Nigerian university students achieved a major milestone at the 10th Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals held in Shenzhen, China, securing multiple awards in one of the world’s largest technology talent contests. According to Huawei, more than 201,000 students from over 100 countries participated in the competition, including over 6,000 entrants from Nigeria. Following national and regional qualifying rounds, five Nigerian teams comprising 15 students advanced to the global finals. Click HERE to Watch The students, drawn from institutions including Ahmadu Bello University, University of Port Harcourt, University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology Minna, Igbinedion University, and Nasarawa State University, competed in the Network, Cloud, Computing, and Innovation categories. Nigeria won Grand Prizes in the Innovation and Network tracks, while two Cloud Track teams secured First Prizes. Another team earned a Second Prize in the Computing category. A notable achievement came from the Innovation Team, whose project, Paravision, uses artificial intelligence to support the diagnosis and treatment of malaria and intestinal parasites. Huawei said the solution impressed judges because of its technical quality and practical healthcare applications. The company also outlined Nigeria’s record-setting achievement as the first nation to produce two all-female teams that both won Grand Prizes, which is a significant moment for gender inclusion in technology. “Nigeria further etched its name in the competition’s history by being the first and only country to produce two all-female teams that both won Grand Prizes” – Huawei The company acknowledged that Nigerian students are increasingly developing solutions to real-world challenges rather than simply using technology. The achievement is expected to strengthen interest in digital skills development, artificial intelligence education, and innovation across Nigerian universities.
TikTok removes 4 million Nigerian videos as AI moderation expands
TikTok says it removed over four million videos from Nigeria between October and December 2025 as part of efforts to enforce its community standards and strengthen online safety. According to the latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report of the platform, most of the content was detected automatically. TikTok stated that 99.9% were caught and taken down before a single user reported them, while 98.4% were removed within 24 hours of posting. The report also revealed that TikTok interrupted more than 86,000 live-streaming sessions in Nigeria during the same period for violating platform rules. Globally, the company removed 175.3 million videos in the fourth quarter, with the majority identified through automated systems. A key focus of TikTok’s enforcement strategy is the growing challenge posed by artificial intelligence-generated content. The company requires creators to label realistic AI-generated videos, images, and audio. To support compliance, TikTok uses C2PA Content Credentials, a technology that embeds digital metadata into AI-generated content. The company said these measures have helped label more than 1.3 billion videos worldwide. TikTok restates stronger moderation is necessary to limit misinformation, harmful content, and deceptive AI-generated material. The platform also noted its collaboration with Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser and civil society groups on digital safety initiatives. However, questions remain about the accuracy of automated moderation. TikTok acknowledged that 8.4 million videos globally were later restored after human review, which shows that some content was removed incorrectly.
Unlimited mobile data, not sustainable in Nigeria says MTN CEO
The demand for cheaper and unlimited internet access has increased in Nigeria as more people rely on digital services for work, education, entertainment, and communication. MTN Nigeria in response says affordable unlimited mobile data plans are not economically sustainable because mobile networks have finite capacity and require continuous infrastructure investment. Speaking in Lagos, MTN CEO, Karl Toriola stated mobile operators must balance affordability with service quality. He warned that offering low-cost unlimited data could strain networks and reduce service reliability. He added that unlimited mobile data is uncommon globally and is available only at high premium prices. However, MTN Nigeria and other telecom operators maintain that expanding network capacity requires massive investment in infrastructure and spectrum. “The issue of unlimited data on mobile neytwork, it does not exist anywhere in the world, except you are paying $400 a month or whatever…we cannot give unlimited as much as we desire it. We won’t be able to build the network that people would be able to use in what way whatsoever” – Karl Toriola, MTN CEO MTN also stated that network limitations and operating costs make cheap unlimited data impractical. Meanwhile, consumers continue to call for lower data costs and larger data allowances, due to the growing importance of internet access in daily life and economic activities. MTN in response says it will continue engaging customers and improving transparency around data usage and billing practices.
Nigeria pushes digital insurance expansion to reach millions
Nigeria’s insurance sector is turning to digital innovation as regulators and industry stakeholders seek to expand insurance coverage and bring millions of underserved citizens into the formal insurance system. Stakeholders believe Insurtech platforms could increase insurance penetration by 2030, helping to address longstanding barriers that have limited the growth of the industry despite the large population and expanding digital economy of the country. To address these challenges, NAICOM has introduced a regulatory framework for Insurtech firms aimed at modernising insurance delivery and supporting financial inclusion. The framework is expected to create an enabling environment for technology-driven firms to simplify insurance services and improve customer experience across the value chain. Among the firms preparing to operate under the new regulatory regime is CBI Partnering Insurtech, which recently received approval to commence operations. The Chief Executive Officer of CBI Partnering Insurtech, Chris Baywood Ibe, while speaking on the importance of trust in insurance services, emphasised that claims settlement remains the most critical measure of success of the industry. “The true test of insurance is not when a policy is purchased. The true test is when a claim is made” – Chris Baywood Ibe Ibe added that the platform would provide digital infrastructure allowing users to compare, purchase, manage, and initiate claims for insurance products through web and mobile channels. With CBI Partnering Insurtech set to begin operations under NAICOM’s new framework, stakeholders in the sector are waiting to see if this digital innovation and micro-insurance solutions can help drive insurance penetration and boost Nigeria’s subsequent financial inclusion goals.
Japan warns it risks becoming an AI colony without urgent data law reform
Japan’s digital minister, Hisashi Matsumoto, has warned that the country risks becoming an AI colony if it fails to keep pace with the rapid global development of artificial intelligence, as lawmakers debate new rules aimed at supporting domestic AI growth. Speaking in Tokyo, Hisashi Matsumoto defended the proposed amendments to Japan’s data protection law that would allow AI developers to train models using certain personal data, including medical and criminal records, without obtaining individual consent. Matsumoto stressed that Japan must accelerate AI development to avoid dependence on foreign technology. “I hope many Japanese people understand that we need to press ahead with AI development, or we’ll end up becoming an AI colony…the point of this change is that, with AI development moving so fast, Japan can’t afford to fall behind” – Matsumoto The proposed legislation would expand access to data for AI training as Japan seeks to strengthen its domestic AI industry. Meanwhile, the government has introduced subsidies, procurement programmes, and policy reforms to support domestic technology firms. Japanese companies such as SoftBank and Sakura Internet are expanding AI infrastructure, while partnering with Microsoft and OpenAI aim to improve access to advanced technologies. However, many Japanese fear that relaxing privacy protections could expose sensitive information and undermine public trust. Japan’s upper house is currently reviewing the proposed legislation, whose outcome may shape the country’s AI strategy for years to come. In a similar development, earlier this week, the European Union unveiled measures to strengthen domestic AI, cloud computing, and semiconductor industries in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign technology providers.
Nigeria Police Force advances modernisation strategy through AI-POL leadership dialogue
The Nigeria Police Force has concluded a leadership workshop aimed at strengthening the understanding of officers about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in law enforcement. The programme brought together senior police officers, technology experts, and international partners to explore how AI can support policing, governance, and public safety. The Second AI-POL Leadership Dialogue Workshop focused on advancing innovation, governance, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in policing. Participants examined practical applications of AI in security operations and discussed challenges associated with its adoption. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the workshop as timely and transformative, stating that artificial intelligence is already reshaping policing and security operations around the world. A presentation based on outcomes from the 5th Global Meeting for AI and Law Enforcement described Nigeria as a priority partner for the African AI Policing Pilot initiative. Law enforcement agencies worldwide are increasingly exploring artificial intelligence to improve crime prevention, investigations, intelligence analysis, and operational efficiency. As digital technologies evolve, police organisations face pressure to modernise while ensuring accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights. However, concerns have been raised globally about issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, oversight, and the ethical use of AI in policing. The workshop therefore emphasised the responsible application of the technology alongside innovation. The workshop by the Police Force is targeted at strengthening professional capacity and adopting emerging technologies that could improve public safety and law enforcement effectiveness. The Nigeria Police Force has encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained within their respective commands.