The recent escalation in the US-Israel conflict with Iran has delivered a sharp reminder of Nigeria’s economic vulnerability. As oil prices surged past $100 per barrel and fuel costs climbed by 35% at Nigerian pumps, a troubling paradox emerged: Nigeria, a major crude oil producer with Africa’s largest privately-owned refinery now operational, still found itself buffeted by global energy shocks originating thousands of miles away. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and resulting disruptions to global energy markets exposed the deeper structural challenge facing Nigeria’s economy. Despite domestic crude production and the operational Dangote Refinery, Nigeria has struggled with…
Author: DigitalTimesNG
News Highlights: Kashifu Inuwa emphasised that stronger collaboration among the government, the private sector, academia, and civil society is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy. NITDA highlighted ongoing initiatives, while stressing that scaling these efforts will require deeper partnerships and sustained investment in digital skills and innovation ecosystems. Nigeria’s drive toward a resilient and inclusive digital economy will depend largely on how effectively stakeholders collaborate across federal, state, and private sector lines, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has said. Inuwa made this known at a NITDA-States IT Stakeholders’ Engagement and Ecosystem Development…
Nigeria’s relationship with digital banking has changed almost beyond recognition in a decade. Where cash once dominated every transaction, from the roadside market to the corporate boardroom, mobile apps, instant transfers, and USSD codes have reshaped how tens of millions of Nigerians interact with their money every single day. The figures speak for themselves: point-of-sale transactions surged to a record N18 trillion in 2024, a 69 per cent increase from the year before, and the number of POS terminals in operation more than doubled to 5.5 million. Mobile banking is now the most widely used digital financial service in the…
News Highlights: Shoppers enjoy significant price cuts across multiple categories, with access to genuine products through official brand stores and exclusive partnerships. With early campaign timing and KongaNow delivery, customers can shop conveniently and receive orders ahead of Easter celebrations. Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has kicked off its much-anticipated Easter Homecoming campaign, rolling out from April 1, 2026, with a strong focus on affordability and seasonal convenience. The initiative is designed to help consumers make the most of the festive period, offering deep discounts across a wide range of product categories. By combining value-driven deals with access to…
News Highlights: The platform added over 50 million users in 2025 and now has more than 150 million users outside India, reflecting strong global adoption. Truecaller surpassed 4 million paying subscribers, reinforcing its growing subscription-based revenue model. Truecaller, the leading global platform for safe and trusted communication, has announced that it has surpassed 500 million users worldwide, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to build trust in communication. The platform continues to see significant user growth, adding over 50 million users in 2025, and has surpassed 150 million users outside of India as demand for protection against spam,…
News Highlights: The handover of the NGEA Portal to NITDA marks a major leap in Nigeria’s transition toward an integrated, interoperable, and citizen-centric digital government framework under the e-Government Masterplan 2.0. The NGEA initiative is the outcome of a multi-year strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency. Nigeria’s push to build a more coherent and interoperable digital government architecture has taken a decisive step forward with the formal handover of the Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture (NGEA) Portal to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). At a ceremony held on Thursday…
News Highlights: The NCC has designated Plateau State as a priority partner in closing Nigeria’s digital divide, pledging to extend broadband infrastructure to underserved rural LGAs. Plateau State Governor highlighted concrete initiatives—AI adoption, innovation hubs, broadband partnerships, and a planned BPO program employing at least 500 youths. Plateau State has emerged as a key focal point in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s push to close the country’s digital divide, as the regulator reaffirmed plans to deploy broadband infrastructure to underserved communities nationwide. The Commission said expanding connectivity to hard-to-reach areas remains critical to unlocking economic opportunities, education, innovation, and social…
News Highlights: At its 2026 IWD forum, Polaris Bank positioned investment in women, through financing, leadership development, and inclusion, as a data-driven engine for innovation, productivity, market expansion, and long-term institutional resilience. Beyond advocacy, Polaris Bank showcased concrete outcomes, including over ₦1 billion in funding to female entrepreneurs, tailored programs like Polaris Pearl and Women Connect, and support for health and education. Polaris Bank used its 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) forum to position gender equity not as a corporate social obligation, but as a strategic lever for sustainable growth. The bank highlighted its long-term investments in women’s empowerment, financial…
For too long, the story of Nigeria has been told by foreigners or shaped by people who don’t truly understand our spirit; This Is Nigeria is a movement changing that. We are putting the power back into the hands of Nigerians to tell our stories from our perspectives. Our mission is simple: to change how the world sees us by sharing the positive, impactful stories of our land and its people. Today, we are officially launching “The 36: Nigeria Unscripted”. This series will travel through every single state in the country, starting with our pilot season in Lagos. We want…
News Highlights: NITDA is building a digital ecosystem to help Nigerian creators innovate, scale globally, and fully participate in the digital economy. Nigeria’s creative sector, currently valued at over $9 billion, is projected to exceed $13 billion with the right support. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has outlined an ambitious technology-led framework to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s creative and arts industry, positioning digital infrastructure, talent development, and regulatory support as the backbone for transforming the sector into a major economic driver. Aligning with the current administration’s push to diversify the economy through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, and…