The global push to safeguard personal privacy in the age of artificial intelligence has gained fresh momentum, with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) aligning itself with 60 other Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) worldwide to endorse the “Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery and the Protection of Privacy.” Coordinated by the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group (IEWG) of the Global Privacy Assembly, the joint statement signals a coordinated regulatory response to the mounting risks posed by artificial intelligence systems capable of producing highly realistic images and videos of identifiable individuals. The Joint Statement highlights concerns over the misuse of AI-powered tools…
Author: Our REPORTER
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, themed “Give to Gain,” PalmPay is moving beyond symbolism to deliver a measurable impact—investing in young women with the competencies required to compete and lead in a rapidly digitising economy. At the centre of this initiative is PalmPay Purple Woman 3.0, a three-day Digital Financial and Technology Masterclass structured to close the gender gap in tech-driven industries. The programme combines intensive, hands-on training with real-world applications, equipping participants with market-relevant, job-ready skills. Beyond capacity building, the initiative also integrates career pathways, connecting participants to employment and growth opportunities within the broader digital ecosystem. Launched…
Ghana is dismantling the monopoly structure underpinning its 5G rollout, opting instead for a market-driven spectrum allocation regime designed to unlock competition and fast-track nationwide deployment. In a significant policy recalibration, the Minister for Communication, Innovations, and Digital Technologies, Sam Nartey George, announced that the government will open Ghana’s 5G spectrum to competitive bidding, effectively ending the exclusivity previously granted to Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC). NGIC has until now operated as the country’s sole shared neutral infrastructure provider for 4G and 5G services under a wholesale framework intended to lower market entry barriers and centralize infrastructure investment. However, the single-licensee…
Union Bank of Nigeria has reaffirmed its firm stance amid ongoing regulatory engagements, following media enquiries at the 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press briefing of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The clarification comes after the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, addressed questions regarding the regulatory framework guiding institutions currently under intervention, particularly within the context of the ongoing banking sector recapitalisation. Speaking at the briefing, Cardoso explained that banks under regulatory oversight operate within distinct structural and supervisory conditions that require a tailored regulatory approach. He noted that such institutions cannot be assessed on the same footing as banks that…
In a decisive push to entrench data-driven governance within Nigeria’s public service, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has completed a specialised digital capacity-building programme for the Federal Character Commission (FCC), equipping the Commission with tools and competencies to strengthen its oversight mandate. Central to the intervention was the donation of 35 laptops and hands-on training focused on data analysis and data management—core capabilities required for a Commission whose statutory responsibility is to monitor equitable representation across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority of reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive…
African statesman and former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday night, joined several distinguished Nigerians, including Mr Sam Amuka, media icon and Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, to pray for Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, on his 70th birthday. Obasanjo, who graced the thanksgiving meeting with his wife among other dignitaries, prayed for more years on earth for Ekeh, whom he described as an “achiever and a very kind man who deserves to be celebrated.” The meeting, which was held in Ekeh’s residence, was organised by his wife and children, with an opening prayer said by Reverend Father…
Nigeria is positioning itself to take control of its artificial intelligence (AI) future, with the Federal Government declaring that the country must move beyond simply consuming imported technologies to deliberately designing and owning AI systems rooted in its own realities. This position was articulated by the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, during a virtual address at the InnovateAI Conference held in Lagos. Addressing policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, and other stakeholders gathered to examine the role of artificial intelligence in Nigeria’s digital economy and national development agenda, Inuwa outlined a clear national ambition…
The push for a unified, data-driven public sector gathered momentum in Abia State as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) reaffirmed its support for sub-national governments seeking to modernise governance through enterprise architecture reforms. At the Future Enterprise & Data Architecture of Abia State workshop themed “One Citizen, One Identity: Unlocking Data-Driven Governance,” policymakers, technocrats and development partners converged to map out a roadmap for an integrated digital public service anchored on interoperability and citizen-centric governance. The workshop, organised by the state’s Ministry of Budget and Planning and declared open by Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, who…
Nigeria’s push to modernise governance gathered momentum in Cross River State as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, called for a decisive shift from analogue bureaucracy to digitally driven public administration. The charge came during the official flag-off of the Civil Service Technology Empowerment for Capacity and High Performance (CIVTECH) Programme, an initiative of the Cross River State Government hosted through the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRS MEDA). The programme aims to equip 2,000 civil servants with critical digital competencies needed to enhance efficiency and deliver technology-enabled public services.…
A strategic push to localise artificial intelligence (AI) development and modernise agriculture is gaining institutional momentum as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Wigwe University advance discussions on a broad-based collaboration spanning AI research, smart agriculture, digital literacy and emerging technologies. At a high-level engagement in Abuja, NITDA officials and a delegation led by Wigwe University Vice Chancellor, Marwan Al Akaidi, explored areas of convergence between national technology policy and the university’s research-driven aspirations. The talks signalled what both sides described as a practical, implementation-focused partnership designed to accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement. Professor Al Akaidi, who heads the…