The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ICT

  • Lagos goes on-line

    The Lagos State Judiciary has achieved another first. It has blazed the trail in implementing an electronic case management system with e-payment in Nigeria.

    The launch of the Judiciary Information System (JIS) took place in Lagos last week at a summit organised as part of the activities marking the state’s 2013/2014 legal year.

    The epoch-making occasion, held at the Lagos City Hall, was attended by Justice George Oguntade (rtd); a former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ade Alabi; the Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, the Head Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade and other judges and lawyers.

    Since June 14, last year, when she took the oath of office as the 14th Chief judge, ,Justice Phillips has not hidden her desire to change the face of the judiciary through information technology (IT).

    Upon assumption of office, she set up a committee headed by Justice Hakeem Olatunde Oshodi to work with the consultant, First High Tower Info Tech Limited.

    The need to ease the strenuous case management workflow and ensure the transparency of the judiciary, leveraging on IT, gave rise to the system, she said.

    With the launch of the JIS, the state has stepped into the 21st century and can rub shoulders with others.

    The benefits of the JIS are enormous.  It is expected to assist the personnel of the judiciary and counsels. Case management will be a lot easier for counsels as they can file cases and make payments via a secured web portal with a credit, debit card or direct bank payment from the comfort of their chambers.

    According to the Chief Executive Officer of First High Tower Info Tech, Mr Sanni Eniola, a counsel who has registered on the portal can keep track of their cases from anywhere via the internet.

    He said JIS will increase the revenue of the state judiciary, pointing out that since the system charges automatically, incoming revenue are better accounted for.

    Aside that manpower is efficiently used, case management is streamlined, resulting in a higher number of cases being processed yearly.

    He said the JIS also has the advantage of a standardised workflow that would be used in the state Judiciary divisions, adding that the system would ensure economy.

    Besides, the JIS has the advantage of e-filing, online research and report.

    Eniola said all a lawyer wanting to use the portal needs to do is to simply enter the website of the Judiciary and fill a user registration form, create and  register a username and password and send an e-mail.  Once registered, a counsel can  file his case from anywhere, upload documents and make payments using his or her debit or credit card which must have also been registered on the system from the first time it was used.

    The unique thing about the JIS is that it has been configured to accommodate activities of counsels for defence, plaintiffs and judges.

    Eniola said, for instance, that judgment could be accessed by a registered user as it is been delivered because the system is functioning realtime online. In addition, he said various security questions have also been listed to accommodate the various suits a counsel might want to file in the court such as criminal, civil, commercial, and land matters, among others.

    He said data fed into the system are secured and cannot be tampered with.This, according to him, was because they are encrypted as soon as they are fed in.

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, who spoke through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, while addressing judges and lawyers at the Lagos Central Mosque, called on stakeholders to embrace JIS to avoid delays in the administration of justice.

    “Everybody must be involved if the administration of justice must not be delayed. They should comply with new court rules and ensure adherence to e-filing and the digitalisation of the judicial system,” he said.

    Justice Oguntade, who congratulated the state judiciary on setting the pace in e-filing, urged relevant stakeholders in adjudication of justice to ensure that cases are speedily dispensed with with the new JIS.

    Also, Ipaye called for speedy dispensation with the JIS.

    Ipaye, who said he was looking forward to seeing when civil actions  would be dispensed within the shortest time, however, called for cooperation of judges and lawyers to ensure that the system works.

    Ipaye, who was represented by the state’s Solicitor-General Lawal Pedro (SAN), expressed hope that the JIS would usher in a new dawn in the administration of justice in Lagos.

    According to him,  Lagos brazed the trail as an  ICT-compliance state  by introducing e-filing as done in other jurisdictions, notwithstanding power outages bedeviling the country.

    Earlier, Justice Atilade said the e-filing system being  introduced in  Lagos was an indication that the state  judiciary, which has  the highest number of IT-complaint judges in the country, remains  in  the  forefront.

    The week-long activities of the new legal year also saw the Chief Judge visiting the prisons in state. A total of 248  awaiting trials were released from Kirikiri and Ikoyi Prisons.

     

  • ‘ICT can boost agric’

    IBM West Africa Limited has urged farmers to explore the benefits of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to boost their productivity.

    The External Relations Officer of the company, Mr Charles Moyela who gave the advice in an interview, said that technology contributed seven per cent to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “This is because in Africa, mobile phones give people access to services that are available in traditional forms in the developed world, such as financial services, newspapers, games and entertainment.

    “So, the value of a mobile phone is higher in Africa than elsewhere; this advantage can tremendously transform the agricultural landscape, if purposefully exploited.”

    Moyela said lack of transparent information was one of the challenges faced by African farmers, adding that mobile communication technology could address the problem.

    “Mobile communication technology can address the information asymmetry that exists where farmers are frequently disadvantaged price-takers, often selling at a loss,” he said.

    Moyela said mobile communications technology also aided African farmers in the area of agricultural insurance which, he explained, could allow farmers to be better equipped against unforeseen hazard.

    “Crop insurance has long been used in developed countries to address uncertain weather conditions; agricultural insurance has, however, traditionally not been available to most farmers in Africa.

    “One example of how ICT is being used to provide better access to crop insurance for farmers is the KilimoSalama project in Kenya.

    “Mobile communications technology plays a central role in agricultural insurance because it is used for registration of new policies.”

    He said that ICT could also be used to improve irrigation efficiency and crop traceability.

    “Using good irrigation techniques can increase the efficiency and profitability of crop production as much as hundredfold, the use of ICT could have a positive effect on irrigation efficiency,” he said.

    Moyela said two projects from Egypt had been highlighted as examples of successful use of ICT to improve irrigation.

    “The first one, is the government-backed integrated water resource management action plan, which is being implemented on more than 2,000 kilometres of the Nile.

    “The second example is the Magrabi Farms area that has been developed from actual desert to the 8,500 acres that are now fully irrigated.”

  • Corps producing schools to upgrade ICT platform

    Institutions of higher learning whose graduates are mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme have been charged to update their Information Communications Technology facilities (ICT) to synchronise with the NYSC ICT mobilization process.

    This was part of the eight-point resolutions made at the 2013 Batch ‘C’ Pre-mobilization Workshop.

    It was also resolved that the corps producing Institutions (CPIs) should train officers in ICT and assign them to manage the mobilization procedure in their institutions to enhance error-free submission of data.

    The participants at the workshop, which had the theme: “Appraising NYSC Mobilization Strategies for better Service Delivery”, also want the CPIs to clearly explain JAMB regularization and administrative fees charged their graduates to avoid creating impression that the charges are from the NYSC.

    During the workshop, the CPIs thanked the NYSC management for accepting to mobilise graduates in excess of their approved admission quota in the 2013 Batch ‘B’ mobilization exercise, and appealed for an extension to 2014 to enable them clear all the backlog.

    Participants also agreed that the NYSC management should fulfil an earlier promise to convene a meeting of heads of CPIs with regulatory agencies to enable them resolve challenges facing the mobilization process.

    It was further resolved that the NYSC management would look into the cases of part-time graduates, whose dates of graduation preceded 2001 when the Policy on Exclusion came into force.

     

  • Anambra community lauds poly on ICT

    THE Nawfija community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State has praised the management of the Federal Polytechnic in Oko, for the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the institution.

    The community’s monarch, Chief Clifford Okeke, gave the commendation when the management team led by the Rector, Prof Godwin Onu, visited the community to assess an ICT centre donated to the institution by a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Ben Nwankwo.

    Chief Nwankwo said the centre would help to train and empower young people from the Orumba Federal Constituency with relevant ICT skills.

    He said: “Today’s world is computer-based. This project is a constructive engagement of the youth population. It will reduce unemployment and insecurity. So I enjoin Orumba youths to take advantage of the centre and empower themselves.”

    Prof Godwin Onu thanked the legislator for the initiative and promised that the polytechnic will put the centre into productive use. He added that: “The centre will be useful not only to the polytechnic, but also to the Orumba community. Today’s world is driven by ICT and it is important that we train our young people to enrich themselves and take advantage of the opportunities offered by ICT.”

    Onu disclosed that the polytechnic has started computer-based examinations, adding that the move has saved the institution time and money, reduced examination malpractices and corruption among lecturers.

    The monarch noted that the centre will keep the youths busy and reduce crime in the area. He urged the polytechnic to extend the development to the community’s ICT centre.

  • Oko Poly takes over ICT centre

    The Federal Polytechnic, Oko has taken over the management of the Information and Communication/Skill Acquisition Centre in Nawfijah, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State constructed by Hon Ben Nwankwo, a lawmaker representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.

    Receiving the keys to the furnished structure from Nwankwo, an alumnus, Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof Godwin Onu, described the centre as a landmark, which would be beneficial for not only the constituency and the Polytechnic community but to Nigerians at large.

    He said the centre would start a department on software incubation among others and award certificates to participants.

    “Our institution welcomes the donation of this ICT centre by a former student of our great polytechnic. We are assuring him that this legacy would be put to effective use and we would not disappoint on the expectations from us by the Founding father.

    “It is a skill acquisition training centre not only for children or school leavers but for adults since knowledge is a continuum and there is always need to specialise in areas. It is an entrepreneurial centre where authentic certificates would be awarded at the end of the programme.

    “Those who are not computer literate don’t know what they are missing. Nwankwo is a blessing and an institution and a born leader. I thank him for thinking home. The future lies in skills and insecurity could be fought with skills and it would die naturally because when everybody is busy with skills, nobody thinks evil,” he said.

    He further announced that Nwankwo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, would chair the first world campus cultural carnival to be hosted by the polytechnic in October.

     

    The Rector further said that the institution has incorporated ICT into the conduct of examinations and is reaping the benefits.

    He said: “A team from JAMB visited us just this morning to see our computer room but marveled to see our students doing computer-based examinations. We have since chosen that option to reduce man hours and materials wasted in conducting examinations. Now immediately you finish our examinations, you have your result within hours right on your phone and your sponsors’ phones so that they would monitor what you do in school.

    “With this method, no cheating, no sorting, no missing scripts and text books won’t be by force but by choice as nobody interferes with your results.”

    Speaking, Nwankwo said he established the centre to fight poverty, reduce crime and improve skills of school leavers in his constituency. He added that a generator that can power the centre and the expansion of the site are priority projects in his 2014 budget proposals.

    Nwankwo said he handed the centre over to the polytechnic for proper management.

    “There are lots of jobs locked in the ICT that needed to be unlocked, so a certificate from Oko Polytechnic would be best appreciated and regarded once you get the skills and specialise.

    “I will seek fund for expansion of the center in the next year’s budget , do a perimeter fence and install a generator to power the center as well as do a borehole. I therefore charge the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko to run it successfully to be a legacy for our people generation to generation for reduction of poverty and enhanced skill acquisition.”

     

  • Cross River launches first S/South ICT incubation centre in Calabar

    Technology Development Entrepreneurship Acceleration (IDEA) Incubation Centre in Calabar.

    It is the first in the South-South Geopolitical Zone.

    Imoke described the Centre as a vision shared between the state and Federal Government which will play a greater part in a system that will encourage youths to showcase their capabilities and potentials.

    While appreciating stakeholders of IDEA, which is the component of the Tinapa Knowledge City (TKC), Imoke explained that the completion of the first phase of the facility will turn around the economy which is not oil-driven.

    According to him, “This will stimulate service and technology-driven economy as well as rapid growth of the nation because it will provide young men and women with capacity and intellect to compete globally because their creative minds have made them to become what they want.”

    The governor explained that TKC is a product of an investment in an emerging economy of the nation which Cross River state is determined to kick-start, hoping that the facility will become the driver of the economy which is being revolutionised by the youths.

    He commended those involved in IDEA for attracting a sustainable framework and noted that there was need for the private sector to key into it as it will truly drive the development of not only their products and its market but the economy of the nation.

    Imoke disclosed that the center will be managed by the private sector for the benefit of Cross Riverians.

    The governor remarked that users of the facility will comprise a new generation of Nigerians who will take advantage of its contribution to a revolution that will take the country to greater height globally.

    House of Representatives committee member on Information Communication Technology (ICT), Hon. Nkoyo Toyo, described the Centre as a beautiful concept that will contribute to the development of the nation because its future depends on human resource based on ICT.

    Toyo, who represents Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, noted that the Centre will enable youth to see how they could use their innovation and creativity for the development of the nation and also control the world in future.

    She observed that the quality of human resource is the most critical input of development and not oil, adding that Tinapa has become a living line in the country.

    Representative of the Ministry of ICT, Dr. Asairy Daura, who described the Centre as a convergence of three visions, said it is aimed at creating job and empower youth, while Cross River established TKC as a vision of ICT in Africa and the world.

  • ICT compliance must for school heads

    ICT compliance must for school heads

    From the 2014/2015 academic session no teacher without Information and Communications Technology (ICT) certification will be appointed school principal or head teacher in Cross River State.

    The new policy for appointment of school administrators, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Offiong E Offiong said is to ensure that by 2015 all teachers in public schools in the state acquire Microsoft Digital Literacy Certification.

    Speaking during the formal commencement of computer training for teachers under the state government laptop computer acquisition/e-learning programme in Calabar, Offiong said there was a need for teachers to be digitally compliant in tune with the demands of the 21st century.

    Offiong said about 10, 000 laptops have been distributed to teachers and other government officials who applied for them.

    He said the response so far has been encouraging because of the software built into the system that makes the work of the teacher in terms of note of lessons among others to be easy.

    This he said had encouraged teachers who initially did not key into the programme.

    He urged the teachers to cooperate with the organizers and facilitators of the training so they can make use of the opportunity to improve themselves as individuals and pass on the knowledge to the children for the overall development of the school system.

     

  • New infrastructure Master-Plan to cost N2.9tr

    New infrastructure Master-Plan to cost N2.9tr

    The implementation of the new blueprint on infrastructure – Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), would cost $2.9 trillion, the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has said.

    Usman, who spoke at a dinner organised by the Business Support Group (BSG), explained that the Master Plan had been designed to raise the nation’s stock of infrastructure from the current 35-40 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to 70 per cent of GDP in the next 30 years.

    He said the plan envisaged that 48 per cent of the $2.9 billion would come from the private sector.

    The NIIMP is a 30-year one, designed to accelerate infrastructure development in the country, he said, adding that its focus is on core infrastructure, including energy (power and oil & gas), transport (roads, rail, ports and airports), housing, water and information communications technology (ICT).

    Other infrastructure classes include agriculture, mining, social infrastructure, vital registration and security, he said.

    Usman said the draft NIIMP contained a long-term vision that set the overall direction for the master plan and strategic objectives, such as per capita income and GDP growth, adding that it also described the overall investments required in infrastructure, over the next 30 years, and the requisite financing plan and sector and regional strategies, as well as a priority projects portfolio. As an actionable plan, the NIIMP also highlighted enablers for implementation and an implementation plan.

    Usman pointed out that the huge investment requirement of the NIIMP, imposed on the Federal Government the task of exploreing various financing options, adding that the private sector would be expected to play a more significant role in financing infrastructure development.

    He added that the great potential for private sector participation placed additional responsibility on the public sector.

    “Given the global nature of infrastructure investment, it implies we have to compete. To compete, we have to strengthen the policy, legal and institutional frameworks for effective infrastructure development as well as improve security. It will also require fiscal incentives and capability building for the management of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

  • ‘Make ICT compulsory’

    ‘Make ICT compulsory’

    A school owner, Mr Olatunbosun James Lawal has urged the Federal Government to make Computer knowledge compulsory at all levels of education given its importance in today’s world.

    Lawal, who is also the principal of his school, Greater Tomorrow

    International College (GTIC), Arigidi-Akoko, said doing so would help Nigeria catch up with current development.

    Speaking while launching new computers for the school’s computer laboratory, Lawal said they are relevant tools in education of young ones.

    “We need latest computers in our computer laboratories. We have to move with time and be able to compete with other schools in the world as the world has become a global village. In overseas countries assignments are done with computers. We have started it here and very soon we shall all be doing most of our things with the computer,” he said.

    The principal said school organises a computer week programme every month to let help pupils quickly learn about Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    Lawal added that this practice contributed to pupils of the school scoring 250 and above in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    He said: “Our students used computers for their UTME which is not new to them any longer. From the primary school to secondary school level we have been training the pupils to use the computer,” he said.

    Lawal urged parents to make sure their wards have knowledge of computer and Internet but quickly added that they should be monitored “so that they don’t abuse it.”

    With its facilities, Lawal said Greater Tomorrow International College can compete with any school in the world.

    “I have travelled to many countries such as Japan, Britain, and Canada to see how their education is and I discovered that Nigerians can compete with them. All we need is latest equipment and teaching aids,” he said.

  • ‘Make ICT compulsory’

    A school owner, Mr Olatunbosun James Lawal has urged the Federal Government to make Computer knowledge compulsory at all levels of education given its importance in today’s world.

    Lawal, who is also the principal of his school, Greater Tomorrow

    International College (GTIC), Arigidi-Akoko, said doing so would help Nigeria catch up with current development.

    Speaking while launching new computers for the school’s computer laboratory, Lawal said they are relevant tools in education of young ones.

    “We need latest computers in our computer laboratories. We have to move with time and be able to compete with other schools in the world as the world has become a global village. In overseas countries assignments are done with computers. We have started it here and very soon we shall all be doing most of our things with the computer,” he said.

    The principal said school organises a computer week programme every month to let help pupils quickly learn about Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    Lawal added that this practice contributed to pupils of the school scoring 250 and above in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    He said: “Our students used computers for their UTME which is not new to them any longer. From the primary school to secondary school level we have been training the pupils to use the computer,” he said.

    Lawal urged parents to make sure their wards have knowledge of computer and Internet but quickly added that they should be monitored “so that they don’t abuse it.”

    With its facilities, Lawal said Greater Tomorrow International College can compete with any school in the world.

    “I have travelled to many countries such as Japan, Britain, and Canada to see how their education is and I discovered that Nigerians can compete with them. All we need is latest equipment and teaching aids,” he said.