By Toby Prince In the heart of Nigeria’s digital economy, a story of patriotism and resilience unfolds. The telecommunications sector, a driving force behind the country’s growth, has been facing unprecedented challenges. Despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s social and economic development, the sector has been struggling to keep up with the rising costs of operations. For nearly a decade, telecom tariffs in Nigeria remained unchanged, while the demand for data and voice services skyrocketed. The cost of operations, however, surged due to rising energy costs, inflation, currency devaluation, and increased costs of importing telecom equipment. These mounting expenses threatened…
Author: DigitalTimesNG
News Highlights: Project aims to bridge the digital divide and empower communities, particularly women and youths. First Lady revealed that four ICT centres have been constructed under the initiative, with more set to be launched. Nigeria’s First Lady and Chairperson of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated a new ICT Community Centre at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, reports Digital TimesNG. The project, built by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with RHI, aims to bridge the digital divide and empower communities, particularly women and youths. At the event, the First…
By Elvis EROMOSELE Economists say inflation is a persistent rise in prices. It happens when there’s too much money chasing too few goods. Inflation in Nigeria today has become a huge challenge, affecting businesses, consumers, and the overall economy. As inflation rates soar above acceptable thresholds, companies are navigating uncharted waters to stay afloat. Inflation is bad for everyone. It erodes the purchasing power of consumers, increases the cost of raw materials, and heightens operational expenses. For businesses, the ripple effect can be devastating including but not limited to reduced profit margins, lower consumer spending, and the constant pressure to…
News Highlights: West Africa reported a 22% rejection rate, rising sharply from 12% in 2023, driven by a surge in biometric fraud case. Financial sector leads in fraud exposure as digital banks recorded peak fraud attempts at 35% of all biometric and document verifications in 2024, followed by microfinance at 30%. Smile ID, Africa’s leading provider of identity verification solutions, has released its 2025 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report, highlighting critical fraud trends across the continent. The report, made available to Digital TimesNG, reveals that West Africa recorded the highest number of biometric fraud rates in 2024, driven by…
The Thisday Awards on January 27 in Lagos honoured tech pioneers Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, and his son, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, CEO of Konga Group. Leo Stan won CEO of the Year, while Prince received the Young Global Leader Award for his impact on e-commerce. SOLA ODUMOSU, an ICT media connoisseur, writes that this historic father-son recognition highlights their legacy in shaping Africa’s digital future. History was made on the evening of Monday, January 27, in Lagos at the colourful Thisday Awards ceremony when serial digital entrepreneur, Leo Stan Ekeh, shared the same podium with his son,…
News Highlights: Microsoft in Talks to Acquire TikTok Again Amid U.S. Government Pressure Uncertainty Over TikTok’s Future as Multiple Buyers Show Interest President Donald Trump of the United States told reporters on Monday that Microsoft, is in talks to acquire TikTok and that he would like to see a bidding war over the app, according to a report by Reuters. While Microsoft declined to comment, TikTok and ByteDance did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for a comment outside regular business hours. TikTok, which has about 170 million American users, was briefly taken offline just before a law requiring its…
For decades, Nigeria’s power sector has been on shaky ground — struggling with unreliable electricity supply, aging infrastructure, and an overdependence on fossil fuels. Grid collapse has become a recurrent experience, forcing households and businesses to rely on expensive and polluting generators. Amid these challenges, past and present governments always paint a hopeful picture of reforms and investments aimed at improving the grid. Yet, in a world rapidly shifting towards renewable energy, true progress will not come from patching up a failing system but from embracing a sustainable, green energy future. Indigenous brands like iPower are already leading the way,…
TV analyst, Frank Tietie, has criticised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for approving a 50% increase in telecom tariffs without conducting the mandatory public hearing required by law. Tietie, an Arise TV analyst, who spoke on Arise News on Wednesday, argued that the lack of public consultation denies Nigerians the opportunity to challenge the hike and seek compensation for years of poor service. He stressed that consumers should not bear the cost of the telecom sector’s operational challenges, urging regulators to prioritise consumer protection and accountability. Tietie condemned the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for approving a 50% increase in telecom…
News Highlights: The Stargate Project is a joint venture to build AI data centres across the U.S. Project is expected to be operational by 2026, further advancing the U.S.’s AI capabilities OpenAI has announced that it will team up with Oracle and Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, among others, to build multiple data centres for AI in the U.S. Known as the Stargate Project, the joint venture will begin with a large data centre project in Texas and eventually expand to other states, Digital TimesNG can report. The companies expect to commit $100 billion to Stargate initially and add up to $500…
News Highlights: Exclusive Microsoft License Discounts for Businesses aims to enhance productivity, security, and collaboration for businesses across Africa. Automated CSP Portal for Resellers enhances scalability, profitability, and service delivery for Microsoft partners. TD Africa, the leading technology distributor in Africa, is offering significant discounts on essential Microsoft licenses to support business growth and digital transformation across the continent. Digital TimesNG reports that this initiative reflects TD Africa’s commitment to empowering businesses with cost-effective technology solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency. For a limited time, businesses can enjoy substantial savings on various Microsoft products, including a 15% discount on Microsoft…