The Nation Newspaper

Category: Technology

  • Character-based AI unveils to transform financial access

    Character-based AI unveils to transform financial access

    In a groundbreaking move aimed at reshaping financial accessibility, Crendly has introduced a revolutionary marketplace for streamlined loan access.

    The platform, designed to empower individuals and businesses in Nigeria, seeks to redefine financial aspirations and freedom.

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Crendly, Damilare Odueso, emphasized the platform’s commitment to democratizing credit access, addressing a historical challenge in the Nigerian market.

    With less than 10 percent of the population having access to credit due to high interest rates and inconsistent income, Crendly’s AI-driven API aims to break barriers and foster economic inclusion.

    Odueso highlighted the transformative impact of Crendly’s AI, providing financial institutions with adaptable capabilities that evolve with new data.

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    The platform transcends traditional lending boundaries, offering unbiased decisions to a diverse customer base, including those beyond existing clientele.

    Crendly’s innovation lies in empowering borrowers to define loan terms and negotiate directly with lenders, challenging the conventional structures of traditional banking.

    Odueso emphasized that this shift represents more than a technological advancement; it signifies a revolution in redefining trust in finance, enabling everyday Nigerians to actively participate in the lending landscape.

    The platform’s flexibility allows individuals to become active lenders, offering loans and earning returns, further emphasizing its role in reshaping the lending process. Crendly not only addresses the credit gap but also transforms the role of individuals in the financial ecosystem, providing new avenues for growth and community support.

    Odueso reiterated Crendly’s focus on democratizing the lending process, emphasizing trust as a tool for empowerment. The platform’s ethos positions everyday Nigerians as both beneficiaries and contributors to financial prosperity, creating a community that connects borrowers and lenders based on strong ethical and credit principles.

    In essence, Crendly goes beyond equalizing credit accessibility; it establishes a community fostering financial goals for both borrowers and lenders while adhering to ethical practices.

  • Growing importance of privacy amongst customers

    Growing importance of privacy amongst customers

    By Kehinde Ogundare and Veerakumar Natarajan

    Privacy is a growing concern for technology consumers worldwide. While there was a time when that may not have been the case for countries like Nigeria and Kenya, that’s no longer the reality. As connectivity becomes more affordable and ubiquitous, Kenyans and Nigerians have become increasingly tech-savvy and conscious regarding how much data they share with technology companies and what the latter are doing with it.

    In the face of these growing concerns, companies operating in Africa need to be mindful of the increasing privacy mindset of their customers. Aside from regulatory compliance, companies should actively demonstrate that they care about their customers’ privacy concerns in order to build and sustain trust and to show they’re taking a proactive approach to protect their personal information.

    The importance of regulatory compliance

    The first step any company should take to safeguard their customers’ privacy is ensuring they’re compliant with all of the relevant laws and regulations. In countries like Kenya and Nigeria, data protection regulations are relatively new.

    The Data Protection Act of 2019, enforced by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), regulates data protection in Kenya. The act expressly prohibits organisations from processing personal data if their consent has not been provided first. Each organisation must have a data controller and/or a data processor whose responsibility is to prove they’ve obtained consent before processing a person’s data.

    Nigeria’s Data Protection Act, meanwhile, was signed into law in 2023. The act governs both manual and automatic data processing. The act also established the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which is an independent body that governs data protection and regulation in the country. In addition to defining sensitive personal data as including an individual’s genetic and biometric data as well as their race, ethnicity, and health status, among other things, the act also provides specific grounds for the processing of this sensitive personal data. According to the act, such data can be processed where consent is provided or where processing is necessary for social security or employment laws.

    Both of these laws are in line with similar laws and regulations around the world, such as Europe’s GDPR. That means they’re not only a good place for Nigerian and Kenyan businesses to start for compliance, but they also help businesses gain good footing when it comes to protecting customer data should they start operating internationally.

    Beyond compliance

    Companies should, however, view regulatory compliance as the bare minimum when it comes to meeting their customers’ privacy needs. Given the parlous state of privacy protection across many African countries, going above and beyond with customer privacy can be a positive differentiator for companies that get it right.

    Among the initiatives they can undertake in this direction are investing in data center security to minimise the collection of data, requesting permission from customers while collecting sensitive information, and ultimately reducing their reliance on selling user data for revenue gains. Another initiative that organisations can implement is implementing multi-factor authentication if they require customers to log in to an account to access their products and services.

    Another aspect that businesses should pay close attention to is which technology vendor they work with to run their internal operations. Businesses should ensure the third-party tech tools they deploy within their IT infrastructure also come with strong data privacy and protection controls, and the corresponding vendors also practice transparent data collection practices. Should one of these vendors fall victim to a cybersecurity breach, the customer data of the organisations using it could easily fall into nefarious hands.

    Businesses should, therefore, ensure they make use of software providers and vendors that are, themselves, compliant with all the relevant privacy laws and regulations, and offer a comprehensive set of security measures and procedures, including controlled user access, enterprise mobility management (EMM) integration, IP restrictions, and secure integrations.

    Riding the positives of proactive protection

    While there are many negatives associated with data protection failures, including reputational damage and legal punishments, it’s also important that organisations understand the positives associated with proactive data protection.

    High up on the list of those positives is building trust. Customers who trust the companies they buy from are more likely to be loyal in the long term, make repeat purchases in the future, and act as evangelists to others. At a time when customers are increasingly concerned about data privacy, building that trust is more difficult, but also more rewarding than ever. It, in other words, is something worth investing in.

    Kehinde Ogundare is the Country Manager, Zoho Nigeria while Veerakumar Natarajan is the Country Head – Kenya, Zoho Corp.

  • TechPlan Africa trains over 10,000 graduates, empowers 2,000

    TechPlan Africa trains over 10,000 graduates, empowers 2,000

    TechPlan Africa, a leading consultancy firm, has trained over 10,000 graduates in lucrative digital skills.

     The flagship programme, Business Plan Academy, has equipped more than 2,000 participants, including business owners and working professionals, with the skills to write professional business plans.

    Graduates of the programme have leveraged their knowledge and certificates for various opportunities, such as freelance business plan writing, applying for funding, and securing flexible side income.

    TechPlan Africa, under the guidance of Rilwan Akeyewale, a 34-year-old business strategist and financial analyst,  offers support to fast-growing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, becoming a key player in facilitating access to funding and providing essential services for tech startups and SMEs.

    The  firm specialises in assisting businesses with the crucial documentation necessary to secure funding, having a track record of helping numerous tech startups and SMEs access funding through meticulously crafted business plans, financial models, and investor decks.

    Beyond traditional businesses, TechPlan Africa also extends its expertise to individuals with innovative business ideas, offering data-backed feasibility studies. The firm actively supports talented Nigerians seeking to relocate overseas through the startup visa route by presenting compelling and viable business ideas.

    Akeyewale anticipates a transformative year for content creation and emphasizes the importance of a robust content strategy for businesses targeting online audiences. Additionally, he advises businesses to prioritize paid digital advertising for enhanced visibility and success.

    “This year is the year that content creation will get to a new level. For many businesses whose target audience is online, a great content strategy could mean a whole lot of difference. Businesses should also take paid digital advertising very seriously.”

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    Describing itself as a bridge,  Akeyewale plays a pivotal role in guiding businesses from their current state to their desired position, particularly when positioning for funding opportunities.

    For young individuals, TechPlan Africa serves as the connection to unlocking their dream earning potential.

    TechPlan Africa emerged from a vision identified during Rilwan’s tenure as an auditor at KPMG. Recognizing the need for tailored, quality, and professional services in the rapidly evolving tech space, Akeyewale assembled a team of young and dynamic professionals. 

    Since then, TechPlan Africa has facilitated over $10,000,000 in funding for clients through its bankable business documentations and data-informed advisory services.

  • Google announces new update on Bard to enhance creativity

    Google announces new update on Bard to enhance creativity

    Tech giant Google on Thursday, February 1, introduced a new update, an advanced Artificial intelligence (AI) model Gemini Pro, to enhance creativity, capabilities, and productivity among others.

    The launch includes expanded features for fact-checking Bard’s responses via the “G” icon and introduces text-to-image generation, leveraging Gemini’s multimodal capabilities to generate photorealistic visuals based on textual descriptions, offering users an innovative creative tool.

    The update also introduces Nigerians to enhanced AI functionalities in understanding, summarising, reasoning, coding, and planning, setting a new benchmark for AI technology in the region.

    According to Google, “Bard now integrates Gemini Pro, an advanced AI model that improves its understanding, reasoning, and summarization abilities. This means users can expect more informative and accurate responses, particularly when dealing with complex questions, creative text formats, or coding challenges.

    “Bard’s fact-checking feature now supports over 40 languages, including Nigerian languages. Users can click on the “G” icon to verify Bard’s responses against information found online, ensuring they have reliable and accurate facts at their fingertips.

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    “Bard introduces a new image generation feature. Users can describe their ideas in English, and Bard will utilise the Imagen 2 model to create stunning, photorealistic visuals. This opens up new avenues for creative exploration and expression, allowing users to bring their visions to life.

    “Bard with Gemini Pro has been recognized for its excellence and preference among users and experts alike. The Large Model Systems Organization, an evaluator of language models and chatbots, recently highlighted Bard with Gemini Pro as a “stunning leap” forward, ranking it among the top-performing chatbots globally. This recognition is supported by blind evaluations with third-party raters, further establishing its superiority over other free and paid chatbot alternatives.

    “In addition to English, Gemini Pro in Bard is now available in over 40 languages across more than 230 countries and territories, making it accessible to a broader audience. The double-check feature, previously available in English, has also been expanded to more than 40 languages, allowing users worldwide to corroborate Bard’s responses with web content.”

  • Meet Omoyeni Babatunde a Nigerian iOS Developer pushing careers limits

    Meet Omoyeni Babatunde a Nigerian iOS Developer pushing careers limits

    Omoyeni Babatunde, a former seamstress, has shared how she stumbled into the world of tech, a journey that serves as a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and unwavering determination.

    According to her, the journey started while she was a student of Linguistics at the University of Ilorin, Kwara state.

    While studying Linguistics, a field seemingly distant from the world of technology, Omoyeni discovered her knack for sewing during her academic journey, honing her skills to perfection.

    By the time she reached her final year, she had created a name for herself, sewing not only for fellow students but also for professionals ranging from doctors to lawyers and many other professions.

    However, fate had other plans for Omoyeni. During her service year, the allure of code writing captured her imagination, and she found herself drawn to the world of programming. Uncertain about the specific path to take, Omoyeni embarked on a journey of self-discovery, starting with the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and a dash of Javascript.

    The support of her family played a pivotal role in this transition, though not without a touch of scepticism which was a result of true concern from her father, who humorously questioned if she was sure it was not “Yahoo Yahoo” – a testament to the values of dignity of labour instilled during her upbringing by both her parents.

    Undeterred by occasional scepticism and fueled by an unyielding passion, she persevered. A colleague’s laughter and dismissal during her learning phase while she was serving only served as fuel for her determination. “Stick with your needle and thread,” he said, but she had already set her sights on a new horizon.

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    About four and a half years later, Omoyeni has emerged as a promising and dedicated iOS developer. With a rich professional experience that includes contributions to esteemed companies both within and outside the country, as she reflects on her journey, she acknowledges the hurdles faced by aspiring females who may feel confined to conventional roles. She challenges the stereotype that limits choices for women to baking, sewing, and makeup, encouraging them to explore the myriad options available.

    “Nothing good comes easy,” she stated.

    Her story is not one of overnight success, but a narrative of consistency, learning, unlearning, relearning, and the courage to seek help when needed. To those who dream of a career beyond the ordinary, Omoyeni and people like her are living proof that the sky is just the beginning.

    Omoyeni journey is not just a personal triumph but a beacon of inspiration for anyone striving to break free from societal expectations. It reminds us that with passion, perseverance, and a touch of audacity, the seemingly impossible can become a reality.

    So, as Omoyeni aptly puts it, “If I can, you can too. The sky is your starting point,” she said.

  • Charles Scott-Emuakpor revolutionises global tech landscapes with Prime technologies

    Charles Scott-Emuakpor revolutionises global tech landscapes with Prime technologies

    Charles Scott-Emuakpor, a trailblazing leader, is spearheading a technological revolution across Africa, Latin America, and Asia with his groundbreaking venture, Prime Teknologies.

    Armed with an Information & Communications Technology degree from the University of Gloucestershire (UK) and an MBA from Cambridge Anglia Ruskin University (UK), Scott-Emuakpor boasts a rich educational background that fuels his passion for transformative tech solutions.

    Scott-Emuakpor shared pivotal insights into his professional journey, from the early days at Ovilaj Autos to spearheading innovative initiatives at Huawei.

    “Each step has been a learning opportunity, shaping my understanding of the tech industry,” he remarked. His tenure at Huawei, starting in 2019, positioned him in key roles, contributing significantly to the company’s global footprint.

    “Being part of Huawei’s Global Tech-4-all Open programme in partnership with UNESCO was a humbling experience. Though that wasn’t my initiative, I did lead the connected devices ecosystem for Huawei’s Global Eco-Development department in the UK, this allowed me to contribute to bridging the innovation gap in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, bringing technology to communities that need it the most,” he said.

    Scott-Emuakpor’s journey is marked by impactful roles, including founding London’s first commercial Virtual Reality (VR) center, Prime 5D Centre in 2014.

    As General Manager at IDG, he led projects across Europe, contributing to the growth of immersive technology. His entrepreneurial venture, Ovilaj IT Global, demonstrated a commitment to software solutions.

    His foray into entrepreneurship with Ovilaj IT Global showcased his commitment to software solutions. In 2019, he founded Prime Teknologies (UK) Ltd, emphasising Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality technologies.

    “Wearing various hats at Huawei, from Wearables to AppGallery, and leading in areas like Huawei Cloud, smart devices and technology research, allowed me to contribute to the company’s multifaceted growth, my experiences have not only honed my technical skills but also given me a deep understanding of how technology can impact diverse industries,” he said.

    Beyond corporate success, Scott-Emuakpor is actively involved in nurturing tech innovation at the grassroots level. He initiated a transformative tech program at his alma mater in Warri, Delta State, introducing smart devices and immersive science VR experiences to enhance the school’s curriculum.

    Additionally, he established a self-funded scholarship programme, ongoing since its inception, empowering students from Primary through Secondary levels. “Education and technology hold the key to a brighter future. Initiatives like these aim to empower young minds,” he stated.

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    Under Scott-Emuakpor’s leadership, Prime Teknologies envisions harnessing emerging technology to revolutionize consumer products, services, and IT solutions. The company, comprising a team of creative innovators and IT engineers, specializes in cutting-edge research, design, manufacturing, and supply of various IT solutions.

    “Prime Teknologies is at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies,” Scott-Emuakpor elucidated. “Our goal is to create solutions that not only meet industry needs but redefine standards.”

    As Scott-Emuakpor leads the charge in innovation, he views it as an ongoing journey rather than a destination. At Prime Teknologies, our mission is to blaze a trail, shaping the tech landscape across Africa, Latin America, and Asia to make an enduring impact on the IT industry.

    Looking forward, Charles holds a deep-seated wish for Nigeria to emerge as a global technology powerhouse, not merely a consumer. The overarching goal of these articles is to introduce a new face committed to supporting local and national entities in driving technology adoption, fostering creation, and fueling research for innovation and emerging technologies in Nigeria and Africa.

     He plans to return to Nigeria in February 2024, aligning with his intention to engage in the Innovate Nigeria conference & expo 2024 in Lagos amongst other activities. This move aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to infuse technology into businesses and inspire the next generation, especially women in tech.

  • FG unveils plans to leverage audience measurement system for economic growth

    FG unveils plans to leverage audience measurement system for economic growth

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the Federal Government will leverage the Audience Measurement System to strategically position the broadcasting industry as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and innovation.

    The Minister stated this in Abuja on Thursday when he received the interim report and findings of the Audience Measurement Task Team, which is designing a framework for the commencement of a scientifically based audience measurement system in the country.

    “The comprehensive insights provided by the findings of this committee offer a unique opportunity to strategically position our broadcasting industry as a catalyst for economic growth. By leveraging the data on audience behavior, preferences, and engagement patterns, we aim to facilitate a more conducive environment for economic activities within the media sector.

    “This initiative aligns with the present administration’s commitment to the promotion of innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic development. The data-driven decisions derived from the report will not only enhance the quality and relevance of our broadcasts but also unlock new avenues for investment, advertising, and content creation,” he said.

    Idris lamented that the current Audience Measurement in the country is over two decades old and still uses the age-old Diary Method (pen and paper) of collecting data on TV Viewership and Radio Listenership, which does not reflect the true picture of what and how much people are watching/listening to particular content. He said this development has stunted the growth of the entire Entertainment and Media ecosystem.

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    The Minister said introducing the Audience Measurement System becomes imperative because of the underperformance of the broadcast advertising market despite the nation’s huge population.

    “Despite having more than three times the eyeballs in South Africa, Nigeria’s television advertising market revenue is low compared to that of South Africa, and Kenya; as we’re third in the continent, he stated.

    Idris, who described the findings of the Task Team as a new dawn for the country, said the System holds immense importance in ensuring that broadcasting endeavors are not only impactful but also reflective of our audience’s diverse preferences and needs.

    He is optimistic that if properly harnessed using accurate data mined through the Audience Measurement System, advertising marketing revenue can boost the nation’s GDP.

    He said it will also serve as a tool that empowers broadcasters and content producers to understand and respond to the dynamic nature of media consumers, providing valuable insights into their viewing habits, content preferences, and engagement patterns.

    The Minister said the commitment to excellence and thoroughness in examining the intricacies of broadcast audience carried out by the Task Team and the Service Provider is commendable and promised to further engage critical stakeholders on the implementation of the scientifically based Audience Measurement System in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the Task Team and former Chief Executive Officer of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, said the initiative to implement a scientifically based audience measurement system in Nigeria started in 2020. The Team collated the opinions of all the stakeholders in the industry on how to make the system work.

    Chairman of First Media and Entertainment Integrated (Nigeria) Limited – the service provider, Mr. Rotimi Pedro, said they had engaged the services of an independent company to conduct the establishment survey to guarantee the credibility of the findings in line with global best practices.

    Pedro said an establishment survey of 60,000 people was conducted by the company where households were selected with a cluster sampling methodology based on multilayer Geographic Information System data.

  • iSI holds career advancement session Jan 27

    iSI holds career advancement session Jan 27

    A non-governmental organisation, i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) is set to hold a career advancement session on the 27th of January, 2024.

    The session, organised by the Young Professional Career Advancement (YPCA) team of iSI is aimed at providing the relevant information needed by youths to excel in graduate school.

    A statement by Dr. Babatunde Alalade said: “Prospective graduate school students and graduate school students should not miss this opportunity. It will be an insightful session.”

    The guest speaker for the session is Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe, a professor of geology and geophysics.

    Oboh-Ikuenobe is the associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA. 

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    As an Associate Dean, Prof. Oboh-Ikuenobe oversees all curriculum and instruction matters as well as the development and implementation of strategic planning related to academic programs.

    She was appointed full professor in 2005 and program head in geology and geophysics from 2006 to 2014. She was interim department chair from January 2015 until July 2017. Prof. Oboh-Ikuenobe is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Paleontological Society, and the Geological Society of America (GSA).

    Prof. Oboh-Ikuenobe joined the Missouri S&T faculty from the University of Cambridge in 1991. She was honoured with an outstanding teaching award at Missouri S&T in 2020 and 2022.

    It said: “You don’t want to miss this session. Join the meeting using the Zoom below; Meeting ID: 815 3612 3912 Passcode: 507077; Join us on X (formerly Twitter): https://lnkd.in/gSSiDS-d“

  • FG, Tech4Dev, others empower Nigerians with 150 million naira in digital assets

    FG, Tech4Dev, others empower Nigerians with 150 million naira in digital assets

    The federal government, Tech4Dev, and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) have inaugurated a digital skills competition aimed at the empowerment of Nigerians with digital assets worth 150 million naira.

    The federal government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),  Tech4Dev, and the FCDO launched the programme in Abuja targeting youths, civil servants, and women.

    The initiative tagged #DigitalForAllChallenge 2.0, Africa is the largest free digital skilling competition aimed at empowering 2 million Nigerians with basic and intermediate digital skills.

    According to the founder of Tech4Dev, Joel Ogunsola, the initiative offered participants the chance to win over N150 million in cash and other prizes.

    The launch which took place at Ventures Park in Abuja, also coincided with the United Nations International Day of Education.

    The organizers said the #DigitalForAllChallenge was structured to promote the learning and proliferation of digital skills in Nigeria through an incentivized structure.

    Our correspondent gathered that the program is open to participants in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The programme would focus on three distinct categories: Young learners (ages 8-15), Youth (16-45), and Civil Servants nationwide.

    Ogunsola said the #DigitalForAllChallenge 2.0 spans 12 months and is divided into three phases.

    He said: “The first phase is a 6-month Learning Phase that focuses on knowledge acquisition, followed by a 2-month Competition Phase with emphasis on practical application and mastery of the acquired skills – this competition phase happens at state, regional and national level and the final stage is the national grand finale that brings together all regional champions across the 3 target categories; Young Learners, Youth and Civil Servants for the selection of the winners.

    “Winners in the Young Learners’ category stand a chance to win cash scholarships, with the national winner receiving 10 million Naira, the first runner-up will receive 7.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 5 million Naira.”

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    According to the initiative, “the teacher of the National Winner would receive 5 million Naira while an ICT lab would be opened in the National Winner’s school in collaboration with NITDA.

    “In the Civil Service category, the national winner secures a 10 million Naira cash prize, the first runner-up will receive 7.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 5 million Naira.

    “For the Youth Category, under the basic level, the national winner secures a 10 million Naira cash prize, the first runner-up will receive 7.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 5 million Naira while the intermediate level of the youth category winner will take home 15 million Naira, the first runner-up will take home 12.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 10 million Naira.”

    Speaking further, Ogunsola emphasized that #DigitalForAllChallenge2.0 is more than a training program.

    It is a platform to encourage Nigerians to embrace the digital economy and reward people’s commitment towards positive change, he said.

    Ogunsola said: “We believe that digital skills are the bedrock of a brighter future for all Nigerians. That’s why we’re thrilled to launch #DigitalForAllChallenge 2.0, the largest free digital skilling program in Africa, in partnership with the FCDO and NITDA.

    “The #DigitalForAllChallenge2.0 is not just about equipping Nigerians with digital skills; it’s about unlocking their potential to drive positive change and be rewarded for it.”

    The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said: “For me, there’ll never be a more perfect time to have this conversation because we have been investing in advancing digital skills for Nigerians and we believe that if we want to make an impact and create value, we need to work as a team, hence, the reason we partnered with Tech4Dev on this #DigitalForAllChallenge journey.

    “We want every Nigerian to have access to digital education and if we want to develop digital skills from basic to advanced level, we feel that through a challenge of this sort that will be interesting for youth to be part of, we can get millions of Nigerians trained.”

    Deputy High Commissioner, FCDO, Mrs Gill Lever added, “I wholeheartedly commend this initiative as a beacon of progress in Nigeria’s digital landscape. Its potential to bridge the digital divide and empower millions is truly remarkable. I am confident that by the competition’s culmination, we will witness a significant shift in Nigeria’s digital landscape, with millions equipped with the skills and confidence to navigate the ever-evolving digital world.”

    The program’s first edition sponsored by Microsoft took place in 2022, with the winner of the intermediate category, Theresa Sunday from Lagos, winning 2.5 million naira, while Nelson Didam from Kaduna State, emerged as the winner in the basic category taking home 1 million naira.

    Tech4Dev, a global non-profit social enterprise, has directly equipped 120,298 Africans with digital and life skills for jobs and entrepreneurship across 22 African countries and currently also runs Africa’s largest free women-only digital skilling program, Women Techsters Initiative.

  • Northern governors advocate deployment of digital technologies to address challenges

    Northern governors advocate deployment of digital technologies to address challenges

    Three northern state governors have advocated the consolidation of the gains of the immediate past administration in the areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and digital assets to address the challenges facing the country.

    They are Governor Babagana Zullum of Borno State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.

    Former Lagos State governor and immediate past Minister of Works Babatunde Fashola also joined them in their advocacy, saying Nigeria should keep an eye on Artificial Intelligence.

    They submitted the unveiling and public presentation of the book written by the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, at Fraser Suites and Hotels, Abuja.

    The book which chronicled Prof Pantami’s journey in public Service and his scholarly contributions to ICT and digital economic growth in Nigeria was titled: “A Scholar’s Journey Navigating Academia.”

    The event was attended by Former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode, and former Minister of State for Budget and national planning, Clem Agba.

    Other dignitaries at the event were the former Governor of Gombe state Senate Danjuma Governor, the Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Engr Mele Kyari, former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and former Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen Sani Usman rtd.

    Governor Babagana Zullum who chaired the event said the previous administration achieved a lot in the areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and deployment of digital assets to address contemporary challenges and urged the present administration to consolidate on the gains.

    According to Zullum, the ICT sector witnessed an unprecedented turnaround and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), asserting that it enabled the government to earn enormous revenues from the non-oil sector.

    Zullum praised Prof Pantami’s dedication to public service, saying some of the challenges facing the country, especially in the areas of security and economic growth can be addressed with ICT and Digital assets already put in place.

    The governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Inuwa Yahaya who spoke in the same manner, said Prof Pantami’s name has become a household name in Gombe for the development he facilitated and the increase in digital literacy among the people.

    The governor of Nasarawa State, Sule congratulated Prof Pantami for putting the book together within the shortest period. He said he admired the former Minister’s advocacy for prioritizing skills above certificates as the solution to unemployment and poverty.

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    According to him, digital skills and knowledge especially amongst Nigerian youths would create job opportunities and wealth, while youth restiveness would decrease significantly.

    Former Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola said Nigeria should keep an eye on the usage of Artificial Intelligence as a dominant asset in digital technology,  asserting that “we are experiencing the new reality that’s changing understanding of the environment and our roles as a people “.

    Fashola urged Nigerians to read as many books as possible as Nigeria is rated as number 76 amongst countries with many book publications with over 300,000 titles in a year.

    The book was reviewed by Prof Abdulrasheed Abubakar, former Executive Secretary of the National University Commission, NUC,  while the event was anchored by Malam Garba Shehu, former Special Assistant on Media to former President,  Muhammadu Buhari.