The Nation Newspaper

Category: e-Business

  • Sports betting: dangerous trend or reward for passion?

    Many Nigerian football supporters and enthusiasts have greeted the new football season in major European countries with excitement and anticipation.

    In the next eight months, football crazy Nigerians will have the opportunity to watch their favourite clubs challenge for honours in England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France and other countries.

    The new season has kicked off in England, where the English Premier League (EPL) – perhaps the most popular football league among Nigerians – has already sparked thrill among fans.

    On Sunday, Manchester United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in what many considered a baptism of fire for Chelsea’s new manager and former club legend, Frank Lampard.

    Action in the French Ligue 1 has also lifted football fans’ spirits and the prospect of adding the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga to the mix further heightens the delight.

    However, there is another kind of excitement about the new football season brewing among a totally different class of Nigerians.

    For this group of football followers, the new season doesn’t merely offer excitement and rekindle their passion for the beautiful game. It is an avenue to make money through sports betting.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over the past decade, sports betting has become one of the fasted growing sectors in Nigeria and the proliferation of betting shops is not hard to observe, even by the uninitiated.

    Every week, gamblers forecast outcomes of football matches and stake some money on odds with the hope of making a fortune.

    Some uniform men were spotted on Sunday at Asokoro Bet9ja centre betting as Chelsea and Man United, others played.

    NAN in Abuja, observed that most of the people patronising betting centre were policemen and young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 years.

    Whether they are patronising some of the numerous betting shops which dot almost every neighbourhood or playing directly from their mobile phones, many Nigerians have come to embrace the trend of making (or losing) money from sports betting.

    A 2018 estimate puts the Nigerian betting industry’s worth at over five billion-naira a-day and it is believed that more than 30 per cent of the entire population is actively involved in it.

    An economic expert, Mr. Kingsley Kosisochukwu, noted betting has the potential of bringing substantial economic benefits for the country.

    “Increased employment and income, increased tax revenues, enhanced tourism and recreational opportunities are also positive effects of legalised gambling.

    “Also, it has the potential of re-distributing wealth. We have some people that have become millionaires overnight through betting.

    “These are people that probably would never have become rich if they did not gamble. So healthy gambling is good for the nation’s economy,” he said.

    In contrast, a financial analyst, Dr Patricia Auta, said that betting was a bad idea and the biggest was the creation of more addicted gamblers at a younger age.

    “If you combine gambling, sports and smartphones, you’re leading sport fans down a very dangerous path to financial ruin.

    “The younger generation, that is the generation that doesn’t know a world without smartphones and the internet is showing nearly double the gambling addiction rate of the next-oldest generation.

    “The effect is increased crime due to bankruptcy and bad debts.

    “As access to money becomes more limited, gamblers often resort to crime in order to pay debts.

    “Studies have shown that gamblers are more likely to commit offences as fraud, stealing, embezzlement, forgery, robbery, and blackmail,” she said.

    Meanwhile, a reliable source from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) told NAN that the sport betting industry currently does not attract tax of any kind.

    The source said that the service had already held series of meetings with the National Lottery Commission and the betting companies operating in the country to see how the industry would start paying its fair share of tax.

    “We plan to introduce VAT and possibly withholding tax on betting.

    “We currently don’t have a legislation to cover this and that is why we have highlighted this in the reviewed National Tax Policy.

    “The policy is ready and once a Minister of Finance is appointed, we will submit the proposal,” the source said.

    An agent at a popular sports betting outlet in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, simply identified as Mike, told NAN that he could make as much as N85,000 in a week, depending on how the games turned out.

    While sports betting is regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and its contribution to the economy is undeniable, many football enthusiasts worry about its dark side.

    John Atime also told NAN at a popular viewing centre in Nyanya, “I sparingly stake bets, most times out of passion and fun, so I don’t worry if I win or not. But there are others who survive on betting.

    “Personally, I believe that being involved too much in betting can kill the passion for the game.

    “Sometimes you see a fan hoping for his club to concede a goal or lose a match because he has forecast goal-goal,”

    However, Adewale Sikiru, a phone vendor at the popular Banex Plaza in Abuja, disagreed with Atime, saying there was nothing wrong with making money from one’s passion.

    “Football is a big business and players are earning off their passion so why can’t fans earn money too? In fact, placing a bet enhances your passion because something is at stake at personal level,” he said.

    Indeed, football is a big business and sports betting is one of its major drivers.

    Globally, sports betting is a multi-billion-dollar industry and to put things into perspective, 10 out of 20 EPL clubs have betting companies as their sponsors for the 2019/2020 football season.

    In addition, at least two divisions of the English league are sponsored by a betting company and here in Nigeria we have seen betting companies sponsor national football leagues.

    But should we close our eyes to the realities of addiction, depression and underage betting because of the economic returns it offers?

    READ ALSO: N1m up for grabs in Predict & Win sports betting

    In 2016, a young man identified as Uchenna was reported to have taken his own life after losing a N22, 000 sports bet in Uyo.

    In 2018, police in Ilorin confirmed that a 25-year-old man committed suicide after he lost out on a bet over the outcome of a European Champions League match.

    The lawful age for betting eligibility in Nigeria is 18, but many sports betting outlets visited by NAN in Abuja glaringly admit underage gamblers.

    Football being the most followed sport in Nigeria, betting appears to have become a complementary lifestyle among its supporters and many of those supporters are under the age of 18.

    Many adults also expose minors to betting by sending them to betting shops to process already generated forecasts.

    Mike told NAN that opting to play online could guard against this, although it would hurt agents like him.

    “Gamblers can create their own account and play via the mobile app. Winnings are credited to their accounts which they can transfer into their bank accounts.

    “It is wrong to encourage underage people to get involved,” he said.

    With privilege comes responsibility. Thus, betting companies should consider it a social responsibility to invest in enlightenment campaigns.

    Mr. Magnus Ekechukwu, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), says the commission is contributing immensely to the socio-economic development of the country

    Ekechukwu told NAN in Abuja the NLRC Act is defined in such a way and manner that it includes and covers sport betting activities,

    “Lottery and gaming have been used all over the world as a tool of social economic development, wealth distribution, empowerment, poverty alleviation and so forth and so on.

    “But beyond that, the proceeds from lottery and gaming, we use to provide what we called good courses in Nigeria which is intervention in the infrastructural development of the country by the government.

    (NAN)

  • ‘Leverage mobile technology to bridge access gaps’

    A business solutions provider, Verraki Partners, has urged the Federal Government to leverage the cheap mobile technology in the country to bridge existing gaps in the education sector.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the grand finale of Prof Ayodele Awojobi Design Competition (PAADC) at the University of Lagos,  its Senior Partner and Head of the Ventures Unit,  Kelvin Balogun, said  quality instructional materials could be made available to the masses through the mobile phones.

    He said: “We can tackle our education problem by applying new thinking, leveraging technology such as the mobile phone and broadband internet. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), internet subscribers are about 114 million as at February 2019, largely via mobile phones. The mobile phone has become the preferred device of choice for payments, ride-hailing and healthcare; it can be used for education and learning too. Education via mobile phones is a leveler and will guarantee access to quality education for everyone, irrespective of financial status or social class, language or tribe.

    Read Also: ‘Mobile technology promoting credit access’

    “It also ensures access to low-cost teaching resources, added value compared to traditional teaching and a complementary solution for teacher training.

    “Across levels, we can develop applications that give certificated education, fit-for-purpose and pragmatic, while complementing current education realities. Students can access online lectures, compressed for mobile phones with exercises, theory, games, peer-to-peer support, ranking competitions, tests, self-assessment, online resources and incentives for those that complete their classes. Aside the 10.5million primary school age- children currently out of school in Nigeria, mobile learning brings education to our underserved people and communities; people who would otherwise not have had access. It is highly scalable, low-touch and addresses the bottom of pyramid with the basic core – English, Mathematics and Social Studies/African History. An example is Nokia’s MoMaths (Mobile Mathematics) programme, which gives South Africa children from low-income families access to high-quality education. MoMaths was launched by Nokia and the country’s Department of Science and Technology, aligned to its CAPS curriculum and provided a complimentary mobile learning platform to all South African high school Maths learners in Grade 10 -12. To leapfrog connectivity challenges, we can explore a similar model to Rwanda, which partnered with OneWeb to launch a satellite (named Icyerekezo) which will bring internet connectivity to students in rural Nkombo Island.”

  • ‘How to drive knowledge economy’

    A United States (U.S)-based Information Technology (IT) and e-business solutions and training firm, New Horizons, has stressed the need for collaboration between academics to harness the huge potential of knowledge economy.

    Its Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Bolaji Olaoye, who spoke during the unveiling of an application developed by three students of  Anchor University Lagos (AUL), said the development of the solution underscored the huge untapped potential collaboration between the industry and academia can unlock.

    The customised library management app which upgrades, digitises and eases the use of university library systems for students, was by developed Odufote Israel, Nwakaibe David, and Ochoyi Joshua, all in their 300 level, under the mentorship of New Horizons.

    Read Also: 2020 budget: Abiodun sets agenda to grow local economy

    He said the performance of the students calls for collaboration between the industry and academics so that the society and humanity can be impacted better.

    According to Olaoye, the current digital age is so demanding in terms of huge cost in dollars and rapid rate of technological obsolescence, that a single institution cannot actually do it all alone. At the macro level, these sets of technologically empowered students are what Nigeria needs to get out of its sagging oil-dependent economy and join the league of reigning digital economies such as Singapore, Malaysia, China, etc.

    Olaoye said the vision being driven by New Horizons globally in the 80 countries and 370 centres where it currently operates, with particular reference to the operations of the Nigerian Branch in tertiary educational terrain, has been to ensure that the products of Nigerian universities graduate with the required skill set so that they can be market-ready for employers of labour, as well as getting the lucrative jobs both nationally and internationally.

    The app is used for e-labelling and identification, registration, onsite and off-site borrowing and returning of books, e-tracking systems, management of late return, and seamless blend of penalties for defaulters, among other functions.

    The students encouraged by the scholarship opportunity given to them by New Horizons, said the platform served to ignite their passion for the project-based solutions which ultimately led to the feat they achieved.

    One of them, Joshua, said: “Some of the major problems we usually have with our library are issues of books identification, registration and others but with this app, students can do their registration online with any internet accessible device. Likewise, the administrator end of the solution has simplified the administration of the library systems management for the librarians and other library managers.”

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Afolayan Olasehinde, lauded the students, saying it fell in line with the school’s strategic vision drives.

    “Last year, New Horizons gave an award to three of our best Computer Science students and the awards were converted to training. Today, as they are doing Anchor University proud, they are also doing New Horizons proud because if you didn’t put them through, they will not be able to demonstrate what they are doing now,” he said.

  • NITDA reads riot act to regulations violators

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)  has warned that violators of its regulations will no longer go unpunished.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the signing of five new regulatory instruments to strenghen the operations of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Abuja at the weekend, its Director General, Dr Isa Pantami,warned that infractions of the regulations would be punished.

    He said NITDA in the last seven months has rolled out 10 regulatory instruments not just in the interest of the ICT sector, but that of Nigeria to save cost,  time and also deliver effective and efficient services to the people in all spheres of live.

    Read Also: NITDA unveils data regulation framework

    “I am delighted to host you at the  official sign-off on five regulatory instruments. If you recall, the first quarter press briefing took place on Friday, 25th January 2019 where I launched and signed off five regulatory instruments.

    ” There, I  noted that this year would be a year of regulation. All these instruments are issued to address various challenges facing us as a nation towards effective ICT adoption,” Pantami  said.

    He listed the instruments as Guidelines  for Nigerian Content Development in information and Communications Technology (ICT) as amended; Nigeria e-Govemment Interoperability Framework (Ne-GlF); Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV);  Nigeria Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP); and the Framework and Guidelines for ICT Adoption in Tertiary Institutions.

    The NITDA chief who explained the benefits of the instruments to the socio-economic development of the country, said some of the instruments have saved the country of billions of naira. He added that violations of the instruments by any agency of government or private institutions would not go unpunished.

    Pantami said: “It is a known fact that the rate of ICT development and adoption across the world have been translating into economic growth and sustainable development. NITDA has huge mandates broadly covering IT regulation, development and advisory roles.

    “This is evident in section 6(a-n) of the NITDA Act, 2007. We believe that our regulatory and advisory should be geared towards the development of ICT and its integration to implement socio-economic agenda of the government at all levels.

    “We would not by any means stifle ICT development especially to the detriment of our indigenous IT companies. NITDA as the apex agency responsible for the development and regulation of IT in Nigeria must ensure it walks the talk and build an enabling environment for the growth of ICT industry; pave the way for efficient and sustainable use and adoption of ICT for the development and growth of the country.

    “It is on this conviction that we are building a strong foundation for ICT development, adoption and grown through effective regulation. I am exceptionally happy to present and sign off on the five regulatory instruments.”

  • Glo leads internet subscriber acquisition

    Digital transformation leader, Globacom, has topped gainers’ chart in the latest statistics of Internet subscribers released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the month of June.

    Indeed, June was a difficult month for the industry generally, as the total number of internet subscribers dropped by a whopping 332,338 from 122,624,417 in May to 122,292,079 in June.

    The bulwark against complete free fall came from Globacom and Airtel who recorded subscriber gains, while the other operators recorded a loss.

    Read Also: Sola Sobowale outsmarts Patience Ozokwor as Amebo resurfaces in new Glo TVCs

    Globacom gained a total of 196,816, moving from 28,825,533 data subscribers in May to 29,022,349 in June. Airtel gained a total of 42,510 subscribers in the corresponding period.

    On the other hand, MTN lost 178,103 subscribers, dropping from 52,433,020 in May to 52,254,917 in June.  Nigeria’s fourth largest telecommunications operator, 9Mobile lost 310,924 data subscribers, dropping from 9,350,477 in May to 9, 039,553 in June.

    Globacom has proven to be the favourite of internet subscribers over the years on account of its customer-friendly data packages and fast internet connectivity. The operator became the first network in Nigeria to launch nationwide 4G in 2016.  With the launch of the service, millions of subscribers on the Glo network have been able to enjoy instant, efficient broadband internet connectivity.

  • Quickteller takes customers to U.S, London, Dubai

    A consumer payment platform for integrated digital payments company, Quickteller, will take three lucky customers on an all-expense-paid trip to the Interswitch One Africa Music Fest billed for New York, United States (U.S) this month.

    The winners were drawn from a raffle draw that took place at Interswitch headquarters in Lagos,  alongside the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (FCCPC).

    Group Head, Quickteller Marketing, Olawale Akanbi, said it is a way of giving back to the customers for their unwavering support for the brand

    Akanbi said: “The success of Quickteller would not be possible without our loyal customers and we want them all to feel like a part of the family and that with Quickteller, everything is possible. So we will be sending 30 lucky customers with an all-expense-paid trip to one of the Interswitch One Africa Music Festivals  in New York, London and Dubai.

    Read Also: Quickteller unveils digital enabled retail shopping for Nigerians

    “In addition to the three winners we have already announced, we have 27 more to go. In a couple of days, we will select and announce more winners for the London trip. Later in the year, we will conduct the draws for the Dubai trip.”

    The first three winners: Titilope Adedokun, David Eze and Owosegun Shonowo will be attending the Interswitch One Africa Music Fest in New York on Saturday, August 10.

    Reacting to the surprise, Eze said: “I gave up on promos a long time ago. This is a huge surprise for me and I’m still in shock. Funny thing is, I applied just because I wanted to, and not really because I thought I would win. I am totally elated that I get to have my vacation in New York at the Interswitch One Africa Music Fest.”

  • Ejedegba enhances operational efficiency in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods sector

    Ejedegba enhances operational efficiency in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods sector

    By Larry Anwansedo

    The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s economy, driving manufacturing growth and providing essential products to millions daily. 

    Efficiency and innovation in this sector are vital to meeting increasing consumer demands and sustaining competitive advantage.

    Within this dynamic environment, Emmanuel Ejedegba is making valuable contributions through his role as a Process Engineer at Spring Knowledge and Data Management International. 

    Drawing on his expertise in chemical engineering, he has identified key production bottlenecks and implemented process optimization strategies that improve quality control and operational efficiency.

    Emmanuel has also supported the integration of energy-efficient technologies and the upgrading of outdated equipment, promoting sustainability alongside enhanced production performance. 

    Committed to knowledge transfer, he has developed and delivered training programs designed to equip staff with the skills necessary to effectively operate and maintain these advancements.

    Reflecting on his approach, Emmanuel notes, “Effective and lasting improvements come from combining technological innovation with the empowerment of the people who use it. Building capacity is essential for sustaining progress.”

    His work continues to support Nigeria’s industrial growth by fostering both technical and human skills development in manufacturing operations.

  • How Ndukwe emerged MTN board chair

    Telecoms technocrat, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, over the weekend, emerged board Chairman of telecoms giant, MTN Communications Nigeria Plc.

    A former Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) Ndukwe is fondly called Mr. Telecoms for his vast experience and rich contributions to the growth of the industry over the years.

    A highly respected professional, his  career has gone full circle. Starting from the private sector as the Managing Director of a notable telecoms firm, he moved into government service at the helm of the industry regulatory agency as EVC of NCC and back to the private sector and now Chair, MTN.

    President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusol Teniola, said the appointment is healthy for the industry.

    Teniola said: “Mr Telecom has provided us with his wisdom and unbiased opinion as to the direction of the industry at large. MTN has acquired a statesman and a knowledgable practitioner to man their ship. We look forward to working with him and his board to continue to grow this industry to its fullest potential.”

    A cerebral  manager, Ndukwe was an adjunct faculty at the Pan Atlantic University/Lagos Business School and also a Director of the School’s Infrastructure Centre. His passion for human capacity development in the industry led to the birth of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), an international centre for telecommunications and information technology studies, during his tour of duty as EVC of NCC. He would always state that the greatest legacy of his tenure in government is the liberalisation of access to telecoms and making the benefits and impact of ICT available to the masses especially the poor and the traditionally disenfranchised groups.

    A recipient of the national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, Ndukwe is a past Chairman of Administrative Council of African Telecommunications Union, ATU, and a past Chairman of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly, WATRA, which he helped pioneer. He was also a Vice Chairman of Telecom Development Advisory Group (TDAG) of the ITU representing Nigeria.

    In April 2014, he was decorated with an ITU Gold Medal Award “in recognition of his important contribution to global Information and communication technologies and to the work of ITU”.

    Ndukwe has represented Nigeria at various international events and is a regular resource person at international conferences including ITU.

  • NCC mulls strategy to tackle counterfeit phones, others

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)  is set with other stakeholders in the information communications technology (ICT) ecosystem to establish a Mobile Device Management System (MDMS). This is to combat unchecked importation and use of unregistered, cloned, substandard, counterfeit, stolen or non-compliant devices.

    It said these pose a threat to Quality of Service (QoS) and Experience (QoE) as well as security, among others, across the country.

    NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof Umar Dambatta, at the weekend, said the proposed MDMS would have the capacity to facilitate the mandatory registration of all subscriber identity module (SIM)-based devices, block all stolen, counterfeit, illegal or otherwise substandard SIM-based devices from operators’ networks and interface with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), tax authority, security agencies, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other relevant agencies to ensure full registration, payment of duties and taxes due on those devices and the protection of security and privacy of users in the country.

    Delloitte, in its 2018 Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook, said cybercrime is estimated to cost the economy about  $500 million yearly.

    Consistent with the Commission’s regulatory mandate, several consultative fora were organised to enlighten stakeholders on the growing menace posed by the influx of cloned and fake ICT devices into the country.

    The stakeholders include the NCS, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), security agencies, SON, as well as equipment and solution vendors.

    Dambatta said after due consideration of input from stakeholders, the resolution was reached to deploy an end-to-end technology based solution in combating the influx of cloned and fake ICT devices into the country.

    “Essentially, the NCC and other relevant government agencies in Nigeria are going tough on fake devices. Therefore, the panel is expected to proffer seamless solutions to assist in eradicating the influx of cloned and fake phones and other devices, and curtailing the menace of existing cloned and fake phones and other devices on Nigerian shores. Cyber security is structurally composed of processes, technologies and practices devised to optimally mitigate the risks to computers, programmes, and networks, i.e. cyber crime,” Dambatta said.

    According to him, cybercrime evolves at a fast pace with malicious cyber criminals becoming increasingly more sophisticated and better organised using the same ICT infrastructure and systems that have made it easier for people to conduct e-commerce and online transactions, being exploited for criminalities.

    The Federal Government, being aware of the benefits of ICT to its citizens and the growing concerns about cyber security, therefore,  developed the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy documents, and came-up with The Cyber Crimes ACT 2015, a measure to address the nation’s risk exposure in cyberspace.

    The NCC has provided the enabling environment for growth and a level-playing field for competition.

    “Counterfeiting is a global challenge that has elicited a common disquiet among stakeholders, especially in respect of the continued influx of counterfeit and illegal information communication technology (ICT) devices in both developed and developing countries.

    ‘’Nigeria is not immuned to this problem. The challenges posed by this menace are quite devastating, hindering the progress made so far in ICT usage and processes in terms of its economic, social, environmental and security impacts on the country,” he said.

  • Jumia boosts education

    Leading online shopping firm, Jumia, has donated books approved by the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for junior secondary school curricular to Agidingbi Junior Grammar School, Ikeja.

    It said it was part of activities to celebrate its seventh anniversary in the country.

    The donation held at the company’s Ikeja warehouse; two teachers and about 20 student representatives were on hand to receive the materials.

    Jumia also organised a career talk for the student representatives on the opportunities within the e-commerce landscape and what they could do to start and grow a career in the sector.

    Jumia Nigeria’s Public Relations and Communications Manager, Olukayode Kolawole, said the gesture, which aligns with the company’s education-focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, was aimed at increasing access to quality educational materials and promoting good reading culture among secondary school pupils in the country.

    He said: “Education is an integral part of our corporate social responsibility programmes at Jumia Nigeria. We remain focused on our mission to use technology to improve the quality of everyday lives in the country, and by extension Africa. Increasing access to quality educational materials for young secondary school students who are the leaders of tomorrow aligns with our mission. We continue to build the next future tech leaders, and at the heart of this endeavour lies the need to equip these future leaders with the right information and guidance on how to build a career in the fledgling Nigerian e-commerce industry.”