The Nation Newspaper

Tag: database

  • Summit pushes for national cocoa database

    Stakeholders in the cocoa  industry have urged the Federal Government to establish a national database of cocoa resources.

    Rising from its just-concluded cocoa summit in Abuja, the operators said there was a need for  the government to work with agribusinesses and farmers if it is to implement a transformational    agenda  that will  have  an  industry wide  impact.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the event, the  stakeholders  said  this would  only be possible if there is a comprehensive database of all stakeholders in the cocoa industry.

    The world cocoa econometric analyses, the summit observed   showed  an estimated supply deficit of over one  million tonnes by 2020, offering tremendous opportunity for the Nigerian cocoa sector to earn foreign exchange and  improve the nation’s economic balance sheet.

    To seize the opportunities, however,  the summit  maintained that  the sector needed a national cocoa policy that will support accelerated action to enable farmers improve production.

    To this end, it said the government must be ready to support  farmers with various interventions and help businesses improve processing operations.

    The summit called for a national policy on cocoa that incorporate all critical activities across the value chain.

    To make the policy functional, it advised the government to constitute a team comprising representatives from the ministries of industry, trade and investment and agriculture and rural development and the cocoa private sector.

    The policy, it added should also provide for special incentives for companies and individuals involved in large scale cocoa backward integration of at least 50 hectares.

    To drive local consumption of finished cocoa based products, the summit implored the government to develop a template to promote   local cocoa consumption.

    The summit appealed to the government to set up a stakeholder advocacy group to network with ministries, departments and agencies (federal and states), the national assembly and the presidency to gain support for cocoa related activities.

    The   stakeholders recognized the challenges of the cocoa value chain and urged the government to set up of Cocoa Development and Investment Corporation to coordinate all the activities in the cocoa value chain. Such a body, it reiterated should be private sector operated but public sector enabled, like the proposed Cocoa Corporation of Nigeria.

    It also urged the government to  establish a National Cocoa Development Fund to provide critical funding for the proposed Cocoa Corporation of Nigeria and for cocoa related research.

  • ‘Skills database will modify educational efforts’

    A systematic collection and dissemination of information regarding skills requirement of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) would help Nigeria address skills gap among youths, says Mr Olawumi Gasper, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

    Gasper, who was the lead presenter at the 22nd conference of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) in Abuja, said such framework would be useful for schools to determine the kind of training skills and competencies they should provide students with to ensure relevant labour supply.

    He said: “It is also important to stress that investment in human capital alone can increase the number of skilled workers but not necessarily the number of jobs for them. On the other hand increased technology transfer alone without appropriately prepared skilled workers and managers is not likely to sustain job growth. Therefore supplies of training, workers and the supplies of employment must maintain an effective equilibrium of vocational skills development for enterprise growth”, he said.

    Underscoring the importance of vocational and enterprise training at the conference which had as theme:  Learning and development: Pre-requisite to skills and entrepreneurial growth’, Gasper said developed countries used them to build their economies.

    “In our clime for so long we did not focus enough on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship education, as we valued and still value formal education. Today those with vocational skills and possessing required skill sets are in high demand and those who are imbued with entrepreneurship education are current game changers”, he said.

    Gasper, an engineer, added that skills acquisition with doses of enterprise education are an important part of Nigeria’s education policy and would help produce skillful and talented people who can create wealth and value.

    Other papers presented at the conference included: ‘Digital fluency for entrepreneurial success in the 21st Century’ by Dr Niran Oyekale; Managing Director, Commit Technology and Consult Ltd, and ‘Professional and practical viewpoint for building entrepreneurship’ by Dr Rotimi Oladele, a lecturer at the Lagos State University.

    The presenters affirmed that education is continuous and should be developmental while trainers must keep on educating themselves as training will bring about change of attitude, improved skills and performance.

    They also advised NITAD to develop programmes that combine vocational training and enterprise education and counseled that governments at various levels should tap into the resources of the local environment for the growth of the youth.

    In his address, Dr Kayode Ogungbuyi, President and Chairman of Council, NITAD, said the theme of the conference was timely, in light of the complaints by many employers about lack of employee skills in many areas.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Mr Laolu Oguntuyi, urged young people to embrace learning and development.

    “Learning and development is seen as one of the pre-conditions for entrepreneurship development, particularly in a place where the spirit and culture is minimal. There is no gain saying the fact that learning and development is key and that it plays a strong role in forming the burgeoning entrepreneur”, he said.

     

     

  • Firm calls for national database to fight insecurity

    The Manager Director, Comfied Transnational Limited, Mr. Babatope Agbeyo, has called for a well-integrated national database in fighting criminality across Nigeria.

    Agbeyo made this call at the Special Database Forum and Investiture Ceremony of the Institute of Data Processing Management of Nigeria (IDPM) held at Westtown Hotel, Lagos.

    The theme of the ceremony, ‘Authentic and effective national databases, proficient tool to fight or combat challenges `in  a pluralistic nation’ featured a workshop, talks and awards to Commander, Search and Disposal Regiment, Nigerian Army, Col. A.A Salako; Dean, Faculty of Engineering, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Bolade Olaniyan; Lecturer at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Dr Tola Odule;  Founding Pastor of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet Temitope Joshua, among others.

    According to Agbeyo, in today’s information-centric society, reliable and effective dissemination of information play an important role in government sector as it helps provide a mechanism that ensures the integrity, authenticity and effectiveness of such data to help various kinds of unforeseen challenges.

    Agbeyo noted that a database is a civilised way of keeping digitalised records about a place, thing or people who converge in a community and share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent or history.

    He opined that national database is a dynamic and intelligent data record system.

    In his welcome address, the President of IDMP, Barrister Obiefule Ogbonna, called on federal and state governments to consider the inclusion of data processing and management as a subject into federal and state academic curricular and make it compulsory for students in secondary schools.

    He said that a human being, irrespective of his or her calling or discipline, processes one data or another at all times, and defined data as the act of collecting and analysing facts to produce useful information that can be used instantly, secured or stored for future use, reference or retrieval when needed.

    “We shall establish a standard professional, training online or e-learning and media centre for training of students and to provide professional service to the public and for special training of students on geographical information system,” said Agbeyo, while adding that IDPM shall initiate and complete the establishment of IDPM national Data Colleges for professional training and award of Chartered Data Manager.

  • Biometric database for customers takes off in March

    Biometric database for customers takes off in March

    Biometric database for bank customers will be ready by March next year. The project, which is the brainchild of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee, is meant to have a central database where all bank customers’ information will be collated and stored. Since biometric identifiers are unique to individuals, they remain reliable in verifying identity of each bank customer.

    According to the CBN, the platform, when completed, would help operators and regulators of the financial system address issues of Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and access to credit. This will help fast-track use of channels, such as biometric Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, among others.

    The CBN said it is also planning a Consumer Complaints Management System that will make it possible for it to monitor banks’ breaches in customers’ accounts. When completed, the platform will enable the regulator see which customer complaints are being treated, and which are not being considered. The CBN to, with the platform, see the complaints by bank customers and track the turnaround time of their resolution.

    It said the role of consumer protection is not limited to the CBN alone, but remains a collective responsibility of everyone. It said the Consumer Protection Unit of the CBN is mandated to educate consumers and defend their interest, detect money laundering and combat financial terrorism as well as enhance awareness on these issues. The apex bank is also reviewing the framework on consumer protection to ensure that all complaints by customers are promptly addressed.

    Also, where any of the cases is proved, the affected bank will be required to make necessary amends and where financial obligations are involved, will be required to refund the money. The measures are aimed at encouraging good banking habits and promoting efficiency in the delivery of financial services as well as boosting public confidence in the system.

  • CBN, Bankers’ Committee plans biometric database for customers

    CBN, Bankers’ Committee plans biometric database for customers

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is collaborating with the Bankers’ Committee to set up a biometric database for bank customers.

    In a statement the banking watchdog said the platform, when completed, would help operators and regulators of the financial system address issues of Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and access to credit.

    This will help fast-track use of channels, such as biometric Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, among others.

    The CBN said it is also planning a Consumer Complaints Management System that will make it possible for it to monitor banks’ breaches in customers’ accounts.

    When completed, the platform will enable the regulator see which customer complaints are being treated, and which are not being considered. The CBN is expected to with the platform, see the complaints by bank customers and track the turnaround time of their resolution.

    It said the role of consumer protection is not limited to the CBN alone, but remains a collective responsibility of everyone. It said the Consumer Protection Unit of the CBN is mandated to educate consumers and defend their interest, detect money laundering and combat financial terrorism as well as enhance awareness on these issues.

    The apex bank is also reviewing the framework on consumer protection to ensure that all complaints by customers are promptly addressed.

    Also, where any of the cases is proved, the affected bank will be required to make necessary amends and where financial obligations are involved, will be required to refund the money. The measures are aimed at encouraging good banking habits and promoting efficiency in the delivery of financial services as well as boosting public confidence in the system.

    The Consumer Protection unit of the CBN is meant to ensure that banks’ customers enjoy not only quality services but also protection from excessive charges and outright loss of funds. Also, the apex bank has also established a Help Desk at its headquarters where all the consumer complaints in respect of any services are directed to.

     

  • Cocoa union plans farmers’database

    THE Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) is planning a database of farmers, the association’s General Secretary, Mr Adebola Aragbada, has said.

    He said the group is registering cocoa farmers to assist the government in implementating the agricultural transformation programme.

    There are concerns about certified cocoa beans.

    Aragbada said the database would help in making decisions on the cocoa sector. He said it would capture both personal information and farmers’ activities, such as location and size of farms, among others.

    He said there are opportunities for optimising income in cocoa-producing communities and that CAN was ready to support the government to increase cocoa production and eradicate inefficiencies.

    He noted that this would not be possible if the government doesn’t know number of cocoa farmers, their land holdings, and viable cocoa trees.

    He said the information available on cocoa production sector was scarce.

    The absence of this information, he added, also means that there has been little scope for producers to take good business decisions to help their businesses.

    It is for these that the association decided to embark on the project to address these problems. He emphasised the need of mapping cocoa farms.

    He emphasised the need for initiatives to modernise farming to increase farmers’ incomes, attract new farmers and improve cocoa growing communities.

    Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said the ministry would remain focused on achieving its objectives of restoring Nigeria to its glorious position of the largest cocoa producer in the world by implementing the robust cocoa transformation agenda.

    He said the ministry was working on incorporating the cocoa marketing boards.This institution would guarantee minimum price for cocoa in an assured market. It would protect the farmer from the vagaries of the world cocoa market.

     

  • 2015: Over 73 million now in INEC database, says Jega

    ‘My job is challenging’

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. AttahiruJega, has disclosed that 73.5 million Nigerians have been captured so far in the commission’s new database for 2015 elections with relevant information.

    The registered Nigerians, Jega said, now have their biometric captured with addresses, ten finger prints, photographs and telephone numbers.

    He spoke in Abuja when he led the INEC national commissioners to the National Population Commission (NPC) headquarters.

    Jega assured that with the development, Nigeria will have the largest database that is credible and fairly accurate beyond 2015.

    He said: “We have conducted the biometric data registration in order to establish a new resister of voters. We now have a data base of at lesst 73. 5 million Nigerians that have own their biometric captured with addresses, ten finger prints, photograph, telephone numbers, and I believe we will probably have one of the largest database that is credible and fairly accurate in this country.”

    He lamented that his job is challenging since he came in as the INEC boss in June 2010, noting that the registration of voters was carried out within three weeks.

    Jega said: “It has been a very challenging Job. We cannot underestimate the challenges, we have to continue to improve, refine and bring additional innovation into the electoral process so that 2015 will be much better than 2011.”

    The INEC boss revealed many experts told him the conduct cannot be possible while many discouraged him.

    He vowed to do all within his power to ensure that 2015 election is better than what obtained in 2011.

    According to him: “What we have to do now is to continue to update that database and we have brought remarkable credibility into the Voters Register in the country.”

    The chief electoral officer asked the NPC to make the demographic database of the country available for better conduct of the 2015 polls.

    The chairman of the NPC,Eze Festus Odimegwu, confirmed that the commission does not have a demographic database but promised to work with INEC to produce one soon.

    Odimegwu applauded efforts of the Jega- led INEC, pledging effective partnership to ensure a free and fair election in 2015.

  • Biometric ID database for launch

    Dragnet Solutions, computer-based testing and talent management firm, in partnership with the United Kingdom-based biometric solutions company, Warwick Warp (UK) Limited, is to launch a Centralised Biometric Identity Database for West African Countries.

    Managing Director, Dragnet Solutions, Mr Robert Ikhazoboh, said the project was borne out of the need to provide a modern and efficient identification system that is private-sector driven.

    “At Dragnet Solutions, we are noted for our bouquet of innovative products and services that are carefully designed to address seemingly intractable challenges. This project also follows this same business philosophy of Dragnet. The challenge of identification verification is one that has been with us for years and it appears that various efforts to address it have been unsuccessful,” Ikhazoboh said.