Kofo Akinkugbe

Last updated

Kofo Akinkugbe is a Nigerian technology entrepreneur. She is founder and CEO of SecureID, "Africa's leading manufacturer of smart cards and other identity documents". [1]

Contents

Education and early career

Kofo Akinkugbe studied mathematics at the University of Lagos. After serving in the Nigerian Youth Service Corps, she worked in the banking industry for twelve years, starting with International Merchant Bank, a Nigerian affiliate of the First National Bank of Chicago, and later working for Chartered Bank. [2] She then took up a Chevening Scholarship to study for an MBA at Strathclyde Business School. [3]

Companies

Kofo Akinkugbe founded Interface Technologies Limited, a security management and biometrics company, in 1998, SecureID Limited in 2005 and SecureCard Manufacturing in 2012. [3] Her group of companies owns Nigeria's first SIM card production plant, in operation since December 2016. [2] Certified by Visa, Verve and Mastercard, the company exports SIM cards to 21 other African countries. [4]

Recognition

In 2012 Kofo Akinkugbe won the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Mature Business Award. [5] In May 2017 acting president Yemi Osinbajo appointed her to the board of the Nigerian Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debit card</span> Card used for financial transactions, usually without a credit line

A debit card, also known as a check card or bank card, is a payment card that can be used in place of cash to make purchases. The card usually consists of the bank's name, a card number, the cardholder's name, and an expiration date, on either the front or the back. Many of the new cards now have a chip on them, which allows people to use their card by touch (contactless), or by inserting the card and keying in a PIN as with swiping the magnetic stripe. These are similar to a credit card, but unlike a credit card, the money for the purchase must be in the cardholder's bank account at the time of the purchase and is immediately transferred directly from that account to the merchant's account to pay for the purchase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smart card</span> Pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits for identification or payment functions

A smart card (SC), chip card, or integrated circuit card is a physical electronic authentication device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) chip. Many smart cards include a pattern of metal contacts to electrically connect to the internal chip. Others are contactless, and some are both. Smart cards can provide personal identification, authentication, data storage, and application processing. Applications include identification, financial, public transit, computer security, schools, and healthcare. Smart cards may provide strong security authentication for single sign-on (SSO) within organizations. Numerous nations have deployed smart cards throughout their populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIM card</span> Integrated circuit card for a mobile device

A SIM card is an integrated circuit (IC) intended to securely store an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number and its related key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices. Technically the actual physical card is known as a universal integrated circuit card (UICC); this smart card is usually made of PVC with embedded contacts and semiconductors, with the SIM as its primary component. In practice the term "SIM card" refers to the entire unit and not simply the IC.

An identity document is any document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card, or passport card. Some countries issue formal identity documents, as national identification cards that may be compulsory or non-compulsory, while others may require identity verification using regional identification or informal documents. When the identity document incorporates a person's photograph, it may be called photo ID.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mastercard</span> American multinational financial services corporation

Mastercard Inc. is the second-largest payment-processing corporation worldwide. It offers a range of payment transaction processing and other related-payment services. Its headquarters are in Purchase, New York. Throughout the world, its principal business is to process payments between the banks of merchants and the card-issuing banks or credit unions of the purchasers who use the Mastercard-brand debit, credit and prepaid cards to make purchases. Mastercard has been publicly traded since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIFARE</span> Brand of smart and proximity cards

MIFARE is a series of integrated circuit (IC) chips used in contactless smart cards and proximity cards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic identification</span> Digital proof of identity

An electronic identification ("eID") is a digital solution for proof of identity of citizens or organizations. They can be used to view to access benefits or services provided by government authorities, banks or other companies, for mobile payments, etc. Apart from online authentication and login, many electronic identity services also give users the option to sign electronic documents with a digital signature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTN Group</span> Multinational telecommunications company based in South Africa

MTN Group Limited is a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African and Asian countries. Its head office is in Johannesburg. As of December 2020, MTN recorded 280 million subscribers, making it the 7th largest mobile network operator in the world, and the largest in Africa. Active in over 20 countries, one-third of the company's revenue comes from Nigeria, where it holds about 35% market share.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HID Global</span> American manufacturer

HID Global is an American manufacturer of secure identity products. The company is an independent brand of Assa Abloy, a Swedish door and access control conglomerate. Björn Lidefelt was appointed CEO on 27 January 2020. He succeeded Stefan Widing, who led HID Global for over four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Payment card</span> Card issued by a financial institution that can be used to make a payment

Payment cards are part of a payment system issued by financial institutions, such as a bank, to a customer that enables its owner to access the funds in the customer's designated bank accounts, or through a credit account and make payments by electronic transfer with a payment terminal and access automated teller machines (ATMs). Such cards are known by a variety of names including bank cards, ATM cards, client cards, key cards or cash cards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National identity card (France)</span> National identity card of France

The French national identity card is an official identity document consisting of an electronic ID-1 card bearing a photograph, name and address. While the identity card is non-compulsory, all persons must possess some form of valid government-issued identity documentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemalto</span> International digital security company

Gemalto was an international digital security company providing software applications, secure personal devices such as smart cards and tokens, e-wallets and managed services. It was formed in June 2006 by the merger of two companies, Axalto and Gemplus International. Gemalto N.V.'s revenue in 2018 was €2.969 billion.

Mobile identity is a development of online authentication and digital signatures, where the SIM card of one’s mobile phone works as an identity tool. Mobile identity enables legally binding authentication and transaction signing for online banking, payment confirmation, corporate services, and consuming online content. The user's certificates are maintained on the telecom operator's SIM card and in order to use them, the user has to enter a personal, secret PIN code. When using mobile identity, no separate card reader is needed, as the phone itself already performs both functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giesecke+Devrient</span> German company that provides banknote and security printing, smart cards, and cash handling systems

Giesecke+Devrient, also known as (G+D), is a German company headquartered in Munich that provides banknote and securities printing, smart cards, and cash handling systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC</span> Multinational financial services group

Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC also known as GTCO PLC is a multinational financial services group, that offers retail and investment banking, pension management, asset management and payments services, headquartered in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. GTCO Plc was created in July 2021 following the corporate reorganization of Guaranty Trust Bank PLC into a Holding Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entrust</span>

Entrust Corp., formerly Entrust Datacard, provides software and hardware used to issue financial cards, e-passport production, user authentication for those looking to access secure networks or conduct financial transactions, trust certificated for websites, mobile credentials, and connected devices. The privately-held company is based in Shakopee, Minnesota and employs more than 2,500 people globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HNA Technology Investments Holdings</span>

HNA Technology Investments Holdings Limited formerly known as Advanced Card Systems Holdings Limited is a Cayman Islands-incorporated offshore holding company. Its subsidiary, Advanced Card Systems Limited, was incorporated in British Hong Kong in 1995 by Denny Wong. In 2017, HNA Group, via HNA EcoTech Group and HNA EcoTech Group's subsidiary, acquired Advanced Card Systems Holdings as part of a reverse IPO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National identity cards in the European Economic Area</span> Identity cards issued by member states of the European Economic Area

National identity cards are issued to their citizens by the governments of all European Economic Area (EEA) member states except Denmark and Ireland. Ireland however issues a passport card which is a valid document in the EEA and Switzerland. Denmark issues simpler identity cards that are not valid as travel documents. From 2 August 2021, new identity cards are harmonized as a common identity card model replaced the various formats already in use.

Sim Shagaya is a Nigerian media and technology entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of uLesson Education Limited - an app built to make education available to learners across Africa. He is the founder and former C.E.O of one of West Africa's largest electronic commerce website Konga.com and founder of E-Motion Advertising - a leading out-of-home media company acquired in 2019 by Loadstad Media. In 2014, he was named in Forbes' list of "10 Most Powerful Men in Africa".

References