PUBLICATIONS

The recent redesign of Nigeria’s currency, the Naira, resulted in cash shortages, significantly impacting consumers. Despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) efforts to promote the adoption of the e-Naira as a means for transactions, the digital currency did not achieve the anticipated success. This was attributed to consumers’ habits of utilising bank transfers and debit cards for transactions, rendering the adoption of digital currency less attractive than initially envisaged. Although the majority of Nigerian consumers possess smartphones and have reasonable internet accessibility, policymakers have overlooked their preparedness for integrating the e-Naira into their transactional practices. This study offered policy recommendations aimed at enhancing citizens’ readiness to embrace Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for their day-to-day transactions. It advocates for the refinement of e-Naira features, mitigation of infrastructural deficiencies, and the strategic deployment of targeted influencer campaigns within communities to augment its adoption prospects among Nigerians.

5G has tremendous potential for revolutionizing Kenya’s digital economy. One way that 5G could accomplish this is through modernizing tech cities. The Kenyan government has long envisioned creating cities that can attract big companies to create jobs locally. As 5G expands, there is renewed hope for tech cities. However, if the Kenyan government wants to maximize the power of 5G, it needs to focus on the local population, not tech cities.