The Nation Newspaper

Category: Technology

  • Vivatech 2025: Kwara steps boldly onto the global innovation stage

    Vivatech 2025: Kwara steps boldly onto the global innovation stage

    • Ibraheem Abdullateef 

    To build a thriving, future-ready economy and harness the boundless potential of our young creative minds in Kwara State, we must go beyond igniting local innovation. Our state must be well positioned for global opportunities. This exactly is the bold vision being pursued by the Kwara State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The vision was on display at the recently concluded Vivatech 2025 in Paris.

    For the first time in history, Nigeria had an official and impressive presence at VivaTech, Europe’s largest technology and innovation gathering. We didn’t just show up; we made a bold statement. Our pavilion was the largest by any African nation at the event.

    About 17 Nigerian startups in various sectors, including fintech, edtech, healthtech, deeptech, and more, showcased our nation’s ingenuity, resilience, and entrepreneurial excellence. Among the represented entities was Kwara State, part of the national delegation, recognized for its rising profile in digital innovation and public sector-driven tech enablement.

    Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovations, Mr. Ishola Kayode, represented Kwara at the global event where he shared Kwara’s strides in digital innovation. From highlighting the Ilorin Innovation Hub, to sharing insights about Nigeria’s largest public school digital literacy program currently being implemented across Kwara, he emphasised that Kwara is open to innovation, partnership, and investment.

    VivaTech 2025 offered an opportunity for Kwara to engage directly with investors, innovators, global tech firms, and government representatives from around the world. The event, which attracted over 180,000 participants from 120+ countries, served as an ideal platform to position Ilorin — recently ranked the 885th startup city globally — as a rising star in Africa’s innovation landscape.

    Mr. Ishola Kayode also participated in a panel discussion on “Public Policy: Shaping Societies through Technology,” where he emphasized the Kwara model — a people-centric, government-enabled approach to building inclusive innovation ecosystems in emerging economies.

    He also visited several national pavilions, held conversations with global stakeholders, and extended invitations to explore the rapidly developing tech scene in Kwara.

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    We thank His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to building a Kwara that thrives on innovation, digital opportunity, and global collaboration. With his leadership, Kwara is fast becoming a top destination for innovation in Nigeria and beyond.

    This recognition and inclusion would not have been possible without the support of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, ably led by Dr. Bosun Tijani, whose efforts to coordinate and spotlight Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem at global gatherings like VivaTech are commendable. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Honourable Minister and his team for supporting sub-national innovation efforts and enabling states like Kwara to be seen and heard on global platforms.

    As the world continues to take notice of what we are building, we reiterate that Kwara is open for collaboration. Our startup ecosystem is alive and vibrant, fueled by talent, purpose, and policy.

    #VivaNigeria #VivaTech2025 #KwaraInnovation #IlorinRising #DigitalKwara

    Abdullateef is Senior Special Assistant on Communication to Kwara Governor

  • King of CMS Consulting empowers African youth through digital learning platforms

    King of CMS Consulting empowers African youth through digital learning platforms

    King of CMS Consulting is empowering a new generation of African youth through digital education platforms designed to equip learners with globally relevant skills and reconnect them with their cultural roots.

    The technology solutions firm is championing two major initiatives, including FiguresHub Africa and KStudy Learning, as part of its broader mission to bridge the continent’s digital divide.

    In a statement, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Wale Ketiku, said the platforms were developed to provide not only technical training but also mentorship and long-term impact.

    According to Ketiku, the vision behind the projects is to create accessible, future-focused education that addresses both professional and cultural needs.

    “We’re not just teaching skills; we’re creating pathways to meaningful opportunities. Through FiguresHub Africa, we’ve seen thousands of learners transition from having little or no tech background to landing roles in global tech companies, freelancing, or launching their own ventures,” he said.

    He explained that FiguresHub Africa targets young adults and early-career professionals across the continent, offering training in high-demand fields such as Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Full-Stack Development.

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    He also said the platform follows a hybrid model, combining structured online courses with access to physical learning hubs where students benefit from electricity, internet access, and direct mentorship.

    Ketiku stressed that intentional investment in education is key to unlocking Africa’s digital potential.

    “With the right tools and support, African youth can lead not only their own futures but also the future of the global digital economy. We’re committed to giving them access to the support they need, starting with education.”

    While continuing to serve small and mid-sized enterprises with digital transformation tools, the firm’s CEO said they remain committed to using technology as a vehicle for social impact.

    Ketiku added that the company now plans to scale its educational outreach by expanding training hubs, forming strategic partnerships, and collaborating with corporate and public institutions across Africa.

  • Zoho unveils Zia Hubs to harness insights from unstructured business data

    Zoho unveils Zia Hubs to harness insights from unstructured business data

    Zoho, a global technology company, today launched Zia Hubs, a solution within Zoho WorkDrive that brings new forms of unstructured business data into the company’s broad portfolio of applications and AI services. Using Zia Hubs, organisations can now present any type of business content to Zoho’s powerful capabilities and services—including agentic AI, comprehensive analysis, and accurate, unified search—regardless of file format or structure.

    “According to IDC, 80 percent of business data is unstructured,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria. “Most unstructured data is text-based, meaning pertinent information lives within email conversations, social media posts, word processor documents, or audio and video transcripts. With Zia Hubs built into the full product suite, Zoho can provide customers with a deeper integration than any comparable software platform and nearly limitless potential uses for their data.”

    Deeper Intelligence Accessing More Customer Data

    Launching as part of Zoho WorkDrive, Zia Hubs brings content intelligence to the company’s unified content management and collaboration platform. Designed with a high level of user control over what content AI is allowed to access, Zia Hubs enables users to organise project or task-specific content into dedicated hubs within WorkDrive. Each hub serves as a focused space where Zia, Zoho’s flagship AI, can understand and act on the content stored within. This includes a wide range of formats such as PDFs, documents, videos, and audio files.

    Zia Hubs automatically organises uploaded content by grouping related information—such as section headings, supporting text, and visuals—to preserve context. For video and audio files, Zia generates transcripts and links key moments to relevant topics, making it easier to pinpoint exactly where something was said.

    With Zia Hubs, users can surface the most relevant answers when asked a question, even across different content formats. Each response includes clear citations that link back to the original content, whether it is a document, spreadsheet, image, or a specific moment in an audio or video file.

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    Organisations can also create custom workflows with Zoho Flow, automating document storage processes for particular projects or specific teams. This ensures that Zia always has access to the latest necessary documents automatically.

    Furthermore, content from third-party software—such as Docusign PDFs, RingCentral call logs, Zoom video files—are all readable by Zia, and can be automatically placed into a hub by building a workflow with Zoho Flow.

    From Intelligent Content to Intelligent Action with Zia

    Zia Hubs is a foundational element of Zoho’s long-term AI strategy. It lays the groundwork for a future where intelligent agents can act contextually on content across the company’s entire product suite. With full ownership of its technology stack spanning more than 55 products, Zoho is uniquely positioned to help organisations unlock deeper value from their business content compared to competitors.

    Potential use cases for Zia Hubs include: a legal team’s content hub hosting a case’s relevant files: court files, correspondence, and research, allowing a lawyer to have Zia provide summaries with citations without having to manually scan lengthy files to gain insights; a company’s support center placing call logs into a hub, then querying Zia to identify trends, like, “Have we received an increase in calls regarding specific issues?”

    Future updates to Zia Hubs will enable it to identify structured information within unstructured files and trigger specialised agents tailored to specific business needs. This will further establish Zia Hubs as the central content intelligence layer that activates AI-native workflows across the full Zoho ecosystem.

  • Lagos holds stakeholders forum on Innovation Bill

    Lagos holds stakeholders forum on Innovation Bill

    The Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST) has held another stakeholder engagement session on the Lagos Innovation Bill. The session, which took place at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, was attended by a cross-section of critical stakeholders from the technology and innovation ecosystem.

    The event marked a continuation of a broader series of engagements that the Ministry has hosted over time to co-create the Bill which seeks to provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to power the development of science, technology, and innovation in Lagos. At this latest session, the Ministry presented a refined draft of the bill to key actors across the ecosystem, opening the floor for dialogue, critique, and suggestions as part of an inclusive process to ensure the bill is not only fit for purpose but also owned by the community it intends to serve.

    Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, who delivered the keynote, provided both historical and philosophical context to the bill. Citing global case studies—including the evolution of Silicon Valley—he explained that Lagos must adopt a structured, intentional approach to innovation that moves beyond pilot projects and scattered initiatives.

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    “If we are serious about building an innovation economy, then we must create systems that allow ideas to become inventions, inventions to become startups, and startups to scale into global businesses. That pipeline must be enabled by law,” Alake stated.

    He added that following up on the Nigerian Startup Act, the Bill seeks to additionally cover the full spectrum of the innovation pipeline, including the universities, industries etc.

    “This bill goes beyond startups. It covers knowledge institutions, research and development, digital infrastructure, innovation funding, and the legal frameworks to protect ideas and attract investment. It is our attempt to design a Lagos-specific framework that can scale innovation and institutionalize progress,” he said.

    Alake said the proposed law is designed to catalyze inclusive growth by ensuring that innovation is not limited to elite enclaves or big tech companies but reaches students, grassroots innovators, and underserved communities. “If innovation is to be meaningful, it must be democratized. That means providing access, funding, training, and regulatory support to everyone—from the university researcher in Epe to the agritech startup in Ikorodu. That’s what this bill aims to do,” he said.

    Welcoming participants to the session, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu said the government’s commitment to participatory policy development and urged stakeholders to provide specific, actionable input: “This session is not just about telling you what the bill says. It is about asking you: does this work for your context? Will this structure enable innovation, or will it stifle it? We believe policy must be driven by those who live in the ecosystem. You are the people who understand the bottlenecks, the regulatory frictions, and the investment gaps. That’s why we are here—not just to talk, but to listen, learn, and improve,” she said.

    Mrs. Kasunmu said the Bill is envisioned as a foundational law that will support the state’s ambition to become Africa’s undisputed innovation capital, complementing the Nigeria Startup Act at the federal level while addressing the specific dynamics and needs of Lagos’ fast-evolving tech and knowledge economy.

    Founder of Tech for Tech, Joel Ogunshola, praised the Ministry for its sustained engagement on the bill and described the initiative as “visionary and timely.”

    “What Lagos is trying to do with this bill is not to reinvent the wheel. Rather, it is to customize the wheel so that it actually works on our roads. This is not just a tech bill; it is an economic growth framework. It’s about unlocking prosperity, innovation, and talent at a scale we’ve never seen before,” Ogunshola said.

    He highlighted the limitations of national policies that often fail to reflect local realities and argued that sub-national legislation is essential to bridge the gap between ambition and execution. Ogunshola added that the bill presents a critical opportunity to enshrine legal protections and incentives that support not just startups, but also researchers, capital providers, and innovation enablers.

    Following the commissioner’s keynote, legal practitioner and adviser to the Ministry, Mr. Alex Adedipe, took stakeholders through the key sections of the draft bill. The engagement then transitioned into breakout sessions, with attendees divided into clusters. Each group analyzed relevant sections of the bill and submitted feedback, which was collated and presented during the plenary.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Broadband and Technology, Ganiyu Oseni, expressed the government’s appreciation for the active participation and high-quality feedback received from the session. He reiterated the state’s commitment to ensuring that the final draft of the bill reflects the collective wisdom of the ecosystem and assured stakeholders that more engagements will follow as the bill moves closer to legislative approval.

  • ECN DG/CEO leads strategic visit to Schneider Electric net zero complex in France

    ECN DG/CEO leads strategic visit to Schneider Electric net zero complex in France

    In a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s global energy alliances, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr Mustapha Abdullahi undertook a high-level strategic visit to Schneider Electric’s state-of-the-art facilities in Grenoble, southern France.

    The visit, facilitated by Mr. Ajibola Akindele MFR, Country President of Schneider Electric West Africa, represents a deepening of collaboration between Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management, and Nigeria’s apex energy policy institution.

    Accompanying the ECN DG was Prince Ade Omole, a prominent Nigerian Diaspora leader and a key driver of foreign direct investment into Nigeria.

    His involvement affirms the Federal Government’s commitment to forging strong, innovation-led partnerships with international stakeholders to accelerate progress in Nigeria’s energy sector.

    The Nigerian delegation was warmly received by Mr. Thomas Bonicel, Director of Access to Energy at Schneider Electric.

    The team was given a comprehensive tour of the Schneider Electric IntenCity complex, ranked the third-best net-zero energy building globally.

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    During the visit, Ms. Gaelle Gabard, Customer Experience Director, delivered an insightful presentation detailing the conception, construction, and ongoing management of the IntenCity facility, an inspiring benchmark for the proposed ECN “Energy House” project in Nigeria.

    The engagement reaffirmed Schneider Electric’s dedication to supporting Nigeria in overcoming its energy challenges and advancing the country’s energy transition goals. Both parties reiterated their shared commitment to enhancing energy access, integrating renewable energy technologies, and deploying intelligent energy management systems tailored to Nigeria’s unique needs.

    Abdullahi praised Schneider Electric for its cutting-edge innovations and global expertise, noting that this collaboration will significantly support Nigeria’s development priorities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. He emphasised the ECN’s objective to align national energy planning with international best practices while strengthening local capacity to meet the country’s growing energy demands.

    This strategic visit signals renewed momentum in Nigeria’s energy diplomacy and highlights the importance of transformative technical partnerships that are critical to reshaping the nation’s energy future and enhancing the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.

  • 5,000 young Nigerians to benefit from digital skills training initiative

    5,000 young Nigerians to benefit from digital skills training initiative

    In a significant move to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap, two leading organizations have announced a partnership to train 5,000 young Nigerians in vital technology and digital fields. The initiative, a collaboration between digital marketing agency Pulseford and bill payment platform Otapay, aims to equip the next generation with practical skills needed for success in the digital economy.

    The program, launching in July 2025 through Pulseford Business School, will provide hands-on training in areas such as digital marketing, branding, website development, data science, cybersecurity, and content creation.

    With up to 93% of tuition costs covered by Otapay, the flagship Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing will be offered at a reduced fee of ₦38,500, down from ₦550,000. This substantial scholarship is expected to make the training accessible to youths from diverse backgrounds, particularly those in underserved communities.

    Classes will be available in major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Ibadan, as well as virtually for remote learners. The curriculum is designed around real-world projects and industry mentorship, ensuring that participants graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Graduates will receive globally recognized certifications and complete live projects as part of their final assessments.

    Pulseford Business School, which has already trained over 500 students across 15 countries, is known for its flexible online and hybrid programs. The school’s alumni include entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote professionals who are now thriving in the digital economy.

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    According to Ikechukwu Mbadiwe, founder of Pulseford, the initiative is about more than just education. “We don’t just run ads, we engineer growth. Our mission is to position African businesses at the forefront of the global digital economy,” he said. Otapay, which allocates 15% of its profits to education, health, and tech development initiatives, emphasized its commitment to supporting youth empowerment and digital inclusion across Nigeria.

    With applications now open, the program is expected to attract thousands of young Nigerians eager to gain the skills needed to compete in an increasingly digital world.

    Organizers say the initiative is a significant step toward closing the country’s digital skills gap and fostering national development through technology.

  • LGW returns with bold theme, to explore $184b global video games market

    LGW returns with bold theme, to explore $184b global video games market

    AS global attention turns to emerging markets for the next wave of growth in creative and digital industries, Nigeria is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s video games ambitions. 

     Lagos Games Week is returning for its second edition from 19 – 21 June 2025 under the headline theme: “African Talent, Global Markets – Play Without Borders”, signalling the continent’s intent to compete more aggressively in the $184bn global video games market.

    At the core of its ambition is a bold goal, to catalyse the emergence of African studios and adjacent businesses capable of generating $100 million in annual revenue within the next five years, driven by local market creation, cross-border trade, global publishing deals and long-term talent development.

    Structured around a pragmatic, industry-first agenda, this year’s programming moves to spotlight market access, outsourcing, IP ownership, and export readiness. Tracks include, The Craft (making games), Origin Story (how we made it), Culture Shapers, Investment & Financing, Trade & Business Development, Games for Good, and Emerging Technologies in Games, with a focus on AI and immersive media.

    The event, backed by the French Embassy in Nigeria, also features participation from leading global organisations such as Ubisoft, Ustwo games, Digital Schoolhouse together with Nintendo, and Minecraft Global Partner, Endorah to name a few, a sign of rising international interest in the African market. 

    “Africa has original creative voices,” said Christophe PECOT, regional audiovisual attaché, Embassy of France in Nigeria, “Video games can become a thriving cultural export and economic lever. Our partnership with Lagos Games Week reflects our commitment to building shared creative prosperity.”

    Africa’s video games ecosystem has evolved rapidly over the past decade, supported by improved internet access, affordable smartphones, and a burgeoning youth population, yet while consumer demand has soared, industry infrastructure has lagged behind. Lagos Games Week aims to advocate to fill that gap.

     “To play in a global marketplace, we have to be Game Ready as an industry,” said Bukola Akingbade, founder of Kucheza Gaming and convener of Lagos Games Week. “Being game ready requires skill, capacity, infrastructure and investment.”

    One of the standout players and advisors at Lagos Games Week is Maliyo Games, a Lagos-based studio with a growing catalogue of mobile games rooted in African experiences. Its founder, Hugo Obi, sees Lagos Games Week as an inflection point for the industry.

     “For too long, African game developers have operated on the periphery of global gaming,” Obi said. “This is changing. What we need now are scalable platforms, long-term investment and trade-focused dialogues like the one Lagos Games Week is fostering.”

    In many ways, this reflects a broader strategic shift happening across African creative sectors, from music to film to fashion towards owning IP, scaling regionally, and monetising globally. For games, the implications are far more commercial, the chance to develop a new pillar of the continent’s digital economy. Both as producers and consumer markets for global partners.

    If successful, Lagos Games Week’s long-term legacy may not be an annual event, but the creation of a pipeline of globally competitive African studios, capable of contributing to both local employment and global culture with Lagos as their launchpad.

  • GSMA, mobile industry push for stronger child online protection in Africa

    GSMA, mobile industry push for stronger child online protection in Africa

    As Africa’s digital landscape continues to expand rapidly, the GSMA, a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide in partnership with the mobile industry, is making a strong call for collective action to safeguard children online.

    On June 16, 2025, the GSMA released a pivotal whitepaper titled Enhancing Child Online Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa, presenting key recommendations for policymakers, regulators, tech companies, and civil society actors to create a safer digital ecosystem for the continent’s youth.

    The paper builds on insights from a high-level roundtable held during the Ministerial Programme at MWC25 Barcelona and emphasizes the increasing urgency to protect children in a mobile-first region. With more young Africans gaining internet access—often via mobile devices—the risks of cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and online exploitation are rising sharply.

    “Protecting children online is a responsibility shared across governments, industry, civil society, and families,” said Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA. “By working together, we can ensure the digital environment becomes a place of opportunity — not risk — for Africa’s children.”

    Backed by principles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the whitepaper stresses that child protection efforts must be integrated into the region’s broader digital transformation strategies. While mobile technology holds immense potential to advance education, development, and connection, the GSMA warns that the same tools must be leveraged more effectively to protect young users.

    The whitepaper outlines four key recommendations including embedding child- and youth-centered approaches in digital policy and programming, aligning national child protection frameworks with the African Union’s child online safety and empowerment strategy.

    Others include expanding digital literacy and awareness among children, parents, and educators and fostering stronger public-private partnerships to scale effective tools, resources, and support systems.

    This initiative also draws on data and regional research, including IPSOS findings commissioned by MTN Group and compelling youth voices such as that of Jemima Kasongo, a 19-year-old advocate from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who opened the Barcelona roundtable with a passionate plea for action.

    UNICEF is a key partner in this effort. Nankali Maksud, UNICEF’s Regional Advisor for Child Protection in Eastern and Southern Africa, emphasised that “protecting [children’s] safety online is not only about safeguarding rights but about investing in Africa’s human capital and future leadership.” UNICEF and GSMA will jointly lead a new regional task force to implement the whitepaper’s recommendations.

    This new publication also builds upon the 2019 GSMA-UNICEF report Enhancing Children’s Lives through Mobile, reaffirming the GSMA’s long-standing commitment to child rights in the digital space. On a broader scale, GSMA initiatives such as the Mobile Alliance to Combat Digital Child Sexual Exploitation reflect a global push to ensure safer online environments for children.

    Ultimately, the GSMA is urging all stakeholders across Africa to engage with the recommendations, amplify youth voices, and take decisive steps toward a safer, more inclusive digital future for every child on the continent. Championing Economic Development: Segilola Resources Commissions New Palace, Launches Youth Empowerment Scheme in Osun State

    Segilola Resources Operating Limited, Nigeria’s first large-scale gold mining company and a subsidiary of Thor Explorations Ltd, has commissioned a newly constructed royal palace in Imogbara and officially launched a youth empowerment scheme in Imogbara and Iperindo. These initiatives are part of the company’s Community Development Agreement (CDA) commitments, underscoring its dedication to sustainable development, cultural preservation, and inclusive impact within its areas of operation.

    The newly completed palace is a significant contribution to Imogbara’s cultural heritage. Designed and built in close collaboration with the community, the structure reflects the pride, history and leadership of the people, while offering a functional and dignified seat for traditional governance.

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    In addition to the palace, Segilola Resources has rolled out a dedicated Youth Empowerment Scheme to tackle unemployment and foster economic independence among young people. Through this initiative, the company is providing commercial mini-buses—popularly known as Korope— to the host communities (three to Imogbara and three to Iperindo), enabling them to generate a sustainable source of income through transport services, while also strengthening the local economy.

    Speaking at the commissioning, Ms. Madhurii Sakar-Amoda, Community Development and Stakeholder Manager at SROL, stated, “At Segilola, development is not something we do to communities; it is something we build with them. Our work is anchored in partnership, guided by respect, and focused on creating value that lasts. Community engagement is not an add-on — it is central to our purpose and informs every decision we make. “

    “The new palace represents more than just a structure. It is a proud symbol of cultural heritage and resilient leadership. Similarly, the Youth Empowerment Scheme goes beyond providing buses. It is about restoring dignity, inspiring ambition, and unlocking economic potential for the next generation.”

    “For us, mining should leave more than just footprints. It should leave a legacy of opportunity, inclusion, and meaningful transformation,” she concluded.

    Further strengthening infrastructure in the area, Segilola Resources also announced the completion of a 2.4-kilometre interlocking road linking Imogbara to Odo Ijesa, enhancing mobility, access, and economic integration for residents.

    Through initiatives like this, Segilola Resources continues to demonstrate what responsible mining can achieve—development that is people-focused, community-led, and designed to last.

  • AI educator Achi unveils free youth programme after receiving doctoral fellowship

    AI educator Achi unveils free youth programme after receiving doctoral fellowship

    Renowned AI educator and communications strategist, Celestine Achi, has announced the launch of a Free AI Education Platform for Kids and a continent-wide AI Capacity-Building Programme for secondary schools.

    The initiative is aimed at equipping African children with future-ready skills in artificial intelligence and digital fluency.

    Achi made the announcement shortly after being conferred with the distinguished title of Doctoral Fellow (Dr. FAIMFIN) by the Artificial Intelligence Management & Finance Institute (AIMFIN) during its Executive Leadership Summit.

    The event, held to recognise exceptional contributors to AI in Business, Finance, and Management across Africa, brought together leading scholars, innovators, and technology experts from across the continent.

    Describing the initiative as “A Father’s Gift to the African Child,” Dr. Achi said the program is a response to the urgent need to democratize access to AI knowledge among Africa’s youth. “This honour is not just a recognition of past work—it is a call to do more. I am deeply committed to preparing the next generation of Africans for the digital economy,” he said.

    The conferment ceremony was marked by a symbolic moment in which Dr. Achi received his certificate from Prof. Tokunbo Akeredolu-Ale, Director of Academics at AIMFIN, with Prof. Constantine Imafidontongo, Vice President of AIMFIN, in attendance.

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    Dr. Achi is the Founder of Cihan Media Communications and Cihan Digital Academy, institutions focused on digital transformation and strategic communications in Africa.

    He is also the author of the recently released book, AI-Powered PR: The Essential Guide for Communications Leaders to Master Artificial Intelligence, which is fast becoming a go-to resource in media and communications institutions across the continent.

    The dual milestone, his elevation as a Doctoral Fellow and the rollout of a continental AI learning initiative, places Achi at the forefront of Africa’s efforts to integrate AI into education and youth development.

    His work underscores the transformative potential of technology when driven by vision, purpose, and inclusive access.

  • NigComSat’s second phase of accelerator for July 18

    NigComSat’s second phase of accelerator for July 18

    The second phase of the  Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) Ltd Accelerator Programme will take place on July 18 in Abuja, it was learnt  yesterday.

    NigComSat said the first phase attracted 281 applications with 35 Startups selected to advance to the final stage in October.

    It said the initiative was designed to support startups leveraging satellite and space-related technologies to address both local and global challenges across key sectors.

    The programme had the theme: “Innovation in Orbit: Empowering the Next Generation of Space-Tech Entrepreneurs.”

    According to its Head of Corporate Affairs, Aisha Bantam, the 2025 cohort would focus on catalysing innovation in agriculture, healthcare, climate resilience, education, robotics, logistics, and digital infrastructure.

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    Aisha said in a statement that the programme  was aimed at  fostering collaboration among industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, propelling Nigeria’s digital economy into a new era.

    She also noted the increased participation of female-led startups, reflecting NigComSat strong commitment to gender inclusion and empowering women in science, technology and innovation.

    On the programme, the Managing Director and CEO of NigComSat, Mrs. Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, highlighted the programme’s strategic importance, asserting that “placing space technology in the hands of Nigeria’s brightest innovators is a bold step towards sustainable national development.”

    “ This accelerator is not only a platform for nurturing viable tech solutions but also a catalyst for redefining Nigeria’s role in the global space economy,” she stated.

    She  explained that the programme would officially begin with onboarding on June 20, followed by an intensive series of capacity-building workshops, mentorship sessions, product refinement and business development activities, culminating in investor matchmaking opportunities.

    A major highlight would be the Demo Day in October, where selected startups would pitch their solutions to a diverse audience of investors, policymakers, and global stakeholders—offering a critical platform for visibility, partnerships, and potential funding.

    The Programme is implemented in collaboration with strategic partners, including the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), private sector experts, investors, and innovation ecosystem builders, she said.