Category: Tech

In a bold move to future-proof Nigeria’s workforce and align with global technology trends, the Federal Government has introduced new Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Networking.

This strategic upgrade, announced by Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), reflects Nigeria’s commitment to modernising technical education and preparing its youth for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to Bugaje, the curriculum overhaul is part of the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “We have unbundled the traditional HND programmes into specialised skill sets to better reflect the needs of today’s digital economy,” he said during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Empowering Nigerian Youth with Future-Ready Digital Skills

The new HND programmes are being implemented through the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), which provides more targeted and advanced training in emerging tech fields. Areas like AI, cybersecurity, and networking are at the core of this initiative, designed to boost employability and foster innovation.

AI-Powered Accreditation to Improve Standards in Polytechnics

In addition to revamping curricula, NBTE has launched a digital accreditation system powered by Artificial Intelligence to ensure compliance, transparency, and academic integrity across Nigerian polytechnics.

“This AI system flags faculty duplication and helps monitor academic standards. If a lecturer appears across multiple polytechnic portals, the system raises a red flag,” Bugaje explained.

Technical institutions are now required to upload data on staff, infrastructure, and equipment onto a central digital platform, reducing the need for physical site inspections and minimising fraud, cost, and human error.

For institutions in remote regions with limited internet connectivity, NBTE will deploy accredited vendors to conduct on-site assessments and submit digital verification reports.

Repositioning Nigeria’s Education System for Global Competitiveness

All reforms are guided by the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), which detail the academic, infrastructural, and professional requirements for both ND and HND programmes.

Prof. Bugaje emphasized that these changes are essential for positioning Nigerian polytechnics as globally competitive institutions and engines of economic development.

“Nigeria must embed technology in both education and economic planning if we want to achieve sustainable growth in the digital age,” he said, citing success stories from Southeast Asia as a model for replication.

The Federal Government expects that the newly introduced tech-focused diploma programs, alongside AI-enabled governance, will enhance Nigeria’s digital capacity, drive innovation, and contribute significantly to GDP growth.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has emerged as the most heavily fined social media company under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), racking up a staggering €2.7 billion in penalties—most of it tied to violations involving children’s data privacy.

A new report by cybersecurity firm Surfshark reveals that five major platforms—Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter)—have collectively paid out €3.9 billion in GDPR fines. Meta alone accounts for nearly 70% of that figure, cementing its reputation as the most penalized company in GDPR history.

Instagram’s €405 Million Fine Over Children’s Data

The most striking fine came in 2022, when Instagram was slapped with a €405 million penalty for automatically setting child business accounts to public by default—exposing minors’ sensitive information without consent.

In late 2024, Facebook faced another massive blow: a €251 million fine related to a data breach that compromised personal data of underage users. These back-to-back infractions make Meta the standout violator under Europe’s rigorous data protection laws.

TikTok, LinkedIn, and X Also Penalized

TikTok hasn’t been spared. The platform has been fined three times, with penalties totaling €890 million. Violations include allowing underage accounts to default to public, failing to publish privacy policies in local languages, and enabling adults to falsely act as guardians without verification.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) have received single fines of €310 million and €450,000, respectively.

Interestingly, platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit, and Threads have yet to be penalized—but experts warn this should not be mistaken for full compliance.

“The current enforcement efforts by data protection authorities are rather reactive, sometimes they are non-existent at all,” said Felix Mikolasch, data protection lawyer at NOYB, a European privacy advocacy group.

Over one-third of all GDPR-related fines imposed on social platforms have been due to mishandling children’s personal data.

EU Enforcement Tightens as Fines Rise 30% Since 2023

Since Surfshark’s previous report in October 2023, GDPR fines have surged by 30%, driven by four major new cases: two involving Meta, one TikTok, and one LinkedIn.

This trend reflects a growing resolve in the EU to enforce data privacy laws, especially as platforms increasingly target younger audiences and collect vast amounts of personal data.

Nigeria’s Compliance-First Approach: A Missed Opportunity?

While European regulators ramp up fines and public accountability, Nigeria has taken a markedly different approach. Social media giants like Meta and TikTok continue to operate freely in the country, despite having similar data collection practices.

To date, no major fines have been issued under Nigeria’s Data Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2023 and is largely modeled after the GDPR.

According to Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC):

“Usually, when we investigate and find a breach, if they are ready to comply with the law, what is the point of making noise? It’s only when an organisation is unwilling to comply that we impose sanctions.”

He further noted that the NDPC considers the potential economic impact of sanctions, suggesting that penalizing foreign tech companies might discourage investment.

However, critics argue that this “compliance-first” model lacks the teeth needed to drive meaningful data protection reforms.

Enforcement or Engagement: Which Model Works?

Europe’s message is clear: break the rules, pay the price. Nigeria, however, prefers dialogue, collaboration, and soft enforcement. The question is: can a trust-based model be effective when global precedents show that strict enforcement gets results?

As data privacy continues to dominate the digital agenda, the world will be watching to see whether Nigeria strengthens its stance—or continues to tread lightly.

In a bold move to accelerate digital inclusion, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the deployment of 7,000 new telecommunications towers nationwide — with a staggering 80% of the infrastructure designated for Northern Nigeria.

Approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2025, the project aims to close the region’s longstanding connectivity gap and facilitate the nationwide rollout of 5G technology. The first installation is scheduled for next week in a rural Abuja community of 5,000 residents, where connectivity challenges are compounded by persistent insecurity.

Unlike traditional telecom masts, these advanced digital towers will serve dual purposes — functioning as connectivity hubs for schools, hospitals, and local government offices, ensuring communities receive comprehensive digital support.

“Most of the unconnected clusters are in the North,” said Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in a recent interview. “So, almost 80% of these towers will be going toward filling that gap. The rest will patch up where we have left off in other regions.”

Tijani also emphasized the government’s collaborative model, where mobile network operators can share tower infrastructure to reduce redundancy and lower deployment costs.

As of January 2025, 128.3 million Nigerians — 54.3% of the population — remain without internet access, ranking Nigeria fourth globally for the highest number of unconnected individuals. Despite modest progress, with the number of underserved people falling from 36.8 million in 2013 to 23 million in early 2025, digital inequality remains a significant hurdle.

The 7,000-tower initiative operates independently of the government’s Project 774 and forms part of a broader strategy that includes fibre-optic expansion and satellite internet solutions like Starlink — all aimed at ensuring last-mile connectivity across Nigeria.

The decision to prioritize the North aligns with the region’s disproportionate share of unconnected communities and reflects the administration’s commitment to using digital transformation as a tool for economic growth, social inclusion, and national security.

Cristiano Ronaldo, even at age 40, continues to dominate—not just on the pitch but in the business of sports. For the third consecutive year and fifth time in his career, the Portuguese legend has claimed the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, raking in a jaw-dropping $275 million over the past 12 months.

Ronaldo’s financial success is largely fueled by his record-breaking contract with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia, along with endorsement deals, his CR7 brand empire, and unmatched social media influence. His dominance in both sport and branding proves that even in the later stages of his career, he remains the most marketable athlete on the planet.

Top 10 Highest-Earning Athletes in 2025

Collectively, the top 10 athletes earned $1.38 billion before taxes and agent fees, nearly matching the all-time record set in 2023. This year’s rankings span football, basketball, baseball, boxing, and American football, reflecting the global spread of sports money and influence.

Here’s a breakdown of the 2025 top earners:

10. Kevin Durant – $101.4M (Basketball)
The NBA star continues to grow his brand through investments in tech, media (Boardroom and 35V), and a long-term partnership with Nike.

9. Shohei Ohtani – $102.5M (Baseball)
The Japanese phenom’s deferred $700M contract with the LA Dodgers is historic, but it’s his $50M+ endorsement income that sets a new benchmark in MLB.

8. Karim Benzema – $104M (Football)
Despite injury setbacks, Benzema’s Saudi deal and global recognition keep him among the world’s top earners.

7. Juan Soto – $114M (Baseball)
Soto’s Yankees move made headlines and history, reflecting MLB’s shift toward a younger, more diverse future.

6. LeBron James – $133.8M (Basketball)
At 40, LeBron is now a full-fledged mogul, earning primarily through business ventures like SpringHill Company, Blaze Pizza, and major endorsements.

5. Lionel Messi – $135M (Football)
Messi’s Inter Miami contract includes profit-sharing with Apple, Adidas, and MLS, redefining athlete equity in sports deals.

4. Dak Prescott – $137M (American Football)
The Cowboys QB continues to cash in big on and off the field, leading NFL earners in 2025.

3. Tyson Fury – $146M (Boxing)
Fury’s massive Pay-Per-View deals and Netflix reality show prove boxing can still create megastars—and millionaires.

2. Stephen Curry – $156M (Basketball)
With a lifetime Under Armour deal, rising investments, and Curry Brand growth, Steph is building a billion-dollar post-basketball future.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $275M (Football)

• $200M from Al-Nassr salary

• $75M from endorsements, CR7 brand, and social media empire
  Ronaldo remains football’s ultimate global icon, influencing the Saudi Pro League’s talent boom and rewriting the business of sports.

The Bigger Picture: Athletes as Global Enterprises

The 2025 list underscores a growing trend—athletes are no longer just performers, they’re entrepreneurs, brand builders, and cultural powerhouses. With massive social media audiences, savvy business moves, and rising equity-based deals, sports stars are now competing in boardrooms as much as they are on fields, courts, and rings.