22 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 Ehingbeti 2021: 9mobile pledges support for Lagos Smart City initiative By Prince Osuagwu HE Chief Executive Officer of T9mobile, Alan Sinfield, has said his company will support the ‘Smart City’ initiative of the Lagos State Government. Sinfield at a panel session , Digital Transformation Solutions for Smart Cities at the Lagos State Economic Summit - Ehingbeti 2021, noted the significance of the Smart City Masterplan of Lagos State and how 9mobile would facilitate its realisation. He said: “At 9mobile, we are continually innovating, and smart city , smart building and other IoT solutions will be delivered through the deployment of technologies and infrastructure . This will be made possible by collaborating with stakeholders <strong>to</strong> provide seamless access. Telecommunications is the foundation and the critical building block for the delivery of a smart city. It supports the delivery of digital transformation and inclusion and underpins how the goals of full financial inclusion for everyone will be realised,” he said. He also noted that “one additional critical element will be the service management element. We should never lose sight that once envisioned, developed, and implemented, nothing ever works well or is sustainable without the necessary support teams <strong>to</strong> maintain and keep things working. There is a real need <strong>to</strong> focus on developing the skills and support framework and not just the appealing AI/ML and technology aspects.” Sinfield highlighted the telco’s outstanding service quality and noted that digital and tech hubs are crucial for building talent. “At 9mobile, we have plans <strong>to</strong> further support an environment that enables creativity and visions <strong>to</strong> be realised by using our resources <strong>to</strong> build ICT development areas and sandboxes for entrepreneurs <strong>to</strong> develop their ideas for the future.” He also highlighted the importance of big data and data mining as the lifeline of a smart city. “Data is the building block of the digital revolution, s<strong>to</strong>ring and profiling this for various uses will support the achievement of the necessary smart city au<strong>to</strong>mation. While discussions continue as <strong>to</strong> the extent <strong>to</strong> which humans can participate and provide real-time data input <strong>to</strong> the collective data feeding au<strong>to</strong>mated machine learning, first steps in this journey will rely on sensors and machine-based data which is much more reliable.” CYBERSECURITY: Beware, new hacking method, Agent Tesla comes through email attachment By Juliet Umeh research firm, Sophos, has A joined in the call for African mobile money, and internet users generally, <strong>to</strong> guard their data jealously as fintech growth appears <strong>to</strong> be astronomical in the continent. According <strong>to</strong> Sophos, as data explosion sets <strong>to</strong> happen in Africa considering the growth in mobile money and other financial services accounts, users in Africa should adopt the method of first considering every mail as a potential threat before opening it. A report released recently by the company revealed that a new information stealer, Agent Tesla which spreads through malicious email spam is being used <strong>to</strong> <strong>destroy</strong> hapless internet users and vulnerable corporate organisations. Although Sophos says the hacking method is seven-year-old, and goes through new phases, it has, however, remained a powerful threat <strong>to</strong> people. The research firm warned that people should be cautious with email attachments from unknown senders. According <strong>to</strong> the company, Agent Tesla steals information from web browsers, email clients, virtual private network clients, and other software that s<strong>to</strong>res usernames and passwords. It explained that it can capture keystrokes while users are typing, for example entering their password, and record screenshots, so it can see what is on their screen. It noted that the more recent version of the info-stealer can use the Telegram messaging service <strong>to</strong> communicate with its opera<strong>to</strong>rs, as well as a software programme called Tor (that’s very popular on the dark web) <strong>to</strong> hide activity like the removal of s<strong>to</strong>len data. It also tries <strong>to</strong> alter software code <strong>to</strong> block security protection. Senior Security Researcher at the company, Sean Gallagher said: “Agent Tesla malware has been active for more than seven years, yet it remains one of the most common threats <strong>to</strong> Windows users. “The most widespread delivery method for Agent Tesla is malicious spam attachments. The email accounts used <strong>to</strong> spread Agent Tesla are often legitimate accounts that have been compromised. Organisations and individuals should, as always, treat email attachments from unknown senders with caution, and verify all attachments before opening them.” The firm recommended that Information Technology, IT admin checklist for email security should include: *Installation of an intelligent security solution that can screen, detect and block suspicious *Cyber attacker emails and their attachments before they reach users. *Implementing the recognised authentication standards <strong>to</strong> verify emails are what they claim <strong>to</strong> be. *Educating employees <strong>to</strong> spot the warning signs of suspicious emails and what <strong>to</strong> do if they encounter one. *Advising users <strong>to</strong> doublecheck that emails come from the address and the person they claim. *Advising users <strong>to</strong> never open attachments or click on links in emails from unknown senders. *Sophos endpoint protection, Intercept X, detects Agent Tesla malware. Another internet security outfit recently disclosed that out of over one billion mobile money accounts in the global financial technology space, Africa has about 46 per cent of the accounts. The one billion accounts were said <strong>to</strong> be processing up <strong>to</strong> $1.9 billion daily, meaning that 46 per cent of that is processed in Africa. The continent is also expected <strong>to</strong> exceed half a billion accounts before the end of first quarter 2021. Signal Alliance @ 25, pushes ambitious holdco structure By Prince Osuagwu T 25 years old, technology Acompany, Signal Alliance is beginning a new phase of life. The company is on the verge of completing a holding company (holdco) structure that will see it become even a bigger player in the IT sec<strong>to</strong>r. The proposed holdco structure would have three subsidiaries - one focused on cloud business, another on technology consulting while the third, Sasware, which is already operating as a venturing company, would harmonise current investments and further invest in tech start-ups and techenabled businesses. Signal Alliance is looking <strong>to</strong> make an emphatic statement in the tech ecosystem in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. Foreign inves<strong>to</strong>rs have dominated the venture activities in <strong>Nigeria</strong> and Africa and they are increasing their positions in the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n tech market. Executive Vice-Chairman of the company, Collins Onuegbu, said: “Diversification of our business portfolio is imperative and we believe that these activities, in line with our medium <strong>to</strong> longterm strategy, would produce compelling returns. Size and efficiency are key fac<strong>to</strong>rs for our new outlook.” Onuegbu also believes the tech market in <strong>Nigeria</strong> is still evolving despite the strides it has made in recent years, adding that there is still a lot of room for growth *Onuegbu and the company is being positioned <strong>to</strong> be part of that growth process. He revealed that in the coming months, the company will be looking <strong>to</strong> either acquire a majority stake in promising ventures or minority interest. “There is no more sitting on the fence while the good deals get done. We need <strong>to</strong> gain a foothold in the tech space venturing in <strong>Nigeria</strong> and are targeting 50 tech and tech-enabled companies within a 3-year horizon,” he said. For him, “last year, Stripe, the second-largest payment company in the world, acquired <strong>Nigeria</strong>n-based payment gateway company, Paystack. <strong>Nigeria</strong>n startups also dominated the venture capital activities in Africa in 2019 only <strong>to</strong> fall behind South Africa in 2020 due <strong>to</strong> the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also local venture capital firms and equity funds that are springing up and positioning for the market. In January, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, founder and CEO of Future Africa, a new venture capital that launched in 2020 said it has returned $3.7 million <strong>to</strong> some of the firm’s limited partners and invested over $1 million in 16 startups. So, there is a need <strong>to</strong> consolidate and grow our investments in technology-enabled start-ups” Signal Alliance said it would also be looking <strong>to</strong> grow its cloud market position - a market it knows very well given its partnership with Microsoft. Signal Alliance is a Gold LSP Partner of Microsoft; among the other three partners in <strong>Nigeria</strong> and intends <strong>to</strong> utilise this partnership for its cloud business focus. Interswitch links HF on International Money Transfer Service By Juliet Umeh IGITAL payments and com- company, Interswitch Dmerce Group, has partnered another giant in the sec<strong>to</strong>r, HF Group <strong>to</strong> expand digital banking services <strong>to</strong> include International Money Transfer (IMT). The IMT service will enable people in the diaspora <strong>to</strong> remit funds seamlessly in<strong>to</strong> any HF account and also provide a simplified channel for them <strong>to</strong> make their loan/mortgage payments. The partnership is coming on the heels of the company’s diversification efforts in<strong>to</strong> full-service banking. Robert Kibaara, HF Group Chief Executive Officer said: “We Soft skills will help girls appreciate tech career, says Afro-Tech Girls By Juliet Umeh ON-profit organization NAfro-Tech Girls, has said that provision of soft skill capacity building could help girls and women appreciate Information and Communications based careers. The group made the statement at a conference it held <strong>to</strong> commemorate the 2021 International Day of Women and Girls in Science themed ‘Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.’ Afro-Tech Girls is focused on encouraging and empowering females in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). The event which was hosted in partnership with IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong>, a subsidiary of IHS Towers, saw female speakers from the medical, science and technology sec<strong>to</strong>rs interact with over 100 participants in attendance online and a further 100 girls from public secondary schools watching from their classrooms. The event was also used as a soft launch of a longer-term partnership between Afro-Tech Girls and IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong>. Co-founder, Afro-Tech Girls, Adeola Shasanya said the theme of the event, reinforced present challenges associated with the current pandemic and high- have made significant investments in technology in order <strong>to</strong> bolster our full service banking proposition. Our focus is in building a digital first bank that is responsive <strong>to</strong> emerging cus<strong>to</strong>mer trends. Designing the best cus<strong>to</strong>mer experience is a continuous process and our vision is <strong>to</strong> empower cus<strong>to</strong>mers <strong>to</strong> make their personal and business transactions at the click of a but<strong>to</strong>n.” Kibaara added: “Our understanding of the cus<strong>to</strong>mer and the market, coupled with strategic partnerships with fintech, enables us <strong>to</strong> design solutions that are simplified <strong>to</strong> address our cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ needs." lighted how women in science are currently playing a critical role <strong>to</strong> address these challenges. Shasanya said that confidence and soft skills needed <strong>to</strong> be improved <strong>to</strong> drive more interests among the young females looking <strong>to</strong> build careers in STEM She said: “We are grateful for organisations like IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong> that have committed <strong>to</strong> improve STEM outcomes in <strong>Nigeria</strong> particularly within young females. We are confident that their support will go a long way <strong>to</strong> ensure these females are equipped with the skills required <strong>to</strong> compete and contribute immensely in STEM related careers.” Some of the speakers at the event included - Dr. Ngozi Onyia, MD, Paelon Memorial Hospital; Ms. Cima Sholotan, Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Sustainability & Corporate Communications, IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong>; Dr. Yetunde Adewunmi, Microbiologist, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health; Dr. Mobola Oyefule, Medical Doc<strong>to</strong>r, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Dr. Kemi Ezenwanne, Medical Doc<strong>to</strong>r, Armoured Shield Medical Centre; Ms. Jessica Uwoghiren, Data Analytics Expert; and Ms. Gloria Okereke, Team Lead, Network Operating Centre, IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong>. *From left: Romana Rajput, Interswitch Kenya Country Manager; Robert Kibaara, HF Group CEO and Regina Anyika, Ag. HFC Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r during the launch of the HF Whizz International Money Transfer in Kenya recently.
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