In a media briefing held in Abuja, Nigeria, the organisation called for seriousness from the government in handling the matter, saying there has been a consistent data leak online for three years now, where data is available for sale cheaply.

In his address, ‘Gbenga Sesan, the organisation’s executive director, said:

“The data security problem is serious. Data belonging to the President, Vice President, National Security Adviser, top military officials, ministers and other senior government officials are also available online to anyone who knows their full name and date of birth.”

He pointed out that as much as the country has made advancements in tech, digital rights such privacy, online protection, freedom of expression and access to information, are increasingly under threat in Nigeria, with the threats manifesting as arbitrary internet disruptions, weak enforcement of data protection, surveillance, and inconsistent digital policies, which continue to weaken citizens’ trust and hinder the country’s digital growth and potential.

‘Gbenga expressed gratitude to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Mott Foundation, Open Society Foundations (OSF), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Internet Society Foundation, for supporting the organisation’s cause at a time when non-profit organisations were facing challenges.

He highlighted Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS) Project as having been instrumental in delivering immense transformative change, positively influencing Nigeria’s digital rights landscape.

The project has combined litigation, advocacy, evidence-building, and capacity strengthening to protect citizens, influence policy, and build durable systems.

One of the major outputs of the STANDS project is the Ikot Ekpene Declaration, a commitment document that provides guidance for judicial officers on integrating digital rights into their rulings and judicial practice. PIN has also trained law enforcement officers on digital security.

On her part Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, the organisation’s chief operating officer, highlighted the organisation’s impact, and how it has transformed the lives of young Africans on the continent, developed reports, digital toolkits and produced award-winning short films.

PIN, she added, also provides scholarships for students from Ajegunle, where the organisation started its operations from in Lagos, Nigeria.

Khadijah El-Usman, the senior officer, Programmes, Anglophone West Africa shared highlights of the 2024 Nigeria Londa Report which evaluates the state of digital rights and inclusion while benchmarking them against the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.

The Score Index measures the country’s performance against major human rights issues including Internet access and affordability, freedom of expression and protection against arbitrary arrests, data protection and privacy, content moderation, transparency and access to information, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies and inclusion of vulnerable groups including children and persons with disabilities.

“For Nigeria in 2024, this assessment is not just a research exercise. It directly reflects how over 200 million citizens experience their right to connect, speak, to be protected online and to participate in the digital economy,” Khadijah added.

Nigeria’s total score for 2024 was 36 out of 60, placing it at a moderately compliant level, reflecting both progress and setbacks.

Paradigm Initiative further stated that a considerable number of Nigerians are still battling internet affordability, connectivity, and skills barriers that limit meaningful online participation.

As much as there have been advancements, much more needs to be done as the most affected are individuals in rural areas, women, and persons with disabilities, who often face issues related to affordability, access, and digital literacy.

Hosted at the Interswitch Headquarters in Lagos, the event delivered a dynamic mix of knowledge sharing, networking, and thought-provoking conversations, a testament to Interswitch’s dedication to driving excellence within the tech ecosystem.

The energy was palpable as leading experts, industry pioneers, and passionate developers addressed key challenges and explored exciting opportunities in software engineering.

Through insightful presentations and white papers, the sessions offered valuable perspectives on the industry’s evolving landscape.

The event themed, ‘Innovating with Emerging Technologies’, featured an impressive line-up of speakers from Interswitch and other renowned organisations like Microsoft, NetApp and Remita, offering actionable strategies and deep insights into a range of relevant topics and reinforcing the importance of collaboration in navigating the complexities of modern software development.

Speakers from Interswitch included Abdul-Hafiz Ibrahim, Divisional Head, Engineering; Abdulbasit Kabir, Head of Infrastructure Engineering; Aihe Omoede, Divisional Head, Engineering and Technology; Folarin Oladunni, Enterprise Automation Engineer; and Suleiman Suleiman, Software Engineer.

They were joined by notable external speakers including Yves Weisser, Senior Consulting Solutions Architect, NetApp; Rabiu Yaya, Principal Group Engineering Manager, Microsoft Kenya; and Mujib Ishola, CTO of Remita.

Throughout the sessions, experts unpacked the latest tools, frameworks, and methodologies shaping the future of software engineering.

Suleiman explored gRPC Remote Procedure Call technology, highlighting its high-performance communication framework and its role in enhancing speed, security, and efficiency in transaction processing. Oladunni showcased Microsoft PowerApps, demonstrating how developers can build low-code applications to accelerate development and boost productivity.

Omoede discussed Docker, a Platform as a Service Product, illustrating how containerisation enhances developer efficiency and streamlines application deployment while Ibrahim introduced Hoverfly, an Application Programming Interphase (API) simulation tool that enables developers to test and optimise interactions without dependencies, leading to more reliable software.

Other key sessions focused on AI-driven software development, with discussions on how artificial intelligence automates repetitive tasks and optimises workflows. There were also deep dives into ways to automatically protect applications using GitOps methodologies and how to set up a Disaster Recovery Plan for stateful databases.

Experts further demonstrated how JHipster accelerates enterprise application development by seamlessly integrating backend and frontend frameworks. Beyond the sessions, the event provided an unmatched platform for networking, where participants exchanged ideas, built connections, and identified opportunities for collaboration.

With the resounding success of the maiden edition of the summit, Interswitch has set strong precedent for future gatherings. Interswitch’s unwavering commitment to fostering continuous learning and professional development consolidates the company’s position as a key driver of innovation in Nigeria’s software ecosystem.

Stay tuned for updates on future editions as Interswitch continues to champion innovation, collaboration, and growth within the tech ecosystem!

This collaboration aims to accelerate SUBBD’s mission of empowering digital creators by leveraging advanced AI and blockchain technology.

Luna PR will leverage its extensive web3 expertise to support SUBBD with comprehensive communications strategies, social media management, and targeted marketing campaigns. 

With a proven track record of over 600 successful projects since 2017 and a presence in four key global cities, Luna PR is uniquely positioned to elevate SUBBD’s brand presence and community engagement.

Maral Nouri, COO of Luna PR, stated: “As content creators ourselves, we understand the importance of staying ahead in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. 

Our partnership with SUBBD reflects this vision, empowering creators to effortlessly push boundaries and become trendsetters. SUBBD’s transformative platform equips creators with advanced AI tools to stay ahead of the curve, and we’re excited to support this evolution in content creation.”

Gabrielle Taylor, CEO of SUBBD, commented: “Partnering with Luna PR marks a significant step in our journey to transform the content creation industry. Luna PR’s expertise and strategic insights make them the ideal partner as we expand our platform and continue to support creators in maximising their potential through AI-powered solutions.”

SUBBD is transforming content creation with its AI-powered platform, designed to empower digital creators by enhancing autonomy, improving monetisation, and building deeper audience connections. 

By developing proprietary AI solutions, SUBBD is redefining how content is created, managed and monetised.

With features like AI Personal Assistant, AI-driven content creation, blockchain security, and advanced analytics, SUBBD is pushing boundaries to help creators maximise their potential in the digital creator economy.

He made the comment on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2023 in Abuja.

The ECSM of NCC said that emerging technologies like the 5th Generation (5G) mobile services will also require more infrastructures.

Laying emphasis on the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), Adewolu said it is undoubtedly one of the most important dates in the NCC’s annual calendar of events.

“It is a day we set aside to celebrate our most important stakeholder group, that is, our Consumers.

“This year, we are pivoting our celebrations around a theme which allows us to design more environmentally sustainable service models so that we can truly serve our consumer better, and I am indeed pleased to welcome you all to this opening session.

The theme of WCRD 2023 is “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transition“. This theme allows us to carefully examine the unintended side-effects of our critical social infrastructure on our environment.

Nigerian telecoms Consumer Index keeps increasing

“The Nigerian telecoms industry today boasts of over 226 million voice customers and over 156million internet customers as at 31 January, 2023.

“These consumers leverage on communications infrastructure for social interaction, health service, access to education, banking, etc.

Emerging Technologies like 5G Require More Infrastructures

“Meanwhile, as consumer volumes and service diversity continue to grow, network operators have to roll-out more infrastructure for coverage in new, mostly rural areas, and for network expansion in already saturated urban markets. Emerging technologies like 5th Generation (5G) mobile services will also require more infrastructure.

“These infrastructure components are mostly powered by fossil fuels to ensure 100% availability.

“Without pre-empting the planned discussions about the environmental impacts of these activities, it is important that we ask ourselves some pertinent questions.

Are there more environmentally conscious means by which we can power network infrastructure and reduce our carbon footprint?

Telecoms Infrastructure Must Contribute to Reducing other Environment-Impacting Activities

“Telecoms infrastructure have helped to reduce other environment-impacting activities such as travel – can we quantify these benefits and do they offset the negative impacts? Have we convinced everyone about the safety of electromagnetic emissions? Can we find a balance between environmentally-friendly network operations and cheaper services; or do we have to choose one over the other?

Building Public Consciousness about Telecom Infrastructures is a Collective Duty

“How can we improve the quality of the environment through our network services and how can we grow public consciousness about responsible services using telecoms infrastructure?

“As responsible stakeholders, we must find answers to these and other nagging questions and I am pleased that the organizers of WCRD 2023 have carefully designed a programme of events that will help us do just that,” the ECSM said.

This disclosure was made known by the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, when he received the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies of the National Institute of Security Studies, Mr. DE Egbeji fsi fdi, the management staff of the Institute’s Faculty of Studies as well as the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 16 participants at the corporate headquarters of the Agency.

Appreciating the representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Chadian Armed Forces and various other organizations at the 16th edition of the training course, the NITDA DG said that their participation is a reflection of their various commitments to the development of the country.

Describing the theme of the event, ‘Globalization: Implication for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development’ as apt and timely, Inuwa posited that regional integration is a major driving force in the process of globalization with technology as a catalyst.

“Globalization is a process of integrating economies, societies and cultures through the world wide web and through technology in general. Technology is becoming increasingly integrated with everything around us becoming technology and thereby facilitating globalization”, he stated.

While emphasizing the impact of technology on regional integration to globalization and consequently, sustainable development, the NITDA boss stated that technology has helped countries increase the exchange of goods and services globally, thereby enhancing foreign direct investments.

“Wherever you are, you can start your own business locally and with technology, it can help you grow exponentially and also take your product and services to global markets”, he proclaimed.

Admonishing the participants to embrace, adopt and deploy the use of emerging technologies in their various organizational processes, Inuwa stated that utilizing emerging technologies in operational processes increases efficiency as well as productivity and therefore urged them to make the best use of it because the benefits are enormous.

While giving more insight into the training’s theme, Inuwa asserted that in sustaining development in any society. technology is critical because it would bring a convergence between the physical, digital and biological worlds by harmonizing all resources to achieve a desired goal.

Buttressing his point further with practical illustrations of the numerous positive impact that technology has had on humanity, the first Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert in Nigerian public service averred that using technology to improve farm produce has curbed global food insecurity, use of surveillance cameras, social network analysis, deployment of drones have been used to fight insecurity and the enhancement of education, construction, health sectors with technology just to mention a few.

He further disclosed that research is ongoing globally where farm products can be produced from vertical and soil-less farming, where cultured meat can be produced from animal stem cells and where 3D printing technology can be used to produce bioartificial organs for the body.

Inuwa stated that the Agency’s National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) had been doing a lot of research on the advancement of technology in the country while the Agency has been collaborating with various institutions and organizations in the country with the purpose of providing security and diversifying the nation’s economy.

While expressing his belief that the training course would have a great impact on the country, he encouraged the participants to propagate knowledge gained to their various organizations so that the country can create and capture value from emerging technology for its socio-economic development.

Earlier, Mr. Egbeji appreciated the DG and his management team for the warm reception and for the agency’s enviable unprecedented achievements over the years.

Stating that the institute is a high-level manpower training institute, he sought further collaborations with the Agency in achieving their mutual statutory objectives and that of the country as a whole.

“Essentially, the course is a form of synergy to accommodate officials from different agencies of government and interact. And globalization is about technology which is why we are here to hear from your wealth of experience in terms of technology”, he stated.