A community leader in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Yohana Margif, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently declare a State of Emergency in the state to halt the ongoing killings and bloodshed reportedly carried out by Fulani militia groups.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Da Margif — who holds the traditional title of Waziri Mushere in Bokkos — made a passionate appeal to the president, stressing that the repeated attacks have become unbearable. He said the Fulani militias continue to terrorize several communities, killing residents, displacing them from their homes, and forcefully taking over their lands.
Margif, a former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Plateau State elections, warned that if the violence continues unchecked, the people of Bokkos may face complete extermination.
While arguing the need for Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Plateau, Margif said it is the only way to stop the ongoing bloodbath and land-grabbing by the armed terrorists who have already taken over control of seven villages in Bokkos.
President Tinubu
“The savage killings and destruction of homes continue even as of today, Tuesday, August 5th, 2025,” the Waziri said while addressing the press conference.
“Seven communities have been captured, and many lives have been lost. No one knows what will happen next. The people cannot sleep and are helpless.
“Innocent villagers have been slaughtered, their homes burnt, and their ancestral lands forcefully taken over. Displaced families now roam as refugees in their fatherland.
“I call on President Bola Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Plateau State before we are all gone.
“The primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property. If it fails to do that, then it has no business being in existence,” Margif lamented.
He, however, warned that unless the federal government intervenes immediately, more blood will flow, and entire communities in the state will go into extinction.
In the dusty streets of Kano, the bustling markets of Lagos, and remote villages far beyond urban centres, a revolution is quietly reshaping how millions manage money. We’re talking about fintech, and more specifically, about the rise of fintech in West Africa and what it means for the unbanked. It’s a story of access, empowerment, and transformation, written in USSD codes, mobile wallets, and agency banking networks.
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The Unbanked Problem: Still Real, Still Urgent
Despite Nigeria being Africa’s biggest economy, a large share of its adult population remains excluded from formal banking. In 2023 roughly 36–40% of Nigerian adults used mobile banking services, but many still lack traditional bank accounts and credit history. In WAEMU countries (like Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso), about 41% of adults had an account either with a bank or mobile money by 2022 – and traditional financial reach is even more limited in rural areas. For the unbanked, the barriers are cash‑only economies, sparse branches, ID requirements, and often distrust or ignorance of banks.
2. Why Fintech Is Growing So Fast
Mobile Connectivity
West Africa now has over 450 million mobile phone users, and Nigeria alone will have more than 140 million smartphone users by end‑2025. This penetration enables fintech firms to reach users where banks can’t: on phones, via USSD or apps, even in low‑connectivity zones.
Youthful, Tech‑Savvy Population
With a median age of around 18 years in Nigeria, a young population keenly adopts digital finance tools. They prefer seamless, app‑first experiences over bank queues.
Supportive Regulation
Nigeria’s Central Bank has deployed initiatives like the Payment Service Banks (PSBs) licences, regulatory sandboxes, and open‑banking frameworks to foster innovation without sacrificing consumer protection .
Record Funding Inflows
In 2022 alone, Nigerian fintechs raised over ₦1.2 billion USD in investment, commanding roughly 36% of all VC funding across Africa by mid‑2024 .
3. What Fintech Solutions Are Reaching the Unbanked?
Agency Banking & Local Agents
Platforms like Quickteller, PayPoint, OPay, and Moniepoint have deployed thousands of agents across towns and villages, enabling simple services: deposits, withdrawals, airtime top‑ups, and bill payments. They act as a physical bridge between digital finance and cash economies .
Mobile Money & Digital Wallets
In WAEMU countries, mobile money platforms have enabled continental adoption—over half of active payment mobile accounts in 2022 were in Africa, many held by previously unbanked users. In Nigeria, services like Kuda, FairMoney, Paga, and PalmPay are offering accounts and micro-lending via smartphones or agent networks.
Digital Lending & Credit Scoring
Fintechs such as Carbon, FairMoney, Branch, and Yabx leverage alternative data—phone usage, transaction history, merchant sales—to provide microloans without collateral or bank credit records. Yabx’s partnership with PayCliq offers merchant cash advance to SMEs using AI‑driven credit models, with users benefiting quickly and digitally .
Savings & Investment Platforms
Innovators like PiggyVest, Cowrywise, and others enable disciplined saving even for low‑income earners. PiggyVest, for instance, began as a tweet idea and then morphed into a digital platform helping Nigerians save small amounts regularly while earning interest and avoiding going‑liquor loans.
Cross‑Border Payments & Infrastructure
Payment gateways like Flutterwave (with ₦‑processing and switching licences), Paystack, and Moniepoint (now a unicorn after a $110million raise) are enabling businesses, diaspora, and individuals to transact across borders or in local currencies, simplifying remittances and e‑commerce.
Local Card Schemes & CBDC Moves
In Nigeria, the AfriGo domestic card scheme—launched by CBN and NIBSS in January 2023—offers low‑cost naira‑priced cards to promote inclusion and retain payment‑data sovereignty. Ghana is piloting the E‑Cedi, a central bank digital currency, aiming to deepen inclusion and offer offline digital payments even in rural settings.
4. Real Impacts on the Unbanked
Financial Access & Empowerment
Where once few could open bank accounts, now millions transact from phones or agents. In Nigeria, mobile banking surged from around 315 million transactions in 2019 to over 10.7 billion in 2023, punctuating a sharp leap toward digital finance.
Economic Participation
Mobile money services contributed around USD 600 billion to GDP in countries where they’re widely used over the past decade. This includes West Africa, where adoption nurtures entrepreneurship, remittances, and local commerce.
Financial Inclusion for Women & SMEs
Mobile wallet services have proved especially empowering for women. In places like Senegal, four times more women use mobile money to save than use traditional savings accounts. SMEs, often locked out of formal credit, now access AI‑based loans via fintech partnerships like Yabx–PayCliq and Moniepoint agency banking.
Bridging Rural Gaps
Smart agent networks and payment platforms help rural traders, farmers, and informal workers save, borrow, and transact without traveling to the city.
5. Challenges That Can’t Be Ignored
Infrastructure Constraints
Fintech’s reach remains fragile in areas with poor internet and unreliable electricity. Without improved connectivity or digital literacy, rural adoption stalls.
Security & Fraud Risks
As digital adoption grows, so do cyber threats. Studies of mobile apps across WAEMU highlight vulnerabilities; fintechs must invest in robust security, encryption, and tokenisation to maintain trust.
Regulatory Fragmentation
Operating across West African countries means navigating different licensing regimes and compliance rules. Achieving pan‑regional scale remains difficult due to regulatory diversity.
Competition & Market Saturation
Too many fintechs chasing the same user pie can lead to duplication. Firms differentiate via user experience (e.g. PalmPay pre‑installed apps), localised strategy and added features like insurance or bookkeeping tools.
6. Notable Success Stories
Moniepoint
Founded in 2015, Moniepoint evolved from serving banks into offering direct agent banking and now personal banking services. Its $110M 2024 series‑C funding gave it unicorn status (~$1bn valuation). It now processes over 800 million transactions each month, valued at ~$17 billion in volume.
PalmPay
Since 2019, PalmPay has grown to 35 million registered users and 1 million small business clients. Its smartphone‑first strategy (via Transsion pre‑installs) and service mix (payments, airtime, loans, insurance) helped it rank among Kenya & Nigeria’s fastest‑growing companies in 2025.
Kuda
By 2025, Kuda had attracted 5 million users and controls ~15% of Nigeria’s digital‑banking market. With AI‑based fraud tools and voice‑command banking, it expanded into Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, targeting deeper market coverage by year‑end.
Wave
A mobile money brand focused on Francophone Africa, Wave became dominant in Senegal (70% market share) with low fees, offline functionality, and business tools. It’s expected to reach 15 million active users across five countries by 2025.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Unbanked?
Deeper Regional Reach: Expansion into Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and other markets, offering unified fintech services and improving cross‑border remittances.
Super‑App Emergence: Platforms expanding into credit, insurance, investment, e‑commerce, and utility payments—becoming one‑stop financial tools. PalmPay leads this shift in Nigeria.
Enhanced Digital Identity: National ID‑linked systems like AfriGo and Ghana’s E‑Cedi will integrate financial access with government services, helping the digitally excluded.
AI & Data‑Driven Services: Predictive credit, fraud monitoring, and personalised financial advice will become mainstream, powered by AI adoption in lending and risk assessment.
Stronger Consumer Protection & Security: Tokenisation, secure coding, regulation enforcement, and fraud awareness campaigns will be crucial to avoid backlash and mistrust.
The Bottom Line for the Unbanked
What began as isolated efforts to digitise payments and savings has become a full-scale revolution. Fintech now offers the unbanked in West Africa more than just an entry point into financial services; it offers dignity, agency, and opportunity. Whether it’s a smallholder in Sokoto transferring harvest proceeds via an OPay agent, a street vendor in Dixcove (Ghana) saving with Wave, or a female entrepreneur in Kano building credit history through Carbon or Yabx—what we’re witnessing is financial inclusion powered by fintech.
Yet, it is not magic. It requires stars aligning: mobile access, youthful adoption, investor confidence, enabling regulation, and relentless innovation. As we push into late 2025 and look forward towards 2030, hope lies in keeping up momentum, addressing infrastructure gaps, safeguarding trust, and ensuring the unbanked become fully included in economic life—not merely counted statistically.
Nigeria is quietly stepping onto the global innovation stage. In recent years, Tech Hubs across the country have transformed from novelty spaces into powerful engines of growth, creativity, and startup success. In this article, we explore why tech hubs in Nigeria are becoming the next innovation frontier, uncovering their impact on jobs, technology, and socio‑economic development.
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A New Era of Growth in Nigeria
In Nigeria today, from Lagos and Abuja to Ilorin and beyond, tech hubs are reshaping the narrative of technology and entrepreneurship. Not long ago, innovation was tightly grouped in major cities—but today, the frontier is expanding. What once might have felt like ambitious dreams in urban centres now pulse through rural towns and semi‑urban districts. Indeed, why tech hubs in Nigeria are becoming the next innovation frontier comes down to transformative change: decentralisation, opportunity, and resilience.
Clusters Where Innovation Happens: Lagos & Yaba
No conversation is complete without mentioning Yaba, Lagos—nicknamed “Silicon Lagoon”. Here stands Co‑Creation Hub (CcHub), founded in 2010 and officially opened in 2011. Located in Yaba, it has incubated well‑known companies like Paystack, LifeBank, and BudgIT, and is strongly tied to local innovation growth. These tech hubs provide mentorship, coworking, funding, and structured incubation that elevate social‑impact and tech startups alike.
Dealroom recently named Lagos the world’s top emerging tech hub, with many successful fintech firms like Moniepoint, Flutterwave, PiggyVest, and Paystack emerging from this lively ecosystem. These success stories underline why tech hubs in Nigeria are becoming the next innovation frontier—Lagos gives scale and visibility.
Beyond Lagos: Expansion across Regions
Nigeria’s innovation frontier is no longer confined to coastal cities. Government and private sector investments are driving new hubs across the federation:
Ilorin Innovation Hub in Kwara State is one of West Africa’s largest innovation spaces, accommodating over 1,000 users and built through a partnership between IHS Nigeria, the Kwara State government, CcHub, and Future Africa. It targets sectors like agri‑tech, AI, energy and entrepreneurship, with aspirations to create thousands of jobs.
In 2025, TETFund announced plans for 48 innovation/entrepreneurship hubs across Nigerian tertiary institutions—12 already delivered, with 18 more in procurement and another 18 planned within the year.
Even remote and rural areas are getting into the picture. New mini‑hubs in villages and smaller towns now focus on grassroots tech education, agri‑solutions, off‑grid energy and mobile tools for health and farming.
These expansion moves show that tech hubs are spreading their reach, making Nigeria a truly national innovation frontier.
Real‑World Impact: Jobs, Investment and Youth Empowerment
So, how exactly are these tech hubs powering Nigerian lives?
Job Creation & Youth Employability
According to earlier research, by 2019 Nigeria had more than 77 tech‑hubs, each employing between five and ten people—creating hundreds of direct jobs and even more indirectly through scale‑ups. Many hubs offer gig‑economy training, digital freelancing opportunities, and seed programs, enabling youth to build businesses that employ their communities.
Investment Attraction
Support from tech hubs helps startups attract both local and global capital. For instance, a majority of Nigerian fintech VC funding is channelled through companies emerging from Lagos‑area hubs. The urban clusters create angel networks, investor meetings and demo days that energise growth.
Digital Skills & Sovereignty
The federal 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) programme, managed through NITDA and launched in 2023, is training millions of young Nigerians in digital skills like AI, software development, UI/UX and cybersecurity—curricula frequently delivered via local technology learning hubs. These efforts help build domestic digital capacity rather than relying on importing talent.
Innovation for Local Challenges
Perhaps the clearest reason why tech hubs in Nigeria are becoming the next innovation frontier is that they nurture solutions rooted in local realities:
Rural hubs, like those run by Fantsuam Foundation or Roar Nigeria Hub in Nsukka, prototype drones for agriculture, fintech tools for small‑scale farmers, or offline learning tools for schools with poor electricity.
Urban hubs also incubate healthtech, edtech, civic tech and green‑energy startups. Many localised problems—from blood distribution to civic transparency and urban logistics—are being tackled by innovators nurtured inside tech hubs.
Beyond technology, rural outreach encourages female participation and social inclusion. In many villages, women trained in digital tools now earn incomes, uplift families, and spark new entrepreneurs in their communities.
Governance, Policy & Institutional Support
The rapid growth of tech hubs is not accidental—it’s supported by frameworks and institutional momentum:
Federal and state governments, through agencies like NITDA and TETFund, actively promote digital hubs and research‑driven innovation centres.
Advocacy by hubs and partners helped shape the Nigeria Start‑up Act, easing regulatory burdens, creating accelerator‑friendly policies, and bringing startup dialogue to the heart of policy‑making.
Multi‑sector collaborations with NGOs, international agencies, and private investors offer mentorship, infrastructure grants, and capital, supporting hubs to scale even in remote areas.
Challenges Along the Way
Of course, the road isn’t without bumps:
Infrastructure remains weak: Lagos still lacks integrated large‑scale tech campuses, adequate transport, power, or affordable workspace—despite being hailed as a top global emerging tech hub.
Funding downturn: Nigerian VC deals declined by about 7 % in 2024, affecting early‑stage fintechs and startups outside Lagos’ clusters.
Regulatory uncertainty and brain drain: Some entrepreneurs report pushing abroad due to living difficulties in Nigeria, threatening talent retention inside local hubs.
Economic and logistical fragmentation: Regulatory and capital timelines vary across states. Infrastructure gaps and high urban rents continue to stifle scalability in some sectors.
Despite these, local innovators and stakeholders continue working to address them—for example, building large tech parks (like Iyin Aboyeji’s proposed 72,000 m² park), improving rural connectivity via solar and satellite, and reforming policy to ease market entry.
The Frontiers Ahead: What Next?
Looking forward, the innovation frontier in Nigeria is set to expand further:
Sector-specific hubs: Specialised incubators for agritech, climate‑tech, healthtech, blockchain, and AI are emerging nationwide—especially outside Lagos—in cities like Kano, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Ilorin.
Digital + physical hybrid zones: Projects like Itana’s Digital Free Zone in Alaro City aim to merge regulatory ease with workspace design to attract both virtual and in‑person innovation communities
National rural strategy: With the momentum of rural hubs, Nigeria may pursue country‑wide blueprints for tech inclusion—combining tax incentives, expanded connectivity, rural digital infrastructure and mentorship pipelines.
Homegrown tech sovereignty: As hubs train local talent through programmes like 3MTT, Nigeria edges closer to digital independence, reducing reliance on imported solutions and building domestic expertise.
Conclusion
Why Tech Hubs in Nigeria Are Becoming the Next Innovation Frontier is not just a phrase—it is a real narrative being lived across the nation. From tech hubs in Yaba’s Silicon Lagoon to rural innovation clusters, Nigeria is embracing an innovation revolution. These hubs are driving job creation, empowering youth, solving local problems with uniquely Nigerian solutions, and drawing global attention.
Even as funding ebbs, infrastructure gaps remain, and policies evolve, the momentum is clear—and it’s built from the ground up. With sustained support, inclusivity, and strategic investment, Nigeria’s tech hubs are poised to write the next chapter of African innovation.
According to family sources, Dr. Doyin Abiola died peacefully at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday following a brief illness.
A pioneering figure in Nigerian media, Dr. Abiola — the wife of the late MKO Abiola — made history as the first Nigerian woman to serve as both editor and later managing director/editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper.
Dr. Doyin Abiola, a pioneering figure in Nigerian journalism and former Managing Director of National Concord, has died at the age of 82.
Her decades-long career not only broke barriers for women in the media industry but also helped shape the editorial direction of modern Nigerian print journalism.
Born in 1943, Dr. Abiola studied English and Drama at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 1969. She began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch, where her column Tiro became widely read for its bold commentary on public affairs, especially issues affecting women.
In 1970, she traveled to the United States to further her education, earning a Master’s degree in Journalism. Upon her return to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose through the ranks to become Group Features Editor. She later earned a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Her career reached a defining moment in 1980 when she was appointed the founding editor of National Concord, a newspaper established by businessman and politician Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola. In 1986, she made history once again by becoming the Managing Director of the media group.
In 1981, she married MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the presumed winner of Nigeria’s annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. Throughout his political struggles and incarceration, Dr. Abiola remained a symbol of strength and quiet resilience.
Beyond her groundbreaking newsroom leadership, Dr. Doyin Abiola played a vital role in advancing journalism education and media development in Nigeria. She chaired the nomination panel of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and served on the advisory council for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
Her lifelong dedication to journalistic excellence earned her several notable honors, including the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986 and the DAME Lifetime Achievement Award—making her only the second woman to receive the accolade after Mrs. Omobola Onajide.
Dr. Doyin Abiola leaves behind a legacy of courage, innovation, and unwavering commitment to truth and public service. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in the coming days.
As Nigeria and the rest of Africa pivot into the digital age, one question looms large: what does the buzz around Quantum Computing really mean for our tomorrow? In this detailed piece, we break it down – where we stand today, the promise ahead, the hurdles we face, and how Africa can harness this frontier technology to transform our continent’s future.
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What is Quantum Computing – and why care?
Let’s start with the basics. Quantum Computing is a new breed of computing based on quantum mechanics—the laws of nature that govern subatomic particles. Unlike classical computers, which process information in bits of either 0 or 1, quantum machines use qubits which can exist in multiple states at the same time (thanks to superposition). They can also become entangled, meaning measurements on one qubit instantly affect another—even if they’re far apart. In plain words: quantum computers promise to solve certain complex problems exponentially faster than normal machines.
For Africa, this isn’t just science fiction. It could mean breakthroughs in health, finance, agriculture, and national security that we once thought impossible.
Africa’s quantum ecosystem is nascent—yet rising
Africa’s quantum story is just beginning—but it’s gathering momentum. In South Africa, processor access via IBM‑Q servers hosted at Stellenbosch University and Wits University is enabling students and researchers to experiment with real quantum hardware. Workshops at Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University have introduced developers to the subject. Initiatives like Quantum Quest and OneQuantum Africa are training young minds continent‑wide,
Scientific output is growing: South African researchers went from publishing about 50 quantum‑related papers in 2011 to around 200 today. Yet, compared to the world’s quantum heavyweights, Africa is still in the 1960s stage—building awareness rather than full hardware labs, according to ForbsAfrica.com.
Real uses that could transform African lives
a) Healthcare
Quantum computing can simulate biological molecules and accelerate drug discovery. It also enables quantum‑enhanced diagnostics and precision medicine, critical in areas plagued by infectious diseases and low healthcare infrastructure. Secure quantum communication can protect sensitive patient data across networks, according to the World Education Forum.
b) Agriculture
Quantum sensors can provide granular data on soil moisture, crop health, and yield prediction. Quantum‑powered models may lead to more efficient fertiliser production and optimise planting schedules—helping to tame hunger and boost food security.
c) Finance and cybersecurity
From credit scoring to fraud detection, quantum algorithms can transform risk assessment and portfolio optimisation. Meanwhile, quantum‑resistant encryption methods and quantum key distribution (QKD) promise stronger security for financial institutions and governments.
d) AI and optimisation
African startups in logistics, energy, and supply chain can benefit from quantum‑driven optimisations. Examples include route planning for transport, energy grid management, or dynamic pricing—applications where classical computing struggles.
The challenges we must overcome
Infrastructure gap
Quantum projects require high‑speed connectivity, reliable power, access to data centres and HPC systems—areas where many African countries lag behind. South Africa’s Centre for High‑Performance Computing (CHPC) is world‑class, but most of Africa still lacks such facilities.
Talent and education
There’s a big gap in skills—only a handful of African experts in quantum mechanics or quantum programming exist. Universities must embed quantum topics into courses, and public‑private partnerships need to invest in training programmes.
Costs and access
Setting up a full quantum lab with cooling systems and vibration control can cost millions. African countries are not yet building their own quantum machines, but rely on global cloud quantum platforms instead. Good news: cloud‑based quantum computing services (from IBM, Microsoft, Amazon and others) let startups and institutions access quantum tools remotely.
Security concerns
Once large‑scale quantum computers arrive, classical encryption (like RSA and TLS) could be broken. Africa must begin adopting post‑quantum cryptography and planning for quantum‑safe security now.
How Africa can move from lagging to leading
a) Build a continental quantum strategy
Subreddits and policy watchers have urged the African Union and national governments to adopt a unified strategy—similar to the era of nuclear tech in the 1960s—to avoid being locked out of quantum supply chains. A coordinated approach would enable resource pooling, shared talent and research funding.
b) Strengthen public‑private and international collaboration
Entities like AUDA‑NEPAD recommend forging partnerships with global leaders in quantum tech and investing jointly in R&D focused on African health and agricultural needs. Organisations such as Africa Quantum Consortium and Quantum Leap Africa already help bridge gaps.
c) Invest in education at all levels
From undergraduate physics to specialised quantum computing courses, universities across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda must embed quantum topics. Hackathons like Qiskit Camp Africa, online training in Quantum Quest, and mentorship from groups like OneQuantum Africa are essential.
d) Ramp up local access via cloud platforms
Just as cloud computing democratised access to server infrastructure, cloud‑based quantum platforms give African startups and labs a fast track into quantum research—without owning physical hardware.
Spotlight on Nigeria and Nigerian potential
Nigeria stands at a unique crossroads. With a growing tech ecosystem, innovative startups, and vibrant universities, the country is ready to lead in West Africa’s quantum movement.
Federal universities could offer elective modules or labs in quantum computing.
Seed grants for projects in agriculture, health, logistics that use quantum algorithms; support local quantum startups.
Security readiness
Begin migration planning to quantum‑resistant encryption; train cybersecurity experts in post‑quantum standards.
A technology for Africa, by Africa
Africa has resources few other regions do: a young population eager to innovate, untapped rare‑earth mineral reserves essential for quantum hardware, and a rising ecosystem of tech hubs and universities. These elements offer the ingredients to build a truly African quantum narrative—not just consuming what others build, but contributing solutions addressing our unique needs.
Conclusion
The quantum revolution may still be on the horizon, but the investments we make in the next five to ten years will determine whether Africa leads or lags behind. Quantum Computing, once the preserve of elite labs, can now be accessed via cloud services, making it possible for African innovators to join the global race. With smart policy, focused education, and international collaboration, the continent can turn potential into practicality—transforming healthcare, agriculture, finance, cybersecurity, and more.
In summary, Quantum Computing Explained Simply: What It Means for Africa’s Future isn’t just a title—it’s a call to action. If we harness this emerging technology today, we could build the infrastructure, talent and innovation engine that powers Africa into the digital future.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr. Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, a veteran Nigerian journalist and the late Bashorun MKO Abiola’s wife.
In a statement personally signed by him and shared with journalists through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, the president praised the late Dr. Doyin’s significant contributions to journalism and gender equity, saying she “laid a foundation for generations of women” and that her “impact on our democracy was even more profound.”
Tinubu described Doyin as a person who embodied integrity, tenacity, hard work, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the public good and democratic governance.
President Tinubu
“Nigerians will never forget Doyin Abiola’s leadership during her illustrious journalism career, her championing of women’s empowerment, and her commitment to democracy.
“I commiserate with the Abiola and Aboaba families, her only daughter, Doyinsola, and the government and people of Lagos and Ogun States.
“May her soul rest in peace. May this nation be blessed with more women of Doyin Abiola’s calibre and pedigree,” he said.
It was earlier reported that Doyin died peacefully at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday after a brief illness.
In a world increasingly shaped by technology, the future of exams is stirring intense debate. As Nigeria and many nations accelerate digital transformation, one central question rings loud: will traditional pen-and-paper testing withstand the wave of digital disruption?
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From Industrial-Era Exams to AI-Empowered Assessments
Traditional examinations—the century‑old, factory‑model, memory-based assessments—were originally designed to sort candidates through speed and recall. But the modern world demands much more: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and ethical reflection. Today’s artificial intelligence tools like GPT‑4 now outperform many humans on bar and medical exams, challenging the relevance of memory‑heavy testing.
As knowledge becomes ubiquitous and AI handles routine recall, conventional exams risk becoming relics of the past.
Digital Exams: Convenience, Adaptivity, and New Metrics
Digital platforms are transforming assessment in three powerful ways:
Adaptive testing: exams that adjust in real‑time to a candidate’s ability, offering more accurate scoring.
Enhanced security tools: AI-based proctoring, biometric checks, and screen‑sharing systems that guard against cheating.
Engaging formats: interactive simulations and open‑book designs that assess problem-solving and deeper understanding .
Such innovations make assessments more inclusive, flexible, and aligned with real-world skills—clear advantages over conventional formats.
Challenges: Integrity, Equity, and Privacy
Despite their promise, digital exams are not without contention:
Academic integrity risks: Proctoring tools have been shown to flag innocent behaviours or be bypassed entirely, undermining trust.
Technical issues and equity gaps: Students may experience connectivity failures, device access problems, or browser crashes during critical exams. Many learners across Nigeria still lack stable internet or reliable devices—a digital divide that risks marginalising rural and underserved communities.
Privacy and ethical concerns: AI proctoring can feel intrusive—monitoring eye‑movement and behaviour—and may affect student mental health and autonomy.
The Rise of AI-Assisted Learning and Resistance
Students are rapidly incorporating AI tools like ChatGPT into their studies—not necessarily to cheat, but as study aids. A UK student recently argued that AI helped structure essays and cope with the unstable assessments post‑pandemic. Yet critics fear such tools could erode academic integrity if formal assessments remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, educational boards like UK’s Ofqual warn against overreliance on AI-assisted coursework or online assessments due to malpractice and inequality risks, even while supporting innovation in testing methods.
Hybrid Assessment Designs: A Balanced Way Forward
The tension between old and new formats is pushing educators toward hybrid models. Institutions worldwide are exploring:
Mixing in-person pen‑and‑paper exams with digital tasks. Some instructors, wary of AI cheating, are returning to handwritten tests while incorporating project-based digital components or open‑book research assignments.
Redesigning assessments to emphasise oral exams, collaborative projects, reflections on AI usage, and scenario‑based tasks rather than recall tests.
Such blended systems promise to balance integrity, depth of learning, and real-world relevance.
In Nigeria, digital disruption in education is already underway. Platforms like Pass.ng, launched in 2012, and Afrilearn, established in 2019, are redefining how students prepare for national exams such as JAMB, WAEC, NECO and BECE. These apps offer practice questions, interactive lessons, and results analytics—bringing digital practice to the finger‑tips of many learners.
Yet national exam bodies like WAEC still conduct pencil-and-paper exams, though digital graduation certificates are now emerging—a nod toward some digital integration.
Meanwhile, the government‑led 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) aims to equip Nigerians with tech skills—including AI and cloud computing—toward 2027 goals. Though not directly tied to exams, it does illustrate the nation’s broader digital ambitions.
What Lies Ahead: Redesign or Resist?
Will traditional exams vanish? Not likely in the near term. But they will evolve:
High‑stakes memorisation tests may give way to more authentic, adaptive and AI‑aware assessments.
Security tech will grow more robust, though ethical guidelines and transparency must keep pace.
Hybrid formats combining pen‑and‑paper with online, oral, project‑based and reflective components will likely become the norm.
In Nigeria, embracing this shift will require careful attention to infrastructure, teacher training, equity, and digital ethics.
Action Points for Nigerian Stakeholders
To navigate this changing landscape effectively:
Strengthen digital infrastructure and access: Ensuring power supply, internet bandwidth, and affordable devices nationwide.
Train educators in tech-driven assessment design: Guiding how to develop AI‑resistant or AI-embracing exam formats.
Update policy and regulation: Bodies like JAMB, WAEC, NECO must overhaul exam rules, invigilation standards, and ethical frameworks to reflect digital realities.
Pilot hybrid systems: combining simulations, open‑book tasks, oral interviews, and traditional exams to see what blends work best.
Safeguard fairness: Monitor digital disparity, mental health, and student data privacy at every level.
Conclusion: Traditional Exams in a Digital Future
The future of exams is unmistakably digital—whether through blended formats, simulated assessments, or AI‑aware design. But traditional testing isn’t over yet. Rather, it’s at a crossroads. With thoughtful adaptation, the strengths of both digital innovation and human-centred assessment can be combined.
Nigeria has already witnessed EdTech-led transformation of exam preparation. The next frontier lies in integrating integrity, ethics, and equity into the formal exam system itself. As the educational ecosystem shifts, those who invest in inclusive, flexible, and future-ready assessments won’t just survive—they will lead.
In an era where education has shifted dramatically online, Nigerian learners now enjoy unprecedented access to high‑quality, truly affordable education via free digital platforms. In 2025, the barriers of cost, geography, and learning opportunities are being dismantled, offering hope and empowerment to students, job seekers, and lifelong learners across the nation.
This newspaper‑style feature explores the most credible and free online learning platforms available in Nigeria today, highlighting standout courses and practical tips on how to access them. It is geared toward anyone looking for Affordable Education in the Digital Age.
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Why 2025 Is a Breakthrough Year for Free Education
The convergence of global MOOC platforms, African‑focused initiatives, and government programmes has created a fertile learning ecosystem. Platforms like edX, Coursera, and IBM SkillsBuild continue to expand their offerings with zero‑cost options; international tech giants such as AWS now provide free cloud and AI training; and Nigerian government‑led initiatives are scaling digital skills training across the country.
Key developments include:
AWS launching six free tech learning plans, including Cloud Practitioner and Machine Learning paths, tailored for both students and professionals.
IBM SkillsBuild offering over 1,000 free courses in AI, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and workplace skills—with digital credentials recognised by employers.
Government‑backed initiatives like Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT), launched in October 2023, aiming to train 3 million Nigerians by 2027 in cutting‑edge skills including AI, software engineering and data science—combining online learning with in‑person community hubs.
Together, these programmes underscore 2025 as a watershed moment for truly affordable digital education.
Top Platforms and Courses You Can Access for Free in 2025
1. CS50: Harvard’s Introduction to Computer Science(Harvard / edX Platform)
Taught by the dynamic David Malan, CS50 remains a global benchmark in accessible university‑level coding education. You learn C, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript—and it’s free to audit, with optional certificate purchase. By mid‑2025, it still ranks as one of the top free courses worldwide, with over 4 million enrolments.
Why Nigerians should enrol: Zero cost to start, strong fundamentals, respected credential (if you pay), and suitability for both school leavers and professionals pivoting into tech.
2. Learning How to Learn(McMaster / UC San Diego, Coursera)
This short but transformative course—under 15 hours—teaches memory strategies, procrastination solutions, and study techniques that benefit both academic and vocational learners. Over 3.2 million learners globally endorse it as empowering.
Why Nigerians should enrol: Improves learning efficiency, ideal for exam preparation (WAEC, JAMB) or upskilling for the job market without any fees to audit.
3. The Science of Well‑Being(Yale University via Coursera)
Run by Professor Laurie Santos, this course offers research‑based interventions to enhance happiness and mental wellness. It includes weekly challenges and practical tasks, and is one of Yale’s most enrolled classes globally (4.5m+ learners).
Why Nigerians should enrol: Mental wellness is crucial for resilience in the face of economic and personal pressures. Free to join, highly practical and life‑changing.
4. IBM SkillsBuild
With over 1,000 free courses in market‑relevant tech and soft skills, this platform empowers users with IBM‑branded credentials recognised widely among employers. Whether you want AI fundamentals, cybersecurity training, or design thinking, it’s all available.
Why Nigerians should enrol: No cost, practical projects, global brand recognition, and support for underserved communities and youth.
5. AWS Free Tech Learning Plans (2025)
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is offering six structured learning plans free of charge, including Cloud Practitioner, Machine Learning, Data Analytics and DevOps Engineer tracks. These blend theory with hands‑on labs, ideal for beginners and career shifters alike.
Why Nigerians should enrol: Accelerates entry into cloud roles, in demand locally and globally. Free, tech‑focused, and future‑proof.
6. Google Digital Garage
This free platform by Google offers over 100 modules in digital marketing, SEO, career development and tech literacy—training learners to succeed in online business and digital careers.
Why Nigerians should enrol: Highly practical for entrepreneurs, small business owners or job seekers. Trustworthy content, local relevance growing.
7. Alison
Alison offers thousands of entirely free courses with optional paid certificates. Topics include business, IT, health, languages and vocational skills suited to the local market.
Why Nigerians should enrol: Certificate available (optional), low‑resource friendly, covers trade and soft skills as well as tech.
8. uLesson
A Nigerian‑designed platform offering content aligned with WAEC, NECO and JAMB curricula. Especially useful for primary and secondary school students, it includes video lectures, assessments and live tutoring (subscription‑based, but accessible in some promo or free tiers).
Why Nigerians should enrol: Curriculum‑matched, mobile‑friendly, supports exam preparation and academic foundation building.
9. Khan Academy
Fully free with no hidden fees, Khan Academy is ideal for strengthening maths, science and economics foundations—critical for students preparing for school exams or entering technical courses.
Part of the African Leadership Group, ALX offers sponsored tech training programmes (software engineering, data science, AI), often entirely free for African learners thanks to scholarships and corporate sponsorship. Learners may pay a nominal $5/month for platform access and optional certification.
Why Nigerians should enrol: Designed for the African context, project‑based, cohort learning, and career support, including mentorship and internships.
How to Choose and Access the Right Course for You
1. Identify Your Goal
Preparing for school exams? Go for Khan Academy, uLesson, and Learning How to Learn.
Want a tech career? Choose CS50, IBM SkillsBuild, AWS, or ALX Africa.
Looking for career growth or freelancing? Google Digital Garage, Alison, and Coursera have relevant offerings.
2. Audit First, Certificate Later
Most platforms allow free auditing. Test the course before paying for certification, which you can opt into only if needed.
3. Use Financial Aid or Local Sponsorship
On Coursera or edX, apply for financial aid if you cannot afford certification fees. Many Nigerian learners use this feature to upgrade important courses.
4. Leverage Offline Access
If mobile data is limited, use downloadable features—especially on Khan Academy, Coursera mobile app, or Alison.
5. Build a Learning Schedule
Use tools like the “Learning How to Learn” course to structure habits and beat procrastination. Track progress with quizzes, notes, and community discussion.
Case Studies: Real‑Life Nigerian Learners Benefiting
A young tech enthusiast in Kano completed CS50 for free and used the Python skills to freelance as a virtual assistant.
A Jos secondary school student used uLesson and Khan Academy to raise West African Senior School Certificate Exam (WASSCE) scores and later enrolled in Google Digital Garage to build basic CV‑ready digital skills.
A graduate from Benin, unemployed after national service, joined ALX Software Engineering, receiving mentorship and later internship placement—all funded or subsidised.
These examples illustrate how Affordable Education in the Digital Age is not theoretical—it’s already transforming lives across Nigeria.
Quick Summary Table
Platform
Key Benefit
Free Offer in 2025
CS50 (edX / Harvard)
University‑level computer science
Free audit, optional certificate
Learning How to Learn
Study and memory skills
Free full course
Science of Well‑Being
Mental wellness training
Free to audit, practical
IBM SkillsBuild
Over 100 modulesare free
1,000+ free courses
AWS Free Learning Plans
Cloud & AI learning plans
Free structured tracks
Google Digital Garage
Digital marketing and career tools
Over 100 modules are free
Alison
Industry‑specific vocational training
Thousands free courses
uLesson
Nigerian curriculum exam prep
Free or low‑cost access
Khan Academy
Strong academic foundations
Completely free
ALX Africa
African‑centred tech training
Free via scholarships or $5 access
Your Steps to Start Learning Today
Define what you want to learn—tech, business, exam prep, or general skill.
Visit the platform (e.g. edX, Coursera, IBM SkillsBuild, ALX, uLesson).
Register and start auditing the course for free.
Use offline access if needed, especially for video or text materials.
Apply for financial aid or local scholarships if you want certification.
Build a simple study routine, and use peer support via forums or study groups.
Track your progress, and showcase certificates on platforms such as LinkedIn or your CV.
Conclusion
In 2025, Affordable Education in the Digital Age is not just possible—it’s thriving. Nigerian learners now have reliable access to free, world‑class digital courses that rival traditional institutions. Whether you’re preparing for WAEC or building a career in AI or cloud, there’s a credible, zero‑cost path waiting for you.
From global MOOCs to local Nigerian platforms, the best free courses in 2025 are within reach—ready to change lives, unlock opportunity, and bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement. Don’t wait. Log on, enrol today, and tap into the power of free digital learning.
Renowned public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu has criticized the Tinubu-led federal government for sending the wrong message to Nigerians by awarding large cash prizes to footballers while neglecting students, workers, and soldiers who also dedicate themselves to serving the country.
Mahdi Shehu made these remarks in an interview on Tuesday. Mahdi Shehu specifically condemned the government’s generous cash rewards to the Super Falcons following their victory at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, arguing that such actions undermine the morale of workers and students.
“You pay a footballer ₦150 million in less than two months, but students are told to take loans to go to school. That same footballer may not even have completed their education,” he said.
He likened the sports industry to a lottery where a few benefit immensely while others are left behind.
“I read a post by a soldier in Baga saying, ‘My son will play football’ — just because of how athletes are treated. Yet, this same soldier has dedicated his life to serving his country without ever receiving such recognition,” Mahdi Shehu lamented.
Mahdi concluded by calling on the federal government to turn its attention to rewarding academic excellence, specifically referencing the young girl from Yobe State who recently won first place in an international English competition in the UK.
“We are waiting to see what the government will do for that girl. If nothing is done, then it confirms that the Tinubu administration is waging a war against education. There’s no excuse.”
Across Africa, there is a quiet revolution taking place. Driven by mentorship, by connectivity, and by visionary programmes, Girls in STEM are steadily dismantling barriers of culture, resources and opportunity. At the heart of this transformation lies two pillars: unwavering mentorship and equitable access to technology.
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Girls in STEM: A persistent gap
Women represent only about 28 percent of STEM researchers on the continent. In Nigeria, though more girls now register for science subjects, many fall away before they reach tertiary or professional levels. Traditional gender norms often guide girls toward domestic expectations, while male role models dominate science classrooms and boards, according to Def Jam. In many rural areas, as many as 70 percent of girls believe STEM is for boys—a belief seeded early and often reinforced in school and society.
This cultural headwind, combined with early marriage pressures and poor access to tools like computers or reliable internet, means even bright, motivated girls struggle to imagine STEM careers. But where support is strongest, we see the most powerful change.
Mentorship that matters
Enter organisations like Nigeria’s Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC). Founded in 2008 in Lagos by Oreoluwa Lesi, W.TEC has since reached over 26,000 girls through technology camps, after-school clubs, and mentoring by female tech professionals. Their programmes explicitly aim to dismantle stereotypes, showing girls that engineering, coding or digital circuits are within their reach.
Similarly, the Hadassah STEM Foundation in Lagos partners with female STEM leaders to mentor young students through bootcamps, research training and scholarships. Their tailored guidance brings real expertise into classrooms otherwise starved of role models.
Another shining example is Tech Herfrica’sSTEM Her initiative. Launched in late 2024 at a government secondary school in Abuja, it introduced digital champions and STEM Clubs for girls, provided unlimited internet access for a year, and trained students on basic computing and email use. The result: girls who previously lacked any online presence now engage with educational resources, conduct research, and support one another as peer mentors.
Empowerment through innovation
NGOs across Nigeria are scaling up outreach. The ATRED Foundation’s Girls in STEM Initiative aims to train 50,000 young girls in coding, digital literacy and mentorship schemes, starting with pilots in Abuja and Kano and expanding nationally. Meanwhile, the Love for Change Women Foundation (LCWF) reported that its INNOVAT STEAM Bootcamp 2.0 gave over 200 girls access to robotics, Python coding, graphic design and leadership training—many of whom had never seen a circuit board or set foot inside a tech workshop before.
In Uyo, Grace Ihejiamaizu leads the Technovation Girls programme. The 12‑week global tech and entrepreneurship initiative supports girls aged eight to eighteen to build mobile apps for issues like healthcare and climate awareness. Mentors guide them from concept to pitch—boosting confidence and technical skills—and some teams now advance to semi‑finals at the World Summit. Grace notes that when girls are given the tools and guidance, they don’t just build tech—they discover purpose and leadership.
Why mentorship and access make the difference
1. Role‑modelling redefines possibility
When girls interact with female scientists, engineers or coders as mentors, they can finally picture themselves in those roles. Studies show girls mentored by women in STEM are far more likely to persist in their studies and challenge self-doubt, according to Def Jam.
2. Tech access builds fluency and interest
Access to devices and internet connection enables girls to explore coding, design and research. In the STEM Her project, simply giving internet access and an email address opened doors to global learning platforms—even in schools without robust infrastructure.
3. Community fosters continuity
By forming STEM Clubs, appointing digital champions, and building peer networks, programmes give girls sustained support beyond the workshop. This sense of belonging encourages persistence and mutual encouragement, even after formal training ends.
On the ground in Nigeria
In Lagos State, the LCWF’s INNOVAT STEAM Bootcamp was transformative. Girls engaged with Python, fashion tech and robotics over eight weeks, culminating in projects they proudly shared. Many reported newfound confidence and a clear vision of what a STEAM career could look like. The programme’s leader called for wider collaborations so more girls across Nigeria could benefit from intensive mentorship linked to practical skills training.
Another regional model is the APWEN (Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria), which has chapters in 35 Nigerian cities. APWEN offers scholarships, high‑school outreach and visibility for women engineers, encouraging girls to study engineering and see professional girls in engineering fields as the norm, not an anomaly.
African initiatives that inspire
Across the continent, Girls in STEM programmes are thriving. In Ghana, the African Science Academy provides boarding-school education in advanced mathematics and science to gifted girls aged 16–19 from across Africa. ASA has grown from 24 students in 2016 to cohorts from 12 countries, showing how elite academic mentoring can empower high-potential girls.
Elsewhere, Miss Geek Africa is a continent-wide competition inviting girls aged 13–25 to submit tech solutions to social problems. Winners get business training, cash support, and continental visibility—turning ideas into viable enterprises and challenging the stereotype of STEM as male domain.
Challenges remain—but solutions are within reach
Despite tremendous progress, significant challenges endure. Rural and low‑income communities often lack reliable electricity, internet or devices. Gender stereotypes still limit parental and teacher support. And mentorship programmes struggle to scale nationally without sustainable funding.
But local examples prove that scalable solutions exist. Partnerships between NGOs, schools and governments can fund STEM Clubs, internet rollouts and mentor networks. Increasing media visibility for female STEM professionals helps shift perceptions. And creating mentorship circles that connect local girls with role models—even virtually—bridges geographical gaps.
Girls in STEM: A hopeful future
Today, when Girls in STEM gather in Abuja classrooms, in Lagos coding workshops, in Ilorin innovation hubs or at Technovation pitch stages in Uyo, they are part of a growing movement. Their stories are nuanced, rooted in Nigerian English and local realities, yet they resonate across Africa. When mentorship meets access to technology, we see not only skills being learned but confidence being born.
When girls build apps that help communities, when they code robots that inspire others, when they become digital champions in their classrooms, they redefine what is possible. Each one breaks a stereotype, lifts a peer, and sparks a ripple across the continent.
Steps Nigeria and Africa must take now
Expand mentorship networks: Government and private sectors should fund female-led STEM mentorship programmes and pair students with professionals.
Scale connectivity and tech access: Every secondary school should have internet access, digital labs, and device support for girls.
Embed STEM Clubs nationally: STEM Clubs should be mainstreamed into school systems with trained facilitators and peer-led leadership.
Boost media representation: Publish stories of African female innovators, engineers and coders to inspire visibility and interest.
Monitor impact and scale wisely: Collect data on retention, progression, and innovation outputs (like coding projects) to inform expansion.
Conclusion
The phrase Girls in STEM stands not just for academic subjects, but a lived promise: that African girls, when given mentorship and tech access, can lead innovation and redefine the continent’s future. Nigeria is witnessing the beginning of that transformation. With sustained will, investment, and belief, we can ensure Girls in STEM become the norm—not the exception.
Peter Obi weighs in on Tambuwal's shocking arrest over fraud
The General Overseer of King of Kings Deliverance Ministry, in Gbonum Ulepa Ntezi, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Prophet Chukwudi, has warned that Mr Peter Obi would lose the chance of ever becoming Nigeria’s president if he decides to run alone without Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2027.
Prophet Chukwudi argued that Obi’s eventual emergence as president can only be predicated based on his tagging along with Atiku.
He claimed that heavy dark forces had sworn to frustrate the Labour Party chieftain from emerging the country’s president by himself.
Prophet Chukwudi spoke to newsmen on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Prophet Chukuwdi words, “I have prophecies concerning what is happening in Nigerian politics come 2027.
“God has told me times without number that Atiku must rule Nigeria, and God has told me that Obi will rule Nigeria, but that his time has not yet come.
“Obi should go and support Atiku so that his presidential ambition will be actualized. God told me clear that Atiku is the person that is going to help Obi.
“I have seen on social media where people are telling him to go and contest for presidency, but even if he contests by himself, he can never win the election because the evil people will not allow him.
“If he doubts the word of God in my mouth, he should go and contest. Those pushing him are people being sponsored by this Tinubu’s government making everybody to suffer.
“If Mr Peter Obi wants to achieve his presidential ambition, he should support Atiku and his goal will be actualized. It’s everywhere in the Bible, God uses people to bless others.”
Prophet Chukwudi added that, “God used Samuel to anoint David so that he can become king, and so shall it happen in the life of Peter Obi. Let him go and support Atiku because God has said he is in the line up to rule this country.
“But come 2027, Atiku Abubakar must emerge President of this country. You know, this prophecy has been coming for a long while now.”
Prophet Chukwudi had in the past made several notable prophecies.
In 2010, he said that Goodluck Jonathan will become president.
In 2014, he prophesied that Muhammadu Buhari would sack Jonathan.
He had also twice prophesied the emergence of President Donald Trump of the United States.
The Northern Obidient Youth Assembly (NOYA) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately sabotaging Nigeria’s democratic process through what it terms the “cynical and corrupt” manipulation of candidate lists under the pretext of complying with court orders.
In a statement released by its Coordinator, Abdullahi Suleiman, NOYA alleged that INEC’s website feature titled “Amended List of Candidates Under Court Order” has become a tool for political manipulation rather than an effort to promote transparency.
Suleiman further claimed that INEC is no longer functioning as an impartial electoral body, but has instead been compromised by political interference and internal corruption.
“Lawfully nominated candidates are either omitted or replaced on party lists in violation of internal party democracy, only to be reinstated later by court rulings,” he said.
According to him, this pattern is not due to administrative error but deliberate manipulation. “These are politically influenced moves that force candidates into costly and time-consuming legal battles just to reclaim their rightful positions,” he said.
Furthermore, he alleged that this practice has become a cash-flow scheme within the Commission. Rogue elements within INEC, he claimed, are allegedly receiving tens of millions of naira in bribes to alter candidate lists with the full expectation that the judiciary will later correct the fraud. By then, he noted, the political damage is often irreversible.
“The corrected names often appear so late that meaningful participation in elections becomes nearly impossible. It is a profit-driven racket at the expense of democracy”, Suleiman stated.
INEC ballot boxes
He, however, warned that the judiciary has effectively become an emergency repair service for a system that INEC intentionally breaks, creating a two-tier system of justice, one for the connected and wealthy, and another for candidates unable to afford prolonged legal battles.
NOYA called for immediate action to address what it described as state-enabled electoral sabotage. The group urged the National Assembly to launch a full inquiry into the repeated judicial reversals, suggesting forensic audits to trace financial trails behind list alterations.
They also demanded criminal investigations into the roles of INEC officials, saying the leadership must be held accountable for any complicity.
“If this practice continues unchecked, Nigerian elections will remain a charade, where backroom deals override ballots, and courtrooms become the new battleground for electoral mandates,” Suleiman warned.
“The Nigerian people deserve better. Democracy cannot survive when its referees are on the payroll of the players,” he added.
In an era where internet access is no longer a luxury but a necessity, How Public Wi‑Fi Is Boosting Learning in Nigeria has become one of the most important stories in education today. From tertiary campuses to community learning hubs, the growth of public access points is transforming how Nigerian students learn, connect and thrive.
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Opening Doors: From Airports to University Campuses
Under the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020–2025, the federal government has committed to bringing broadband connectivity to at least 90 % of Nigerians, offering download speeds of at least 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural regions, at prices capped at around ₦390 per gigabyte, according to Meat Tech Watch. As part of this, authorities plan to deploy free internet across 75 public venues—20 airports, university campuses, and local markets across the 36 states. This is a major step in making digital access an everyday reality.
Meanwhile, Lagos State led the way with its “Smart City” initiative—installing free Wi‑Fi in parks like Ndubuisi Kanu Park in Ikeja and Muri‑Okunola Park on Victoria Island. While early enthusiasm waned as some spots fell into disrepair or inconsistent coverage, the model has shown promise for public usage of connectivity.
In Lagos itself, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, sponsored the installation of free Wi‑Fi at six public tertiary institutions: UNILAG, LASU, YABATECH, LASPOTECH, AOCOED Ijanikin, and MOCOPED Epe. The roll‑out expanded connectivity across faculties, libraries, student unions and campuses, enabling students to tap into online resources across multiple disciplines.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Schools and Rural Communities
Nigeria suffers a stark digital divide. Only about 36 % of the population uses the internet, and just 47 % of teachers possess basic ICT skills. The youth are particularly affected—over three‑quarters lack digital literacy skills, and nearly a quarter of primary‑age children are out of school, according to unicef.org.
To address this, UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Education launched GenU 9JA and the Nigeria Learning Passport platform. Through partnerships involving Airtel, ATC Nigeria, IHS, and others, they have connected over 1,000 public schools to the internet, installed routers and data plans, set up community access points, and trained tens of thousands of teachers. As of February 2025, Nigeria Learning Passport registrations surged past 750,000 users.
In Osun State, 100 public schools have received routers and free unlimited data plans. Over two hundred teachers were trained in digital pedagogy, leveraging the Nigeria Learning Passport to deliver blended learning effectively. Similarly, the Internet Society Nigeria (ISOC Nigeria) is deploying community Wi‑Fi in tertiary institutions across Kogi State, starting with rural campuses where digital infrastructure has lagged.
Youth Benefits: Beyond the Classroom
A report by ICTworks highlights eight ways in which free public Wi‑Fi improves opportunities for young Nigerians, especially those under 25. From expanding access to research and educational platforms to promoting digital literacy, social network growth, civic engagement, and entrepreneurial activity, public internet service is unlocking multiple developmental avenues.
Access to online educational content—e‑learning courses, video lectures, open books—helps students complete assignments, study independently and explore professions not locally available. Improved digital and informational skills make them more competitive in examinations and the job market alike. The platform even provides flexibility with downloads and asynchronous learning for areas affected by connectivity instability.
Personal stories further underline this impact. One Reddit user spoke movingly of self‑education through free school Wi‑Fi: “All I had was the internet and hope; internet here was the school wifi, either free or paid for … I did it with my bare hands”. This resonates deeply with many Nigerians striving to break out of socioeconomic hardship by leveraging free access.
Challenges That Remain
Despite the progress, infrastructure limitations persist. Many public Wi‑Fi hotspots suffer poor reliability—signal drops, inconsistent uptime, and low bandwidth. Parks in Lagos that once offered connectivity struggle today. Users often find the network unavailable or too slow for video calls or streaming
Device access is also a barrier: not all students have laptops, tablets or smartphones. Even when public connectivity is available, students without devices remain excluded. Moreover, rural areas still lag behind urban regions in rollout and maintenance.
Finally, sustainability is a concern. Many free Wi‑Fi projects are launched without long‑term models or evaluation frameworks. Some initiatives fade after initial launch, lacking regular maintenance or funding continuity.
Regulatory and Institutional Support
To support quality and sustainability, NITDA has introduced a Public Internet Access Regulation Framework, which defines standards for accessibility, security and user protection at public internet access points. Licensing requirements and oversight will help ensure consistent service across platforms.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed a draft bill to provide a legal foundation for free internet in public places—schools, hospitals, parks, libraries, airports, transport terminals and government offices. The bill mandates that access must be free and unimpeded, with only minimal technical restrictions justified by security needs. Regulatory agencies like NCC and NITDA would oversee prioritisation and compliance.
The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), managed by the NCC, continues to play its role in funding rural and underserved ICT projects since 2006. It channels subsidies and support to areas where market forces alone cannot deliver reliable connectivity.
Real Impact on Learning Outcomes
So far, independent studies and reports show mixed, promising results. Students using school‑based public Wi‑Fi have better access to study materials, engage more with interactive platforms, and report enhanced digital skills. Teacher training on digital literacy has enabled more effective use of platforms like Nigeria Learning Passport, boosting interest and comprehension in subjects like reading and numeracy.
Still, quantifying the precise link between public Wi‑Fi and exam scores remains complex. Other determinants—device access, electricity, teacher quality—continue to influence educational outcomes. Thus, infrastructure expansion must be accompanied by comprehensive support—teacher training, device provisioning, and evaluation.
Looking Ahead: Scaling What Works
Nigeria’s success stories so far show that with strategic collaboration, free internet can reach deeper into the system:
Expand rollout beyond major cities to rural schools, markets and transit hubs.
Commit to device access—through school computer labs, device lending schemes or community centres.
Embed teacher training and digital skills curricula so educators can use connectivity effectively.
Monitor and evaluate projects to ensure usage, reliability and learning impact.
Secure sustainable funding—through USPF, public‑private partnerships, and local budgets to maintain hotspots over time.
If properly scaled, Public Wi‑Fi access across Nigeria can help bridge inequality, level educational opportunities and create digitally empowered youth ready for a 21st‑century economy.
Conclusion: Digital Learning’s Silent Revolution
In sum, How Public Wi‑Fi Is Boosting Learning in Nigeria is not just a slogan—it’s a growing reality. From airports and university campuses to public schools and community hubs, the steady deployment of free Wi‑Fi is expanding access to learning opportunities, strengthening teacher capacity, and enabling students to chart new ambitions. Six key mentions of Public Wi‑Fi show how this specific form of connectivity is at the heart of a broader national digital transformation.
As infrastructure, device access and policy support continue to improve, millions of Nigerian students stand to gain from this silent revolution. Public Wi‑Fi initiatives that are sustained, evaluated and scaled will help unlock more of Nigeria’s youthful potential and ultimately, contribute to the nation’s economic and social progress.
In recent times, a quiet yet seismic shift is unfolding across the African continent. Equipped with mobile phones, tablets and inexpensive computing devices, millions of Africans are beginning to engage with the digital world in ways that promise transformative change. But the real turning point is not simply access—it is Digital Literacy. This emerging skill is proving to be the spark that may well usher Africa into its next revolution. Indeed, understanding Why Digital Literacy Is Africa’s Next Revolution is key to appreciating the continent’s future trajectory.
Table of Contents
The Digital Literacy Divide: Access vs Competence
We have seen decades of progress in network coverage and device uptake. For example, more than 480 million mobile money accounts now exist across Africa—surpassing other developing regions combined. And UNESCO statistics show that up to 84% of Sub‑Saharan Africans live in areas with mobile broadband coverage, yet only around 25% actually access the internet, according to a report by Africa.com.
This gap reveals an uncomfortable truth: access is necessary, but not sufficient. What truly matters is the ability to use digital devices, understand applications, judge online content, and navigate digital platforms safely and effectively.
The Rise of the Digital Revolution in Africa
Africa’s population is strikingly youthful—Nigeria alone has a median age of only 18, with nearly 70% under 30. This demographic is already the engine of digital change, demanding more from education systems and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. At forums such as the Africa Youth Forum in Nairobi, young people called for deeper engagement, pointing out that poor digital access and weak education systems are key barriers to their full potential.
Meanwhile, new grassroots movements like Tech Herfrica demonstrate the power of digital inclusion. Founded in Nigeria in 2023, this NGO provides rural women with digital and financial literacy training, mobile devices, market information and access to e‑commerce platforms—all in indigenous languages. Their model has raised beneficiary incomes by up to 50% on average
Digital Literacy: The Gateway to Economic Mobility
What exactly will drive Africa’s next revolution? Companies, NGOs and governments believe the answer lies in nurturing Digital Literacy. The Nigerian government’s NITDA Digital States Initiative aims to train around 20,000 young people nationwide in digital marketing, productivity tools and online content creation—all grounded in digital literacy fundamentals.
Likewise, across several countries, Huawei‑supported “DigiTrucks” travel to rural Kenya to provide mobile digital training labs, teaching both young students and teachers how to use software, VR and connectivity tools. In just one project, more than 22,000 training hours were delivered to 1,300 people across 13 counties.
Why does this matter? Because digital literacy enables individuals to participate in the broader digital economy—to use mobile banking, participate in e‑commerce, engage civic tools, learn new skills online, and even protect themselves against misinformation.
Digital Literacy vs Disinformation: A Matter of Trust
As internet use grows, so does the risk of misinformation. From Ghana to Nigeria, electoral disinformation and misleading political content have cost trust in media and democratic processes. To fight this, networks such as Code for Africa train journalists and citizens in data journalism, fact‑checking, and spotting AI‑driven propaganda. Media literacy and basic digital literacy equip people to distinguish credible information from manipulation.
Leapfrogging Development with Digital Literacy
Africa has always aimed to leapfrog stages of development via innovative technology adoption. Mobile money services like M‑Pesa in Kenya have allowed users—even in places without banks—to pay bills, save and transact using only a phone, according to aljazeera.com. But without digital literacy, users cannot benefit fully from such services. Knowing how to access, trust, and securely manage one’s account is digital literacy in action.
Moreover, AI platforms are emerging as game‑changers. A recent study in Sierra Leone showed teachers preferred low‑data AI chatbot responses over web search results, citing lower data cost, greater relevance, and better accuracy. These tools can only succeed if users have the digital literacy to interact with them effectively.
A Pan‑Continental Framework Emerges
African governments and institutions are waking up to the importance of digital‑skills policies. The Africa Technology Policy Tracker, launched by Carnegie Africa and the African Telecommunications Union, now monitors laws, cybersecurity measures and digital governance frameworks across the continent. South Africa even inaugurated a national Digital Literacy Day in October 2024, partnering with UNESCO to highlight media and information literacy across communities.
These steps mark broader recognition of digital literacy as a foundational competency, essential not only for economic growth but also social stability, democratic participation, and innovation.
Challenges and Roadblocks
Despite enthusiasm, the fight for digital literacy faces real hurdles. Internet use remains low—only about 37% of Sub‑Saharan Africans actually use the internet despite wide coverage, according to Apnews.com. In rural areas, only 23% of residents use it compared to 64% in cities, and women are much less likely to be online than men. High device costs, language barriers, poor infrastructure in intermediary cities, and limited teacher training continue to hold back progress.
Cybercrime and digital repression are another concern: as connectivity expands, so too do phishing schemes, scams, and government surveillance efforts, especially during elections. Nigeria and Zimbabwe have both experienced spikes in cyberattack activity.
The Human Face of Digital Literacy
Back in Nigeria, the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, emphasises the importance of embedding technology within education. He introduced a student tracking system (TESIS) to monitor attendance and improve accountability in schools, and embedded technology training from primary through secondary schools as part of educational reform. He affirms that Digital Literacy is not merely a soft skill, but a core requirement for future agency.
Similarly, grassroots efforts like those of Tech Herfrica show that digital literacy initiatives can transform lives—especially for marginalised women in rural areas, where digital tools enable them to access markets, business information and financial resources that were previously out of reach.
Why Digital Literacy Is Africa’s Next Revolution
Catalyst for entrepreneurship: Digital literacy allows young Africans to start businesses online, market services, and connect to e‑commerce platforms—even from rural villages.
Digital inclusion and equity: With digital literacy training delivered in local languages and tailored to women and marginalised groups, inclusion becomes possible.
Government service delivery: Digital literacy enables citizens to access health, education and agricultural services online, improving reach and effectiveness.
Resilience to disinformation: Literate digital citizens are better equipped to navigate misinformation, strengthening democracy.
Leapfrogging development: From mobile money to AI learning tools, digital literacy helps Africans bypass legacy infrastructure roadblocks.
Country Examples and Success Stories
In Kenya, DigiTrucks bring VR and laptop-based learning to remote areas. Thousands have gained tech-savvy skills they lacked before.
Nigeria’s NITDA initiative is training tens of thousands in digital marketing, content creation and productivity tools, laying a foundation for digital entrepreneurship.
Tech Herfrica empowers rural women across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania with digital literacy, financial skills and online markets—boosting incomes and breaking traditional barriers.
Key Policy Recommendations
Scale rural training centres: Digital literacy must move beyond cities; fibre‑optic and mobile services must be coupled with accessible training.
Local‑language content: Training delivered in indigenous languages makes digital skills relevant and inclusive.
Partnerships with NGOs and tech firms: Collaborative schemes like Code for Africa and Tech Herfrica amplify reach.
Cybersecurity and media literacy: As more Africans go online, teaching safe use and critical evaluation is vital.
Looking Ahead
If today’s generation of African policymakers, educators, tech entrepreneurs and NGOs can unify around digital literacy as the core enabler of inclusion, economic growth and self‑determination, they will justify the phrase Why Digital Literacy Is Africa’s Next Revolution. The shift from passive content consumption to informed, skilled digital participation will elevate societies and economies across the continent.
Africa stands at the threshold of real change. But it is not the mobile phone alone that will usher in that change—it is how well users are equipped to wield it. Once millions more Africans gain Digital Literacy, they unlock markets, health care, employment, civic participation and innovation previously beyond reach. That, more than anything else, is the seed of the continent’s next revolution.
AI is quietly reshaping the future of work in Nigeria and across Africa, especially within the technology industry. As smart tools and automation systems become more accessible, the nature of tech-sector jobs is transforming. This story explores how this shift is unfolding, the risks and rewards for Nigerian workers, and the steps being taken to ensure that local talent benefits fully.
Table of Contents
A wave of change in outsourcing and tech services
Reports released in 2025 show that nearly 40 per cent of tasks in Africa’s business process outsourcing (BPO) and IT‑enabled services (ITES) sectors are likely to be automated by the end of this decade. In countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Rwanda, many customer‑service, finance, clerical and entry‑level IT roles are under threat. In Nigeria, junior positions—and particularly roles held by women and young people—are most vulnerable, with women’s tasks on average 10 per cent more likely to be replaced than men’s, according to AP News.
Yet this shift is not purely destructive. With routine tasks automated, new and more skilled roles are emerging—demand for data analysts, cybersecurity experts, AI trainers and systems supervisors is rising. In other words, the landscape is shifting from repetitive chores to oversight, innovation and strategy.
Growth in local startups and funding
In early 2024, Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt boasted over 80 tech startups specialising in intelligent systems and predictive tools—up from about 35 in 2022—having raised more than $120 million in investment. Across Africa, major hubs such as Nairobi, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Cairo are seeing similar expansion, though overall investment in intelligent computing remains modest—Africa accounted for just 1 to 1.5 per cent of global funding in the space in early 2025.
Funding pours in from global players, too. Microsoft has committed to training over one million South Africans in future‑ready skills by 2026, as part of its broader continental initiative, and is building data centres to support the expansion of infrastructure. Meanwhile, local champions such as Elite Global AI, led by Vwakpor Efuetanu, aim to train tens of thousands of Nigerian youths, with a goal of reaching one million by 2030.
Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Africa
Upskilling: the key to inclusion
With transformation comes the urgent need for reskilling. A 2025 SAP report card found that six in ten African firms view intelligent computing capabilities as “extremely important” for future success, but most firms fear delays and stalled innovation due to a lack of available experts. In Nigeria, the government allocated N3 billion ($3.5 million) to research in smart systems and has launched national strategies and digital hubs across all six geopolitical zones to help build capacity.
Community and private sector initiatives are filling gaps. For instance, Microsoft has reached four million Africans with digital skills training over five years, and plans to train another 30 million in the coming years, according to Reuters.com. Training programmes also exist in hubs such as the Ilorin Innovation Hub, which launched in early 2025 to nurture tech founders and developers across fields, including agricultural technology and smart systems.
Moreover, non‑profits like Tech Herfrica focus on digital inclusion for women in rural communities—teaching financial tools, entrepreneurship and literacy in underserved areas, helping narrow the digital divide.
Real‑world use cases in agriculture, health and logistics
Innovative uses of automation systems are already reshaping industries. In Ghana and Ethiopia, farmers use drone‑based platforms to assess crop health and predict yields, improving productivity by up to 60 per cent. Supply‑chain firms across Kenya and Nigeria are using sensor networks and predictive analytics to monitor factory equipment, reducing downtime and maintenance costs by nearly 40 per cent in six months. In retail and logistics, data‑driven route optimisation has slashed delivery times by 60 per cent and fuel use by 25 per cent for e‑commerce firms in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, in healthcare, local startups are developing language‑sensitive diagnostic assistants and clinical intelligence tools that help rural clinics improve accuracy and access. Nigerian firms such as Intron Health and Ethiopian labs like iCog are pioneering natural language platforms that support Amharic, Swahili and other local tongues.
Gender and equality concerns
The shift is not evenly felt. Women in entry‑level outsourcing roles face the highest risk of displacement. One study presented at the first Global Summit on Intelligent Systems in Africa emphasised that tasks by women in the BPO sector are about 10 per cent more likely to be automated than men’s—potentially deepening workplace inequities unless addressed deliberately.
To counter that, experts at the Kigali event called for targeted up‑skilling programmes for women and youth, linking training directly to higher‑value roles such as system design, ethics oversight and supervisory technical positions. Organisations such as Women in Tech Africa and Tech Herfrica are also actively empowering women to take leadership in tech startups and digital literacy ventures.
Ethical and policy frameworks
Alongside capacity building, ethical concerns and regulation cannot be overlooked. Leaders in Nigeria and Rwanda emphasise that systems must reflect African values, avoid bias in hiring or credit scoring, and remain under national sovereignty rather than foreign control. Ghana, Egypt and Mauritius are working on national digital strategies that include principles around fairness, accountability and transparency.
International models advocate treating these technologies like public infrastructure, with public‑private partnerships to build responsible governance frameworks just as early societies treated electricity or transport networks.
Threats ahead: disruption and inequality
While change offers opportunity, risks remain. A former global tech executive recently warned that a 15‑year period of economic and social turbulence may begin as early as 2027—especially for white‑collar professions—unless proactive policies such as universal basic income or rebalancing of wealth are considered.
In Africa, a similar shock could emerge in the outsourcing sector: millions of entry‑level positions may vanish by 2030 unless reskilling and equitable access to new roles are scaled quickly. Connectivity and power remain major bottlenecks too—only around 36‑37 per cent of Africans have reliable internet access, limiting the reach of digital programmes in many regions.
Turning disruption into opportunity
Despite the threats, many leaders frame the evolution as a chance to leapfrog. Nigeria’s startup scene is creating not only jobs but new kinds of work—system operators, local model developers, trainers, ethicists, and data curators. BPO firms are retooling, shifting employees into higher‑skill roles with better pay. Governments are investing in inclusive policy, digital hubs, and research centres to anchor growth nationally.
One case in point is Elite Global AI, which has already trained over 30,000 young Nigerians and plans massive scale by 2030, in collaboration with public and private partners. Similarly, the Ilorin Innovation Hub targets 10,000 new jobs through incubation and skills pipelines.
What every professional can do now
For ambitious tech workers and graduates in Nigeria, the path ahead is clear:
Reskill early: Invest in data science, risk assessment, systems supervision and local tool development.
Seek inclusive programmes: Engage with initiatives by Tech Herfrica, Women in Tech Africa, Microsoft’s training tours or public universities’ research labs.
Aim for roles that can’t be easily automated: Ethics audits, language model training in local tongues, human‑centred services and project management remain more secure.
Support local solutions: Enthuse in home‑grown startups that solve problems for farmers, learners, patients, and SMEs.
The bigger picture: reshaping Africa’s economy
The transition in tech jobs represents more than just workforce change. Projections show Africa’s BPO sector alone could reach $35 billion in value by 2028, if capacity building keeps pace with automation shifts. Globally, intelligent computing might add trillions to GDP if deployed equitably, with African economies potentially contributing a meaningful slice of that growth alongside other developing markets.
When local firms, governments and educators align to build inclusive systems—promoting fairness, training women and youth, supporting entrepreneurs—the disruption becomes a catalyst for innovation and opportunity.
Conclusion
Africa is witnessing a seismic shift in tech‑sector employment. Up to 40 per cent of outsourcing tasks could be automated by 2030—but with proactive reskilling, inclusive programmes and local innovation, new, more valuable roles are emerging. Nigeria stands at the forefront of this transformation, with public, private and non‑profit actors working to build a tech workforce ready for the future.
