By FRED BONGANI E-commerce, despite its potential as a goldmine, remains one of the most challenging business sectors in Nigeria and indeed, the African continent. The obstacles that lie in the path of businesses intent on cracking e-commerce on the continent are well-documented, among which infrastructural deficiencies, logistical hiccups, skepticism for online shopping and predilection for offline retail, slow adoption of digital payment, among others, figure prominently. Nevertheless, Africa is widely regarded by experts as the next frontier for bullish e-commerce growth. Compelling insights from recent research by the International Trade Administration (ITA) shows that Africa represents a smart gamble…
Author: DigitalTimesNG
Africa is rapidly carving out its place as a dynamic force in the global techspace, defying outdated perceptions with a surge of innovation fueled by a thriving network of creators and solution-builders. The continent’s digital evolution is gaining momentum, driven by products that rival the world’s best. Driving the revolution are result-driven marketing professionals. They are Visionary professionals who leverage advanced technologies to captivate broader audiences with precision and creativity. From nimble startups to major corporations and purpose-driven organisations, these marketing strategists are entrusted with turning goals into reality. Whether fueling exponential growth, sharpening product appeal, or driving performance metrics,…
By Precious Ogar For years, product design has been measured by aesthetics, usability, and conversion. But the next era of digital product development demands something deeper: sustainability, not just environmentally but also structurally, ethically, and experientially. It’s a shift from designing screens to designing systems that can evolve, regenerate, and serve both users and organizations long after the initial launch. This attitude and mindset go hand in hand with the growing movement that professionals like me continue to champion. Design is not only about what users see but how products will behave over time, how they will scale, and how…
Winners have begun to emerge in the ongoing PalmPay Purple Christmas campaign featuring Nigerian singer-songwriter and pop star, Teni. Mary Gbemisola, one of the lucky winners of a hamper and other Christmas gifts delivered to her house by Teni, said she was “happy receiving a Christmas gift from Teni,” adding, “Now my Christmas is made and I have my rice and other gifts that Teni gave me.” Ms Gbemisola further said, “I have been using PalmPay for close to two years now and it has been a wonderful experience. I love PalmPay because the company is always in the habit…
-Becomes first African Brand to win the Award MTN Nigeria has emerged as the winner of the Airship Altitude Awards held at the Mobile Leaders Forum in London. The company won the award for its mobile app, ‘myMTN NG,’ a free application designed to simplify the mobile experience of its subscribers. Airship, acknowledged as the leading mobile engagement platform for enterprise brands worldwide, celebrates brands delivering personalised and effective in-app experiences. Annually, Airship customers globally submit their best mobile strategies, app experiences and cross-channel campaigns for consideration in the Altitude Awards. Judges assess each submission against defined criteria, including performance,…
It is challenging enough to build any product, but it becomes particularly difficult when the product is intended to serve two or more different user groups. Most product managers only have to think about a single type of user, but managing a platform that connects different groups, like buyers and sellers, or employers and job seekers, presents one with the challenge of managing their competing needs. The product has to be a harmonious space where each group’s value depends on the existence and engagement of the other group. This strategic deployment needs a certain quality of leadership. The core idea…
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, on a courtesy visit to the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani in Abuja recently pledged that transparency would form the bedrock of his leadership as Nigeria’s chief telecom regulator. Maida, who stated that transparency will enable a solid foundation in building a resilient, accountable, and efficient institution, spoke while briefing the minister on his activities, vision, and strategy since the assumption of office in October 2023. According to the EVC, “Transparency is key. It is by transparency that we can self-regulate…
As data volumes swell and systems grow more intricate, archaic methods of database administration are no longer sufficient. The era of intelligent databases has arrived with optimization not being reactive but proactive and performance tuning no longer an educated estimate but AI-driven. Pioneering the way is OLUWASEUN OLADELE ISAAC, a database engineer whose efforts are revolutionizing the manner in which infrastructure is optimized, scaled, and maintained. “Years ago, engineers would fix performance issues after a failure,” says Oluwaseun. “With the era of the intelligent database, we predict what is likely to fail and fix it before it happens.” To Oluwaseun,…
Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has harped on the need to build digital trust and implement international standards to support digitisation policies. Inuwa made this known while speaking at a Digital Policy workshop, organised by the British Standards Institution (BSI), held in Abuja. The DG who restated the centrality of NITDA’s role as regards standards in digital transformation, noted that the event is quite timely as it would deepen the collaboration between the Agency, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the British Government, invariably, helping in enhancing digital trust and adoption within Nigeria. Inuwa while stressing…
At a quiet cemetery in eastern China, bereaved father Seakoo Wu pulls out his phone, places it on a gravestone and plays a recording of his son. They are words that the late student never spoke but brought into being with artificial intelligence. “I know you’re in great pain every day because of me, and feel guilty and helpless,” intones Xuanmo in a slightly robotic voice. “Even though I can’t be by your side ever again, my soul is still in this world, accompanying you through life.” Stricken by grief, Wu and his wife have joined a growing number of…