X to Introduce Voice, Video Calls

By Adedapo Adesanya Social messaging platform, WhatsApp, has introduced a feature that lets users create groups on the instant messaging app without needing to name them. This is a new option open to users, a change from the norm as users are required to name the groups they create on the messaging app. The announcement was made by Meta’s chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Mark Zuckerberg, on his Facebook page and Meta’s Instagram channel on Wednesday. According to him, the feature will help users now be able to create a group, even if they have not decided on a topic

By Adedapo Adesanya Data and AI technology company, Flapmax, has announced 12 startups selected for the second cohort of the FAST Accelerator startup programme, created in partnership with Microsoft to help strengthen and scale Africa’s digital ecosystem. Following the conclusion of its 2-week Online Bootcamp, which saw 60+ tech companies participate in intensive online training with experienced mentors, FAST Accelerator’s cohort of 12 startups will progress to a 5-week comprehensive acceleration experience in Silicon Valley, California, starting in October. Speaking on this, Mrs Mame-Fatou Gueye, SME Program Manager, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, said, “Microsoft believes that African startups and small

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigerian government has expressed a fresh commitment to the harmonisation of the country’s data through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who said that his Ministry was committed to the success of the project, assuring that the days for multiple ID registration would soon be over. Mr Tunji-Ojo, while hosting the MTN management team led by its chief executive, Mr Karl Toriola, earlier this week in Abuja, disclosed that NIMC has been mandated to harmonise the country’s database as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeks to

By Aduragbemi Omiyale For the fifth consecutive year, Interswitch has received the ISO 22301 recertification for Business Continuity Management (BCM) after a rigorous surveillance audit process. A leading provider of audit and certification services in the field of information security and privacy, MSECB, served in the capacity of auditors for the certification process. The certification process involved rigorous audits and evaluations of Interswitch’s business processes, contingency plans, and disaster recovery capabilities. In a statement, Interswitch enthused that maintaining the ISO 22301 certification is a testament to its comprehensive approach to risk assessment, mitigation, and recovery planning. The achievement of the

By Modupe Gbadeyanka A Nigerian advertising company, Insight Publicis, has been named the 2021 Nigerian Agency of the Year by Gerety Awards. Gerety Awards is the only creative prize to reward the best in advertising from the female vision. The agency of the year by country is chosen by the local juries from the portfolio cut and requires a single film no longer than 5 minutes in length and includes up to three pieces of work from the past 12 months. At the shortlist announcement on Tuesday, Insight Publicis claimed the top spot for its portfolio cut entry that included

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Immediate-past governor of Delta State and All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 Delta South senatorial candidate, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has revealed why he decided to team up with Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, the state APC governorship candidate to ensure all-round victory for the party in the coming elections. Speaking at the APC Delta mega rally in Patani Local Government Area, Mr Uduaghan said providence brought him and Mr Ogboru together in one party because it was time for him to be governor of the state. He said his administration successfully invested in the peace and security item

By Modupe Gbadeyanka The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has explained why it was doing aggressive exploration of the inland basins. Speaking in Abuja when a delegation of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) executives led by its President, Mr Abidun Adesanya, paid him a courtesy visit, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, noted that the agency was confident that the inlands contain hydrocarbon in commercial quantity, stressing the efforts would soon yield success. Dr Baru said based on preliminary results from the exploration activities in the inland basins so far, especially the Benue Trough, there

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigerian government is planning to increase gas export to the European Union (EU) as part of efforts to boost the nation’s revenue. This was part of the talking points reached in collaborative digital economy plans between both parties through the Gateway Initiative. According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, in a statement titled Nigeria EU to work together on digital economy, explore raising LNG supply to European countries on Monday, the EU had requested for Nigeria to increase allocation. Addressing the EU delegation, Vice President Yemi

By Dipo Olowookere Profit-taking activities persisted on the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last Friday, leaving the market to close 0.76 percent lower with the Year-to-Date (YtD) returns finishing at -1 percent. Business Post reports that the All-Share Index (ASI) slipped to the 37,000 region after shedding 290.07 points to settle at 37,862.53 points, while the market capitalisation went down by N105 billion to finish at N13.716 trillion. It was observed that the volume of equities transacted on the last trading day of last week declined by 38.38 percent, while the value shares exchanged depreciated by 65.16

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigerian government has approved tax exemption and rebate for 5 years and a single-digit loan interest rate for sports investors under the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP). This was disclosed in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday. The statement noted that the policy would also support athletes through an Independent Athletes Welfare Fund (AWF), adding that it was proposed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. “This approval was given during its meeting on Wednesday, bringing to a

By Dipo Olowookere Trouble may be lurking around for Nigeria if the amount left in the external reserves of the largest economy in Africa is anything to take seriously. The foreign earnings of the country have been threatened this year because of a sharp decline in the price of crude oil as well as COVID-19 pandemic. Nigeria depends mainly on the sale of crude oil to get forex and because of the volatile state of the global market, things have not been palatable for the country. On Tuesday, Business Post checked on the foreign reserves of the nation and it

By Adedapo Adesanya  The Naira’s performance was diverse across different segments of the foreign exchange market on Wednesday. At the parallel market, the local currency performed relatively better, but at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) segment of the forex market, it did not put up a sterling performance. At the I&E segment of the foreign market on Wednesday, the Nigerian currency depreciated by 11 kobo or 0.05 percent to close at N361.99 in contrast to N361.80 it recorded on Tuesday. A look at the daily market turnover at the I&E segment indicated an increase by 52 percent or $91.52 million