tech news nigeria
Risk Insights and Instinctif Partners Launch Nigeria’s First AI-Powered ESG Rating Tool
Image sourced from Kiguru and Associates. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_6d3.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_6d3.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } ESG (environmental, social and governance) data analytics company, Risk Insights, and Instinctif Partners, a strategic communications company, today announced the launch of ESG GPS Nigeria, the country’s first AI and machine learning ESG rating tool, developed by Africans for Africa. ESG GPS is based on global standards and bespoke to the country’s laws, regulations, and best practices. “ESG GPS uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to process unstructured data with structured financial information to provide a rating to a listed corporate. Risk Insights ESG GPS tool considers voluntary and mandatory disclosure, negative news ...
President Buhari’s Administration Facing Lawsuits Over Twitter Ban
Image sourced from Reuters. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_896.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_896.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } There are at least 2 large-scale pending legal suits that have been filed against the federal government of Nigeria over its controversial 4 June decision to indefinitely suspend access to Twitter in the country. Since the ban, the legality of the government’s decision has been widely questioned, and stakeholders in the civic space have seemingly begun moving to challenge the decision which has sparked national outrage and attracted international media criticism in the weeks since the ban. SERAP Seeks Legal Action /* custom css */ .tdi_3_622.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_622.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The Socio-Economic Rights an...
Nigerian Government Intensifies Internet Control Bid After Twitter Ban
Image sourced from CNN. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_1d7.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_1d7.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has begun ramping up efforts to regulate online media in Nigeria, just two weeks after Twitter was indefinitely banned in the West African country. Now, the federal government has asked that the House of Representatives pass a law that will enable the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to control all forms of internet broadcasting and social media. Many Nigerian users believe that this is but further attempts to stifle the country’s civic space – effectively crippling free speech and public dissent online. Nigeria Govt is asking House of Reps to amend the NBC Act and include “internet broadcasting”. That...
How Nigeria’s Latest Gas-Related Power Crisis Could Have Been Avoided
Image sourced from the Electricity Hub. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_cc8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_cc8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } On 28 May 2021, Nigeria’s national power generation dropped to 3,059 MW and for the subsequent seven days remained below 4,000 MW, 6% below-average production. Low pressure on the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) left several gas turbine power plants with an insufficient gas supply, leading to plant shutdowns and widespread power blackouts. Unlike gas turbine power plants, gas engine power plants have the flexibility to function during low gas pressure events. This flexibility significantly lowers power production risk, a supreme advantage in the context of gas supply disruptions and systemic power shortages. Power cuts in Nigeria are ...
Facebook, Instagram & Other Social Media MUST Register with Nigerian Govt to Continue Operations
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_653.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_653.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } A week after the country indefinitely suspended social media service Twitter, the Nigerian Federal Government has said that any social media giant, including Facebook, Twitter and others must register in the country to continue to be able to do business and operate unhindered. Users who access Twitter against the ban will be prosecuted, the government warned on Wednesday. Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, yesterday also revealed that Twitter has contacted the Nigerian government to begin “high-level discussions” in order to begin operating in the country legally once again. The Minister had disclosed this information while briefing the media after the weekly Fede...
Nigerian Lawmakers to Investigate Government’s Twitter Ban
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_050.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_050.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed a new resolution to investigate the legality of the indefinite suspension of Twitter operations in the country. The investigation was announced on Tuesday. This represents the first major move by the legislative body on the suspension of the social media service. The government’s decision to suspend Twitter has been met with significant criticism from Nigerians. The country’s National Assembly has also been criticised for their perceived silence and inaction on the matter, reports Tech Cabal. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says that the members of the lower chamber have been “inundated with comments about the ...
Nigeria Bans Twitter Indefinitely After It Deleted President Buhari’s Tweet
Image sourced from CNN. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_29d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_29d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Twitter’s operations in Nigeria have been “indefinitely suspended” says the Nigerian government, following an announcement, ironically on Twitter, by the Ministry of Information and Culture. PRESS RELEASE FG Suspends @Twitter Operations in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/7z5BQ0Mi3U — Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) June 4, 2021 “The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria,” the statement reads. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_aaa.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_aaa.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The reason that was given for the ban, via the statement po...
Tech-Driven Agriculture to Boost 50,000 Women and Youth Farmers in Nigeria
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_809.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_809.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Building on its work to boost food security in Nigeria through technology-drivenagricultural services, Thrive Agric has launched a 1-year project to support 50,000 smallholder farmers growing rice, maize, and soybean. This comes as part of Thrive Agric’s commitment to strengthen agricultural value chains in the country, including for these three staple crops. The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) is backing this effort with a $1.75-million co-investment grant. Thrive Agric /* custom css */ .tdi_3_be9.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_be9.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } A natural partner for the Trade Hub, Thrive Agric has already helped...
Google Launches Nonprofits Initiative in Nigeria
Sourced from IOL. Google has launched the “Google for Nonprofits” in Nigeria, aiming to empower NPOs across the country by providing them with free premium services. Google for Nonprofits will give access to a collection of premium apps to organisations that qualify for the program. These will be the same tools used by large enterprises. NPOs will be given the rights to use the tools at no cost. Once qualifying, NPOs can use tools such as Google Ad Grants, G-Suite for Nonprofits, YouTube’s nonprofit programs and more. These premium apps are to assist nonprofits to work more quickly and efficiently. They are to spur more supporters into action, and for them to tell their stories in more compelling ways. Nonprofits can qualify for a grant of up to $10,000 a month that is available for six mo...
Over 1 Billion SMSs Sent since the Beginning of Lockdown in Nigeria
Sourced from allAfrica. Nigeria’s lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the usage of SMSs – the quintessential short message service used all across the world – as subscribers were discovered to have sent over 1-billion messages within the last month. Though this mass of messages was largely free, checks on some operators revealed the rate of how customers made use of the SMS platform to send messages to one another. For instance, a check on MTN showed that within the first five weeks of lockdown, where people all across the country began to work remotely. Over one billion text messages were sent by customers within the first four weeks of the pan-African telecom introducing a new free SMS package – the package allows MTN Nigeria subscribers across the country to send 1...
How Technology Can Help Youth Unemployment in Nigeria
Sourced from Entrepreneur Platform. In the second quarter of 2018, youth unemployment peaked at 38% in Nigeria. Although there are no recent statistics, experts in the labour sector say the figure has surged year-on-year. Now with the worldwide reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has become direr as various sectors of the economy and industries stand greatly threatened including the financial and technology industry in Nigeria. Recently, companies like Andela, a software engineering talent company, laid off 135 of its staff across four locations in Africa including Nigeria. The Vanguard Nigeria reports that some financial institutions and commercial banks have had to also take measures like salary cuts to thwart mass layoffs. Another financial institution, Ren Money, r...
