Final: Meta launches Reels on Facebook and New Ways for Creators to Make Money across SSA

Final: Meta launches Reels on Facebook and New Ways for Creators to Make Money across SSA

22 February 2022 Today, Meta is expanding the availability of  Facebook Reels for iOS and Android to more than 20 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Meta is also introducing better ways to help creators to earn money, new creation tools and more places to watch and create Facebook Reels.

Prior to this launch Reels was available on Facebook in India, Mexico, Canada, the U.S, and is now available across sub-Saharan Africa in: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Swaziland, South Africa, Seychelles, Senegal, Rwanda, Nigeria, Namibia, Mali, Malawi, Lesotho, Kenya, Guinea, Ghana, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Burkina Faso.

Commenting on the launch Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa at Meta says, “We’ve seen that video now accounts for almost all of the time people spend on Facebook and Instagram, and Reels is our fastest growing content format by far. This is why we’re focused on making Reels the best way for creators to get discovered, connect with their audience and earn money. We also want to make it fun and easy for people to find and share relevant and entertaining content.”

Meta is also creating a variety of opportunities for creators to earn money for their reels. The Reels Play bonus program, part of Meta’s $1 billion creator investment, pays eligible creators up to $35,000 a month based on the views of their qualifying reels. In the coming months, the bonus program will be extended to more countries, so more creators can get rewarded for creating reels that their communities love.

NCC Committed to Tackling Telecom Infrastructure Deficit – Danbatta

NCC Committed to Tackling Telecom Infrastructure Deficit – Danbatta

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is irrevocably committed to the implementation of various regulatory initiatives and programmes, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem, towards bridging identified gaps and shortages in critical telecom infrastructure in the country. The overarching objective is to fulfil Commission’s mandate and support extant and emergent policies and strategies of the Federal Government focused on providing ubiquitous, accessible and affordable broadband services in Nigeria.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, stated this during an in-house interview which took place at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja recently. The EVC emphasized the centrality of infrastructure to telecom service provisioning by asserting that availability of broadband in sufficiency was non-negotiable and irreducible in the nation’s strategy towards delivering pervasive telecom services.

Danbatta also put the efforts of Government in context towards addressing infrastructure gaps, and commended both state and non-state actors for the vision, diligence and continued dedication to the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, an initiative of the Federal Government, being driven by NCC and conceived to address infrastructure gaps in the telecom and ICT sector. The EVC said he was gratified that the new plan particularly took into consideration, the identified gaps and challenges in its precursor, the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, which implementation the NCC was equally central to.


According to Danbatta, one of the identified gaps to robust connectivity was the fact that inadequate infrastructure remained a bane to achieving desired broadband penetration to boost access to services that will enhance economic growth and development. He emphasised that the Commission recognises the importance of infrastructure expansion and this explains its unequivocal commitment and desire to see the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) work speedily and with precision to cascade fibre to the hinterland, in order to enhance robust telecom service provision. He said the InfraCo licensees, expectedly, also prioritize stipulated licensing conditions to ensure expected milestones set by the Commission are achieved.

The EVC stated that Commission’s target for licensing the infraCos was to ensure the deployment of fibre infrastructure needed for pervasive broadband penetration across the 774 local government areas (LGAs). This, he said, will ensure access to telecoms services in the hinterlands of the country, and by so doing address the challenges of access confronting the unserved and underserved areas of the country.
Danbatta also placed on record Commission’s desire for inclusiveness as seminal to erecting sustainable telecom architecture. This, according to him is critical in ensuring the achievement of Federal Government’s target on digital access and financial inclusion.

One visible area of beneficial financial service riding on telecom infrastructure is the provision of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) for financial transactions across various financial institutions’ platforms. This feat, Danbatta asserted, has brought ease to financial transactions, even as he recalled that NCC is providing support for e-payment initiatives and policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), including the e-Naira project, which is the digital currency issued and regulated by the apex bank.

“So, the Commission is committed to ensuring inclusiveness by ensuring the provision of affordable and pervasive accessibility to the Internet as emphasised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations (UN). We are aware that until commensurate infrastructure is deployed in the country, the country may not hit the required target necessary for the desired economic development,” the EVC added.

Additionally, Danbatta stated that the Commission has recorded remarkable progression with respect to contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is besides facilitating investment, enhancing Quality of Service (QoS) to enhance consumer quality of experience and stakeholder satisfaction in line with the expectations of the Strategic Management Plan 2020-2024. He assured that Commission will heightened efforts in all areas of the Plan as streamlined in new Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVIP) 2021-2025, including facilitating strategic collaboration and partnering through which it has forged quantifiable strategic alliances with its ever-expanding array of stakeholders.

Concerning NCC’s pioneering strides in the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) network in Sub-Saharan Africa, Danbatta explained that the rollout of 5G network in Nigeria will require more infrastructure for the service to reach all parts of the country. He called for concerted efforts and unwavering commitment of all stakeholders for the nation to achieve steady, timely and accurate deployment of 5G services because of its benefits to individuals, businesses and the growth of the country.

FG officially Hands Over 5G Spectrum Allocation to NCC

FG officially Hands Over 5G Spectrum Allocation to NCC


…As Minister, others applaud transparent auction of spectrum


Barely a week  before the deadline set by the NCC for the payment of the spectrum fees by the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, the Federal Government has officially handed over the spectrum allocation for Fifth Generation (5G) deployment in the country to the Nigerian Communications Commission.


Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who also wears the hat of the Chairman, National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), presented the official document on the 3.5GHz spectrum allocation to the Commission at a public event which took place at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Thursday, February 17, 2022.


The 5G spectrum allocation document was received by the Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Prof. Adeolu Akande, and the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, on behalf of the Commission.
Speaking at the event, which also witnessed the public presentation of the National Policy on 5G Networks, a document earlier launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2022, the Minister commended the NCC leadership for ‘a transparent, fair and credible 3.5GHz spectrum auction’ conducted on December 13, 2021.
Pantami stated that the NFMC, which he chairs, has the responsibility for managing the allocation of commercial and non-commercial spectrum resources in the country while the NCC is facilitating the deployment of spectrum in the country. Hence, the Council decided to allocate the assigned spectrum for 5G network to the NCC to enable it assign same to the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction.
Pantami also stated that the 5G network, when deployed, will bring a lot of benefits and opportunities that will engender accelerated growth and smart living in the country. He asserted that the technology will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.


Earlier in his remarks, Akande appreciated the Minister for his efforts in ensuring that every clog that could hinder successful deployment of 5G services are addressed, thus paving the way for mutual understanding and trust among all stakeholders to ensure that the derivable benefits of the new technology are harnessed timely for the nation’s socio-economic development.


He said the effective implementation of the National Policy on 5G, which the Commission is driving, will help in the actualization of the national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, as well as other sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital culture.


The EVC of NCC, Danbatta, while expressing appreciation to the Minister and all stakeholders for the role played in the emerging 5G network policy implementation initiatives, said the collective efforts of the private sector and government support will make deployment of 5G network transform every aspect of the nation’s economy. He was optimistic that the expected transformation will be greater than what the nation witnessed with the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G.


Recalling the diligence that attended the implementation of 5G policy by the NCC since the process started in 2019, Danbatta said Nigeria had taken proactive and meticulous steps to be among the leading players in the global digital economy.


“We have been meticulous all the way in our 5G deployment journey, from trial across selected states in the country, to review and stakeholder engagement, to approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, and up to the official launch of the national policy on 5G network by the President. Now we have the official allocation of the spectrum to the NCC for onward assignments to the winners. So, the coast is clear for the country to assign the specific reference in the spectrum to the winners, upon announcement of payments,” Danbatta said.


Meanwhile, eminent stakeholders and dignitaries at the event, have commended Danbatta for ensuring sterling record of transparency and accountability in the sale of the 3.5GHz Spectrum Band allocated for deployment of 5G network in Nigeria.


The stakeholders include the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital economy, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu; the former Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO), Mr. Shola Taylor; Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi; Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Plc, Prof. Muhammed Abubakar; and the Director General of National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Aliyu Aziz, among others.


Earlier in a presentation on the Benefits of 5G, Engr Shola Taylor, a former Secretary of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, declared that 5G will have far-reaching transformational impact on major sectors of the Nigerian economy, which will bring about rapid social-economic development of the country.

SME financial inclusion is the spark needed to ignite economic growth

SME financial inclusion is the spark needed to ignite economic growth

According to estimates from McKinsey, SMEs make up an enormous 98.5 percent of all businesses in South Africa. “As the engines powering our economic growth, the challenges as well as the triumphs within the sector reverberate across the entire economy,” says Zunaid Miya, Managing Director of local fintech company, Hello Pay.

The health of the SME sector is a reliable reflection of economic conditions in the country overall. “The pandemic has highlighted several long-standing challenges facing SMEs. With dangerously high levels of unemployment, creating jobs and generating growth has never been more important. Providing meaningful avenues for SMEs’ full financial inclusion is a necessary first step in the right direction,” Miya adds.

According to a recent IMF report, “The importance of financial inclusion is increasingly recognised by policy-makers around the world. Small and medium-sized enterprise financial inclusion, in particular, is at the core of the economic diversification and growth challenges many countries are facing.”

Miya says that Hello Pay’s own journey, which was born out of the need to help migrant workers in South Africa get paid, has evolved to creating a cashless digital ecosystem for SMEs to truly thrive. “SA’s migrant workforce make a sizeable contribution to the country’s economy. Estimates from an OECD report suggest this cohort of workers can increase the South African income per capita by up to 5 percent. Despite this, migrant workers are routinely discriminated against and face real challenges in accessing even the most basic services, such as opening a bank account, and certainly don’t get the support they need to start a business.”

He adds that emerging technologies are transforming payments methods, especially for the migrant workforce and small merchants. “Intelligent digital solutions, once only accessible to large enterprises, are now within reach for entrepreneurs and SMEs. It’s these solutions that allow SMEs to compete toe-to-toe with some of the best companies in South Africa.”

Miya says a commitment to real and meaningful financial inclusion for SMEs is something Hello Pay continues to champion by offering services that are low cost, easily accessible and simple to use. “Digital solutions, like accepting card payments via a mobile phone, have the potential to level the playing field as small businesses can control costs and manage cash flow more effectively. Many small businesses have been cash-based because they had to be; fortunately this is no longer the case.”

“When pursued with strategic intent, financial inclusion generates economic growth, which in turn helps communities and individuals everywhere thrive. Financial inclusion means that thousands of SMEs and 350 million unbanked adults in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Bank, can finally participate in economic activity,” notes Miya.

NCC Demonstrates World Class Excellence by setting pace on 5G in Africa— NIEEE

NCC Demonstrates World Class Excellence by setting pace on 5G in Africa— NIEEE

The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) has given the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) a pat on the back for setting the pace of 5G deployment in Africa.

The Engineering body in a statement signed by its outgoing National Chairman, Engr. Kings Adeyemi, singled out Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta and the entire management staff of the Commission for accolades.  

“Major requirements for 5G journey include spectrum availability, investor-friendly regulatory policy and stakeholders’ awareness. Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) engaged relevant stakeholders ahead of the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval of the Development of a Policy for Deployment of 5G in Nigeria,” he stressed.

“We use this medium to commend the entire Management of NCC under the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Engr. Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta FNSE, FRAES, FAEng, FNIEEE. NCC demonstrated high level qualities of a world-class regulator indeed by setting the wheel of 5G in motion, from 5G Proof of Concept (PoC) trial in 2019 to the recently successful auction of 5G spectrum on 3.5GHz band”, the statement reads.

To put things into perspective, the respected body observed that it is worth noting that “this remarkable landmark achievement was attained by NCC at a time when COVID-19 pandemic continues to force the postponement of many highly anticipated 5G spectrum auctions throughout the world”.

Commending the in-house professionals within the Commission for the choice of 3.5 – 3.6 GHz and 3.7 – 3.8GHz. Engr Adeyemi noted that   Frequencies in the range 3.3 – 4.2 GHz (3GPP Band 78) are being used as the basis for the first implementations of 5G globally.

“This decision allays the fear of 5G services interfering with the aircraft operations as currently exercised in some countries. NCC’s choice on the 3.5 GHz band has sufficiently safeguarded civil aircraft altimeters which usually operate between 4.2 – 4.4 GHz range,” he explains.

Speaking further, the Chairman said: “from expert’s perspective, the choice of two (2) slots of 100 MHz (TDD) bandwidth each on 3.5 GHz band (precisely 3GPP Band 78) is a highly laudable choice to launch 5G network.

Such wide channel bandwidth, according to him, is required to deliver the multi-Gbps data speed required of a 5G network.

“It is technically proven that wider channels lower network density which ripples into lowering the cost of 5G services to consumers. Other advantages include less base stations sites and lower environmental impact. The 3.5 GHz band is the best choice to balance capacity and network coverage which in turn encourages operators to commit investment in 5G infrastructure,” he observed.

AI, the internet, social media and the Christian.

AI, the internet, social media and the Christian.

Digital technology is intricately woven into our lives.

It is almost impossible to do without in our tech-economy and data or byte-driven world.

Every day technology is advancing to such a level that more and more universe of information systems are compressed into small silver wares and metallic devices called phones.

ROM and RAM sizes of phones and computers are increasingly and foreverly being upgraded.

Whole libraries of assorted information are stored on phones and smart phone opens up access to unimaginable vistas of information resources.

Less than 80 years ago, if you wanted to do research, you traveled far to distant libraries and swam in an ocean of books in attempt to find what is relevant.

Today, the same is a matter of entering the approaiate keywords in the relevant search engines and databases. And then, viola. You come face-to-face with a mass of helpful and relevant resources.

The world has changed, and continues to change.

One recent estimate puts the number of mobile phones currently in the world at 15 plus billion.

Virtually all adults today, use phones even if not smart ones and even though not all have internet access.

But the world would get there. Right to freedom of information (access to it, dissemination of information, and expression of knowledge) is considered fundamental in international human rights law.

Accordingly, Mark Zuckerberg is already working on a project designed to bring free internet to neglected/underserved peoples in developing countries based upon the principles exposed in the preceding paragraph.

But the people would have to access the internet only through enabled devices pre-installed with his metaverse platform. And the question would then arise, how free would such an intervention be, if only it works through compulsory subscription to the metaverse? Apparently, it leaves the beneficiary with no choice. Opt in and have the internet or opt out and lose your access to it. Even whilst on the platform, big brother Mark would retain some right to censor your expressions.

The tech paradox is like so:

It is that we continue to design the most advanced AI systems with the hopes that it would bring us increased freedoms and liberties, but it turn deprives us of other less obvious but perhaps more important freedoms.

We once lived on farms – in natural, rural and agrarian communities. Then we advanced in technology and we started to live in cities – in industrialised urban areas. During the industrial revolution we also transited from living on wood an papyrus to paper. And now the next revolution is driving us to live on the internet. We are netizens.

Zuckerberg and all the guys in big tech would ensure that. Every passing day, there’s one more new app, designed that you may download onto your device to make life easier.

Perharps, someday there might just be an app which helps us to download food into our own stomach or helps a man to impregnate his own wife. Ridculous, I know. But you do get my point. Slowly but steadily, we’re getting to the very extremes of tech, where many an ethical issue would arise, especially about the fate of humanity.

Nay, rather. We’re matching there at rocket speed.

Research is currently ongoing as to how to imbue robots with superintelligence or at least the same intelligence as man. And should the day come when those robots go out of man’s control, that would spell disaster for humankind. Yet, this agenda is seriously being pursued.

Elon Musk currently funds research into how much of the cureently existing knowledge on anything may be downloadable into a microchip that can then be implanted into the human brain.

And so many other mind boggling stuff been researched or developed.

I have often wondered. Scientists say that man is hundreds of millions years old on the planet. Yet, is it not surprising that all of the major advancements in science and technology have happened in less than 150 years of his entire existence on the planet.

So, I ask: what on God’s heavens has the early man been doing all those years? Scientists would have us belief that he was running around half naked for hundreds of thousands of years chasing antelopes. Then, only a few years ago, his brain evolved at such a rate that has led him to the most witty inventions nearing the capacity of a god. Something certainly doesn’t add up about evolutionary theory, here. And I would rather not get into that now.

Sorry, that was a digression.

My point is, man has achieved the unthinkable in the last 100 years or so. And it would seem there is nothing stopping him.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns we were able to still communicate, do our jobs to some measure and reach the world through diverse adaptive technologies: Zoom, Google Meets, Skype, etc.

That is a good thing.

Man has conquered the air even more than birds, and has started to explore outer space. And even that too, is only a matter of time.

Countries all across the world have developed advanced military capabilities that modern warfare do not require plenty human capital. Drone systems, transcontinental bombastic ballistic missiles, nuclear and chemical weapons, standby robotic armies etc. There is no thought that man has not experimented with.

Today, sonographic scans exists that are just the size of a small botton-like chip. You swallow it, and it takes 3D high-resolution images of your entire gut as it travels down. You pass it out in stool, and the chip is retrieved and analysed. Thus aiding accurate diagnoses of gastrointestinal conditions.

In virtually every sector one thinks of, man has excelled the limits.

And similar contemplations led the Isreali historian and philosopher and professor, Yuaval Noah Harrari to write a book in 2015 titled “Homo Deus”.

In that book, Harrari basically traces the origins of civilisation from the early man to the mordern man who has superseded any creature before it in intellection and scientific advancement.

Harari recounts the course of history while describing key landmarks in the human experience and ethical issues in relation to his historical survey. He notes that Homo Deus (from Latin “Homo” meaning man or human and “Deus” meaning God) deals more with the supraabilities acquired by humans.

And that this acquisition of godlike capacities (by means of technology) has transformed man from homo sapiens (the wise or intelligent man) to the godlike man.

Meaning the big tech era ushers in man who has been elevated to the position of a God. Thus, there is no god but man. Man will be his own god.

This should tell you where the whole agenda on AI and big data, and metascience will ultimately lead.

The quest for superlative intelligence.

My aim in this treatise and in similar ones that may follow isn’t to make you technology-averse. Technology in it self has no intrinsic goodness or badness. But use and purpose does. And men do as well as their agendas.

A knife is a pretty good technology. But it may be used to perform a surgery or cut tubers, should it be a good knife or it may be used to murder someone.

Technology tends to be a two-edged sword. And all technological advances raises ethical problems.

My aim in the coming days or weeks will be to help you appreciate how important it is to think Christianly about technology and how it is changing our lives. As well what might be a healthy interaction of a Christian faithful with technology in a changing world.

Mark Godwin

Breaking: roHealth partners E-Settlement Limited, provides HMO to POS Agents 

Breaking: roHealth partners E-Settlement Limited, provides HMO to POS Agents 

  • roHEALTH Provides 80,000 Agents of E-SL’s PayCentre Nationwide with Health Insurance Coverage – Commences pilot

Lagos, 11 February – roHealth again stamps its authority as the frontline HMO marketplace in Nigeria by providing 80,000 agents of PayCentre, Nigeria’s foremost Agent Banking Services provider with access to affordable and high-quality health insurance plans on its platform. This comes as an off-shoot of a recent partnership between roHealth and PayCentre in which agents of PayCentre and their loved ones will become beneficiaries of health insurance coverage from any of roHealth’s partner HMOs.

Speaking at the official signing of the partnership in Lagos, roHealth’s founder, Olalekan Olude expressed delight at the partnership, stating that it was done in line with the company’s vision to democratize health coverage in Nigeria by giving beneficiaries greater decision-making control over their health insurance while helping businesses save cost at scale.

In a similar vein, the CEO of E-Settlement Limited; Olaoluwa Awoojodu expressed delight at the collaboration between the two parties, stating that it will positively impact the health, and ultimately the productivity of their agents and their families. “We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with roHealth to improve access to health coverage for our agents and their family members,”

roHealth Home | A smarter way to save on health benefits.

The partnership which was signed in December of 2021 is expected to commence with an initial pilot phase during which select agents will be able to access health insurance coverage on the roHealth platform.  The initiative is projected to boost the productivity and performance of the ESL/PayCentre Agents by as much as 40% and ultimately increase sales and revenue for the organization.

As organizations strive to scale and improve on their output, it is imperative that they put measures in place to create conducive working conditions for their staff. Employees are the life-wire of any organization, therefore providing them with health insurance tailored to their needs must be considered a priority. Not only does it reduce the number of sick days off work, it also saves the organization huge costs.

This exactly is roHealth’s vision. We are here to make the process of selecting the right HMO for your employees as simple as ‘ABC’. By signing up on the roHealth platform, employers simply need to set a budget for health insurance, fund their wallets and then add beneficiaries (their employees). It really is that easy. 

Since its inception a few months ago, over 500 businesses trust and use roHealth to make their health insurance decisions.  For a free trial of their premium services, please click the link below: https://www.rohealth.ng/free-trial

Ukheshe Technologies achieves Level One B-BBEE rating on the back of achieving transformation goals

Ukheshe Technologies achieves Level One B-BBEE rating on the back of achieving transformation goals

Leading pan-African fintech enablement partner, Ukheshe Technologies, has significantly improved its Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) performance, becoming one of the only South African fintech enablers to achieve a Level One B-BBEE Contributor certification.

As one of the first fintechs to attain a Level One score, Ukheshe joins a select handful of companies in the financial services sector to achieve South Africa’s highest transformation rating.

This, coupled with Ukheshe’s remarkable growth – having concluded over 60 enterprise partnership deals in 2021 – has prompted additional investment into the company as it continues to deliver its ecosystem of solutions in key African locations and other emerging markets.

Ukheshe’s solid growth and B-BBEE score improvement demonstrates notable success in accomplishing significant transformation at ownership level and unlocking opportunities for black South Africans in its employment, supply chain and contribution to the community. The accomplishment also underscores Ukheshe’s constant drive for tangible ways to increase B-BBEE participation and empowerment in the public sector while creating a more inclusive, sustainable digital economy for everyone.

Ukheshe has also officially announced that Mahlwane Magale, the company’s Head of Financial Operations, will take up a director position on Ukheshe’s board. Since joining the company in November 2020, Magale has demonstrated steadfast commitment to Ukheshe’s values and growth. Magale is an Allan Gray Fellow, former Management Consultant and Private Equity Investment Professional and is passionate about financial services and the ways it can power financial inclusion.

Clayton Hayward, CEO of Ukheshe, comments, “Since its inception Ukheshe has proudly championed economic and social transformation and will continue to make empowerment a priority. Attaining a Level One B-BBEE score is testament to Ukheshe’s role as responsible corporate citizen committed to doing the right thing. To be one of the first fintechs to reach this significant milestone is a proud moment for the company, especially as we focus our efforts at democratising digital financial services across the African continent.”

Prins Mhlanga, CEO of Ocean on 76 Group, early investor, and shareholder in Ukheshe has confirmed an increased stake in Ukheshe Technologies following its consistent and impressive growth over the previous 12 months and its immense potential.

Says Mhlanga, “Like-minded investors have seen excellent growth within the company. Ukheshe’s efforts in entrenching itself as a leading African fintech enabler have produced significant results and both its immediate and long-term prospects are incredibly exciting. The company’s transition to Level One certification is just the latest development to showcase Ukheshe’s aptitude for supporting its customers and employees in any environment in which they operate.”  

From a South African startup to pan-African fintech, Ukheshe is at the forefront of innovation within the African payments industry. It is a KPMG Tech Innovator Runner-up, Ecobank runner-up, SARB fintech winner, runner up at the Singapore Fintech festival, and cohort member of Catapult Inclusion Africa. It is a Global Mastercard Engage partner, making it part of an elite group of only 29 companies globally.

The mass communication media will remain strategic partners to NCC – Danbatta

The mass communication media will remain strategic partners to NCC – Danbatta

The mass media, whether print, broadcast, online, or other specialised genres, will remain central and strategic stakeholders to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in its commitment to delivering on its regulatory mandates as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and other policy instruments.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated this on Tuesday in his remarks as he received a delegation of the topmost echelon of the Management of National Economy, a media organisation, that paid a courtesy visit on the Commission at its head office in Abuja.

Speaking through the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Danbatta said NCC remains irrevocably committed to deepening its already established relationship with media.

Danbatta explained that there is no gainsaying the fact that the Commission, by virtue of its regulatory activities in the telecom ecosystem, occupies a strategic position in the official architecture instituted to enhance national economic development.

The EVC said by the reckoning of stakeholders the Commission has performed well, and it recognises the role of the mass media in its successes. He noted that the relationship of the Commission with the mass media has been cordial over the years, and the Commission will never take the media for granted nor act in any manner that may rupture the relationship.

Recalling the significance of media support in the accomplishments of NCC, the EVC asserted that, the positive, prominent, accurate, timely and adequate reporting of the Commission by a broad spectrum of the media agency, eased Commission’s burden in putting its activities in the public sphere and enhanced its effort to enlist the support of other key stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem.

The EVC further stated that the Commission has a deliberate policy of constructive engagement with the media and other stakeholders because it understands the centrality of providing a platform for continuous interface toward positioning and projecting the Commission as a flagship public sector brand in Nigeria and a leading light of telecom regulation in Africa and globally.

Danbatta thanked the media for its superlative response in reporting telecoms notable contributions to GDP, particularly the significance of the sectoral feat in taking Nigeria out of recession.

In addition, the EVC recalled with gratitude the noteworthy media reportage of the processes emplaced for the deployment of 5G services in Nigeria, especially the successful auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum for the roll out of the 5G services. He urged journalists and other communication professionals to amplify Commission’s voice in its publicity and sensitization of the citizens and all stakeholders on the importance of the new generation network towards the economic development of the nation.

The NCC Chief Executive stated that the Commission looks forward, very enthusiastically, to a robust collaboration with all stakeholders in communication practice, in order to ensure goal-oriented reporting of the unfolding national developments in the digital economy sector, because of the derivable benefits to the citizens, businesses and the nation at large.

While thanking the Management of National Economy for the visit, commendation and support to the Commision over the years, Danbatta also expressed NCC’s commitment to sustaining its favourable relationship with the media.

The delegation from the National Economy was led by Chief Mike Okpare, Vice Chairman. His colleagues the delegation are Kirk Leigh, Chief Operating Officer; Fadilah Ismail, Head of Advertisement; Bayo Amodu, Head of Stories; and Cees Harmon, General Editor.

Safer Kids Online – Implementing Screen Limits and Protecting the Work of Future Leaders

Safer Kids Online – Implementing Screen Limits and Protecting the Work of Future Leaders

With the new academic year now in full swing, children and students across South Africa will be sitting down at their computers to study, complete their coursework, and possibly even write exams online. This is an exciting time, but it is also fraught with worry as digital distractions are rife.

As parents, guardians, and caregivers, it is important to provide the necessary guard rails to ensure that while technology remains an important educational tool, children do not lose focus on their studies, or worse, fall victim to cyber-threats and bullying at this crucial time.

The internet, smart phones and tablets have become an essential part of our daily lives. The same is true for our kids.  Estimates suggest kids and teens between the ages of 8 to 18 spend about 44.5 hours each week in front of digital screens. When used well, digital devices and the internet are powerful educational tools and can inspire a love of learning. Younger people are also more vulnerable to various cyber threats which is why protecting digital progress is so important. The international Safer Internet Day, which takes place every year on 8 February, highlights the need for greater awareness and action to ensure the internet is a better and safer place for all. Parents need to ensure that children are equipped to do the best that they can do, but how do they do it? How do you protect kids from trolls and the cyber-bullies when they need technology for study and research purposes? 

A sensible approach starts with creating a healthy environment that encourages exploration, but with clear boundaries. Clearly, our reliance on technology isn’t going to diminish, but there are ways we can all become better at managing it. Managing technology with intelligence has never been more crucial. Which is why protecting technological progress is at the very centre of the ESET ethos.

Digital distractions

What might seem harmless at first glance; studying while watching TV, texting, or checking social media, can impair learning and result in lower exam scores.

A study conducted by Dr Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State University showed that 80% of high school students surveyed reported frequently switching between studying and technology. The same survey showed a direct correlation between digital distractions and a decline in marks.

Disconnecting devices is not a solution, but limiting what sites, services and platforms can be accessed is.  If we want students to learn and perform at their best, smart phones and other online distractions must be managed.

The benefits of removing distractions while studying are almost incalculable. Most students incorrectly believe that they can perform two challenging tasks at the same time. They may like to do it, they may even be addicted to it, but there’s no getting around the fact that it’s far better to focus on one task at a time.

One method of controlling access to digital technology is to physically remove it and allow for periods throughout the day when it can be used. Research suggests children study most effectively for around 45 minutes. It’s important that those precious minutes are productive and free of distractions. Welcome breaks can then be used for quick updates and catch ups, but a relatively strict routine needs to be adhered to. It’s too easy to get lost in Reels and TikToks beyond the allocated time.

Parents should also make use of a decent internet security platform, which should be a prerequisite on mobile phones and laptop computers anyway. ESET’s own Internet Security solution allows for screen and browsing limits to be set in place and allows parents to manage the access from their phone.

The solution ensures that students can focus on what they need to start the school year on the right foot but continue healthy habits for safe online behaviour right up until exams.

With other cyber threats like identity theft, malware attacks and the potential loss of any data stored on a device should it be stolen or hacked, it is imperative that any device connected to the internet have suitable security protection.

Guiding children through constant technological change is hard enough as it is, which is why using tech to your advantage wherever possible is an absolute must. It’s safe to say your kids will thank you for it in the end.

By Carey van Vlaanderen, CEO of ESET South Africa