Author: Akin Naphtal

Xpress Payment Solutions Limited has named Mr. Wale Olayisade as its Acting Managing Director, , pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Olayisade succeeds Dr. (Mrs.) Markie Idowu, who retired after a five-year tenure leading the company. Olayisade, previously the Executive Director and Chief Information Officer at Xpress Payments, brings 25 years of experience in telecommunications, financial services, and fintech, with expertise in digital transformation. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt holder, he is recognized for aligning business objectives with innovative technology solutions. ALSO READ:ALBERTAZZI OUTLINES BOLD VISION FOR DATA CENTER FUTURE The company’s board congratulated Olayisade, expressing confidence…

Vertiv CEO Giordano Albertazzi delivered a compelling keynote address, unveiling a transformative vision for the future of digital infrastructure, emphasizing integrated systems and strategic partnerships. Speaking at the Datacloud Global Congress 2025, Albertazzi highlighted the need for a holistic approach to data center design. “As a technology provider, we’re not just delivering solutions, we’re revolutionizing how technology is deployed,” he said. Albertazzi stressed that the era of focusing on individual components is over, advocating for integrated systems optimized through prefabrication. This approach, he argued, ensures faster deployment, greater consistency, and enhanced efficiency across data center operations. ALSO READ: NITDA,MICROSOFT DEEPEN…

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, hosted Jeff Bullwinkel, Microsoft’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Corporate, External & Legal Affairs (EMEA), at Corporate Headquarters in Abuja. The high-level meeting aimed to deepen the long-standing partnership between NITDA and Microsoft, aligning with Nigeria’s ambitious digital transformation agenda. The visit underscored Microsoft’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and digital empowerment, offering insights into the evolving collaboration between the tech giant and the Nigerian government. Bullwinkel was joined by Ola Williams, Microsoft’s General Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, and Nonye Ujam, Director…

The Volta Region kicked off a week-long Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop at Adonai University in Ho, as part of Ghana’s national “Girls in ICT” initiative. The program, targeting 100 ICT teachers from across the region, aims to equip educators with advanced digital skills to mentor young women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The opening ceremony on Monday drew regional education officials, Ministry representatives, and partner agencies. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations (MoCDTI), in collaboration with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT…

In a major step toward advancing Nigeria’s digital innovation, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, welcomed Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and a senior delegation to finalize a landmark agreement. The signing establishes the Nigerian AI Scaling Hub, backed by up to $7.5 million in funding and technical expertise from the Gates Foundation. The agreement follows prior discussions between Dr. Tijani, Gates, and young African innovators, where artificial intelligence emerged as a pivotal focus. The new AI Hub will prioritize developing solutions for healthcare, agriculture, and education—sectors critical to…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming from a mere digital assistant into a collaborative colleague, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Speaking at the Snowflake Summit 2025, Altman highlighted the shifting role of AI, suggesting it is poised to unlock new realms of knowledge and reshape workplace dynamics. Altman described how AI agents, such as ChatGPT, are increasingly integrated into workflows, performing tasks akin to those of entry-level employees. “You hear people talk about their job now is to assign work to a bunch of agents, look at the quality, figure out how it fits together, give feedback,” Altman said, drawing…

Vodacom Group has appointed Mohamed Abdallah as the new chief executive officer of Vodacom International Markets and Vodafone Egypt, marking a significant step in the company’s Vision 2030 strategy to streamline operations and drive growth across Africa. Abdallah, previously the CEO of Vodafone Egypt, will now oversee Vodacom’s operations in Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This unified leadership structure aims to enhance operational excellence and deliver on Vodacom’s strategic priorities, the company announced. The CEOs of Vodacom DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania will report directly to Abdallah, who in turn will report to Vodacom…

Heirs Technologies, a key driver of Africa’s digital transformation, is advancing its mission to nurture the continent’s next generation of tech innovators through its i-Academy training program. The company’s Supplementary Technical Engineering Program (STEP) recently organized a transformative visit for trainees to the Cisco Edge Centre, offering hands-on exposure to state-of-the-art cloud networking technologies. The 2025 Cloud and Security Cohort, launched in April, welcomed 100 aspiring engineers selected from over 3,600 applicants across Nigeria. The program, designed to equip young Africans with globally recognized skills, integrates best practices from CompTIA, expert mentorship, and industry-leading certifications. Trainees are positioned to excel…

MTN Nigeria is set to launch a new 1,500-rack, Tier 4 data centre before the end of the current quarter, according to Yahaya Ibrahim, the company’s chief technical officer. The facility, announced in June 2024, is part of MTN’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s ICT infrastructure amid surging demand for data services. Ibrahim said, “Our new data centre is almost complete and is scheduled to go live this quarter. It is part of our broader strategy to support the continued growth of ICT services across the country.” This follows Airtel Nigeria’s groundbreaking for its first data centre in Lagos in March…

Nigerian-based fintech PalmPay has earned top honours as the fastest-growing financial services company in Africa, according to the Financial Times’ prestigious Fastest-Growing Companies in Africa 2025 list. Ranked second overall out of 130 firms, the recognition comes just six years after the company’s launch in 2019. Compiled in partnership with research firm Statista, the ranking spotlights Africa’s most dynamic businesses based on revenue growth, customer adoption, and scale of operations. PalmPay recorded a staggering 583.6% compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2023. With over 35 million registered users and up to 15 million daily transactions, PalmPay has quickly cemented…