The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adebayo Shittu

  • Ajimobi, Shittu, others for communications retreat

    Ajimobi, Shittu, others for communications retreat

    Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi will declare open a two-day communications retreat being organised by Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    Shittu will deliver the keynote address on the occasion.

    Other participants at the retreat include National Assembly members, key Ministry officials, chief Executive Officers of NCC, NIGCOMSAT, NITDA, NIPOST, Galaxy Backbone Ltd and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), industry bigwigs and major stakeholders are set for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital this weekend to attend the 2016 Communications Sector Retreat.

    The two-day retreat, according to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Victor Oluwadamilare, with the theme: Repositioning the Nigeria Communications Sector as the Key Driver of the Nigerian Economy, is slated for International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and will be held between Friday 22 and Saturday 23, January 2016.

    Barrister Shittu, in his avowed determination to reposition the Communications Sector in tandem with the Change Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, since assumption of duties as Minister of Communications, had embarked on various inquisitions and fact-finding exercises, the result of which culminated in the forthcoming retreat.

    It was discovered that considerable efforts made in the past to mainstream ICT into vital aspects of life in the country, have unfortunately been undermined by the lack of an integrated framework for utilisation of ICT for socio-economic development.

    In the ensuing scenario, the Minister of Communications had to re-examine the status quo ante in order to formulate new strategies for doing things differently so as to fast track the realization of the vision of a new Nigeria, hence the all-inclusive retreat.

    Towards this end, the 2016 Communications Sector Retreat was designed to achieve among others: Define a Strategic Roadmap for Government on ICT; Provide a Common Platform for Sector Stakeholders to Share Common Vision for ICT development in Nigeria and to form a precursor for the Minister to unveil his vision for the ICT sector that will be beneficial to all.

    The fulcrum of the Minister’s new initiative is job creation, revenue generation, efficient service delivery and infrastructural development.

    Some of the technical papers expected to be delivered by seasoned Nigerians and a couple of foreign technical experts include ICT Local Content and Innovation for Employment Generation; Accelerating Wealth and Job Creation in Nigeria through ICT Skills and Capacity Development; Economic Diversification: Increasing Government Revenue from the ICT Sector and Repositioning NIPOST for Enhanced Revenue Generation and Efficient Service Delivery.

    Others are Creating Enabling Environment for ICT Development; Enhancing Policy Framework for Accelerated ICT Infrastructure Development and Leveraging on the e-Government Master Plan for Efficient, Effective and Transparent Governance.

    The two-day retreat is expected to draw over 300 industry stakeholders and policy makers to the ancient City of Ibadan, the first of its kind in the history of the Ministry.

     

     

  • ‘Nigeria loses N78b yearly to cyber crimes’

    ‘Nigeria loses N78b yearly to cyber crimes’

    Nigeria loses about N78 billion yearly to cyber crimes, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said.

    He said financial institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as their affiliates have become targets for people who engage in cyber crimes.

    The Minister, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at the opening of a five –day capacity enhancement and sustainability workshop for Africa Centres for Excellence organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC), said his ministry has submitted recommendations to the government on how to tackle cyber crimes.

    “It is also note worthy to mention here that Nigeria currently loses about 78 billion yearly to activities of cyber criminals whose major targets are the financial institutions, and the MDAs, as well as their affiliates,” he said.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari, through his 2016 Budget, was planning to lay the foundation for sustainable growth of the education sector by improving upon the quality of education in Nigerian universities.

    “In line with the government’s decision to build upon existing infrastructure, President Buhari is planning to lay the foundation for sustainable growth of the education sector and to improve upon the quality of education in Nigerian Universities.

    “This is evident from the percentage that has been earmarked for education in the 2016 budget of change. This percentage for education in the 2016 budget proposal reveals the administration’s commitment to the improvement of the standard of education.”

    In his address, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said the 10 Africa Centers of Excellences have boosted the image of Nigeria’s higher education.

    The minister assured the gathering that the government would work to sustain the project in the country.

    He said: “These 10 Africa Centres of Excellences in the country have boosted the image of Nigeria’s higher education and they are making our universities look and sound even more competitive.

    “The Federal Government will continue to provide a conducive environment and a level playing ground for all Nigerian universities to develop since all our universities are producing graduates for the same labour market.”

    The ACE is a regional higher education project for West and Central Africa with support from the World Bank. The project will end in 2018.

  • Nigeria loses N78bn yearly to cyber crimes – Minister

    Nigeria loses about N78 billion yearly to cyber crimes, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said.

    Shittu said financial institutions, government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as their affiliates have become targets for people who engage in cyber crimes.

    The minister spoke in Abuja on Monday at the opening ceremony of a five –day capacity enhancement and sustainability workshop for Africa centres for excellence organized by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    Shittu said his ministry had submitted recommendations to the government on how to tackle cyber crimes.

    “It is also note worthy to mention here that Nigeria currently loses about 78 billion yearly to activities of cyber criminals whose major targets are the financial institutions, and the government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as their affiliates,” he said.

    Shittu said that President Muhammadu Buhari is planning to lay the foundation for sustainable growth of the education sector by improving upon the quality of education in Nigerian universities.

    He said: “In line with the present government’s decision to build upon existing infrastructure, President Buhari is planning to lay the foundation for sustainable growth of the education sector and to improve upon the quality of education in Nigerian Universities.

    “This is evident from the percentage that has been earmarked for education in the 2016 budget of change. This percentage for education in the 2016 budget proposal reveals the administration’s commitment to the improvement of the standard of education.”

    In his address, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said that the 10 Africa Centers of Excellences have boosted the image of Nigeria’s higher education.

     

  • Telecoms sector investments to hit $166b, says Shittu

    Telecoms sector investments to hit $166b, says Shittu

    The Minister of Communications Technology, Mr Adebayo Shittu yesterday in Abuja said investment in the mobile telecoms industry would hit $166billion and create over  6.1 million jobs by year 2020.

    According to him 2.7 million direct jobs would be created, while another 3.4 million indirect jobs would also come from the sector.

    Mr Shittu who spoke while declaring open the” 2015 Emerge Tech Summit” in Abuja said, the mobile industry employed two million people directly as at last year, noting that by 2020 an additional 700, 000 jobs would be generated by the sector.

    He said: “By 2020, it is expected that the mobile market would be worth $166 billion  or N33 trillion  and this represents eight per cent of the region’s GDP (gross domestic product) as opposed to 5.7 per cent of GDP in 2014.

    “At the end of 2014, Nigeria alone had about 136 million registered lines from the four major operators ( Etisalat MTN, Glo and Airtel). Nigeria telecom operators accounted for 35 per cent of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria in 2014 alone.”

    Mr Shittu said following the commitment of the present administration to invest massively in infrastructure facilities as a way of creating jobs for the youths,  the ball is now in their courts to “galvanise their lofty ideas into profitable ventures in ICT, web development, mobile applications, software, internet security, cloud computing and microchip processing developers.”

    Mr Shittu reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s commitment to build an all-inclusive “political and economic institutions that provide the driving wheels for emerging businesses and startups.”

    He said this is the reason the government considered Emerge Tech Platform critical to the development of the nation.

    In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta said the commission would not relent in its efforts to ensure the delivery of quality service to subscribers and urged all stakeholders in the industry to ensure that their activities and operations are in line with international best practices and standard.

  • Communications sector springboard for industrial revolution – Shittu

    Communications sector springboard for industrial revolution – Shittu

    Mr. Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications, says the communications sector is a springboard for industrial and administrative revolution.

    Shittu made this statement during his maiden meeting with the management staff of the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, God has blessed Nigeria with a large population that if explored in a fair manner communications can become the cash cow of the nation in place of petroleum.

    “There are many graduates without the knowledge of ICT; many of them end up paying exorbitant fees to engage in entrepreneurial ventures to learn these things.

    “We must evolve a policy that will engage the usage of ICT in our universities and polytechnics, which can generate a lot of income for government without being oppressive in our charges.

    “The current economic downturn may be an inhibiting factor; however, we must be resolute in our resolve to make a difference serving Nigerians with utmost dedication, transparency and honesty.

    “This we must do in order to achieve for our people the highest good possible in our circumstance, ‘’ he said.

    Shittu frowned at a situation where just about ten per cent of the budget is capital project and the rest stands as overhead.

    He stressed that if there were no capital projects, it would be difficult to achieve any level of development because hardly would jobs be created.

    “It will not be business as usually, there will be zero budgeting, every budget must outline its programmes and everything budgeted for must be actualised to its last detail.

    “We all must key into President Buhari’s plan of a society where jobs are created and readily available to make life less burdensome for those of us with many dependants.’’

    Speaking on the influence of the civil service on governance, the minister said it was a critical machinery of government.

    “The civil service has the crucial responsibilities of initiating, formulating and implementation of public policies, programmes and projects.

    “It is, however, a fact that the performance level of any government cannot go beyond the level of competence, commitment and efficiency of its civil service.

    “The government, therefore, needs you on its side to do things differently and lift our ministry to a lofty pedestal of performance, as true agents of change.”

    NAN reports that Shittu was among the 36 ministers inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari earlier on Wednesday.

    Also in his maiden meeting with the staff, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Sunny Echono, assured the minister that the entire staff would be mobilised to carry out the president’s mandate.

    Echono encouraged staff to give a sense of direction to what ought to be done to achieve great results and move the ministry and Nigeria forward.

     

  • Senate screens Shittu, Bukar- Ibrahim

    Senate screens Shittu, Bukar- Ibrahim

    The Senate on Tuesday screened two ministerial nominees forwarded to the upper legislative house by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

    Three ministerial nominees were listed for screening on Tuesday, but it was unclear why the third nominee did not appear before the Senators.

    Those screened were Barr. Adebayo Shittu, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State and Khadijat Bukar-Ibrahim, an ex-commissioner for Transport in Yobe State.

    The third nominee – Omoleye Daramola – will now be screened on Wednesday.

    The Senate had earlier said it will screen three or four nominees per day, starting from Tuesday, to allow for thorough and diligent exercise.

     

  • Highlights of ministerial screening

    Highlights of ministerial screening

    Three ministerial nominees will be screened on Tuesday after Senate opted to trim down the number of nominees for screening to three per day.

    Those that will be screened on Tuesday are – Barr. Adebayo Shittu, Claudius Omoleye Daramola and Khadijat Bukar- Ibrahim.

    However, the senate ended up screening only two of the ministerial nominees, in person of Barr. Shittu and Khadijat.

     

    Barr. Adebayo Shittu:

    • Politics is the most profession.
    • I will fit into any role in FEC.
    • I have never been indicted for religious intolerance by any panel.
    • A lot of people are religious, but not Godly.
    • Nigeria must be moralize and move closer to God.
    • There is difference between indictment and advice.
    • I’m not an extremist or religious fanatic.
    • Everybody must work towards a saner or more Godly society.
    • Going to culture ministry will not be a strange thing to me.
    • Change is about the people.
    • There are less than five active sports in Nigeria.
    • Sport is a money spinner.
    • One major benefit of free education is to produce citizens that respect law and order.
    • Free education is a solution to youth restiveness.
    • Religious leaders should be paid officers.
    • Religion must compulsory in our institutions.
    • Justice is about our lives.
    • I will ensure all ministries have sitting lawyers.
    • I will address prison congestion.
    • Boko Haram is unIslamic.

     

    Khadijat Bukar-Ibrahim:

    * She was a three-time House of Representatives member

    * A former commissioner for Transport in Yobe State

    *  Married to a three-time Governor of Yobe State

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”84455″ count=”4″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Amaechi, seven others listed for screening

    Amaechi, seven others listed for screening

    Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and seven others have been listed for ministerial screening slated for Tuesday.

    The screening of the ministerial nominees resumed at the Senate on Tuesday after a two-day break.

    Other nominees listed for screening are – Barr. Adebayo Shittu, Heineken Lokpobiri, Khadijat Abah-Ibrahim,  Bawa Bwari, Ocholi Enojo James,  Mansur Mohammed and Zainab Ahmed.

     

  • Oyo: Ex- Attorney General targets APC guber ticket

    A former Attorney-General in Oyo State, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, said he will contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket with Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2015.

    Shittu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Thursday that he was the most qualified of all aspirants warming up for the seat.

    “I am the most qualified among the aspirants on ground now in terms of political experience. I have been actively involved in politics since 1979,” he said.

    The former governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) during the last election in the state described APC as the party to beat in 2015.

    Shittu commended Ajimobi for his tremendous achievements in infrastructure, environmental sanitation and beautification, but advised him to improve on capacity building, job creation and empowerment.

    He urged the governor to also make education accessible to the people, adding that he should declare education free at primary and secondary level.

    “In a supposedly progressive state like Oyo, one would expect education to be free.

    “It is good to build bridges and roads, but the priority should be on building human beings and their capabilities,” he said.

    He also urged the state government to improve on its youth empowerment scheme, adding that the involvement of public/private partnership would go a long way to achieve good result.

    Shittu acknowledged that the Mokola flyover built by government was a laudable project considering the benefits it would offer, but maintained that the N2.9 billion expended on it was high.

    He also called on university lecturers to suspend their strike in the interest of the students, saying the future of the nation depended solely on them.