Technology Times Daily

1. ISPON convenes national webinar on software quality as Nigeria drives AI-era standards: The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria will host a national webinar on November twenty-five to discuss software quality assurance and artificial intelligence implications. The event addresses testing standards, security, and reliability within the context of new regulatory frameworks for Nigerian software development and digital services.

2. NiYA: Nigeria Awards ₦49m grants to 17 young entrepreneurs: The Federal Ministry of Youth Development awarded forty-nine million naira in grants to seventeen young entrepreneurs through the Nigerian Youth Academy. Beneficiaries also receive one year of enterprise management software access. Eight founders received five million naira each, while nine received one million naira each to support business growth.

3. Nigeria crosses 200m active phone subscriptions as broadband, 5G and fibre expand: Nigeria recorded two hundred point three million active telephone subscriptions in September two thousand twenty-six, surpassing the two hundred million milestone. Broadband penetration reached fifty-nine point zero five percent, while teledensity increased to ninety-two point four one percent, reflecting significant growth in the telecommunications sector.

4. Data protection: Nigeria’s DPCOs rise to 367 as NDPC warns of false reports: Registered Data Protection Compliance Organisations in Nigeria have grown from seventeen to three hundred sixty-seven. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission warned that it may revoke licenses for entities submitting false reports. This expansion follows government directives requiring ministries and agencies to comply with data protection laws.

1. Nigeria opens 3MTT Cohort 5 with ₦4bn funding: The Federal Government has launched applications for the fifth cohort of the 3 Million Technical Talent Delivery Network, offering approximately four billion naira in funding. Supported by the European Union, Denmark, and other partners, the initiative seeks organizations and experts to provide verified technical training and employment pathways for participants.

2. AWS stakes in Nigeria tops $100m, engages NDPC on data compliance: Amazon Web Services disclosed that its investment in Nigeria has exceeded one hundred million dollars. AWS Director John Midgley met with NDPC Chief Executive Vincent Olatunji to discuss data protection compliance. The cloud provider aims to deepen its partnership with the regulator to support privacy awareness and capacity development within the Nigerian digital ecosystem.

3. Layer3 appoints Tomi Davies as chairman, targets expansion: Digital infrastructure firm Layer3 has appointed Tomi Davies as Chairman of its Board of Directors, replacing Dr Oluwatoyin Sanni. Maryamu Aminu joins as an Independent Non-Executive Director. CEO Oyaje Idoko stated these leadership changes aim to strengthen governance and support the company’s expansion plans across Nigeria and other African markets.

4. Nigeria’s data protection chief flags low compliance across federal MDAs: NDPC Chief Executive Dr Vincent Olatunji reported low compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act across federal ministries, despite a presidential directive. He met with Civil Service Head Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel to request briefings for Permanent Secretaries. The commission seeks to improve institutional adherence and data governance within government agencies.

1. NiYA: Nigeria Awards ₦49m grants to 17 young entrepreneurs: The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, via the Nigerian Youth Academy, awarded forty-nine million naira in grants to seventeen young entrepreneurs. Eight founders received five million naira each, while nine received one million naira. All beneficiaries also gained one year of free access to SMECore enterprise management software to support business digitalization and operational growth.

2. Nigeria crosses 200m active phone subscriptions as broadband, 5G and fibre expand: Nigeria’s telecommunications sector reached two hundred point three million active subscriptions in September two thousand twenty-six, surpassing the two hundred million milestone. Teledensity rose to ninety-two point four one percent. MTN Nigeria retained the largest market share with one hundred four point six five million subscriptions, while broadband penetration reached fifty-nine point zero five percent.

3. Data protection: Nigeria’s DPCOs rise to 367 as NDPC warns of false reports: Registered Data Protection Compliance Organisations in Nigeria increased from seventeen to three hundred sixty-seven. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission warned that it would revoke licenses of entities submitting false compliance reports. This growth follows government directives requiring ministries and agencies to adhere to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, expanding opportunities for professional data protection services.

4. INEC flags 1.5m voter records for review, confirms 1.6m invalid registrations: The Independent National Electoral Commission flagged one point five million voter records for review during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. Following biometric screening and public adjudication, the commission confirmed one point six million invalid registrations. Chairman Joash Amupitan clarified that flagged records require further examination before being deemed invalid, emphasizing the integrity of the electoral database.

1. Nigeria’s ntel wins international MVNO pitch competition in Spain: ntel won The Hunt: Searching for the Next Great MVNO competition in Spain on November 4, 2026. Chief Technology Officer Kingsley Uwazie presented the company’s Next Frontier strategy and WakaGo global travel eSIM product. The victory marks an international recognition milestone for the Nigerian operator as it expands into digital connectivity solutions and explores new business development opportunities in the global telecommunications market.

2. MTN targets end-2026 completion of IHS acquisition, reports stronger earnings: MTN Group reports stronger revenue growth and profitability for the first nine months of 2026, with Nigeria contributing significantly. The company targets completing its six-point-two billion dollar acquisition of IHS Towers before year-end. Regulatory approvals from South Africa, ECOWAS, and CEMAC remain outstanding. Data revenue rose by twenty percent, now accounting for over half of service revenue.

3. CBN demands ₦15bn capital from foreign stablecoin issuers operating in Nigeria: The Central Bank of Nigeria mandates a fifteen billion naira minimum paid-up capital for foreign currency-backed stablecoin issuers. Regulations require local incorporation and licensing, with no exemptions for offshore entities. This threshold exceeds the ten billion naira requirement for naira-backed stablecoins. Issuers must maintain regulatory capital separate from reserve assets and customer funds to ensure compliance with new digital asset market rules.

4. Africa contributes less than 2% of global AI training data, NITDA warns: NITDA Director-General Kashifu Abdullahi stated that Africa provides less than two percent of global artificial intelligence training data. He highlighted initiatives including the Three Million Technical Talent programme and plans to extend fibre-optic connectivity to all local government areas. NITDA is also collaborating with JICA and NSIA to establish startup funding facilities to boost indigenous innovation and digital infrastructure.

1. Nigeria taps bioenergy partnership to attract clean energy investment: Nigeria seeks international investment in waste-to-energy and sustainable aviation fuel sectors following admission into the Global Bioenergy Partnership. The Energy Commission of Nigeria highlighted agricultural resources and biomass potential as opportunities for global partners. This membership aims to strengthen cooperation, access technical expertise, and support the transition to cleaner energy sources through strategic partnerships and policy reforms.

2. ngCERT warns businesses hackers can exploit email servers to spread malware: The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team warns that misconfigured email servers allow hackers to distribute malware and phishing messages. Open mail relays enable unauthorized users to send fraudulent emails using legitimate infrastructure. ngCERT advises organizations to enforce authentication, disable unauthorized relaying, and monitor server logs to prevent financial losses, operational disruption, and reputational damage from cybercriminal exploitation.

3. Lagos mulls AI deployment in primary healthcare: Lagos State explores artificial intelligence applications in primary healthcare, including electronic medical records and clinical support. Dr Kemi Ogunyemi disclosed discussions with technology group IED to address service delivery challenges. The initiative aims to leverage innovation and frontline worker insights. An existing one million naira innovation award encourages health districts to develop feasible solutions for improving healthcare access and resource utilization.

4. Presidency seeks AI safeguards ahead of 2027 elections: Nigeria’s Presidency calls for safeguards against artificial intelligence misuse in political communication ahead of the twenty twenty seven elections. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga warned that synthetic content could manipulate voters and undermine democracy. He highlighted social media platforms as channels for AI-generated videos and images. The administration urges measures to protect electoral integrity from emerging technological risks and misinformation campaigns.

1. Africa contributes less than 2% of global AI training data, NITDA warns: NITDA Director-General Kashifu Abdullahi stated that Africa provides less than two percent of global AI training data, risking biased models. He highlighted government initiatives including the Three Million Technical Talent programme, digital literacy goals, and new startup funding facilities to boost local innovation and data representation.

2. FCCPC directs vegetable oil producers to adopt digital food traceability system: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ordered vegetable oil producers to use the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus platform after surveys revealed inadequate fortification in twelve percent of samples. Only six producers had registered, prompting the directive to ensure transparency and compliance with national food safety standards.

3. Nigeria nets record ₦33 trillion revenue in 10 months as digital systems boost collections, Minister says: Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele reported record revenue of thirty-three trillion naira in ten months, aided by digital invoicing systems. He warned that ninety percent of Nigerian data is hosted abroad, urging local infrastructure development to prevent economic leakage and ensure digital sovereignty for the nation.

4. Google to extend free AI training to Nigerian teachers in 2027: Google will expand its free AI training for teachers to Nigeria in twenty twenty-seven, following a launch in South Africa. The programme aims to help educators integrate AI into lessons and administration. Additionally, Google DeepMind is funding local innovators to develop AI educational tools using open Gemma models.

1. Nigeria taps bioenergy partnership to attract clean energy investment: Nigeria seeks international investment for waste-to-energy and sustainable aviation fuel sectors following admission into the Global Bioenergy Partnership. Dr Mustapha Abdullahi of the Energy Commission highlighted agricultural resources and biomass potential. The partnership aims to facilitate knowledge transfer, strategic alliances, and policy support to develop domestic bioenergy industries and address environmental challenges through sustainable energy production.

2. ngCERT warns businesses hackers can exploit email servers to spread malware: The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team warns that misconfigured email servers allow hackers to exploit open mail relays for distributing malware and phishing messages. ngCERT advises organisations to enforce strict authentication, disable unauthorised relaying, and monitor server logs. The agency stresses that encryption alone is insufficient, urging regular configuration reviews to prevent financial losses and reputational damage from compromised email infrastructure.

3. Lagos mulls AI deployment in primary healthcare: Lagos State explores artificial intelligence applications in primary healthcare, including electronic records and clinical support, to address service delivery challenges. Dr Kemi Ogunyemi disclosed discussions with technology group IED during a strategic retreat. The initiative aims to leverage innovation and frontline worker insights. An existing one million naira innovation award encourages health districts to develop feasible solutions for improving healthcare access and resource utilisation across the state.

4. Presidency seeks AI safeguards ahead of 2027 elections: Nigeria’s Presidency calls for urgent safeguards against artificial intelligence misuse in political communication ahead of the two thousand twenty-seven elections. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga warned that synthetic content could manipulate voters and undermine democratic institutions. He highlighted social media platforms as key channels for such risks, urging measures to protect the electoral process from AI-generated videos and images designed to influence public opinion and advance political interests.

1. Nigeria nets record ₦33 trillion revenue in 10 months as digital systems boost collections, Minister says: Nigeria recorded thirty-three trillion naira in government revenue from January to October twenty twenty-six, aided by digital systems like electronic invoicing, according to Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele. He emphasized the need for local data infrastructure to prevent foreign dependency, noting that ninety percent of Nigerian data is currently hosted abroad.

2. Zenith Tech Fair 2026 puts agentic AI, digital payments and Nigeria’s tech future in spotlight: Zenith Bank’s sixth Tech Fair, themed Future Forward 6.0, opened on November fifth, focusing on agentic artificial intelligence and digital payments. Keynote speakers included Zack Kass and Megan Caywood Cooper. The virtual event features panels on AI evolution, financial infrastructure, and the strategic implications of autonomous systems for Nigeria’s technology ecosystem and business competitiveness.

3. AI-generated code raises software quality concerns for Nigerian startups, experts say at FrenchTech Summit 2026: Experts at the FrenchTech Summit twenty twenty-six warned that reliance on artificial intelligence for coding risks software quality in Nigerian startups. Bayo Puddicombe of Qore noted that developers often lack understanding of AI-generated code. He stressed that technical judgment remains essential for reliability, particularly in sensitive sectors like financial services where trust is critical.

4. ngCERT warns Nigerians of Gazavat malware targeting Windows systems: The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team warned of Gazavat malware, which targets Windows systems to steal credentials and spread through legitimate applications. Associated with the Expiro family, it poses risks of data theft and network disruption. ngCERT advised isolating infected devices, resetting passwords, and rebuilding compromised systems to ensure security and prevent further infection across organizational networks.

1. Google to extend free AI training to Nigerian teachers in 2027: Google plans to expand its free artificial intelligence training programme to Nigerian teachers in twenty twenty-seven. The initiative, part of the Google AI Educator Series, aims to equip educators across Sub-Saharan Africa with skills to integrate AI into classrooms. It will combine virtual and in-person sessions, offering micro-credentials and practical tools for lesson planning and administrative efficiency.

2. MTN Nigeria appoints five new directors, names ex-Etisalat executive Ibrahim Dikko, Ajogwu: MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has appointed five new directors to its board, effective December first, twenty twenty-six. The appointments include Ibrahim Dikko and Professor Fabian Ajogwu, bringing expertise in telecommunications, corporate governance, and risk management. The company stated these additions strengthen leadership oversight and support its strategic growth ambitions and operational direction.

3. Lagos hands ISPs November 9 deadline over alleged cable neglect: The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency has issued a directive for internet service providers to secure and clean up telecommunications infrastructure by November ninth, twenty twenty-six. The order targets areas including Ilasan and Ikeja, warning of sanctions for non-compliance. The agency aims to address environmental nuisances caused by poorly maintained fibre-optic cables.

4. IXPN targets 90% local internet traffic by 2046 as Nigeria eyes African content hub status: The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria targets ninety percent domestication of internet traffic by twenty forty-six. Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Rudman outlined plans to position Nigeria as a major African content hub. The strategy involves expanding local exchange infrastructure, increasing locally hosted content, and fostering collaboration among ISPs and data centre operators to reduce international data reliance.

1. Zenith Tech Fair 2026 puts agentic AI, digital payments and Nigeria’s tech future in spotlight: Zenith Bank’s sixth virtual Tech Fair opens on November fifth, focusing on agentic artificial intelligence and digital payments. The event, themed “AI: Embrace or Extinct,” features international experts and Nigerian policymakers discussing AI’s impact on financial services. It includes panels on infrastructure, security, and the launch of the bank’s new Finopay platform.

2. AI-generated code raises software quality concerns for Nigerian startups, experts say at FrenchTech Summit 2026: Experts at the FrenchTech Summit in Lagos warned that reliance on AI-generated code risks software quality for Nigerian startups. Bayo Puddicombe of Qore noted that developers often lack understanding of AI-assisted applications. He emphasized that technical judgment and reliability remain essential, particularly in financial services, despite faster development speeds.

3. ngCERT warns Nigerians of Gazavat malware targeting Windows systems: The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team warned of Gazavat malware, which targets Windows systems to steal credentials and spread via legitimate applications. Associated with the Expiro family, it poses risks of data theft and network disruption. ngCERT advised isolating infected devices, resetting passwords, and rebuilding compromised systems to ensure security.

4. France backs Nigeria’s digital skills drive with €100m iDICE financing: France is providing one hundred million euros in financing through the iDICE programme to support digital skills development in Nigeria. Consul General Laurent Favier stated that investing in human capital is critical for sustaining the country’s technology ecosystem. The funding aims to equip the workforce for emerging opportunities and support startup growth.