The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ICT

  • Free ICT training for female students, teachers

    The Computer Geek Girls Collaborative Camp is set to organise a week-long Information Communication Technology (ICT) training camp for secondary schools girls and women teachers in Oyo State.

    The Coordinator of the group, Dr Yetunde Folajimi told journalists that the training aimed to improve the participation of females in the ICT profession will hold between August 11 and 16, at the Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan (UI).

    Folajimi, who is also a computer science expert at UI, explained that the highlights of the training will include, educational and recreational activities, developing educational video games, making digital movies and music, creating websites and blogs, among others.

    The mentors expected at the training include, the first female professor of computer science, Prof Adenike Osofisan, President,  Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf; Director of ICT, University of Benin, Prof Stella Chiemeke, and Dr Virgina Ejiofor.

  • ‘Why we invest in ICT’

    The Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba Sir Allwell Onukaogu has stated that the reason why the management of the institution is investing in the teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the institution is to produce human capacities that will be relevant to the economy of the state and the country.

    Onukaogu, speaking at the 7th Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS) South East Zonal Conference held in the polytechnic, thanked Abia State government and the Federal Government for providing them with computer and other educational facilities through TETFUND, PTDF and the National Communication Agency, Abuja which he said, has made the institution one of the schools with the best computer facilities in the country.

    According to him, “There are reasons why my administration has invested in computer studies. It is our duty as educators to produce human capacities that will be relevant to the economy. Nobody can excel in today’s world in any field of human endeavour if the person doesn’t possess a reasonable level of computer proficiency and anybody who distances himself from acquiring knowledge beyond the ordinary level in computer application may be in this world but would not be of this world. Such a person would be no more in the community of his birth.”

    Mr. Godfrey Chukwuemeka, Head of Department, Computer Science in the institution in his address, described the theme for the conference “Developing Internationally Acceptable Software (DEVINTAS) -Youths’ Role in ICT Towards Government and Cyber Security” as a square peg in a square hole.

    Chukwuemeka, describing cyber security as one of the great challenges facing the present world, observed that a high percentage of youths are now involved in various internet scams because of their desire to make quicker money through fraudulent means and as such putting the entire society at great risk.

    He was optimistic that only internationally acceptable software would end the activities of fraudsters who he said “keep sleepless nights working on diversified ideas and hacking systems to achieve their criminal objectives.”

    Contributing, the Dean School of Science and Industrial Technology in the polytechnic, Engr. David Dimoji, stated that developing a software that was going to be generally accepted across the globe calls for more commitment, hard work, skill and desire for excellence on the part of the students, adding “if we get the theme of this conference right, our youths will no longer roam around the streets in search of what to do both here and outside the country in order to survive.

    “The future of Nigeria belongs to the youth who are leaders of tomorrow. The youth have tremendous roles to play towards the national development of international acceptable software. The experience of India shows that if we invest rightly and adequately on IT skills, job will be created, and the economy will pick up. These will only happen if the young people and government show serious commitment to the development of the ICT infrastructure.

    He advised that  higher institutions and research centres should be motivated through annual grant, encouragement of the study of VB, C++ Java, Cobra Oracle and other new generation rapid application development tools.

    He further said: “The federal and state Ministry of Youths must be proactive in its responsibility. The menace of cyber crime and other crimes will reduce drastically when  youths are gainfully employed. The increase in crime can be traced to youth unemployment and frustration. When the youth are empowered and engaged with skills, the rate of poverty and crime in our nation would be greatly reduced.”

    In an address, Comrade Anene John Okwudiri, the South East Zonal Coordinator, NACOSS believed that developing software generally acceptable would help in no small measure to resolve economic, agricultural, social, voting and security challenges that has bedeviled the country.

    According to the coordinator, “Over the past 12 months, since the baton of leadership was passed to us  , we have remained resolute to rebrand, reshape and repackage NACOSS South East in order to maintain the record of the best geopolitical zone at the national level with creativity and one voice, adding “DEVINTAS was reformed from three days convention to one week conference to enable us have a standard practical hands on training sessions with practicing IT (Information Technology) entrepreneurs on Mobile Development, Desktop Application Development, Networking/Hardware Web Development and also a better room for investors, NGO’s etc to connect with us. We sincerely assure all NACOSSITE present that after this conference, you will nurture provoking ideas to develop international acceptable software towards the enhancement of government and cyber security in our nation,” he assured

     

  • Phase3 urges gender equality for ICT development

    Phase3 urges gender equality for ICT development

    Phase3 Telecom has said giving equal opportunities to both male and female children in the information technology (IT) and information communications technology (ICT) sector will accelerate economic prosperity for the country.

    It added that developing technology skills for women and harnessing the skills are critical factors to achieving rapid national development.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Stamley Jegede, who justified the firm’s support for this year’s edition of the International Girls in ICT Day Celebration, in Lagos, explained that the era in which professions in the IT/ICT sector were largely dominated by the male gender is coming to an end.

    He added that it is exciting the progress female gender in the world is making in tapping into the huge potentials and possibilities of the IT professional fields based on the realisation that very few jobs exist for men that are not also open to woman.

    Jegede expressed optimism that Nigeria and indeed, the West African sub-region will reap bountifully if more institutions and agencies advocate ICT skills for women.

    He said West African women are under-represented across boards in ICT – from education and training programmes right through to high level careers in the sector whether in academia or industry.

    He said: “We know that one of the key elements of addressing poverty is the empowerment of women and there is no better way of doing that today than giving women ICT empowerment. There are many women with amazing talent and this has to be brought to aid our social and economic development.”

    He added that building a crop of young female Nigerians to actively participate and compete in the evolving as well as innovative technological space globally is the basis for Phase3 Telecom’s commitment to always support the International Girls in ICT day celebration.

    The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)-member state designed to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs.

  • Maths teacher for ICT

    The School of Science, has organised a training workshop, for 50 mathematics teachers, from Ondo East and West local government areas of the state.

    The programme, sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), had participants drawn from various public and privately-owned secondary schools in the two council areas.

    In his welcome address the College Librarian, Dr. Rotimi Egunjobi described the workshop, as timely and very important.

    According to Egunjobi, who represented the Provost, the fact that ICT has contributed meaningfully to the nation’s socio-economic development, it has also helped in enhancing knowledge acquisition. Teachers, as members of the global community, should avail themselves of the vast opportunity derivable from it, so as to improve, their efficiency, in service delivery, Egunjobi added.

     

  • Abia distributes laptops, exercise books to schools

    Abia distributes laptops, exercise books to schools

    Abia State government has distributed 1,778 laptops to 216 secondary schools to make the pupils Information and Computer Technology (ICT)-compliant.

    It also distributed over two million exercise books to primary schools in the 17 local governments, urging parents and guardians to send their children and wards to school, as it is free.

    Speaking in Umuahia when distributing the items, Governor Theodore Orji said his administration was determined to invest more in education, having seen its dividends.

    He said his government was aware of the challenges in the sector, adding that the state should not be left behind.

    Orji said: “The world is in the era of science and technology and Imo cannot be left behind. That was why government bought laptops from the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] for the pupils.”

     

  • ‘Africa last frontier for global technology market’

    ‘Africa last frontier for global technology market’

    Africa is the last frontier for most global technology firms searching for fresh markets to invest, the Chairman, Digital Africa Limited, Dr Evans Worehem has said.

    He also said Nigeria, with the largest market on the continent, is better positioned to be the greatest beneficiary.

    Speaking in Lagos over the weekend, he said most of the other markets in the world have reached their points of saturation, arguing that the continent will continue to be the haven of investment.

    He said: “Africa is the last frontier for most global technology brands that are seeking fresh and virgin markets. North America and Europe have almost reached a market saturation point for many ICT products and services. Growth in Asia and Latin America is quite modest. As at today, the most exciting information communication technology (ICT) business opportunities lie in Africa and the Middle East.

    “Although Africa had traditionally lagged behind in certain critical economic sectors, ICT is clearly a bright spot for the continent that must be seized to move the continent ahead confidently.”

    He said for ICT to fast-track economic development in healthcare, governance, software development and entrepreneurship, there is need for forums for stakeholders to come together and cross-fertilise ideas on how to achieve this.

    To this end, Digital Africa in collaboration with World Electronics Forum (WEF) will host a three-day conference and exhibition in Lagos between May 20 and 22.

    He lamented that other continents are more developed than Africa because of the advancement and development in the ICT sector, adding that for a very long time, Africa has remained a mere user of technologies fabricated in other parts of the world.

    He said the conference and exhibition would allow stakeholders to share knowledge with participants, especially in software development which holds the key to youth unemployment.

    He added that entrepreneurship and software development would make Africa to transit from being a consumer of foreign technologies but innovator and producer of technologies.

    He said the theme of the conference is ’Towards Digital Singularity in Africa’, noting that the ‘WEF’ will be hosting the conference in Africa and Nigeria for the first time.

     

  • CJN, NJI chiefs frown at ‘delayed’ justice dispensation

    •Seek improved ICT deployment to courts

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, and the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Umaru Eri, have expressed discomfort over the slow pace of justice delivery in the country.

    They blamed this on the low application of computers and other information and communications devices in the operations of the court.

    The duo advocated an improved application of information and communications technology (ICT) in the operations of the court to ensure prompt disposal of cases.

    Justices Mukhtar and Eri spoke in Abuja at an ICT workshop for magistrates, with the theme: Enhancing the Capacity of the Magistrate Courts Through the Use of ICT.

    Justice Mukhtar said: “The issue of delay in disposal of cases in our courts is of great concern me. There is an urgent need to increase the speed of disposal of cases. Consequently, the use of ICT has proffered solutions to this problem.

    “The computerisation of the Judiciary will allow for easy integration and cost effective solutions to capture, organise and retrieve a wide range of information across many locations and easily exchange data effectively with colleagues and court users.”

    The CJN, who was represented by Justice Suleiman Galadanci, noted that in a democratic setting, the ultimate goal of any government, especially the Judiciary, was the provision of an enabling environment for an un-impeded access to justice and the sustenance of the framework to preserve the rule of law.

    “The role of magistrates cannot be over emphasised, as they constitute the gateway to the Nigerian Judiciary.

    “The 21st century Nigerian magistrates need capacity-building in all areas to enable them function effectively in their duties,” she said.

    The CJN noted that the theme was instructive because the workshop was aimed at exposing the 21st century magistrate to the use and application of ICT in various courts.

    Justice Eri stressed the need for judges and magistrates to always ensure that any matter that comes before them for adjudication is disposed off expeditiously within a reasonable time to give vent and meaning to the provisions of the Constitution on fair hearing.

    He said: “A magistrate’s duty includes, among others, the ability to dispense justice in accordance with the law and within a reasonable time. The application of ICT in the adjudicatory process offers a tremendous advantage when properly used.”

     

     

     

  • Stop abusing ICT, provost urges new students

    The Acting Provost, Federal College of Agriculture (FCA) Akure, Ondo State, Dr David Akanni, has expressed concern over the abuse of internet usage, particularly the youths.

    Speaking at the 2013/2014 matriculation of new students into the college, the provost noted that even though the social media has helped to improve networking, it has become a serious distraction to many youths.

    “Close to 24 hours, a lot of you are hooked on to facebook,in the process, you lose quality time. With this development, participation in sporting activities has gone down,literary creativity has been abandoned,public lectures participation has become tedious to students,” said Akanni, who was represented by Dr Emmanuel Moyinjesu.

    Besides, Akanni urged the students to shun cultism, examination malpractices, rape, thuggery and other social vices.

    At the ceremony, 256 Higher National and National Diploma(HND and ND) students swore the matriculation.

    The Acting Provost said the event has conferred on them the bonafide membership of the institution and offers them all the rights and privileges recognised by the College Authority.

    He said such rights include obtaining identity card, living in the students’ hostels, right to access information in the library, and inclusion of their names on the college register.

    The Registrar, Dr Pius Adebisi urged the new students to comport themselves and be good ambassadors of the college within and outside the campus.

    He urged them to face their studies squarely in order to have a bright future.

  • NPA set to block revenue leakages, boost operation

    Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) has launched an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre to check revenue leakages, improve port operations and provide comfort for members of the shipping community.

    Speaking while test-running the equipment, the Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, said the centre was open as part of NPA’s efforts to meet with international best practices and solve internal problems faced by the agency.

    He said the centre would be extended to other maritime stakeholders to bring about efficiency in port operations, adding that the objective of the ICT centre is to improve overall efficiency of port operations, block revenue leakages and to provide comfort for members of the shipping community.

    “Management consequently unveiled the following broad initiatives to deliver our vision for overall transformation of the NPA, which includes; identification of revenue leakages and seeking ways to block such leakages,” he said.

    He said that the initiative was aimed at investment in massive infrastructural renewal and development projects geared towards deepening the channel to attract larger vessels and to automate and integrate various ports nationwide using the same information technology platform.

    He said the new development is also expected to change fundamentally and positively the ICT literacy and interaction level within the organisation by bolstering application of computer automation in the organisation processes and drive the ICT culture, stressing that the ICT helpdesk is specifically designed to escalate hard and soft challenges to ICT engineers for prompt response.

    He pointed out that management has also identified the need to establish a call centre for clients across the nation.

  • Alumni fete alma mater

    The Old Students Association of Federal Government College (FEGOCOWOSA), Warri, Delta State, has commissioned four projects in the school.

    The ceremony, which was part of the events to mark the Annual General Meeting of the Old Students Association, was attended by old students from across the world.

    Outgoing National President Akinwunmi Ambode said the projects were executed to give back to the school which had given them so much.

    “My vision was to do everything we could to make Federal Government College, Warri, remain great, to inspire the next generation of the students to be the best they can be and to motivate them to aspire for greatness”.

    The former Accountant-General of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, described education as “the most potent weapon against poverty”, adding that “if the youths have good education, they will be better placed to overcome the challenges ahead”.

    The four projects commissioned include a new state-of-the-art Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre, a 500KVA electricity generator, an expanded infirmary (sick bay) and a renovated dining hall.