The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Harnessing

  • Harnessing Nigeria’s ethanol potential

    SIR: Discussions on why Nigeria should look beyond oil as its major source of revenue are never in short supply. The call for economic diversification remains a topical issue in Nigeria. Concerned Nigerians are of the belief that our single-resource economic structure accounts for why important national goals remain largely unachieved.

    Countries have since realized the need to focus attention on Biofuels or ethanol production as a reliable substitute for gasoline. Debates have been on the need for countries to embrace this largely untapped natural resource whose benefits far outweigh its hazards.

    Biofuels are fuels made from cellulosic biomass resources and they include ethanol, biodiesel and methanol. Biomass processes can be designed to produce solid fuel, liquid fuel, gasses or even electricity. Commercially viable sources of biofuel include some crops, such as sugarcane, sugar beets, cassava etc, also from vegetable oils derived from plant seeds, such as sunflower, linseed and oilseed, as well as animal waste. Development of “Second generation” or “advanced” biofuel using practically any available lingo-cellulosic materials such as trees, stover, crop wastes are also gradually becoming commercially viable.

    Since primary feedstock of these fuels are plants which are subjected to bio-chemical or thermochemical processes, they are also regarded as bio-renewable energy or fuels since the plants could be grown as often as required.

    In meeting the huge current and future energy needs of the world, biofuels are very crucial ingredients for sustainable development and have become a vital and indispensible input to the economic needs of our present civilization. Many countries across the world have realized this and are churning out policies and programmes designed to make them energy self-sufficient. It is therefore worrisome that Nigeria seems to be missing in action, in all of this.

    The Nigerian government had way back in 2005 conceptualised the bio-ethanol development initiative, but little has been done, in terms of providing necessary legal framework to make it work. It is however surprising that, Nigeria, been home to most raw materials needed to produce biofuels hasn’t embraced it long time ago. If that initiative had been pursued, by now, Nigeria would have developed the required capacity and joined other nations exploiting this renewable energy resource to help offset falling revenues from its declining oil output.

    The bitter truth remains that, from all realistic projections, the very oil that has blinded our eyes from seeing other potential won’t last more than 40 years and our gas won’t last more than 60 years. I think this revelation should jolt the nation into immediate action.

    While ethanol is not new in the market, regrettably, its potentials have not been fully explored. In some sub-Saharan African countries, ethanol is brewed locally. But the distillation process is not perfected enough to have a fine spirit. This has encouraged the importation of ethanol. Even then, opportunities still abound to import ethanol and make money distributing it. Embracing or focusing on ethanol production doesn’t imply that we would abandon gasoline.

    There is nothing wrong in Nigeria understudying South Africa in this regards. The ethanol production legal framework designed by the South African government took note of issues relating to local content, job creation for citizens, technical requirements, raw materials, environmental regulations, subsidy as well as other incentives for investors.

    It is obvious that there is need for Nigeria to explore alternative source of energy especially to create jobs for its citizens, strengthen its energy capacity and address Nigeria’s acute power/fuel energy supply deficit.

     

    • Latif D. Busari

    Garki 2, Abuja.

  • NIMASA NSDP: Harnessing today’s youth for future growth

    There is a thing with nurturing young people by lending a helping hand. It is the basis on which great societies are built. It is trite to say the youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow. However, it is pertinent to establish the quality of training young Nigerians are getting. Should they get a good training, they will be able to provide qualitative leadership. Should they get less-than good training, their stint at leadership would definitely be nightmarish. Of course, the nation desires the former.

    And while one person or organisation cannot make all the difference, one person or one organisation can still make a difference. Concerning ensuring there is no dearth in qualitative leadership and necessary manpower to drive Nigeria’s marine sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the tenure of Dakuku Peterside has continued a sterling example.

    I’m talking about the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) which was initiated by NIMASA to train young Nigerians to be productive and relevant in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Given our importance on the continent, the conception and sustenance of such a programme is vital to continued growth. On this, NIMASA hit the bull’s eye.

    And recently, 59 beneficiaries of the scheme graduated from the Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. It is particularly exciting that four of the graduates finished with a first class while 36 of them had a Second Class (Division 1) and others graduated with other grades. With this recent graduation, the total number of graduates of the scheme since its inception from the various institutions in United Kingdom, Egypt, Romania and Philippines has reached 1, 343.

    This transfer of knowledge is particularly commendable given that manpower can be locally sourced. Hence, it comes as little surprise that Dr. Peterside was full of pride and he expressed his delight at the students’ performance. According to him, they represent the future of Nigerian maritime. He also assured them of plans being in top gear to ensure they do their mandatory sea training to become qualified seafarers.

    And the DG who was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Ahmed Gambo enjoined the students to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and told them that very soon they will be expected back home to take over the Nigerian maritime space. It must have been a thing of pride watching the young graduates ready to take over affairs of the country’s maritime sector.

    “Let me congratulate you on this great feat of your graduation from this prestigious University,” Dr. Peterside said during the ceremony.

    “On our part as a government, we are committed to capacity building initiatives as it remains the only means the maritime industry can survive and compete favourably with its counterparts globally; we will ensure you all go through the mandatory sea time training, so that you can become better experts and professionals in the maritime sector both in Nigeria and internationally.”

    It must have been a thing of pride watching the two best graduating students – Augustine Ehiagwina and Ugedi Preye Jennifa – standing at the podium and beaming with pride. And Gambo and the Deputy Director, Maritime Labour Services (NIMASA) and Coordinator of the NSDP initiative of the Agency, Mr. Victor Egejuru, must have also felt the pride as they posed for pictures with the 59 graduates in UK.

    It was also noteworthy that two outstanding NSDP Cadets who had earlier graduated from the same University and thereafter obtained scholarships based on their performance from the university to pursue their Doctorate programme were also presented to the Nigerian delegation.

    The initiative by NIMASA is exemplary and must be commended. In many facets of Nigerian life, technical skills have become very scarce. The oil and gas sector since the discovery of oil in the country has suffered this fate whereby the majority of the crucial workforce needed in the industry has to be outsourced just because quality labour is not available locally. This disturbing trend has also entered the building and construction sector. Presently, artisans such as bricklayers, carpenters, tilers have had to be imported from neighbouring West African countries. For a country that prides itself as the ‘Giant of Africa’, this is surely a no-no. And it is for this reason that NIMASA’s NSDP initiative must be commended.

    In many developed parts of the world, training is given high priority because of its essence of gaining knowledge. They appreciate that without the right training, most outputs would only be mediocre at best. And such conditions do not support excellence or growth.

    By purposely drafting local talents into the scheme which NIMASA has entered into with various maritime institutions abroad, it is a win-win not only for the NIMASA but also for the entire country.

    While the country’s marine sector will gain by bridging the gap of the dearth of the seafaring profession in Nigeria, the citizens so trained would also get a sense of national pride as they would know the country has also invested in them. Such is the sort of pride that comes with national excellence. As the nation moves towards encompassing development, more of such initiatives like the NSDP must be embraced. For students who have enjoyed this training, they’ll remember not just NIMASA but Nigeria. They’ll also be more reflective in giving back to the country. It is these sorts of programs that breed patriotism.

     

    • Kudos NIMASA
  • Harnessing ICT for growth

    Harnessing ICT for growth

    National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Community Development Service (CDS) group have organised a conference to equip youths with skills to make them self-reliant. PHILIPS OGBAJE (NYSC ABUJA) reports.

    In the age of innovation and technology, how can graduates tap into the opportunity offered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to achieve self-reliance and contribute to national development? This was the aim of the ICT Youth Initiative Conference held in Abuja last Tuesday.

    The event was organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members of the ICT Community Development Service (CDS) group. It was held at the main auditorium of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The  theme was: Harnessing emerging technology to advance national growth.

    At the event, the chairman on the occasion and Vice President of Abuja Graduate School, Dr Joe Ikoli, decried what he called “follow-follow attitude” of the country on technology, noting that Nigeria consumes everything in technology but produces nothing in return.

    “Whenever we talk of emerging technologies, we talk of technologies of other countries driven by their national interest and agenda. What about our home-grown technology? What technology have we developed to address specific national needs?” he queried.

    He posited that the only way to reverse the trend of unproductive use of technology was for the government to rethink the nation’s technological engagement. He called on policymakers to review curriculum of higher institutions to reflect the technological needs of the country.

    In his address, CDS coordinator, Mr Ikenna Ogu, hailed NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okogie, for allowing the group to hold the conference in the commission’s premises free of charge, noting that the event was being held at the right place.

    He said CDS group was established because of the need to change the operation of the NYSC secretariat from analog to digital. According to him, the group has served as a pool from which capable and qualified hands are drawn to assist experts carrying out the operations.

    He said the conference was aimed at bringing together youths and professionals in the ICT field to encourage Corps members to take interest in the “money spinning ICT market” in Nigeria.

    In his lecture titled: The role of ICT in the Nigerian Customs Service operations, the Comptroller in charge of ICT department, Benjamin Aber, said the advent of technology had led to the improvement of pre- and post-clearing operations of the Customs, noting that complete automation of the processes had increased revenue generation for the country.

    Comptroller Aber said ICT had enabled the Customs to save cost and cut down human contact in the clearing of goods. He added that it had also led to increased pace of operations.

    In his presentation, the Acting General Manager of New Horizon, Mr Kingsley Nzewuji, advised students and Corps members to embrace ICT, saying anyone with the knowledge would be employable.

    The representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr Steve Aderemi, identified research, broadband penetration and favourable government policies as major drivers of ICT development. He said the ministry was ready to partner with any youth with good ideas by providing fund to develop the innovation.

    In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, the CDS president, Idris Bello, appreciated the guests and members of his group for making the event successful. He also praised the NUC for the support of the initiative, saying: “With the successful hosting of this conference, I have the feeling that I have used my service year to make a great impact on my colleagues and the country.”

    Isreal Amogo, a Corps member, said the conference exposed him to opportunities in ICT, thanking the organisers for the initiative. He promised to put everything he learnt into practice.

  • Harnessing Nigeria’s internet .ng domain for economic development

    EXPERTS in the communications and internet industry say that Nigeria, and indeed many African countries are yet to tap into the potential of the internet for the overall development of their countries.

    They say that the United States generates 600 million dollars annually from its domain name industry, which is part of the potential of the internet.

    According to Google’s annual income statement, it generated 23.6 billion dollars in 2009, which translated to 1.9 billion dollars a month.

    Similarly, the .com, .uk, .us, and many other domain names in the western world have made huge profits from their domain names; while some domain names have been sold as high as 13 million dollars.

    Mrs Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology, said African countries must harness the potential of the internet in order to fast-track development on the continent.

    The minister who spoke recently in Abuja at a conference said that “Internet can contribute up to 300 billion dollars to Africa’s GDP by 2025; and this is from an estimated 18 billion dollars in 2013.’’

    She stressed that the internet is more important for Africa than the rest of the world, as the continent “lags behind in almost every economic indicator.

    “The internet, and the connectivity network present opportunities for improving the social welfare of Africa and Africans,” she said.

    Aware of the potential of the internet, the Federal Government, in collaboration with UNESCO introduced the first internet link in Nigeria at the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1995, using Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT).

    In 1996, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) licensed 38 internet service providers to sell internet services in Nigeria; and Linkserve Limited immediately began commercial operations in the country.

    Though advancement was recorded in internet connectivity with the use of mobile networks, fiber optics and even satellites, yet “Nigeria is yet to tap into the potential of cyberspace,” experts say.

    In 2010, Nelson Mattos, Vice President (Technology) of Google said at a briefing in Lagos, that Nigeria had an IT infrastructure problem in terms of availability and accessibility.

    He said that the entire African continent could never become market potential for internet-broadband access due to poor internet infrastructure and penetration.

    Mrs Mary Uduma, the President of the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NIRA), said the nation still loses billions to the internet economy.

    “Over $600million was made by the U.S. through the domain name industry, internet businesses have been growing so much and other countries have been taking advantage of it.

    “Our internet economy and e-commerce have not started, our Domain Name System (DNS) industry is till at the lowest ebb. “Internet access is a challenge, so for that reason we are losing a lot of money which we would have retained,” she said. In spite of achievements recorded in the payroll system on the internet, e-government platforms as well as creating the.ng domain name, Uduma insists that a lot still need to be done.

    She said that Nigerians, especially the private sector operators need to connect to the .ng domain to stem capital flight to other countries whose domain names we patronise and pay huge sums.

    Uduma defined domain name as a “unique name that identifies an internet resource, such as a website, it is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control on the internet.

    “Let me give you a statistics; if there are 1,000 registered domain names in Nigeria, only 10 will be on .ng, 990 will be on .com and if they all pay N1,000 that is one million naira.

    “So while 990,000 naira will go abroad, only 10,000 naira will be in Nigeria, so we are losing money because people are not taking the .ng as their domain name.

    “What we are doing is that we are sensitising Nigerians that just as naira is our currency, .ng is our currency on the cyberspace; we should take .ng as our string on the cyberspace instead of using .com or .uk.

    “We are working with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to make sure there is intervention for people to be online as soon as they take the .ng domain name,” she said.

    Uduma said that there were 17,000,000 Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria that could take advantage of the mutual benefit of the .ng domain to do their businesses online with ease and speed.

    Uduma, at a conference organised by NIRA ( a regulating body and mangers of the .ng national resource) to popularise .ng domain name, said that the domain is even safer than other domains, adding “with .ng, fraud

    is made more difficult as it is traceable.

    “Even to scam with .ng is very difficult because we would be able to know the person that registered the domain name.

    “Others do proxy, but we don’t do proxy in Nigeria. We know who is registering what; the registry is here with us.

    “We are hoping that by 2020 we would have hit one million users of the .ng domain name,” she said.

    Stakeholders want Nigerians to connect to the .ng domain name in order to avoid capital flight as well as promote the nation’s economic development.

    They also want the relevant authorities to sustain enlightenment campaigns on the .ng domain.

    •Nwoko writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)