Technology
Four Nigerian Techpreneurs Narrate Journey to Success to CNN
By Ahmed Rahma
A global news platform, CNN, has given entrepreneurs in the technology industry in Nigeria an opportunity to showcase what they have to the world.
CNN, through its programme called Inside Africa, profiled some innovators, entrepreneurs, tech trailblazers and artistic visionaries shaping the future of the African continent.
Four start-ups stars; Olatunbosun Tijani, Odun Eweniyi, Chika Madubuko and Joel Kachi Benson, shared their journey into the space on the show.
Tijani, who spoke about his inspiration, hub’s strategy and latest project on the programme, was named one of the 100 Most Influential People on the continent by New Africa Magazine.
The Nigerian-British entrepreneur is the co-founder and CEO of Co-Creation Hub, a pan-African innovation enabler that works at the forefront of accelerating the application of innovation and social capital for a better society.
About his inspiration, he said, “Science and technology can leapfrog development across Africa and there are so many smart people on this continent, we just need to build a platform that will enable them to create.”
Discussing the strategy of the Hub which has partnered with a healthcare logistics company that delivers lifesaving blood, a digital security platform promoting internet safety, and Google-sponsored ‘Pitch Drives’ that help introduce African start-ups to Asia, Tijani said, “I believe that Africa is going to be a lot stronger if we start to see the continent as one.
“How do we leverage the expertise and resources that you may find in a country like Kenya and lay eyes on the creativity and energy that you find in Nigeria?”
Speaking on his latest venture, the STEM café, an imaginative space dedicated solely to children, the brain behind one of Africa’s biggest networks of tech talents said, “I want to help build a generation of people in Africa with a strong belief in science, people that are comfortable in science, that can apply science to change things. So, it’s a maker space for kids.
“It’s a space where we don’t use curriculums. It’s a nonlinear way of teaching so we actually don’t teach but we encourage kids to build.”
Featured next was one of the founders of PiggyVest, a financial technology company that is teaching young people the value of their money, by helping them to save it, Eweniyi.
“PiggyVest is an automated saving and investment platform that helps young Nigerians put aside little amounts of money daily, weekly or monthly towards their targets or their responsibilities and eventually gives them access to micro-investments to get competency returns,” he explained.
According to Eweniyi, PiggyVest now has more than two million registered users despite the impact of COVID-19 on the economy stating that she remains committed to her original the mission of helping people save small in order to achieve big results.
“Whether we’re in a crisis or out of a crisis the mission remains the same, to get them to a place where they are financially free with the power to continue to manage their finances,” she said.
The third techpreneur that was introduced was Madubuko, the co-founder and CEO of Greymate Care.
This healthcare start-up is a pioneer in providing on-demand care in Nigeria and the CEO detailed the concept, narrating that, “Before Greymate Care was launched, you would normally find someone who was a caregiver or an auxiliary nurse signing up with the hospital or an agency, but then they stayed for so long without jobs.
“With Greymate Care they got more jobs quickly, and they got the appropriate jobs that matched the kind of services they could provide.”
Madubuko’s company is one of many start-ups revolutionising the healthcare industry. She speaks about differentiating her product. “I knew we had to be very innovative, we have to make our processes different, we have to differentiate ourselves in the market. We added a training curriculum, which was the best in Africa, training our caregivers to make sure that they can provide adequate care to our service users.
“Running background checks on our caregivers to make sure that service users feel safe letting them through their door.”
Finally, Inside Africa meets documentary filmmaker Benson, the founder and CEO of VR 360 Stories. Benson works as a virtual reality storyteller.
Speaking about his first experience of using a gadget, “I think it was February 2018 that I wore a headset for the first time. And my experience was a Coldplay concert. It was like I was there.
“And I remembered what the guy was trying to tell me two years before about putting viewers in the midst of the action. All I could see was the IDP camps that I’ve been filming in northeast Nigeria, the places that I had been to, and that I felt I did not properly express with my 2D camera. You know, what a tool for storytelling.”
Benson’s 360-degree immersion into the lives of internally displaced people was a first for a Nigerian filmmaker and it influenced another project focusing on the families of the Chibok schoolgirls.
He recalls the aims of the film, “With the Daughters of Chibok, what I wanted to do was to take people to Chibok and show them this reality that was almost unreal. It’s so far away, so distance, we’re so detached from the story. I wanted to put people in that space. But I also wanted to amplify the voices of these women that I saw.”
Nigeria’s techpreneurs are innovators across multiple fields of industry and are putting in the hard work to build businesses that both help and inspire.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A mobile application, MyLagosApp, designed to provide real-time updates on events, entertainment, hospitality, transport services and government-related payments, has been launched by MTN Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
The digital platform was created by the Software Lab in MTN, according to the Chief Information Officer of MTN Nigeria, Shoyinka Shodunke, and is embedded with global security standards and practices with ISO 27001 certification.
At the launch of the app last Thursday, it was emphasised that security was a key priority in the design and development of the app to ensure the protection of user data and secure access to the app’s features and functionalities.
MyLagosApp, currently entitled MyCityApp on the app store, is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms. Users have been encouraged to download it to experience firsthand how urban living in Lagos has been transformed with the app.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, while speaking at the unveiling of the app, reinforced the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced city management and connectivity.
He described it as a demonstration of the administration’s dedication to enhancing the lives of citizens through technological innovation.
“I commend the collaboration between MTN Nigeria and the Lagos State Government, alongside other key stakeholders, for making this vision a reality.
“This partnership is a testament to the power of technology in bridging the gap between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and improve lives.
“The app serves as a vital link between the government and the people, simplifying access to public services, providing real-time updates, and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
“Whether you need to navigate government processes, access essential city services, or stay informed about key developments, MyLagosApp places all the information you need right at your fingertips,” Mr Hamzat said on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
On his part, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “As we embrace the future of e-governance, digital entertainment and commercial innovation, initiatives like this are essential in making Lagos a truly smart city, and we are proud to partner with the Lagos State Government to drive digital transformation and enhance urban living.
“With the launch of MyLagosApp, we are leveraging technology to simplify access to essential services, improve connectivity, and create a smarter, more efficient Lagos for residents and visitors alike.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into the data processing practices of Tiktok and Truecaller, amid growing concerns over potential privacy violations.
This was disclosed, the chief executive of NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, at a press conference in Abuja, where he also announced the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act – General Application and Implementation Directive (NDPC act – GAID 2025).
According to Mr Olatunji, the commission is particularly concerned about how these platforms handle Nigerian users’ personal data, including potential breaches of consent, data sharing with third parties, and overall compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023.
He said the NDPC is actively investigating the data processing activities of Tiktok and Truecaller to ensure their compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws.
He noted that the goal was to safeguard the privacy rights of Nigerians and hold organizations accountable for how they collect, store, and use personal data.
The investigation follows increasing scrutiny of global technology companies over data privacy concerns, particularly regarding how personal information is processed, stored, and transmitted beyond national borders.
The NDPC act – GAID, 2025 provides a comprehensive framework for the implementation of Nigeria’s data protection law, setting out specific guidelines for compliance, enforcement mechanisms, and obligations for both private and public sector organisations.
He emphasized that the directive aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by fostering trust in data governance while ensuring that individuals’ rights to privacy are upheld in line with international best practices.
Mr Olatunji further reiterated that companies operating in Nigeria must align with the country’s data protection regulations or face regulatory actions, including fines and potential restrictions on their operations.
The NDPC has called on the public to report any data privacy violations and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and due process in its investigations.
The agency stated that reporting data breaches have become easier with dedicated channels of reaching out to the commission from its official website.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Google has intensified calls for Nigerian businesses to tap into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as data shows how it is fundamentally transforming consumer behavior and creating unprecedented opportunities.
According to Mr Brendon Kraham, Vice President of Search and Commerce, Global Ads Solutions, the numbers show that Google products around the intersection of searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping can help position businesses for growth.
Amid Nigeria’s economic challenges, technology is proving to be a pathway to drive brand awareness that resort to action.
“We’re observing a significant evolution in how people interact with technology and brands. This evolution is driven by AI and characterized by a multi-modal consumer journey, where searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping seamlessly intertwine,” Mr Kraham stated.
He added that AI is now powering businesses when it comes to modern search and advertising with Google’s AI Overviews, powered by Gemini, demonstrating how AI can provide richer, more conversational answers, leading to increased user engagement and exploration.
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