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5 Best Digital Skills You Must Learn in 2023

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In today’s fast-paced world, having digital skills has become a necessity for one to thrive effectively, either in business or career. The advancement of technology has no doubt transformed the workplace and business landscape which has placed a high demand on these skills.

In the past few years, digitization and automation have been the most often discussed technologies that firms/ Business owners are leveraging to transform the way they support core business activities which also helps them to adapt to a new and more virtual work style.

Without a firm command of digital skills in today’s world, there is only very little way to propel and remain competitive, as having one or more skills sets an individual or a business apart from the rest.

Before giving you a list of the top five (5) best digital skills to learn in 2023, let us define what digital skills are.

Digital Skills

UNESCO defines digital skills as those skills needed to use digital services, communication Applications, and networks to access and manage information.

Digital skills are also defined as skills needed to use computers and digital devices to access and manage information.

Here is a list of five (5) best digital skills to learn in 2023

1.) Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks has been predicted to be one of the biggest issues with modern-day businesses because a lot of them have taken their business to the online space.

Apart from businesses/organizations, the average everyday consumers/internet users are also not left out as they experience phishing schemes, data breaches, ransomware attacks, financial losses, etc.

This means the more we rely on the internet, the more we need good cybersecurity in all forms.

That is to say that learning this skill in 2023 will make one very sought-after because as more businesses continue to shift to offering online services, the demand for cybersecurity experts will continue to increase.

2.) Social Media Marketing

Looking at today’s world, a lot of companies/businesses now offer most of their services online, which makes social media marketing a perfect skill to learn in 2023.

This skill involves promoting a business on social media platforms through paid and unpaid means. It also involves placing social media ads, creating and sharing great content, organizing social media events, etc.

Most businesses desire a good social media presence due to the fact that it can create customer retention, form a brand community and generate leads. 

Therefore, equipping oneself with this skill will make one very sought after, as most businesses are constantly on the lookout for people who can produce engaging social media content, manage business accounting effectively, drive traffic through ads, and implement diverse marketing strategies to boost sales/ traffic.

3.) UX Design

In simple terms, UX design is the process of creating products (digital or physical) that are practical and usable. It is also the process of creating products or services that provide meaningful experiences for users, involving many different areas of product development including branding, usability, function, etc.

Most businesses in today’s world understand that a UX design is important to meet the needs of conusmers, as a good design often helps a business to stand out in the marketplace also enhancing brand reputation.

This skill is no doubt a top skill to learn in 2023 as most businesses need UX designers to help increase conversions as more users/customers are likely to patronize a business or purchase a product that is appealing.

4.) AI Skills

This skill encompasses many key areas such as designing intelligent agents, machine learning algorithms and advanced artificial neural networks, etc.

Looking at the way a lot of jobs are been displaced by Artificial Intelligence machines, AI skills have become a top demand in the job market as most businesses are looking for ways to integrate AI into their operations.

For individuals looking to stay ahead in the job market, this is one skill to learn.

5.) Data Analyst

A data analyst job entails the gathering and interpretation of data to solve specific problems. In the past few years, 90% of the world’s data has been created and businesses are spending more than $180 million a year on big data analysts as these businesses rely on data to make critical business decisions.

This has seen Data analysts in high demand across all sectors such as consulting, finance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, government, and education. A report from McKinsey Digital on big data states that by 2023, the big data industry will be worth an estimated US$77 billion.

The report also states that 90 percent of the data available right now was produced over the last two to three years. That is how quickly the data is produced. What this implies is that the increase in the production of data will lead to an increase in the need for someone to analyze the data. That is where data analysts come into the picture.

Conclusion

It is no longer news that we are living in a highly digitalized economy, which is essential for one to acquire relevant digital skills to stay relevant and easily navigate jobs.

As technology advances, most jobs/ businesses are beginning to need some level of digital skills. Also having these skills prevents one from earning meager pay, as most current roles requiring digital skills often pay more than those that do not.

It is not far-fetched to say that those who take bold steps to learn new digital skills in today’s world, will be the ones to reap the benefits of long-term success.

Telecommunications

Nigeria’s Mobile Subscriptions Drop by 5.4 Million in Q1 2024, NIN Enforcement Blamed

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Active mobile subscriptions dropped by 5.4 million in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The total active mobile subscriptions stood at 219 million, a 2.4% decrease from the previous quarter’s 224.4 million.

This decline has been directly attributed to the stringent enforcement of the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) linkage policy by the NCC.

Since its inception, the policy has aimed to bolster national security measures and enhance accountability within the telecom sector by mandating the linkage of mobile phone numbers to individuals’ unique NINs.

The regulatory directive, which came into effect in December 2023, required telecom operators to deactivate SIMs not linked to their owners’ NINs by February 28, 2024. The process unfolded in three phases with subsequent deadlines set for March 29 and April 15.

However, due to various challenges and requests for extensions, the final phase was postponed to July 31.

During this period, over 40 million lines, encompassing both active and multiple lines registered to a single subscriber, were reportedly barred by telecom operators.

The majority of these lines were found to be inactive, suggesting a considerable impact on non-compliant subscribers.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) disclosed that as of April 2024, a total of 105 million Nigerians had enrolled for the NIN, indicating a widespread response to the government’s initiative to bolster identity verification processes.

In April 2022, the telecom sector experienced a similar wave of disruption as operators commenced the initial phase of enforcing the SIM-NIN rule.

During that period, over 72.77 million active telecom lines were barred, signaling a pivotal moment in regulatory compliance efforts.

MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecom operator, revealed in its first-quarter 2024 financial report that it had deactivated 8.6 million lines due to non-compliance with the NIN mandate.

However, the company emphasized its efforts to minimize the net impact of barred subscribers through effective customer management strategies.

Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, underscored the resilience of the company’s customer value initiatives in mitigating subscriber churn and driving gross connections amid regulatory challenges.

Despite the substantial drop in active subscriptions, MTN Nigeria closed the quarter with a total of 77.7 million subscribers, showcasing the effectiveness of its retention strategies.

As Nigeria navigates the evolving telecom landscape amidst regulatory reforms, stakeholders anticipate further measures to enhance compliance and fortify the integrity of the country’s telecommunications ecosystem.

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Fintech

Fintechs Instructed to Report Cryptocurrency Transactions to Authorities in Nigeria

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Fintech companies across the country have been instructed to report all crypto trades to relevant authorities.

This directive comes amidst the recent freezing of 105 accounts across nine fintech firms suspected of various illegal activities, including unauthorized forex dealings, money laundering, and terrorism financing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained an interim court order on April 24, 2024, to freeze these accounts for 90 days as part of ongoing investigations.

Sources close to the matter suggest a connection between these freezes and heightened scrutiny of cryptocurrency transactions.

Following these regulatory actions, several prominent fintech players, including OPay, Moniepoint, PalmPay, and Kuda Bank, have been directed to suspend the opening of new accounts temporarily pending evaluations of their Know Your Customer (KYC) processes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The frozen accounts are part of a broader investigation by the EFCC into 1,146 bank accounts suspected of manipulating the foreign exchange market through cryptocurrency platforms.

The EFCC believes that some account owners exploited cryptocurrency platforms to manipulate the FX market.

In response to these developments, fintech firms have started implementing stringent measures against cryptocurrency transactions.

Moniepoint, for instance, notified its customers that it would close accounts engaged in crypto or virtual asset transactions and share their details with relevant authorities.

Similar warnings were issued by other fintech players like Paga and OPay, emphasizing their stance against crypto-related activities.

During a recent industry event, Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and CEO of Moniepoint, urged participants in crypto Peer-to-Peer (P2P) markets to cease their activities due to regulatory prohibitions.

He highlighted the risks associated with engaging in such activities, citing potential legal repercussions.

Eniolorunda linked the recent regulatory actions to the prevalence of fraud in fintech apps and emphasized the renewed focus on KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures.

He alleged that some P2P crypto activities contributed to the manipulation of the Nigerian currency, the naira, prompting regulatory intervention.

This latest directive underscores Nigeria’s broader crackdown on cryptocurrency platforms, particularly Binance, which began earlier in 2024.

The government has expressed concerns about the role of crypto platforms in currency speculation and their impact on the devaluation of the naira.

This regulatory tightening reflects the government’s efforts to maintain financial stability and curb illicit financial activities in the country.

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Technology

Multichoice Nigeria Rolls Out Tariff Increase Despite Tribunal’s Interim Order

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Multichoice Nigeria, a prominent Pay TV provider, has proceeded with the implementation of tariff adjustments for its DStv and GOtv subscribers, despite an interim order issued by a competition and consumer protection tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja.

On April 24, Multichoice announced plans to increase prices for its cable services, scheduled to take effect from May 1.

However, the CCPT ruled that the company should refrain from raising rates as initially scheduled, following an ex-parte motion presented by the applicant’s counsel.

Despite the tribunal’s interim order, checks conducted by Nairametrics revealed that Multichoice Nigeria has forged ahead with the tariff increase, with the new prices being displayed and enforced on its official website.

For DStv Premium subscribers, the price has surged from N29,500 to N37,000, while Compact Plus subscribers now face an increase from N19,800 to N25,000.

Similarly, Compact, Confam, and Yanga subscribers witness price hikes, ranging from 20% to 25% compared to previous rates.

GOtv subscribers also experience a similar fate, with tariff adjustments reflecting significant increases across various subscription packages.

Despite legal injunctions, Multichoice Nigeria’s decision to proceed with the price hike signals a bold move in a highly contested legal battle.

The Acting Chairman of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Adamu Abdullahi, disclosed that Multichoice had provided a detailed explanation for the price adjustments in a four-page letter to the commission.

The company cited factors such as foreign exchange fluctuations, high electricity tariffs, and operational costs as drivers behind the rate revisions.

Abdullahi explained that the FCCPC would scrutinize Multichoice’s justifications for the price hike, collaborating with regulatory bodies like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure compliance with market regulations.

The decision to proceed with the tariff increase has sparked concerns among consumer rights advocates, who question Multichoice’s adherence to legal directives.

Despite the company’s rationale for the price adjustment, critics argue that subscribers should not bear the brunt of economic challenges beyond their control.

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