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Tag: CPN

  • RoLAC partners CPN Lagos to end violence against children

    RoLAC partners CPN Lagos to end violence against children

    The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), funded by the European Union and managed by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA), has partnered with the Child Protection Network (CPN), Lagos Chapter, to end violence against children.

    The move was meant to re-establish the Child Rights Implementation Committee in all local government areas of Lagos State.  This initiative aims to support the state government’s efforts across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to ensure the safety, protection, and welfare of children. The re-inauguration and training commenced on in Ikorodu and Lagos Island local government areas.

    According to Mrs. Ronke Oyelakin, Coordinator of CPN Lagos, this initiative is long overdue, as little progress has been made since the committees were established in 2019 for the implementation of the Child’s Rights Law at the local government level.

     Oyelakin highlighted that inadequate budgetary allocations pose a significant challenge to the law’s full implementation. She emphasized the need for all local governments to take ownership of this initiative and view it as their own project to support the state’s objectives.

    She further expressed CPN Lagos’s commitment to collaborating with local governments to fulfill the mandate of eradicating all forms of violence against children.

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    “To commemorate International Children’s Day on November 20, 2024, CPN Lagos is diligently working to revitalize these committees and engage local governments that are yet to be inaugurated through training for all stakeholders—both state and non-state actors—across eight local governments, including Ikorodu, Shomolu, Agege, Surulere, and those yet to be inaugurated such as Ikeja, Lagos Island, Apapa, and Ajeromi-Ifelodun,” she affirmed.

    In her goodwill message, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, urged the committee to continue advocating for children’s rights through legal reforms and policies that promote mindset changes, challenge harmful cultural norms, and drive legislative actions that will make the state a safer environment for children.

     Mrs. Bolarinwa, represented by Mrs. Tola Sanusi, Director in the ministry’s legal department, commended the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Honourable Wasiu Ayodeji Adesina, for his dedication to upholding children’s inalienable rights as enshrined in the law.

    She encouraged the committee to maintain collaboration with the government to strengthen child protection systems, ensuring that children’s voices are heard and that they can live without fear, work without limitations, and lead without hesitation.

  • CPN: quackery bane of IT

    The Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) yesteday described unregistered practitioners in the information technology (IT) industry as quacks.

    Its President and Chairman in Council, Prof Charles Uwadia, who spoke during the annual general meeting (AGM) of the group at Lagos Sheraton Hotel, said  the Council has compiled the list of registered members which will be published soon, adding that those whose names are not found on the register will be regarded as IT quacks.

    He said: “We just finished compiling data of registered members and will be published very soon and if your name is not in that register, you will be regarded as a quack if you are practicing, that is what the law says.

    “CPN recognise the fact that there are many professionals whose name are not in our register, that is a challenge to us and will be resolved soon, whatever means it will take to achieve that will be put in place.”

  • CPN to govts: embrace IT for economic development

    The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has urged the three tiers of government to embrace technology to deliver services to the people. It warned that governments that failed to embrace technology have fallen while those that deploy technology have continued to rise.

    Its Registrar, Mr. Allwell C. Achumba, who spoke during 2018 IT Professionals’ Assembly in Abuja,  said: “We live in a world driven and powered by intellect and technology, a world where we see nations rise and fall as a result of its embrace or neglect of IT. Therefore, we need to intensify our efforts at developing the IT profession in Nigeria. We should not pay lip service to our efforts at building a solid and highly respected IT profession in Nigeria. It is for the good of the profession, the nation as well as the professionals and practitioners who will be reaping the dividends of their sacrifice. IT profession has lots of prospects in Nigeria. Therefore, we should not be tired of putting more efforts and sacrifices especially in terms of effective regulation of the IT profession as well as discharging our financial obligations to the profession in order to make it what it should be in the country.

    Also, speaking on the occasion which had: Professionalism in Information Technology; Past, Present and Future as its them, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu said the Federal Government recognised the critical role of IT in its developmental agenda, and has therefore made IT a priority.

    The minister lamented the poor state of IT in the country and challenged Council to work with government towards the attainment of the national goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also challenged the participants at the Assembly to discuss how the nation can facilitate technology – enabled learning as a way of preparing the youths for the future workplace.

    In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha congratulated CPN on the occasion of its 25th anniversary celebrations. He said governments all over the world are increasingly becoming smart, efficient with the adoption of appropriate technologies to drive governance and create the requisite enabling environment for national change and the much needed transformation.

    He said, as the agency of government established to control and regulate the practice of Information Technology (IT) profession in Nigeria, the role of CPN in the scheme of developmental goals of government cannot be over-emphasised. He said IT is a critical sector and the flagship of other professions, and one that is viewed seriously in the course of the nation’s drive for sustainable national developments.   Mustapha said the establishment of CPN is government’s way of demonstrating its commitment to the development and deployment of IT in Nigeria. He expressed the confidence that the Council would keep aligning itself to the Federal Government developmental goals, especially in Science, technology and innovations.

  • CPN set to rid IT sector of quacks

    The Computer Professionals (Registration Council of) Nigeria (CPN) yesterday said it is set to rid the information technology (IT) industry of ‘quacks’ that practice but not registered with it.

    CPN said it is already working with the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to ensure that unregistered IT contractors are blocked from getting and executing Federal Governments projects.

    Its Vice President/Vice Chairman-in-Council, Kole Jagun, who spoke to reporters, said the sanitisation of the industry would be nationwide, adding that everything possible would be done to move the sector forward.

    CPN was established through Act No 49 of 1993. The Act was passed into law on June 10th and gazetted on August 9 of same year.

    The Act makes it mandatory for all persons and organisations seeking to engage, or engaged in IT training/education, sale and/or use of computing facilities, and the provision of professional services in computational or related computational machinery in Nigeria to be registered by the Council and licensed to carry out such activities.

    Its Registrar/Secretary to Council, Allwell Achumba, said since IT is the fulcrum of any thriving economy, the Council has chosen to focus on it as a tool to grow the economy and prepare local industries for global competitiveness.

    He said CPN as a Federal Government agency  that regulates and controls the practice of IT practice is taking the bull by the horn by convoking yet another forum with the media considered to be a major player and influencer in the IT eco system.

     

  • CPN’s confab focuses on retooling workforce

    How best to retool the national workforce to be IT compliant, among other industry issues, will dominate discussion at the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) IT CEOs roundtable slated for next month in Lagos.

    The forum is part of the eight-point agenda of the President and Chairman-in-Council of CPN, Prof. Charles Uwadia, in his manifesto to become the CPN boss.

    At the forum where Dotun Suleiman, a high profile industry stakeholder will speak,  CPN is expected to have engagement with CEOs of IT industry at all levels, and discuss fiscal policy on empowerment of IT professionals and companies.

    CPN, an agency under the Ministry of Education is empowered to control and supervise the Computing/IT profession in Nigeria.

    Secretary/ Registrar to the Council, Mr. Allwell Achumba, in a  statement, said  the forum was conceived as a gathering of IT CEOs in Nigeria with the objective of discussing and strategising on emergent issues in IT in order to come out with recommendations and decisions that would impact positively on the IT industry, profession and government policies of the nation.

  • Uncertainty as CPN’s leadership crisis deepens

    And may not have come to the leadership crisis rocking the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) as the council has not met since the alleged forceful imposition of Mr Allwell Achumba as its Registrar/Secretary to Council last year.

    Its President/Chairman of Council, Prof. Vincent Asor, had allegedly mobilised armed policemen  to the Ikoyi, Lagos office of the computer group to install the Registrar/Secretary to Council.

    CPN is the government agency responsible for registration of computer professionals and regulating computer technology practices in the country.

    A source at CPN said Prof Asor had written a letter to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, making case for Achumba who allegedly falsified his age to remain the substantive Registrar of the CPN despite the groundswell of opposition from within the Council members.

    The source lamented that the absence of the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTC) in the Council has created a lacuna which Prof Asor has been taking advantage of to ride rough shod on the council.

    According to the source, the 1993 law that established CPN stated clearly that the NBTE chief must be a member of council to give policy directives to the group, adding that the unavailability of the NBTE chief has given opportunity to Prof Asor to usurp the functions.

    In his reaction, Achumba said: “It is the handiwork of detractors who do not want CPN to move on but I am determined to make a change. These are all lies to whip (up) sentiments amd deny merit a chance. I am the substantive Registrar and Secretary to Council effective November 14 (last year).

    President Muhammadu Buhari had terminated the appointment of 17 chief executives of agencies, parastatals and departments (MDAs) in the Federal Ministry of Education, and immediately replaced them with new appointees which included CPN.

    Since Registrar/Secretary to the Council, Mr. Sikiru Shehu left, Mr. Idowu Olusile had been its acting Registrar, and was the administrative head of the body, because the agency is not controlled by chief executive, according to the 1993 ACT establishing it.

    Mr. Afolabi Aderinto was subsequently appointed as the new head of CPN, a development that was faulted by the Chairman, Compliance and Enforcement at CPN, Mr. Rogba Adeoye.

    The government withdrew the appointment after which an advert was placed in the newspaper announcing the vacancy for the position. About 15 people applied while only four was shortlisted for interview. Jide Awe and Mr Achunba were favourably disposed for the job by Council but while the former was 54 years old, the latter was alleged to be 64 years, above retirement age for civil servants.

  • CPN: Nigeria loses N4.5b yearly to quacks

    The Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) or CPN believes that the Federal Government loses over N4.5billion yearly to quacks in the information communication technology (ICT) industry.

    CPN is a body under the Ministry of Education, charged with the control and supervision of the computing profession. The council is primarily charged with responsibility for building up local Information Technology (IT) capacity as well as the regulation of IT practice.

    Its President/Council Chairman, Prof Vincent Asor, who spoke in Lagos to unveil activities for the 2016 IT Professionals Assembly with Towards a Dependable and Sustainable National IT Infrastructure as its theme, said with Federal Government’s support bolstered by the private sector, the CPN has the capacity to stop the over N4.5 billion yearly loss through regulation of the industry. The Assembly is scheduled for next month in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    Prof Asor, who condemned quackery in IT practice, said to halt the needless financial loss, the government should sack any person or group engaging in IT practice without registration immediately.

    He said: “Quackery has been the bane of IT practice in Nigeria;  it is worrisome. Quackery in IT practice must stop. The Federal Government says the country is broke; ICT is a sector that can boost government’s revenue; CPN can raise billions of naira for the government yearly.

    “We have more than 100,000 IT professionals in the country with less than N10, 000 annual fees for individuals. We also have about 20,000 corporate IT professionals with N150, 000 annual fees. There is no reason we cannot raise the said amount if all IT professionals registers with the CPN. This Council can support the government with this amount without moving out of the office.  It is time the Federal Government woke up.  IT is open to everybody in the information highway but it must be regulated accordingly. If practitioners are registered, cyber crime will reduce to the barest minimum and we will make money for the government.”

    Noting that it will no more be business as usual for quackery, he said: “IT Assembly is an exclusive networking event for senior IT decision makers, IT consultants, upcoming IT entrepreneurs, IT practitioners, teachers and IT systems administrators.”

    Prof Asor said the Assembly would provide a platform for some of the industry innovative technology distribution and service providers to showcase their products and services and for participants to appreciate the emerging technologies, trends, and risks that are associated with transforming the various industries using IT.

    Speaking on CPN’s mandate, he said: “As the regulatory authority in IT education and practice in Nigeria, the Council’s mandate is to provide a regulated and standard-driven environment for IT education and practice in Nigeria such that socio-economic development is engendered.

    “Council is also to determine the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the computing profession and improve those standards from time to time as circumstances may permit; As the regulatory authority in IT education and practice in Nigeria, the Council’s mandate is to provide a regulated and standard-driven environment for IT education and practice in Nigeria such that socio-economic development is engendered.”

  • Poly, CPN partner

    The polytechnic and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) have entered into a partnership to encourage full membership of staff and students of FEDPOFFA.

    This decision was reached during a visit of CPN team to FEDPOFFA management. The CPN team was led by the Head, Education, Examination and Training Department, Mr. Idowu Olusile who stated that the purpose was to ensure full registration of staff and students of the Computer Science Department as members of Council. This, according to him, was to purge quacks among the professionals.

    Responding, Head of the Computer Science Department, Mr. Saheed Ajibade, also noted that except for the newly employed staff, all others were registered members of the Council. On student membership, he promised to put up measures to encourage the students to register with the Council.

  • NITDA board appointment irks computer professionals

    NITDA board appointment irks computer professionals

    The alleged unilateral decision of the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson to drop the list of four nominees to the board of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) sent to her by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and approved by President Goodluck Jonathan has drawn the ire of the professional body and its members.

    According to a source in the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the action of the minster amounted to usurpation of the function of the CPN.

    “In a letter dated 11th October 2013 signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology Dr. Henry Akpan, the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson conveyed the approval of four names of IT professionals to the NITDA Board by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The nominees were sent by the CPN in accordance with the NITDA Act of 2011. Part II Section(C) under the Composition of the Governing Board Powers and Functions says “Four persons to represent affiliate bodies of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria,” the NCS source said.

    But in a reaction, the minister denied usurping the power of CPN, insisting that the law does not give the body such powers. Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, Efem Nkanga, said the action of the minster was line with the law.

    “The Minister has not usurped the powers of CPN, on the contrary, the NITDA Act 2007 makes provision for four persons to represent affiliateý bodies of CPN.

    “The above does not say that CPN should nominate, and CPN cannot be an affiliate of its own body. Hence the bodies duly recognised in the industry are to be considered bearing in mind that members of these bodies are also CPN members.

    “To this end, the Act did not grant membership to CPN neither does it authorised CPN to be the one to nominate.The bodies recognised in the industry are Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), NCS, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN),” she explained in an email response, adding that the NITDA Act was interpreted by the Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Communication Technology.

    The NCS lamented that in less than three days before the inauguration of the board, the minister issued a counter order dropping the names earlier approved .

    “This in the view of the profession is a misinterpretation of the law to justify her position on affiliate bodies. This interpretation cannot be the intention of the Act and is a clear misunderstanding of her responsibilities as a neutral umpire,” the source said.