The Nation Newspaper

Category: Infotech

  • ‘Broadband ‘ll boost GDP growth, reduce poverty’

    ‘Broadband ‘ll boost GDP growth, reduce poverty’

    Improved broadband penetration can create wealth and unlock huge opportunities for millions of Nigerians, Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh has said.

    Ekeh, who spoke at a telecoms forum in Lagos, said enhanced broadband access would equip majority of Nigerians with the freedom to succeed in today’s digital society.

    He said: “With increased deployment of broadband and more equitable access for the majority, huge opportunities will be created for self-development in the country. Just consider the effect this will have on the cost of doing business and the unlimited resources it will place at our disposal. Presently, a lot of people do not see these opportunities due to the current infrastructural challenges being faced in the sector and the slow pace of ICT uptake in Nigeria.”

    Ekeh, who chaired the forum, said Nigeria’s population and cultural realities make the country a potentially lucrative market for broadband deployment, urging synergy between the government and private sector.

    He said: “We must increase the tempo because the market is very huge. The digital divide must be bridged and access must become a basic human right for everyone in this country. Government has a critical role to play in this regard. With liberalised bandwidth allocation, investor-friendly policies and enabling environment for private sector involvement, the multiplier effect of broadband deployment is unquantifiable and will rapidly transform Nigeria into a digital economy.”

    Citing infrastructural deficiencies, security issues, multiple taxation and poor network quality as some of the factors hampering mobile broadband operators in Nigeria, Ekeh whose Zinox Technologies has handled some of the biggest ICT projects in the country, urged participants to see the current challenges as temporary obstacles which will be surmounted with time, noting that Nigeria is a prime investment destination on the continent.

    The conference, which has Connect Nigeria: Exploring ICT Potential for Growth as its theme, also featured a panel discussion involving representatives of major players in the industry. They included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Mathiew Wilshire, Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya and MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr Wale Goodluck

    The panelists agreed that Nigeria was overdue for 3G/LTE deployment in view of the massive opportunities it holds for unleashing human capital development.

    However, the government intervention in eliminating impediments, such as the high cost of broadband infrastructure deployment, spectrum allocation and issues of Right of Way, were also deemed crucial to this initiative.

  • Test HIV, syphilis on your smartphones in 15mins

    Test HIV, syphilis on your smartphones in 15mins

    Technology has proven itself as a major way to make life better as a group of US researchers have come up with a palm-sized device that when connected to a smartphone can diagnose Human Immune Deficiency Virus – HIV and syphilis with good accuracy.

    The new smartphone dongle, which can test blood samples for HIV and syphilis in about 15 minutes, could save millions of lives across the world, scientists claim.

    According to the researchers, the device is dependent on a Smartphone’s audio jack to mimick the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a well-known test for HIV, and “performs almost as well.”

    The success of the dongle is a follow up on an initial study, involving about 96 women in Rwanda, published in Science Translational Medicine journal.

    However, experts have expressed hope that the lab-on-a-chip device would be helpful, especially in places where field clinics are set up to help remote or under-served populations.

    The team, led by Samuel Sia, Associate Professor of biomedical engineering, Columbia University and a NASA Launch innovator, is aiming for larger clinical trials to confirm the device’s capacity.

    Speaking on the innovation, the engineer said: “Our work shows that a full laboratory-quality immunoassay can be run on a smartphone accessory.

    “Coupling microfluidics with recent advances in consumer electronics can make certain lab-based diagnostics accessible to almost any population with access to smartphones. This kind of capability can transform how health care services are delivered around the world”.

    The study was funded by a Saving Lives at Birth transition grant — which is backed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Gates Foundation, the government of Norway, Grand Challenges Canada, the World Bank and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation.

    The device is currently on sale for N6,000 ($34) – nearly 540 times cheaper than current lab testing machines, and has already been tested on patients in Rwanda during a pilot study.

    Other countries in Africa including Nigeria, European and Asian countries, anticipate its introduction soonest when passed for public use.

  • How to avoid electronic fraud, by experts

    A professional group with focus on the security of electronic payment or  e-payment, the e-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria  (e-PPAN) has advised Nigerians to be wary as the frontiers of e-payment expands in line with the cashless policy of the  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Its Media and  Strategy Development Manager, Mrs Ntia Nnene Sylvia, who  spoke during an enlightenment forum about e-fraud in Lagos, said if users of e-payment platforms follow the group’s expert advice, they are not likely to fall prey to  fraudsters.

    One of the first steps is for people to be careful when they use their cards  during shopping at merchant outlets using the Point of Sale (PoS) terminal or use mobile banking/payment; online  transactions or even at the automated teller machine (ATM) point

    She said: “Typically, fraudsters also use this festive season to  launch their nefarious activities to unsuspecting bank  customers. The onus is therefore on the individual first, to consider safety in all transactions, and this will take  some extra and conscious effort by the individual.

    “It is very safe to use any of the payment instruments but to minimise the  chances of becoming a victim of electronic fraud, we advice  consumers to follow some safety tips such as; looking after  your cards and card details at all times; trying not to let your card out of your sight when making a transaction; not leaving your cards unattended to in public places. We  emphasise that card users should never share their personal  identification number (PIN) with anyone and ensure you are the only person that knows your PIN. Your bank will never  ask you to disclose it; anyone who ask you for your PIN is a  fraudster. keep it secret, keep it safe – protect your  PIN.

    For those who will  use the ATM at any point we always advice that never use an  ATM at any isolated location especially at night and  weekends. ATM’s are generally very safe; however they do  sometimes attract criminal attention so you still need to  follow common sense precautions when withdrawing cash. At  the ATM when entering your PIN, Stand close to the ATM , use  your free hand and your body to shield the number in case someone is watching you over your shoulder. “Once you have  completed a transaction put your money and card away before  leaving the ATM.  If the ATM does not  return your card, report it immediately to your service  provider. Destroy or preferably shred your ATM receipts,mini-statements or balance enquiries when you dispose of  them.

  • NCS insists electronic voting is practicable

    NCS insists electronic voting is practicable

    With  few days to the general elections and the possibility of most voters getting disenfanchised as a result of inability to collect the permanent voter card (PVC), the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) has urged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government to look in the direction of electronic voting.

    NCS said if e-Voting is adopted, it will not only be cost efficient, but also  erase whatever doubt the electorate might have concerning  the electoral umpire in terms of its being  biased.

    Its President, Prof. David Adewumi who spoke with The Nation said there is no basis why the country should not adopt e-voting which the  Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have used a couple of time with great success.

    He said: “Our position in the NCS remains the same. We are ripe for e-voting. When you look at e-voting, it is no longer rocket  science. The major requirement is the infrastructure, I mean  the information technology (IT) equipment, capacity  building. Then INEC must provide the purposeful leadership  that is required to deploy the technology and consequently, e-voting. I think that is all that is needed. There no space  science to that.”

    On the low level of computer literacy and personal computers (PC) ownership in  the country, the NCS chief said it is not true that the level of computer literacy in the country is  alarming.

    According to him, the old people in the villages use mobile phones, adding that keyboard of the mobile phone is even smaller than the  ones on the PC. “Yes, the old people in the village now use mobile phones. So, what is it about low level of computer  literacy you are talking about? The key board for the mobile phone is smaller than that of the PC. I think what is required is determination to ensure it succeeds,” Prof Adewumi said.

    Namibia became the first African country to adopt the e-voting technology with the Southern African country using it during its election last year. The e-Voting Machines, or EVMs, were acquired at a cost of 24 million Namibia dollars from an Indian company and according to the company, they are equipped with technology that is designed to eliminate flaws and address the scepticism of some political parties questioning the transparency of that country’s electoral umpire.

    The machines have features such as candidates’ photos, political parties together with other information next to the casting button. Voters will just have to click on their preferred candidate or party during elections to vote.

    It would also berecalled that India successfully used half-a-million EVMs of the same type during its 2009 general elections. The EVM was used to choose 96 members of Namibia’s National Assembly and one of nine presidential candidates, ranging from the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters to the white minority Republican Party. About 1.2 million Namibians reportedly cast their  ballots at nearly 4,000 electronic voting stations across  the country.

  • Telephone subscriber base hits 136m, says ncc

    Telephone subscriber base hits 136m, says ncc

    From less than 500,000 in year 2000, the subscriber base of the fixed and mobile telephone users has increased to 136 million as at November 2014.

    This was disclosed in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Wednesday by the Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs. Josephine Amuwa.

    The NCC chief made the disclosure during the donation of books on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to the Ekiti State University (EKSU).

    Mrs. Amuwa described Nigeria as the “fastest growing telecommunications country in the world” with more than three million direct and indirect employment.

    She expressed dismay that Nigerian engineers and engineering students have not utilised the opportunities made available by the growth in telecoms industry because of dearth of relevant books and other publications.

    Mrs. Amuwa said: “This development has led to a substantial demand on the available human resources and encouraging operating companies to become net importers of skilled telecoms manpower into the country.”

    Expressing his appreciation for the donation, EKSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina, said the books would help the university to actualise it’s five-year strategic plan.

  • Exploring ICT for better learning

    Exploring ICT for better learning

    Sadly, over the years, mass failure in public examinations seems to have become the norm in Nigeria. Many are blaming the boost in information communication technology (ICT) partly for the problem.  Some experts have developed an application that could turn things around. But with increasing sophistication in IT-assisted crimes, how far can this application go? LUCAS AJANAKU writes.

    he use of internet has eased the way people live in Nigeria. Many applications (apps) have been developed in the areas of agriculture and education, health among others, which have helped solving human problems.

    President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Bayo Banjo, said access to the internet has become a double-edged sword. To Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, the hidden dangers unguided access to internet portends to students, moved the state to organise an awareness campaign for  primary and secondary schools pupils.

    Aside using the internet as a platform to acquire genuine knowledge, it has also become a platform for the perfection of organised examination frauds. Through the internet, innocent people have been swindled of their whole life savings. Several marriages have been consummated and broken on the internet while cyber bullies have forced the young at heart to commit suicide.

    The Minister of Communication Technology, Dr (Mrs) Omobola Johnson said the information communication technology industry (ICT) in Nigeria has grown phenomenally over the last one decade. According to her, the industry is now viewed as “a critical sector of the economy, ranked with oil & gas and power,” contributing significantly to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    “The industry currently contributes 9.58 per cent to GDP (Q3 2014) and is further enabling other sectors of the economy. The total mobile internet subscriptions increased to 73.8 million as at September 2014 from 45 million in 2011 while internet penetration increased to about 52 per cent in September 2014 from about 26.5 per cent in September 2011,” she said.

    But determined to ensure that the internet is deployed to knowledge acquisition, two firms, Cinfores Limited and WaveTek Nigeria Limited, have developed e-learning app they argue will address mass failure in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with the two software technology companies to address the increasing rate of mass failure in national examinations in the country through the innovative JAMB BrainFriend app.

    According to JAMB, in 2011, a total of 1,493,604 candidates wrote the examination out of which 2, 892 candidates scored above 300 marks while 842, 851 candidates below 200 marks. 495,426 candidates scored between 200-249 while 67,732 candidates scored between 250 and 269. The result further showed that 31, 444 candidates scored between 270-299 marks while another 7, 504 candidates had their results withheld because they were under investigation. Another 15,160 about 1.14per cent had their results cancelled because of examination malpractices while 28,069 candidates had invalid and incomplete results.

    In 2012, only three candidates scored 300 and above; 901 scored between 270 and 299; 71,339 scored between 250 and 269; 601,151 scored between 200 and 249; 374, 920 scored between 170 and 199 while 336, 330 scored below 170.

    Two years ago, the board withheld 12,110 results for possible disciplinary action. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, said after thorough processing of answer scripts of the candidates who sat for the examination, the board discovered some forms of malpractice perpetuated during the conduct of the examination.

    A total of 1,629,102 candidates applied to sit for the Paper Pencil Test (PPT), while 15,008 candidates applied for the Dual Based Test, bringing the number of candidates to 1,644,110.

    He said: “The general performance of candidates in this year’s examination shows remarkable improvement compared with last year’s. Ten candidates scored 300 marks and above, while 127,017 candidates scored between 1-159 marks.

    “About 40,692 candidates’ results were invalid due to either multiple shading or no shading at all.  After processing all the results, the board also discovered that about 47,974 candidates were absent.”

    These are certainly disturbing results no doubts. The Director-General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack, lamented the steep decline in the quality of education in the country and the need to use ICT to improve the situation. He stressed the need to apply home-grown technology resources to address the twin issues of mass failure and malpractices in examination.

    He said: ‘There is certainly a sharp decline in the quality of education in our country. The mass failure in JAMB exams and other national examinations in recent years is a function of many things including the dearth of quality local resources to address the scourge. JAMB BrainFriend software will definitely tackle this.”

    Jack said, NITDA, as an IT agency, is committed to transforming every sector of the country. Jack said the agency will leave no stone unturned and partner local and international organisations to develop local solutions that will meet the needs of the sector. He said NITDA will do everything  within its power to support the partnership between the two companies. He added that this is why the agency has keyed into the initiative as part of its effort to deepen and encourage local content development in education and other sectors of the economy as mandated by the ACT setting up the agency.

    Managing Director Cinfores Limited, Mr. Asawo Ibifuro, said the two software firm decided to introduce the software to arm students with all that is needed for them to do well in their examination.

    Asawo, who frowned at the increasing rate of failure of students in JAMB examinations, said the software firm will continue to develop innovative apps that would promote ease in knowledge acquisition. He said: “We are committed to helping the students to pass their various educational examinations. We have assembled over 20,000 questions, answers and explanations that would help them overcome any kind of questions that come their way. This software will also banish any phobia that may arise from the electronic JAMB examination taking off this year.”

    The Managing Director of WaveTek Nigeria Limited Mr. Ken Spann, said the two companies realised the dangers of mass failure and its implication for the future of the country. According to him, the 75 per cent failure rate in the last JAMB examination in the country is unacceptable Spann who worked for 11 years at Microsoft Corporation in the United States (US) and Nigeria respectively promoting Microsoft Education value through Microsoft IT Academies, added that the firm would leverage on its network in the education sector.

    He said: “Through our strong network in education, we are collaborating with Cinfores to be its marketing partner and ensure that BrainFriend is used by the over 1.4 million students registered for the exam taking place in March this year.”

    Cinfores Limited had in the last 10 years pioneered locally developed e-learning and exam preparatory software also known as Cinfores BrainFriend.

    The new version of the software also contains over 20,000 questions, answers and explanation; 19 JAMB subjects/ subject combinations for the major disciplines; prototype/ past JAMB questions; career counseling guide; quick references/ study notes; performance tracking; summary/ questions on the UTME 2015 special literature –The Last Days at Forcados; available on Windows/ Android devices; free online counseling @ www.brainfriendonline.com; approved/ certified by the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC) and NITDA and affordable.

    Sector analysts say access to both PC and devices remain major challenges. For one, the software could only run on Android/Windows devices that are relatively expensive. The software cannot run on features phones that are affordable.

    But Mr. Jack has promised to make the software available to all the NITDA digital centres across the country to enable examination candidate access it. He also promised to reach out to the NCC and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to make available the software to all its Community Communication Centres in order to extend the reach of the software to all, especially the candidates who cannot afford either a personal computer (PC) or a mobile device to activate the software for personal use.

    The two organisations are however optimistic that with the new wave of public and private sector deployment of locally adapted ICTs for the education sector, most of the challenges faced in the sector will be history. The CEOs urged all well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and institutions operating in the country to support the efforts by acquiring the licenses of the software and make it available to pupils and students across the country.

    Parents and teachers were also urged to download its mobile version on their Android or Windows devices to enable their wards that may not have devices to access the software pending when they could get devices for them. This is to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the candidates preparing for the examination have access to the software to use it to prepare adequately for the forth-coming examination.

    “We are sure this will be the game changer and we will begin to have more successful candidates in our national exams as we fully embrace this solution for forth coming JAMB UTME and related solutions for similar exams,” they said.

  • Dwindling oil prices: MainOne urges ICT deployment

    Dwindling oil prices: MainOne urges ICT deployment

    The Chief Executive Officer, MainOne,  Ms. Funke Opeke, has urged both the private and public sectors of the economy to deploy information communication technology (ICT), improve productivity and lower operating cost.

    She said the ICT sector is also important for the oil and gas industry as its deployment would result in optimum resource utilisation at lower cost.

    “The role of the ICT is particularly  critical in driving down costs and optimising operational efficiency in this period of falling oil prices. Oil and gas companies need to adopt ICT solutions to maintain profitability,” Opeke said during this year’s Oil and Gas Session in Lagos.

    She  added that  the slump in global oil prices has made fiscal belt-tightening measures imperative, stressing that with Federal Government reviewing 6,000 ongoing projects and proposing doubling of Value Added Tax (VAT) from five to 10 per cent, there is need for oil and gas companies to toe this line by leveraging available ICT infrastructure in Nigeria.

    Speaking on the expansion plans of the undersea cable company,  Opeke said Cameroon is one of  the countries the firm is looking forward to taking the sea cable to. She also said the firm will take services to the oil and gas producing Niger Delta region of the country.

    This, she believed, will significantly improve connectivity services in the Southsouth region and enable oil companies in this region access the internet more effectively by effortlessly interconnecting with their home offices.

    Specifically, Opeke noted the importance of enhanced connectivity of digital oil fields to MainOne’s Tier III Data Center, MDX-I cannot be overemphasised as it would lead to significant cost reduction.

    MainOne offers telecommunications services which include data center, co-location, global video center, metro ethernet, managed services, global internet services and global IP transit. The MainOne Tier III Certified Data Center, MDX-i, is TIA (Telecommunication Industry Association) 942 compliant with 600 rack space and ample work area space.

  • We ‘ll focus on data services, others, says Globacom

    We ‘ll focus on data services, others, says Globacom

    Nigeria’s second national operator, Globacom, has promised to focus on data services, network improvement and rewards its customers in the country this year.

    It said the huge investment it made last year on telecoms equipment swap has helped redefine customers’ experience both on data and voice on its network.

    Its Sales Director, Mr. Ken Hull told The Nation that the major network overhaul that took place last year will not be halted, but would continue into the year.

    He said: “Our network had a major overhaul last year. That will continue throughout 2015. We will continue to expand the network. We will be offering more and more packages, not just with voice, but with data. You know data is really the key to the future. That is a global fact. In really mature markets, in Europe and in the West, data at some stage became the key to bringing in more subscribers. So, there will be a great emphasis on data and of course the network will continue to improve and expand.”

    Hull also said there will be more promos designed specifically to reward loyal customers of the brand. “Like I said earlier, there will be more and more of promos. That is for sure. But on a different note, as I also said before, we will continue to expand the network, to improve the network and to try to bring more subscribers in.

    “Glo has scored first with many of its innovative ideas in telecoms .We will continue to try to be as innovative as we can. We are an indigenous company. It is owned by a Nigerian and because of that I think we have a duty to be even better than our competitors and we will be,” he said, adding that since rolling out 12 years ago, it has always set the pace for others to follow.

    He continued: “We have always been very motivated to be at home with our subscribers after all, Globacom was made by our subscribers. Were it not for our subscribers, we won’t be where we are today so this promo is just one in so many promos we have done to reward them.

    “And as I said earlier, in 2015, you will see even more of life enriching promos all in an attempt to get closer to our subscribers, because after all, they are the key to the success of our success.

    “The point I want to stress here is that when Globacom makes a commitment, we stick by that commitment well and truly. And as you see this morning, the happiness that has been created is fantastic. What a start for the new year for all of these very lucky subscribers and we will continue to do more of that this year.

    “Without the customers, without subscribers, we will not be around. It is very clear that without those customers, Globacom would be nowhere. And so it is a token of our appreciation. We want to keep our customers loyal and so we feel that there are many ways of doing that by making the network good and offering them good service.

    “All these we are striving to achieve and we believe we have achieved. But in addition to that, why not give more in the form of promotions, nice prizes, spread it out to as many subscribers as we can; that is the name of the game and that will continue in 2015.”

  • SystemSpecs boosts cashless with Remita

    SystemSpecs boosts cashless with Remita

    A Nigerian firm, SystemSpecs  Limited, has introduced an electronic collection platform, Remita, to ease money collection.

    According to the firm, Remita is a faster, safer and more convenient way of collecting money for both small and large scale enterprises as well as other collecting organisations.

    Its Managing Director, Mr. John Obaro, who spoke during the launch of the new platform, said the development is in line with the move by the Federal Government to close all revenue accounts of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) with commercial banks, incorporating them into a consolidated revenue fund taking effect from March 1 this year.

    Obaro said  the platform has been able to solve many complexities as regard the payment and collection of money. He said the idea behind Remita is making it  easy for people to pay and for collectors to receive money faster. He said it is opening up practically all bank branches making it easier to pay either with a bank card electronically or online or mobile banking.

    He explained that it is easy to set the e-collection portal up, adding that “for those who do not need full integration, you are ready to start receiving money within one hour and within two days for those that need technical integration.”

    Remita, according to Obaro, is the quickest and easiest way to connect to the  market and has the widest reach, in terms of options available to those who want to pay while signing up to Remita is absolutely free. This makes it friendly for both small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME).

    He said: “We make our money with your payments, your transactions and even at that, we are charging two per cent subject to a maximum of N2000, which is far below the market average,” he said, adding that the charge in the market is up to 3.5 per cent.

    “This feat has, however, been credited to the advanced technology put in place, making it easy to connect with the platform, which in turn takes away the initial connection fee. It requires easy steps to register by visiting remita.net.”

    Also speaking at the briefing in Lagos, its Executive Director, Deremi Atanda outlined the benefits, adding that Remita is bringing to the table a comprehensive package which is aimed at making the collection of payment simple.

  • How to grow SMEs to profitability, by CWG chief

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Mr. Austin Okere has identified three elements that would assure the success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owners in the country.

    Encapsulated in what he termed the “Three Power of Success”, he urged SMEs to ensure that their business visions are driven by the success factors.

    The three power of success include the Way Power, the Will Power and the Wait Power.

    He said: “The three powers are secrets that will keep every entrepreneur going. The Will Power is the competence you possess to run your business. The knowledge of how to run the enterprise you want to venture into.

    “Many people will start a business, create solutions then go about looking for the problems. And when people don’t buy it, they become disappointed. You first ought to be finding out peoples’ problems and pain points then create solutions that ameliorate the pain. This is the best way to ensure patronage.

    “The will power is the resolve to keep going when everyone say give up. Sometimes people close to you will advise you to dump your venture and seek a proper job. But, what should keep you going at such times is your passion. It is the passion of a footballer that makes him complain when he is benched, despite the fact that he will still receive his pay at the end of the day. Your will power makes you go the extra mile, while your passion makes you persist in your venture while waiting for pay day.

    “Most businesses fail because the proprietors abandon them as soon as they face challenges, because it is not yielding as much as they want. After you have put so much effort into your business, you need to patiently wait for the benefits that will accrue from it. This is the essence of the third power; the wait power, which takes you eventually to light at the end of a dark tunnel.”

    On how SMEs can leverage on technology to maximise costs and maximize result, Okere encouraged merchants to explore the opportunities that the CWG 2.0 platform offers. He spoke on Leveraging Technology for SME Growth during the maiden edition of the Annual Fidelity SMEs conference in Lagos.

    He said: “SMERP and Openshopen platforms are designed to meet the peculiar needs of SMEs in Nigeria. Openshopen will give you the visibility your business requires to thrive in this age where businesses are going online, while SMERP will take care of your accounting and generate the records banks such as Fidelity Bank will require from you to access loans. Beyond that, they are reliable and affordable, and are available on a subscription basis.”

    He said the essence of developing the CWG2.0 platform is to democratise the technology that companies such as Jumia and Konga have while used exclusively to great advantage, and make them available to the over 17.7m MSMEs in Nigeria.

    “Seeing the value that this platform shall bring to the SME’s in the country, SMEDAN has signed an MoU with CWG Plc culminating in a partnership that will address the technology needs of the sector,” Austin concluded.