trends as AI, Machine Learning, 5G technology, Internet of Things, edge computing, blockchain, cybersecurity automation and orchestration, data privacy and compliance.
Adeyemi noted that these emerging trends could have profound impact on businesses, offering both opportunities and challenges.
“It is thus crucial for organisations to stay updated on these trends, invest in cybersecurity measures and adopt data analytics to remain competitive and secure, in an ever-changing technological landscape.
“It also gives me immense pleasure that we are today graduating 22 participants from the second cohort of the NBCC Tech Academy, after three months of intense learning.
“I congratulate all our graduands and wish you all the very best in your various endeavours,” she said.
Mr Abimbola Owoeye, Country Lead, Del Technologies, urged organisations to be aware that their business footprints were left to whatever platforms they subscribed to.
According to him, to be unaware meant exposure to risks.
Owoeye charged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to leverage some AI tools to lower the costs of running a business.
“In doing this, you would need platforms that would consistently keep your data secure and you can subscribe to Enterprise Resources Planning software as better and cheaper entry for you,” he said.
Mr Steve Asemota, Chief Data Officer, FirstBank, stressed the need for SMEs to leverage data to know the profiles to target and how to price products in emerging markets.
Source: NAN
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ICT
Kogi First Lady Calls For Responsible Use Of ICT
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The wife of Kogi Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, has called on youths across the state to embrace responsible use of Information and Communication Technology and digital platforms as tools for promoting positive values in society.
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Mrs Ododo made the call at a sensitization programme held in Government House, Lokoja, to commemorate the 2025 International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence,
The First Lady said the celebration was part of Kogi Government’s efforts to strengthen the campaign against violence targeted at women and girls in the state.
She stressed the significance of this year’s theme, which focuses on combating the growing menace of digital violence.
Mrs Ododo urged all well‑meaning citizens of Kogi State and Nigeria to reject every form of online abuse, harassment, and harmful content while prioritizing the protection and wellbeing of their families.
She emphasised that violence, whether physical, emotional, or digital, remains a major destroyer of homes, bringing sorrow, disunity, and strife, and appealed to parents, especially mothers, to be vigilant in monitoring their children’s online and offline activities.
Reaffirming the Kogi State Government’s commitment, she noted that safeguarding women and children is a top priority, promoting equal access to education, supporting girls’ and women’s participation in policy‑making, and strengthening empowerment structures.
The First Lady also called on women and girls to stand against digital violence, break the silence, and empower themselves to use digital platforms wisely,
She urging men and boys to join the fight and foster a culture of respect and equality.
The Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade (PhD), and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi, reaffirmed a united front against violence targeting women and girls in the state.
Ayoade emphasized that the fight is collective, and urged every stakeholder to contribute to a safer society for women and girls.
Hon. Okpanachi said that her ministry will collaborate closely with partners to shield women from all forms of violence and is launching a program offering counseling, support services, and awareness campaigns on women’s rights.
Several speakers also highlighted the importance of women gathering evidence—such as screenshots—to strengthen justice efforts.
The Governor’s wife with other dignitaries had earlier in the morning led Kogi women and girls on a road walk across Lokoja streets on campaign to stop violence against women and girls in the state and Nigeria at large.
Ends.
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Digital Economy and eGovernance: Stakeholders Endorse Bill, Demand Institutional Role Definition
By AbdulRahman Obaje
Stakeholders across Nigeria’s digital and technology ecosystem have expressed support for the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, describing it as a vital step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework that will strengthen digital governance, boost innovation, and accelerate socio-economic development.
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However, they urged the National Assembly to address potential overlaps between the proposed law and the mandates of existing agencies to prevent institutional conflict and regulatory burden.
The submissions were made on Monday during a Public Hearing convened by the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on ICT, Cybersecurity, Digital and Information Technology at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Among groups that presented their position was the Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR), which commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and federal lawmakers for the initiative.
Presenting NADIR’s memorandum, its Legal Adviser, Barrister Yunus AbdulSalam (SAN), said the Bill represents a significant legislative intervention aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s digital governance ecosystem and regulating emerging technologies. He, however, cautioned that certain provisions appear to replicate functions already assigned to agencies such as NITDA, NCC, and NDPC.
Such duplication, he warned, could “trigger constitutional and institutional disputes, raise compliance costs, and discourage private sector participation and investment.”
He recommended that the National Assembly adopt a “consolidation and amendment approach,” extracting the Bill’s innovative elements and integrating them into the existing Act, rather than creating new regulatory overlaps.
Responding, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, said the Bill would enhance Nigeria’s digital competitiveness, strengthen e-governance service delivery, improve transparency, and boost the ease of doing business, particularly in the ICT sector.
He noted that the digital economy currently contributes about 20 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, adding that the passage of the Bill would unlock greater opportunities for job creation, innovation, and revenue growth.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Honourable Adedeji Stanley Olajide, said the engagement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to building a transparent and innovation-driven governance structure. He emphasized that collaboration among lawmakers, regulators, and industry players marked “a new phase in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.”
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, lauded the National Assembly for advancing the Bill and assured that stakeholder concerns would be considered to guarantee a balanced outcome. He said the proposed framework seeks to enable seamless data sharing across government institutions and foster stronger synergy with the private sector.
He also highlighted the Bill’s provisions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing AI as a strategic tool that could enhance Nigeria’s productivity and global digital competitiveness.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stressed that Nigeria must adopt a modern digital legal framework to benefit from ongoing global technological shifts. He cited the application of AI in agriculture for real-time access to data on best practices, weather patterns, and input quality as an example of the potential impact on food security.
Stakeholders present at the hearing included the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), among others.
Declaring the hearing open, the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, described the Bill as a bold step toward aligning Nigeria’s governance and economic policies with global digital realities.
The Bill, if passed into law, is expected to play a transformational role in Nigeria’s digital economy comparable to the telecommunications liberalization policy of 2001.
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ICT
Kogi State Govt, MTN Resolves Long-standing Dispute
By Abdulrahman Obaje
The Kogi State Government has resolved its long-standing dispute with MTN Nigeria over tax remittance and operational compliance.
This is contained in a press release dated May 22, 2025 and signed by the Press Secretary to the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Unubi Emmanuel
The meeting, held Wednesday at the Government House in Lokoja, was initiated by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and chaired by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu.
Governor Ododo, through his Deputy called on corporate organizations to adhere to tax obligations and operational protocols in their relationship with the government.
He described recent disagreement with the telecom operator that led to service disruptions in the state as a routine challenge in institutional relationships.
The Governor lauded the role of the NCC in mediating in the impasse and acknowledged the willingness of all parties to respect agreements reached by the parties.
He emphasized that Kogi remains open for business, assuring investors of a conducive environment to operate and thrive.
Ealier, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, who spoke on behalf of the National Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that both MTN Nigeria and the state government have agreed to a mutually acceptable terms of settlement of outstanding debts owed Kogi state government by the telecoms operator.
He commmended Governor Ododo for fostering policies that support businesses to grow, adding that the peaceful resolution of the face-off would boost investor confidence and benefit the people of the state.
The meeting was attended by Hon. Hilary Ojoma Egwudah, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor; Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS); Alhaji Taofik Isah, Director General of the Kogi State Utility, Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA); and Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner for Technical Services at the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), among others.
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