Apostle Grace Edith, renowned as the ‘Woman of Great Grace’ and convener of the National Prayer Conference, joined the chorus of voices condemning the heinous massacre perpetrated by pastoralists on December 25th, 2023, in Plateau State, Nigeria. Expressing profound dismay, Apostle Grace Edith lamented the tragic event that claimed the lives of over a hundred individuals in a Christian community during the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

“It is profoundly disheartening that in this modern era, such senseless killings could transpire. As Christians worldwide celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, an appalling act of violence resulted in the merciless slaughter of over 100 innocent lives in what should have been a safe, Christian community,” remarked Apostle Grace Edith in her conversation with the media.

Calling for swift and decisive government action, she urged, “We earnestly pray for the government to prioritize and intensify efforts in securing lives and properties. These recurrent atrocities demand an immediate halt. Such reprehensible acts tarnish our nation’s image and contradict the security policies outlined by this administration.”

In a call for unity and support, Apostle Grace Edith implored fellow Nigerians to rally behind the affected community, providing both tangible and emotional assistance. “It’s crucial for us to stand in solidarity with the affected community, offering support in their recovery from this despicable act of cowardice and terrorism. Let’s extend a helping hand, both physically and emotionally, and join in prayers for their strength during this challenging time.”

At the conclusion of the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2023, Nigeria joined the rest of the World to sign unto the Final Act WRC-23, which constitutes a record of the decisions taken at the conference.

The Final Act comprises both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, an international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represented Nigeria and was joined by the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida and the Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd), Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen.

The WRC-2023 is a global, inter-governmental treaty conference which is held every three to four years by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations-affiliated international organization for telecommunications.

At the end of each conference, countries signed unto an updated Final Act, the outcome of agreements on agendas put forward by country administrations.

According to a statement by the ITU, “the agreement to the updated Radio Regulations identifies new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.”

Among the decisions reached, the Conference also identified spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), which will be crucial for expanding broadband connectivity and developing IMT mobile services, also known as 4G, 5G and, in the future, 6G.

The conference also identified new frequencies for non-geostationary fixed-satellite service Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) that would provide high-speed broadband onboard aircraft, vessels, trains, and vehicles. These satellite services are also critical following disasters where local communication infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

Provisions were also included to protect ship and aircraft mobile service stations located in international airspace and waters from other stations within national territories.

Nigeria’s delegation at the conference comprised seasoned engineers and experts in telecommunications and satellite regulations and governance from the Ministry, NCC, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), NigComSat Ltd, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), telecom operators and other practitioners from the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Tijani, who led the Nigerian delegation at the WRC-23, thanked the delegation for their sacrifices which, he noted, were made for the collective benefit of the future of Nigeria.

He also enjoined the Nigerian delegation to commence preparation for future conferences to ensure the preservation of the country’s interest by developing capacity through investments in extensive research and inter-agency collaboration.

Also, during an engagement with the Nigerian delegation at the conference, Maida commended the delegation for collaborating towards Nigeria’s best interest. He emphasised the conference’s significant importance for Nigeria.

According to him, “the agreements reached at this year’s conference will provide valuable spectrum resources that will benefit the Commission’s stakeholders, especially ordinary Nigerians by enhancing service quality and bridging the digital gap in rural areas.

“Additionally, the establishment of international standards for radiocommunications and the decisions made at the conference will impact the development and implementation of new technologies.

“These outcomes align with Nigeria’s overall objectives and the Honorable Minister’s Strategic Plan for the Ministry particularly on expanding broadband connectivity, in harmony with the global transition to 5G and future 6G technologies, as well as improving quality of experience and providing equitable access to all Nigerians.”

Ahead of its enforcement drive in 2024 and in a bid to ensure professionalism among firms that are licensed to carry out compliance as a service, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission has issued a Code of Conduct for DPCOs in Nigeria. Whilst addressing the meeting of the Commission with the DPCOs, the National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, urged DPCOs to see their role in the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 as a public trust which must be guarded with utmost sense of responsibility. Dr. Olatunji noted the opportunities presented by the Act particularly the lawful use of data and job creation in data processing value chain.

It will be recalled that NDPA 2023 under section 33 vests the Commission with the power to license persons having a requisite level of expertise, in relation to data protection and the Act, to monitor, audit and report on compliance by data controllers and data processors. This is a unique Public Private Partnership model which is designed to promote trust and confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy which – like other economies around the world – thrives on data processing.

In line with the Code of Conduct, the compliance services that may be offered by DPCOs include but are not limited to the following:

a)Awareness and capacity building?
b)Registration of the data controller or a data processor with the Commission;
c)Development of compliance schedules;
d)Implementation of compliance schedules;
e)NDPA Compliance Audit and filing of Compliance Audit Returns with the Commission;
f)Data Privacy Impact Assessment; and
g)Facilitating and Vetting Data Privacy Agreement;

For a firm to operate as a DPCO and carry out compliance services, it must, among others, be duly licensed by the Commission and it must have a verifiably certified Data Protection Officer. As of November, 2023 163 DPCOs have been licensed by the Commission.

Whilst presenting the Code of Conduct to the DPCOs, the Commission’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye, Esq X-rayed the target objectives and the principles, particularly: Privacy Consciousness, Capacity Building, Accountability, Data Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. All DPCOs will be held accountable in line with the provisions of the NDPA, the Code of Conduct and other regulatory instruments that be issued by the Commission going forward.

Today, Meta released its ‘2023 Africa Year in Review‘ to showcase some of its significant investments and works across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023. Captured in an infographic, it highlights Meta’s ongoing milestones and successes across the region while reinforcing its continued investment and commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa.

With a focus on connecting communities, supporting the creator ecosystem, and driving innovation, Meta has strategically directed resources toward initiatives that align with its mission to give people the power to build communities and bring the world closer together.

“As we reflect on the past year,  we are thrilled to announce our key milestones and investments across Sub-Saharan Africa,” says Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Africa Middle East & Turkey, Meta. “We remain committed to the continent, and our 2023 highlights reinforces some of the impact we’ve been able to create by supporting the growing ecosystems of creators and building communities through technology.”

Some of the key highlights in the 2023 Year in Review include:

●        Creator Lab Live: Launched the Creator Lab Live, a first-of-its-kind educational in-real-life programme for creators in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to inspire creativity, spread positivity, build connections and demonstrate care for the creator community.

●      Instagram Creators x Brand Academy nano course: Launched the Instagram Creators x Brand Academy nano course in South Africa in partnership with Red and Yellow (Creative School of Business), a short course to educate creators, aspiring creators and brands on best practices.

●        ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’: Announced the rising stars edition of our ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ campaign to amplify the voices and stories of eight emerging young talents across Africa who are building a global presence, and changing the way the continent and its people are viewed on the international stage including rolling out Instagram #AfricaMade Reels challenge.

●        WhatsApp Channels: Launched a content series through collaboration with local content creators in SSA to showcase the benefits of WhatsApp Channels for users.

●        EbaSafeOnline: Launched a first-of-its-kind youth safety educational comic book titled #EbaSafeOnline, available in 11 of South Africa’s official languages in partnership with Ethnikids, an online bookstore in South Africa.

●        Youth Safety and Wellbeing: Held a Youth Safety and Wellbeing week in South Africa, engaging with more than 300 youths, parents, educators, and policymakers to educate and inform youth and parents about Meta’s safety tools.

●        My Digital World: Hosted a Digital Literacy for Peacebuilding forum in Ethiopia to address the role of digital literacy in peacebuilding and announce the expansion of My Digital World – aimed at equipping young people with information and skills to help them thrive in a digitally connected world.

●      African XR Realities Lab: Partnered with Electric South to launch the African XR Realities Lab, an incubation program featuring eight Extended Reality (XR) prototypes leveraging diverse, immersive technologies.

●      Meta Connect 2023: Launched a digital campaign in collaboration with Nigerian creators to produce captivating content in anticipation of the annual Meta Connect conference

   *Signs MoU for Establishment of Coal-based Fertilizers

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed an agreement worth $21.7 million with eleven firms in Nigeria as beneficiaries for take-off of the Delta-2 Projects, being the outcome of the bilateral collaboration between the federal government of Nigeria and the Czech Republic.

The Nigerian beneficiary companies are expected to come up with various products and services to be injected into the Nigeria economy. The Delta-2 Programme is being implemented by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange (PICTT), NASENI as implementing Agency for Nigeria, working in partnership with the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR).

In his welcome address on Monday, December 18, 2023 at the Agency’s headquarters, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the Delta 2 programme, which was launched in 2022, designed with the aim of funding and enabling research, development and innovation projects in Agriculture, Mining, and General Manufacturing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

With $21.7 million set aside to finance the selected projects, TA CR will contribute $11.7 million while NASENI will contribute $10 million as counterpart fund. The bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the Czech Republic began on 15th May, 2014.

Mr. Halilu emphasized that the Delta-2 Programme was yet another manifestation of NASENI’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate of transforming Nigeria’s technology and innovation landscape, through sustained focus on its 3Cs principles of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization.

“Ultimately, our goal is not just to produce prototypes and models, but to ensure that the outcomes of the partnership are taken to market; that they are available commercially for consumers and end-users to benefit from, knowing that the real value of technology lies in market usefulness and application, our vision in the new NASENI that we are building is to create values and to be relevant in the market”.

The EVC/CEO reiterated that for every single kobo that NASENI will invest into this phase of the Delta-2 program, to develop new projects and products, the Agency will realize almost six naira (N6) in commercial returns, in addition to job creation opportunities, capacity building and technology transfer.

“That is what NASENI stands for: leveraging technology and talent to deliver returns that benefit Nigeria on multiple levels,”. Halilu said while congratulating the selected beneficiaries of the projects, urged them not to take this massive opportunity for granted as the funds would be deployed with a sense of service and responsibility.

According to the Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange on Delta 2 Projects, Dr. Dahiru Mohammed, he said the program was launched on 18th May, 2022 with 285 proposals received from various companies registered in Nigeria. He stated that the evaluation of the proposals was carried out diligently by members of the Assessment Committee who were selected from the Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (as research experts) and the Nigeria-Czech Republic Trade and Investment Council (NCTIC).

The process was well coordinated by experts in both fields of research and business and ably assisted by the PIC secretariat. “It is noteworthy that the distribution of the beneficiaries of the awards spans across the country, having all zones represented. “The funds are ready and we eagerly look forward to start implementation in January 2024. The funding of the projects is scheduled to last between 12 to 36 months,” Dahiru added.

He further said the idea behind the Delta-2 projects was to yield patents, pilot plants, proven technologies, software, certified methodologies, processes and specialized maps, and databases, among others, which is expected that the outcomes of the various projects will have a direct and immediate positive impact on the average Nigerian farmers, miners and MSME operators.
The resulting technologies from these collaborations will be transferred and domesticated in Nigeria through NASENI and other research institutions and private companies.

At the event, separate goodwill messages came from the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Chief Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Alhaji Aminu Iya Abbas and the Chairman, House Committee on NASENI, Honourable Taofiq A. Abimbola, who reassured the Agency of better enabling laws and collaborating partnership for better productivity.

In a related development, NASENI signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) for production license for the establishment of Coal-based fertilizers in Nigeria with PT Saputra Global Harvest. The agreement with SAPUTRA covers three key areas. Halilu said, “Food Security is one of the priority areas on the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President is determined to build a Nigeria that is not only able to feed itself in an affordable manner, but also one that is able to produce surplus food for export.”

Others are: the supply of machinery and equipment that will enable us produce coal-based fertilizer for use in Nigeria; the capacity development component, which is the training of Nigerian personnel on the use and maintenance of these equipment; and the licensing that gives Nigeria the permission to produce the coal-based fertilizer according to the prevailing standards of quality already established by Saputra.The agreement is building on the initial MoU signed between NASENI and Saputra in September 2022, as part of steps to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia, while also supporting the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector

Small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the South African economy – and, in fact, the continent. A report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that micro, small and medium enterprises constitute more than 90% of all formal business in South Africa, employ 50-60% of the workforce and contribute 34% of GDP. Across Africa, SMEs account for approximately 80% of jobs.

These are staggering figures, and yet even though they are key drivers of economic growth, these companies often lag behind in an increasingly digital world, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

These businesses often face significant roadblocks on their digitalisation journeys. Research by Microsoft shows that 47% of SMBs find the cost of new technologies to be the most restrictive factor to adoption, while 38% have difficulty comparing available solutions and choosing the most appropriate option.

Tarsus On Demand, a widely recognised services and solutions aggregator in the cloud space across Africa, noted  these challenges and developed Digital on Demand (DOD), a new marketplace platform with cloud-based solutions designed to solve the unique challenges faced by SMBs.

Jessica Harvey, Business Unit Manager at Tarsus On Demand, says DOD has been carefully crafted as a response to a critical need in the market. “Our vision for DOD steps outside the one-size-fits-all approach. We have curated our marketplace to provide tailored, strategic solutions that resonate with the specific digital transformation goals and operational needs of SMBs.”

DOD encompasses everything an SMB requires to grow, from domain registration and email setup to cybersecurity solutions. SMBs can scroll through the various categories to find suppliers for whatever they may need – from brand exposure to niche services such as agricultural AI solutions. They can then read more about the supplier’s offering and contact them directly from the platform. They can also contact Tarsus On Demand for assistance in finding the perfect solution and provider if they need further advice.

Harvey says Tarsus On Demand is passionate about enabling SMBs on their digital journey. “At our core, Tarsus On Demand has always had a focus on the SMB sector. In our research we found that most SMB business owners know the importance of digital transformation, but don’t know where to start because nobody’s journey is a copy-and-paste endeavour. While large enterprises have the budget to employ consultancies to guide them through the digitalisation process, most SMB businesses can’t afford exorbitant consultation fees. Our vision is that DOD will bridge that gap, helping SMBs craft a digitalisation journey and find the perfect solutions – all in one place.”

Tarsus On Demand did extensive research on the needs of the SMB segment, then acquired solutions to solve those key challenges. These solutions come in the form of software as a service (SaaS) applications, run in the cloud and usually accessible through desktops and mobile applications as well as a web interface. SaaS companies offer their products for a monthly subscription or a pay-as-you-go model, which may be cheaper than investing in on-premises software products upfront.

And the DOD marketplace continues to grow, says Harvey. “We continuously run research to identify the key challenges faced in the digital transformation process by SMBs, and then we set out to find the correct providers that can solve those challenges.”

DOD also recently partnered with Microsoft to offer even more solutions. Lionel Moyal, Channel Partners Director: Microsoft Africa, says Microsoft is a platform and tools company. “We believe that the real value comes from Microsoft Cloud, as a platform to build and host solutions to not only enable and empower businesses to do more, but also provide access to the tools and technologies that drive digitisation. Through Tarsus On Demand and DOD SMBs can identify solutions that help them navigate their digitalisation journeys and ultimately drive business growth opportunities.

As for SMBs’ biggest hurdle to digitalisation – Moyal believes that the cost is not as prohibitive as it’s perceived. “Digitalisation is an increasingly important investment for businesses that are looking to drive not only efficiencies, but also create scale and competitiveness. Ultimately, it offers an excellent return on investment.”

Harvey agrees and says the custom solutions available on DOD will make this clear. “We encourage SMB business owners to explore the DOD marketplace and see which challenges it will help solve in their business. And for SaaS-based solution providers to reach out and apply to have their SMB-focused solution listed. We are partners in innovation, fostering digital inclusivity so every business can thrive on its own terms. Our role is to encourage digital transformation and promote growth within this vital sector.”

For more information on Digital On Demand, inquiries, or additional resources, visit www.digitalbusinesshub.africa

…As TotalEnergies Boss Lauds NNPC Ltd on Reforms

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TotalEnergies for the adoption and deployment of a methane detection technology known as Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Application (AUSEA) in all its upstream operations.

With the agreement, which is a direct benefit from the Company’s participation at the recently concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference (also known as COP28) in Dubai, UAE, NNPC Ltd. will be able to deploy the TotalEnergies AUSEA technology on its upstream operations sites to ascertain the level of methane emissions from them, with a view to working out emission curtailment measures to help in combating global warming and climate change.

The MoU was signed by NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and Managing Director and Country Chair, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, on behalf of their respective companies, under the watch of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné.

Speaking on the collaboration at the MoU signing event, the GCEO, NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, described TotalEnergies as a great and reliable partner over the years with whom the Company was looking forward to exploring greater opportunities in the nation’s energy sector.

On his part, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, said his company was offering the technology to NNPC Ltd. in keeping with its commitment to promote responsible production of hydrocarbons.

He applauded NNPC Ltd. for its successful transition into a limited liability company, stressing that he could see and feel the energy that the reforms have brought about, not only in the company but also in the sector.

Putting the deal in proper perspective, the NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the pilot phase of the TotalEnergies AUSEA deployment would be on NNPC Ltd.’s owned operations, adding that the deal would enable the company to deploy methane abatement measures.

Other benefits of the TotalEnergies AUSEA technology include identification of unaccounted emission sources, establishment of a basis for querying and improving current emission reporting processes, provision of data to review operational system and implement corrective actions, and estimation of flare combustion efficiency.