By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government has released a set of cybersecurity guidelines to enhance digital safety for businesses, public institutions, and residents in the state, which is home to thousands of enterprises.

A statement by the State’s Commissioner, Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, noted that the development represents another decisive step in Lagos’ mission to become a secure and globally competitive digital hub.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) estimates that Nigeria loses over $500 million (approximately N250 billion) annually to cybercrime, underscoring the urgency for stronger, coordinated security measures.

Lagos’s rapid evolution into a SMART City heightens vulnerability to cyber threats, Omotosho noted, adding that the newly issued guidelines outline clear, practical, and scalable cybersecurity best practices for small businesses, medium and large enterprises, and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

They are aligned with key national frameworks, including the Cybercrime Act (2024), the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023), and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (2021).

According to the guidelines, these recommendations are not regulatory mandates but tools designed to empower stakeholders with practical, context-specific guidance.

The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a secure digital environment that promotes innovation, investment, and public trust.

“The guidelines further strengthen Lagos State’s leadership in advancing digital trust and building a resilient, future-ready digital economy.

“The Government praised the Lagos State Cybersecurity Advisory Council, chaired by Prof. Fene Osakwe, for its strategic leadership and technical expertise in developing the framework.

“The release of these guidelines underscores Lagos State’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding digital assets, enhancing public-private collaboration, and ensuring that every organisation—from sole proprietorships to multinational corporations—can operate confidently in a secure digital environment.

“As the document highlights, A cybersecure Lagos is essential for sustaining its position as one of the most dynamic and globally competitive tech hubs of the 21st century”, the statement added.

The Lagos State Government said it will continue to refine and expand the guidelines to address emerging threats and evolving technologies, ensuring that cybersecurity remains a foundational pillar of the State’s digital transformation.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The urgent need to bridge the digital gap for female entrepreneurs has again been emphasised by the Country Head of Zoho Nigeria, Mr Kehinde Ogundare.

Speaking at the Guardian Woman Festival held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos recently, Mr Ogundare stressed that technology does not replace the strengths women already bring to business, such as relationship building and community engagement, but instead, it amplifies them, enabling entrepreneurs to reach wider audiences and scale more efficiently.

“The difference is not talent. Not capital. Not ambition. It is digital adoption,” he said during his keynote address titled Give Value, Gain Growth: Women Driving Reciprocal Innovation in the Digital Economy.

“Smart tools create smart businesses. Smart businesses create strong economies. When women entrepreneurs and leaders have access to the right tools, the possibilities for growth are limitless,” he added.

Zoho Nigeria partnered with Guardian Newspapers for the event as part of activities to mark a month-long initiative celebrating women’s contributions to business, governance, and social development while promoting digital empowerment for female entrepreneurs.

The Guardian Women Festival, themed Reciprocity, was to encourage the exchange of value, networks, and digital innovation to strengthen women-led businesses and foster collaboration.

While Nigeria has the highest concentration of women-owned businesses in Africa, fewer than 30 per cent currently use digital tools to manage or grow their operations.

During the festival’s panel session tagged Women in the Business of Digital Innovation, the Sales Manager for Zoho Nigeria, Ms Zubaida Aliyu, highlighted how women are uniquely positioned to create shared value in digital spaces by building platforms that encourage knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaboration.

She also challenged organisations that continue to view women’s digital inclusion primarily as corporate social responsibility rather than a strategic business priority.

“Tech creates a level playing field,” Ms Aliyu said, noting that digital platforms remove limitations related to location and infrastructure size.

Addressing organisations that overlook the economic value of inclusive digital strategies, she added, “They are leaving money on the table — they need to think of it as a strategy, not charity.”

Through its participation in the Guardian Woman Festival, Zoho reaffirmed its commitment to providing affordable and accessible enterprise-grade technology to businesses of all sizes. By helping women transition from manual effort to digital efficiency, Zoho aims to support entrepreneurs in building scalable enterprises and ensure their sustained success in Africa’s digital economy.

By Dipo Olowookere

The Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for MTN Nigeria, Mr Babalola Oyeleye, has disclosed that the telecommunications company intends to expand its infrastructure to give its customers quality service.

The demand for connectivity in Nigeria is growing, and with a new forecast predicting the Internet of Things (IoT) market to reach $38.7 billion by 2030, stakeholders, especially operators, are already positioning themselves to dominate the space

Government and private sector investments in digital transformation have created an ecosystem that includes system integrators and security specialists. Industries such as utilities and agriculture are leading the charge, adopting IoT to solve localised problems like power theft and low crop yields.

Currently, 4G coverage has reached approximately 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population, with 5G services already in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. This connectivity backbone is essential for the low-latency communication required by millions of connected devices.

“Reaching the $38.7 billion mark isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about the millions of data points helping Nigerian SMEs and large corporations make smarter decisions every day. Our goal is to ensure the connectivity is there to meet this soaring demand,” Mr Oyeleye noted.

As the ecosystem matures, the focus is shifting toward all-in-one solutions that simplify the user experience. With ongoing investments in NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) and other low-power connectivity options, the next five years are set to see an explosion in smart city and smart home applications across the country.