Technology
Lagos Ready to Host GITEX 2025—Hamzat
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Government has expressed readiness to host the GITEX Nigeria conference in September 2025.
The event which is currently ongoing in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, is scheduled to be held in Nigeria next year, with Lagos as the destination of choice.
According to the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, who led a team to this year’s event, “bringing GITEX to Lagos is very good, and it will allow even other countries to see what is possible.”
Mr Hamzat said this during a meeting with Ms Trixie LohMirmand, the Chief Executive Officer of Kaoun International, and her management team in the Lagos Pavilion in Dubai.
He noted that the Lagos State Government and indeed the entire technology ecosystem in Nigeria would be very receptive to the coming of the global tech show to the country, especially Lagos State, where tech and innovation have found a good ground in Africa.
“Another great thing that we’ve discovered is that the number of young entrepreneurs in Lagos State is unbelievable, and as you said, we can’t bring everybody here to Dubai.”
The Deputy Governor stated that there could not have been a better time for the tech world to make its presence felt in Africa, particularly Nigeria, than now, when the country is experiencing an upsurge in the growth of talents in technology and innovation.
Mr Hamzat said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration was deliberate in its decision to make technology drive more of the State’s development programmes.
“Lagos, for example, does what we call Art of Technology (AOT), which is now in its fifth year. With the AOT, a lot of young entrepreneurs in the IT and innovation space have been discovered, and many of them are now running as businesses, with its attendant effect on our economy and the entire ecosystem.”
The Deputy Governor added that the young innovators in Lagos are already creating real solutions, saying their creations are solving real-life problems and are helping their immediate families, friends, and communities.
“There are 10-year-old, 12-year-old children that all they do is coding because they want to help their parents sell their products and services. For example, young innovators whose parents are fishermen or fish sellers. The parents are probably petty traders. But these primary and secondary school pupils sit down, and do the codes to help their parents sell, and people come all over the place to buy. The parents are surprised to see the massive turnout of customers at their stalls—that is the power of technology and innovation, and as a state government, we are more than happy to host an event of this nature that would help to connect these talents that we have in abundance to the countless opportunities out here.
“We have pockets of knowledge in our state. The question for us is, how do we explode it, how do we actually make it out there, and then allow people to benefit? The creators also need to benefit from their thinking. So, I hope that GITEX Nigeria can do that for us when you can bring all these young people from different areas.
“I know it’s technology, but how do we take it to entertainment? Entertainment is big in Nigeria; the creative industry is the next oil as far as we are concerned, and that is why we are investing heavily in that sector,” Hamzat said.
On her part, Ms LohMirmand, said, “Technology is a necessity; it is not a luxury, saying that the world needs it for survival.”
She said the last time she visited Nigeria for a meeting, she and her team saw young Nigerians who “sat in a small room with systems on their laps doing great things.”
Ms LohMirmand, whose company organises GITEX Global, said they are committed to discovering new partners and connecting Nigeria to opportunities that are yet untapped in the technology space.
“That is our role. We will need a lot of support from your Government in terms of logistics and security for us to organise a good show in Lagos, Nigeria.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Two of the major telecommunications companies in Africa, Airtel Africa Plc and MTN Group, have entered into agreements to share network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria.
The idea behind this is to cost operating costs and improve network coverage for quality mobile services to millions of customers, particularly in remote areas.
However, this would be carried out in compliance with local regulatory and statutory requirements.
The initiative is part of a growing global trend toward network sharing. By collaborating, telecoms operators can explore innovative and pro-competitive solutions to improve service quality while managing costs more effectively.
The sharing of infrastructure has the potential to enable the delivery of world-class, reliable mobile services to more and more customers across Africa.
Already, MTN and Airtel Africa are exploring various opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Zambia.
Among the types of agreements considered are RAN sharing and those aimed at establishing commercial and technical agreements for fibre infrastructure sharing and, if necessary, the construction of fibre networks.
“As we compete fiercely in the market on the strength of our brand, services and our offerings we are building common infrastructure, within the permissible regulatory framework, to provide a more robust and extensive digital highway to drive digital and financial inclusion at the same time avoiding duplication of expensive infrastructure to drive operational efficiencies and benefits for our customers,” the chief executive of Airtel Africa, Mr Sunil Taldar, said.
His counterpart at MTN Group, Mr Ralph Mupita, while commenting on the development, said, “As MTN, we are driven by the vision of delivering digital solutions that drive Africa’s progress.
“We continue to see strong structural demand for digital and financial services across our markets. To meet this demand, we continue to invest in coverage and capacity to ensure high-quality connectivity for our customers.
“That said, there are opportunities within regulatory frameworks for sharing resources to drive higher efficiencies and improve returns.”
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.
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