The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ICT

  • Commission on cybercrimes in banking, oil and gas coming

    Commission on cybercrimes in banking, oil and gas coming

    The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Hon Ibrahim Shehu Gusau has said the House, is planning to set up a commission that would tackle cybercrimes in the banking, insurance, I CT, oil and gas, among others.

    Speaking to The Nation at the sidelines of the 6th edition of the West African Convergence Conference (WACC 2013) in Lagos, he said the Commission to be known as Cybercrimes Security Commission would help in checking online fraudulent practices.

    He said: “We are working on laws that would ensure that cybercrimes are reduced across sectors. We are a bill that would enable Cybercrime Security Commission to be in place. Of course, this will reduce among other things cybercrimes in banking, oil and gas, ICT, among other sectors. As soon as the President assent to the bill, we would pass it.’’

    He said the Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission (EFFC), and the police are the first port of calls when its comes to cybercrimes, adding that with the Commission will help in complementing the activities of such law enforcement agencies.

    He said there is no institution or office in the House of Representatives assigned to tackle cyber security crimes until recently when the Committee on ICT was set up.

    According to him, the Committee has passed Cyber Security Bill and Nigerian Communication Satellite Bill to ensure that the sector is afoot and stronger compared to its counterparts in developed countries.

    Gusua said this was the first time the House would have a Committee on ICT, noting that there was nothing of such in the past.

    Also, the Chief Executive officer, Omatek Computers, Mrs Florence Seriki, canvassed convergence, saying it is the in-thing globally, advising Nigeria to embrace it.

    He said with mobile devices, such as phones, I-PAD, among others, people can reach a convergence electronically on personnel and corporate interests.

    She said the company has an educational programme that enables it go to schools, distribute laptops to students, teach them how to use the device and making them IT compliant.

  • NITDA targets 300,000 jobs

    NITDA targets 300,000 jobs

    Acting Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Ashiru Daura, has said his agency hopes to create about 300,000 jobs in the next three years.

    This, he said, could be achieved through harnessing the information and technology outsourcing.

    Daura, who spoke at the second national outsourcing conference organised by NITDA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology in Abuja, said IT outsourcing had not been explored for addressing unemployment.

    He said: “The state of unemployment in the country, which is given at 23.9 per cent of the total population by the National Bureau of Statistics as at May 2013 is very disturbing.

    “This level of unemployment is disheartening, especially when we have not explored the opportunities IT outsourcing presents to us.

    “It is our resolve to support Mr President on this agenda by creating an enabling environment for providing job opportunities for our teeming youths through the use of IT enabled services.’’

    He added: “Nigeria, with her enormous human resources and endowed skills, should be seen at the top of the ladder in providing ICT solutions and outsourcing opportunities.

    “Our aim is to be the market hub of outsourcing in Africa and provide over 100,000 jobs annually for our teeming unemployed youths in the next three years.”

  • Adeleye empowers youths

    Adeleye empowers youths

    A new set of beneficiaries of Honourable Adijat Motunrayo Oladapo Adeleye’s empowerment scheme completed their training during the week. According to Winifred Hoke, one of the beneficiaries of the Batch 5 DTP, “The kind gesture of Honourable Motunrayo Adijat Oladapo Adeleye is appreciated as she has provided free ICT training.”

    Hoke goes on to explain that “People who have worked in organisations without formal training also have the opportunity to learn further and get a certificate that backs the training. The exposure has assisted a lot of young people in the community in different aspects of their lives. It offers three courses majorly; desktop publishing, computer engineering and adult education. The training has also helped to provide job opportunities for some of the beneficiaries. The school also included an adult education section which educates uneducated adults in Mathematics and English language to enhance their business and communication skills.”

    For Samuel, another beneficiary, it is one of the best things that have happened to him recently. “I can now use Microsoft word application programmes to facilitate rapid and efficient manipulation of text in the in the production of a document. So I decided to set up a business centre where people can get value for their money.“

    He added: “The vision of the project is to build a nation with responsible and loyal youths and to enhance learning and increased productivity for the mind, thereby bringing reduction to the number of heartbroken and brain-washed youths. It is sad that a number of our young people destroy themselves daily. If they get such opportunities, it would go a long way to better their lot and they would be able to contribute to the development of Nigeria as a whole.”

  • Engineers frown at search for investors abroad

    The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) yesterday condemned what it called the neglect of local investors and called on the federal government to protect local industries and investors.

    Its National President, Mustafa Shehu, told newsmen in Onitsha that it was condemnable how government officials travel abroad in search of investors when local investors are relegated to the background.

    Shehu spoke during the 9th International Conference and Exhibition on Power and Telecommunication at the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

    He tasked government to consciously and deliberately create a policy that will protect local industries.

    The Minister of Communication and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, who was represented, by John Ayodele, Director, Postal and Telecommunication, said that ICT will help to commercialise traditional agricultural opportunities in Nigeria as well as create new job opportunities in the sector.

    The National Chairman of Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Adekunle Makinde, lamented that the telecom and power sectors have remained in the hands of foreign engineers in Nigeria.

  • ‘Vision 20:2020, MDGs unrealistic without ICT’

    ‘Vision 20:2020, MDGs unrealistic without ICT’

    The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has warned that the pursuit of the Federal Government’s Vision 20:2020 objectives and the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) as set by the United Nations Organisation (UNO) may be a mirage if government refuses to develop an attitudinal change to the information communication technology (ICT) sector.

    The NCS President, Prof David Adewumi, made this remark while speaking with ICT journalists in Lagos, expressing concern over what he described as ‘the marginalisation’ of the ICT sector by government agencies, and warned that the development portends serious danger to the attainment of the goals set down by the government.

    He explained that the sector is concerned about the marginalisation of ICT today in the country, which is the driving force and contributor to the digital economy, adding that it would be tragic if Africa lost out on the ongoing digital revolution, having already lost out in the industrial revolution.

    “Nigeria is not fully harnessing the growth opportunity of the IT sector. The academia, manufacturing sector, government and other stakeholders must take advantage of the enormous opportunities available in IT to drive growth and development.

    “Local content needs to be enforced practically and those working and providing services in ICT in Nigeria should be encouraged and supported in providing the much-needed innovative solutions for job creation, security, governance, health and other challenges besetting the nation,” Adewumi said.

    He assured of the commitment of the NCS to embark on research and development (R&D), ICT-enabled employment generation, and promotion of excellence and professionalism in the industry and urged the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue to incorporate and prioritise the role of the ICT sector if Nigeria is to be a key player among the comity of nations.

  • ICT industry growing at 20%, says Minister

    ICT industry growing at 20%, says Minister

    Nigeria’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) indutry is growing at about 20 per cent yearly, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has said.

    Mrs. Johnson who made this known at the unveiling of the ‘1000 Girls For ICT Training Programme’ in Lagos yesterday, said it is the fastest growing sector in the nation’s economy.

    It is being implemented with a leading global ICTsolutions provider, Huawei, where 100 women are being trained in ICT Basic Knowledge.

    She said ICT has the transformational power to accelerate the development of women by helping them to be more efficient and effective in their jobs, careers and businesses and to generate new employment opportunities.

    Mrs  Johnson said ICT has the potential to contribute to increasing the social welfare of women. She said: “Nigeria’s ICT sector has increased tremendously in the past 12 years growing at 20 per cent annually, making it the fastest growing in the country and women must be part of the revolution.”

    With a foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow running into over $25 billion, she said the sector is contributing about eight per cent to the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Mrs Johnson said: “So, about 1, 000 female students will benefit from the one year programme and the training will be organised in Huawei ICT Training Centre in Abuja and Huawei Exhibition Hall in Lagos.”

    Johnson added that the specific skills that the trainees would acquired are some of the highly-priced in the industry, making them well sought ýafter by IF companies, immediately after the training.

    Huawei said the launch of the programme was also part of its strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the country and in solidarity with female students who are willing to explore their careers in ICT industry across the country.

    ýAccording to the Vice President, Huawei West Africa, Mr. Hover Gao, the programme was part of Huawei’s commitment to localisation, technology transferring to Nigeria and employment promotion.

    “Huawei is the first ICT solutions provider to establish an ICT training centre in Abuja back in 2004 and since then, the training centre has provided more than 5, 000 opportunities to ICT practitioners.

    He, however, noted that the Huawei and the Ministry of Communication Technology orientation programme on ICT Basic Knowledge for female students is not a one-time-off event.

  • Ogun judges get ICT training

  • ICT marginalisation threat to economic development, says NCS

    ICT marginalisation threat to economic development, says NCS

    The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has warned that the country may miss the Federal Government’s Vision 20:2020 objectives and that of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) set by the United Nations Organisation (UNO) if the government fails to change its attitude to the information communication technology (ICT) sector.

    Its President, Prof David Adewumi, said in Lagos at the weekend that the body was concerned with the marginalisation of the ICT sector by successive administrations in the country, warning that the development portended grave dangers to the attainment of the goals set down by the government.

    The don also said since Africa lost out in the industrial revolution, it would be disastrous if the continent loses out again in the ongoing digital revolution.

    He said: “We are concerned about the marginalisation of IT today in the country. The IT industry is the driving force and contributor to behind the digital economy. “Nigeria is not fully harnessing the growth opportunity of the IT sector. The academia, manufacturing sector, government and other stakeholders must take advantage of the enormous opportunities available in IT to drive growth and development.

    “Local content needs to be enforced practically and those working and providing services in IT in Nigeria should be encouraged and supported in providing the much needed innovative solutions for job creation, security, governance, health and other challenges besetting the nation.”

    According to him, it is not possible for the nation to achieve the Vision 20:2020 goals of the government and the MDGs of the UN if jobs cannot be created massively and have a sound educational system that are run with digital minds, adding that what is on ground now are “analogue mindset and action.”

    He expressed the readiness of the group to embark on research and development (R&D), IT-enabled employment generation, promotion of excellence and professionalism in the industry. He added that the body will keep on drumming the importance of local content in the industry until the government listens.

    “It is imperative that the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue fully faces this reality. The National Dialogue must grasp the need to incorporate and prioritise the role of IT sector if Nigerian is to be a key player among the comity of nations and fulfill the promises and expectations of the 21 century,” he added.

  • Edo introduces ICT in public schools

    The Edo Government is to introduce Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a subject in public primary schools in the state as part of efforts to change the face of primary education, an official said in Benin City on Tuesday.

    The Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Chief Stephen Alao, told journalists that the initiative was aimed at exposing pupils in their formative years to the best practices in basic education.

    He noted that as the foundation of the education, primary education should be qualitative for pupils to have smooth progress in their education.

    Alao said the present administration in the state is passionate about sound basic education.

    “There is no reason why all public primary schools in the state will not have ICT since government is determined to give qualitative education to the people,” he said.

    Alao said that the state government was also improving the quality of teachers in the state by training and re-training them.

    He added: “If we have well-modeled schools without well tutored students, of course, we are not going anywhere.”

    He said that the board was worried that some teachers were rejection postings to rural areas, promising adding that the “anomaly” will soon be corrected.

    The SUBEB boss said schools with too many teachers would be decongested as surplus teachers would posted to other schools.

    “The issue had been a major challenge to the board and posting will not be done to favour any particular local government area,” he promised.

    Alao also promised that the board would address the overpopulation of pupils in some schools and renovate those yet to be reached by the state government as they will be captured in the state’s 2014 budget.

    He, however, appealed to the authorities of the schools that had already been renovated or upgraded to take good care of the facilities

     

  • Fed Govt, ISACA to unveil ICT framework

    Fed Govt, ISACA to unveil ICT framework

    Sanity will soon be restored in the use and management of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the country, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has assured.

    Its Director-General, Dr Ashiru Daura, said the Federal Government is collaborating with the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) to unveil a new mechanism, which he called the Control Objective for Information Technology (COBIT5).

    According to him, it is a mechanism that guides the deployment of ICT which many countries have already adopted on the continent.

    Daura, who addressed some journalists alongside National President of ISACA, Peter Ene, said the platform, which will soon come on stream will also help address the security challenges facing the country.

    He revealed that arrangements to ensure that COBIT5 take off in the country by 2015 have been put in place.

    Daura and Ene added that Nigeria’s intelligence community could key into COBIT 5, as it is capable of solving the endemic security problem in the country. “If the police have a proper IT infrastructure, we will have a proper mechanism that will checkmate insurgencies in the country. COBIT 5 will also address this,”Ene stated.

    On how far the agency has gone to achieve this, he said NITDA alongside ISACA were “still trying to create awareness. We need to sensitise the stakeholders. IT has come to stay. Once COBIT5 is more effective, IT will be more effective and the economy will grow. Government agencies will begin to realise how they duplicate things and that problem will be resolved”.

    Stressing the role of NITDA in regulating IT management in the country, Daura said: “NITDA is responsible for the regulatory framework of IT-related issues in Nigeria. One of the steps we are taking is the collaboration with ISACA. It is an international organisation focusing on security. Their standard is accepted internationally. We want to have a coordinated and standard IT in the country.”

     

     

    Speaking more on the benefits to derive from COBIT 5, ISACA president said : “it will move Nigeria forward. If we have a single framework, all the distractions generated by the clash of interest of government agencies will be a thing of the past. COBIT 5 can coordinate all these things. COBIT 5 deals with the issue of accountability in both public and private sectors. Right now, there is no regulation or sanity between government agencies. It will save a lot of time and money.

    “We’ve COBIT 5 because of the failures in the past. It separates governance from management. It doesn’t stop at the financial or IT level alone. It covers everything. COBIT 5 has seven components. It is the only business framework of enterprise and business IT.”