By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has announced plans to establish a National Design and Development Agency to help innovators refine their concepts, secure funding, and access markets.

The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a visit to Innov8 Hub in Abuja on Monday, noting that the agency will help bridge the gap between local innovation and commercial success by supporting inventors, start-ups, and small-scale manufacturers across the country.

Mr Alausa reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for innovation, noting that the government would continue investing in human capital and entrepreneurial development to secure Nigeria’s future.

He noted that although Nigerians rank among the most creative and talented people globally, many struggle to transform ideas into market-ready products.

“There are so many innovative Nigerians. Our job as government is to meet you halfway and give you the opportunity you need to unleash that potential,” he said.

“We want to move ideas from the bank of concepts to the market,” he said.

Mr Alausa said the new agency would provide a platform for community-informed financing, enabling innovators to submit their ideas for support.

While acknowledging that only a fraction of innovation projects succeed commercially, he stressed that even five to 10 per cent of viable ideas could transform millions of lives.

“Five to ten per cent of ideas, when brought to life, can change millions of lives. What you’re doing here is even more important, you’re focusing on real-life solutions we urgently need,” he said.

The minister also advised innovators to patent their products, stressing the importance of intellectual property and market readiness.

“You need to aggressively move these products to the market, there are unlimited opportunities in Nigeria waiting to be tapped,” he added.

He commended Innov8 Hub for its work in agricultural processing and small-scale manufacturing and urged stronger collaboration between innovators, manufacturers, and financiers to ensure broader market access.

As Africa’s payments ecosystem continues to evolve, contactless technology is emerging as a critical driver of speed, security, and convenience for both consumers and merchants. Leading this transformation is Verve, Africa’s foremost domestic payment card and digital token brand, which is accelerating adoption through its rapidly growing network of contactless solutions.

With over 30 million Verve contactless cards issued to date, the company has made remarkable progress in simplifying everyday payments. Whether at supermarkets, fuel stations, airport terminals, or restaurants, Verve’s contactless cards are enabling faster, more secure transactions across Nigeria and other key African markets.

A standout feature of Verve’s offering is its extensive acceptance footprint. Today, the contactless cards are accepted at about 90% of payment terminals across retail outlets nationwide. This high level of integration not only enhances user convenience but also reflects the strength of Verve’s merchant network and its strategic partnerships with financial institutions and fintech providers.

Verve’s Tap-and-Go solution is engineered to streamline the payment experience while maintaining rigorous security standards. Every transaction is powered in compliance with global security protocols and offering users both protection and ease of use.

The company’s investment in contactless infrastructure is guided by a clear strategy: to reduce payment friction and enhance transaction speed, without compromising security. This includes close collaboration with banks, fintechs, and merchants to enable seamless integration and consistent service delivery across the payment value chain.

In a region where terminal inefficiencies and payment delays can impact business performance, Verve’s approach is already creating measurable value. For merchants, shorter queues and increased transaction throughput improve customer service and operational efficiency. For consumers, faster payments enhance satisfaction and build trust in digital payment channels.

What sets Verve apart is its thoughtful adaptation of technology to local market realities. For example, the requirement for PIN verification after tapping adds an extra layer of security, addressing consumer concerns around fraud and unauthorised transactions. This localization of global standards reflects Verve’s commitment to innovation that is both secure and contextually relevant

Industry analysts project sustained growth in contactless adoption across Africa, driven by mobile-first populations that increasingly demand fast, secure, and reliable transaction experiences. Verve’s early leadership in this space firmly positions it as a key enabler in Africa’s payment transformation journey.

As the company scales its infrastructure and deepens strategic partnerships across markets, Verve remains focused on delivering seamless, secure, and inclusive payment solutions, meeting the rising demand for digital financial services across the continent.

This contactless push is part of a broader innovation strategy, as Verve continues to invest in customer-centric technologies that align with global best practices while addressing the unique needs of African markets.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Companies sending bulk international text messages, also known as Application-to-Person (A2P) messages, will now have apply for a licence that costs N10 million.

This is part of new rules introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) aimed at cleaning up the system, fighting fraud, blocking spam messages and stopping money from leaving the country unchecked.

These A2P messages are the kind customers get from banks, online stores, hospitals and political campaigns, automated texts sent from apps to their phones.

According to the commission, the bulk international text message system has been poorly regulated, allowing misuse and invasion of privacy.

“The International SMS Service Ecosystem in Nigeria has not been fully brought under regulatory control. It has been observed that the excessive use of the Short Message Service has led to fraud, spam and illegal activities,” the NCC said.

The regulator warned that without action, the problem would worsen as more people use mobile phones and digital services.

To solve this, the NCC is creating a central platform, or gateway, through which all international bulk text messages must pass through.

The agency said this would help to monitor messages in real time, ensure proper fees are paid, and make sure the money stays in Nigeria where it can contribute to the economy.

As part of the incoming change, service providers must follow strict rules, including strong data protection, spam filters, and message encryption.

Also, they must also work with local mobile networks and make sure all messages come from a verified sender.

The NCC warned that any message without a proper sender ID will be blocked and not delivered to users.

To protect users from unwanted texts, the new rules say companies must get clear permission before sending any promotional content.

The rule also says people must also be able to choose whether they want to receive such messages or not.

Companies are now required to keep records of all messages for at least six months and must clearly state all charges involved.

The NCC said fees for help requests, cancellations, or service info must be transparent and not include hidden charges.

The commission will issue licences to several providers to encourage healthy competition but may limit new licences if needed. Only companies that show they can stop fraud and safely deliver messages will be allowed to operate. They must also regularly report their message traffic and finances to the NCC.

It warned that any company that breaks the rules risks getting fined, suspended, or having its licence revoked. Offences like charging illegal tariffs, ignoring security rules, or avoiding taxes will be punished, the NCC said.

The commission added that the new rules follow the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023 and support the federal government’s goal of strengthening cybersecurity and controlling Nigeria’s digital space. The framework will also be reviewed from time to time to keep up with new technology and market trends.