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  • Eight Nigerian innovators making global impact you should know

    Eight Nigerian innovators making global impact you should know

    Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is known for its rich culture and diversity. Recently, Nigerian innovators have been gaining international recognition for their groundbreaking work in various fields. These trailblazers, who come from sectors like technology, healthcare, finance, and education, show that Nigeria’s talent has no limits.

    Here are eight Nigerian innovators making waves globally you should know

    1.  Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Tech)

    Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is a well-known entrepreneur who has made a big impact on Africa’s technology scene. He helped start Andela, a company that trains African software developers and connects them with jobs around the world.

    Aboyeji co-founded Flutterwave, a payment platform that makes it easier for businesses in Africa to manage their transactions. Through these projects, Aboyeji continues to play a key role in boosting Africa’s presence in the tech industry.

    2.  Silas Adekunle (Robotics)

    At just 26 years old, Silas Adekunle gained worldwide attention by creating Mekamon, the world’s first gaming robot. He developed it through his company, Reach Robotics. Adekunle’s skills in robotics, along with his creativity, brought a new type of gaming that mixes augmented reality (AR) with real-life robots. His invention has opened up exciting possibilities in the gaming world, making him a standout figure in technology.

    Silas Adekunle’s groundbreaking work in robotics grabbed the attention of major companies, including Apple, which started selling his robots in their stores. Since then, Adekunle has continued to lead in the robotics field, using his knowledge to mentor and inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. His influence keeps growing as he helps shape the future of technology.

    3.  Temie Giwa-Tubosun (Health tech)

    Temie Giwa-Tubosun is a Nigerian-American health manager, born in December 1985, she founded LifeBank, a company that uses technology to deliver blood and other important medical supplies to hospitals in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Fuel price: Need for technological awakening

    LifeBank has grown to serve other African countries as well, helping to save thousands of lives during emergencies. Giwa-Tubosun’s efforts are making a big difference in healthcare across the continent.

    Temie Giwa-Tubosun’s work has earned her international praise, including being named on BBC’s 100 Women and TIME’s Next 100 List. She is a great example of how technology can solve real-world problems. Her efforts through LifeBank continue to save lives and inspire people around the world.

    4.  Tope Awotona (Software & E-commerce)

    Tope Awotona is a Nigerian born Software developer, he founded Calendly in 2013 after being frustrated by the difficulty of scheduling meetings across different time zones. Today, Calendly is one of the most popular scheduling tools worldwide, used by businesses and professionals everywhere. Under Awotona’s leadership, the company has grown into a multi-million-dollar business, making it easier for people to organize meetings and manage their time.

    5. Omobola Johnson (Technology & Digital Infrastructure)

    As Nigeria’s former Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson played a key role in developing the country’s IT and telecom sectors. Now, she is a partner at TLcom Capital, a venture capital firm that supports tech startups across Africa. Through TLcom, Johnson helps the next generation of tech innovators by giving them the funding and guidance they need to grow their businesses. Her leadership has been central to Nigeria’s digital transformation, and her work continues to drive innovation across the continent.

    6.  John O. Dabiri (Science & Engineering)

    John Dabiri, a Nigerian-American professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering at Caltech, is known for his research in fluid dynamics and energy efficiency.

    By studying how jellyfish move, Dabiri has found new ways to improve engineering, especially in designing wind turbines for renewable energy.

    His innovative work has earned him global recognition, including being named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. Dabiri’s research is not only groundbreaking in the academic world but also helps tackle real-world energy challenges.

    7.  Dr. Wendy A. Okolo (NASA Aerospace Engineer)

    Wendy Okolo made history by becoming the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Now working at NASA, she specializes in flight dynamics, vehicle controls, and systems health monitoring. Okolo’s groundbreaking work has made her one of the leading experts in aerospace engineering, and she continues to inspire many in the field.

    8.   Jason Njoku (Co-founder of iROKOtv)

    Jason Njoku is a pioneer in African digital entertainment. He co-founded iROKOtv, an online platform often called the “Netflix of Nollywood.” iROKOtv distributes Nollywood films to audiences around the world and has played a major role in popularizing African films globally. Njoku’s innovative approach has changed how African content is shared, making it accessible to a larger international audience.

  • Fed Govt to cut taxes for telecom firms

    Fed Govt to cut taxes for telecom firms

    The Federal Government is planning to reduce taxes on telecommunications infrastructure to encourage firms to spend more on their networks, Communications Technology Minister Dr Omobola Johnson has said.

    “For every naira that is spent on infrastructure, about 70 per cent of it is spent on taxes. We’re going to bring that down to a much more reasonable level at 30 to 40 per cent,” she told Bloomberg.

    Mobile phone firms, including MTN Group Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd of India, have examined ways to offload networks to reduce exposure to costly African infrastructure.

    Apart from taxes, the operators also face the challenges of unreliable power supply and the threat of bomb attacks from Islamist militants.

    MTN and Airtel were both fined early this year for poor service standards. While the laws allow only the Federal Government to tax mobile phone firms, states and local authorities have found other ways to raise cash by levying operators’ infrastructure, including towers and base stations, Johnson said.

    Regional governments shouldn’t charge a retail store N10 million ($60,808) and phone firms N100 million for the same-sized space, she said. MTN is planning to sell a stake in its mobile tower network, worth over $1 billion.

    Sunil Mittal, the billionaire Chairman of India’s largest mobile phone operator Airtel, said in a May interview that operators were unfairly taxed in the country because the industry supports other areas of the economy.

    Nigeria is a target for international phone firms eager to tap into demand from the country’s 170 million people.

    The total number of connected mobile phones increased to 177 million in April, compared with 170 million at the start of the year, according to the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

     

  • Govt to cut taxes for phone companies to boost investment

    Govt to cut taxes for phone companies to boost investment

    The Federal Government plans to reduce taxes on telecommunications infrastructure to encourage companies to spend more on networks in the country, Communications Technology Minister Omobola Johnson has said.

    “For every naira that is spent on infrastructure, about 70 percent of it is spent on taxes,” she said in an interview in Abuja. “We’re going to bring that down to a much more reasonable level at 30 to 40 percent.”

    Mobile-phone companies including MTN) and Bharti Airtel Ltd have examined ways to offload networks to reduce exposure to costly African infrastructure. Apart from taxes, Nigeria operators also face the challenges of unreliable power supply and the threat of bomb attacks from terrorists. MTN and Airtel were both fined earlier this year for poor service standards in the country.

    While Nigerian laws allow only the federal government to tax mobile-phone companies, states and local authorities have found other ways to raise cash by heavily levying operators’ infrastructure, including towers and base stations, Johnson said. The states shouldn’t charge a retail store 10 million naira and phone companies 100 million naira for the same-sized space, she said.

    MTN  is planning to sell a stake in its Nigerian mobile tower network, which it values at more than $1 billion. Sunil Mittal, the billionaire chairman of India’s largest mobile-phone operator Airtel, said in a May interview that operators are unfairly taxed in Nigeria because the industry supports other areas of the economy.

    A five-year insurgency by Boko Haram in the Northeast has “badly affected” phone companies’ operations in the region as militants target telecommunications network sites, Johnson said. An MTN office in Maiduguri was torched by terrorists in 2012. Its base stations and towers have been attacked in the past.

    “There are parts of the Northeast that no operator can go into even if they want to,” Johnson said. “Whenever they have to desperately go and maintain, they do get the support of the security forces to escort to their base stations to do their work.”

    Nigeria remains  a target for international phone companies eager to tap into demand from the country’s 170 million people. The total number of connected mobile-phones increased to 177 million as of the end of April, compared with 170 million at the start of the year, according to the Nigerian Communication Commission.

    MTN said in April it secured a $3 billion loan to invest in the country, while Globacom is spending $1.25 billion to upgrade and expand its network.

    Nigeria plans to award seven licences within a year to companies that will build fibre-optic networks in each of the six geopolitical zones and Lagos  Johnson said. The nation wants to reach 30 percent broadband penetration by 2017.

     

  • 50th anniversary: College honours Babalola, Tinubu, others

    50th anniversary: College honours Babalola, Tinubu, others

    Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo Town is preparing to mark its golden jubilee with a host of events and awards programmes.

    They include a special convocation for awards of NCE, degrees and presentation of prizes and fellowships to eminent Nigerians.

    The recipients are the Minister of Communication and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Legal luminary and founder, Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), the Director-General, National Teachers Institute, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu and the Chairman, Pacesetters Groups of School, Abuja, Kenneth Imansuangbon.

    Besides the inauguration of projects by the Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike and the public presentation of a festschrift in honour of the Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, there will be recognition of the benefactors of the college.

    The benefactors include Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Odunwo of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief Sir Olabanji Akingbule; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Prof ‘Dibu Ojerinde and former member of House of Representative, Dr. Tayo Fawehinmi

    Other activities to mark the anniversary which will commence on May 2, include special Jumaat Service and interdenominational service on May 4 at the Christ Chapel Interdenominational church; press conference to be addressed by the Chairman, Governing Council, Ambassador John Musa, May 5; , book launch to be chaired by Senator Oluremi Tinubu; oratory skill competition and convocation play.anniversary walk from the college to the Osemawe’s palace, alumni week, student week and exhibitions by the Departments of Home Economics and the Fine and Applied Arts.

    Prof Kabiru Isyaku, from Bayero Univeristy will deliver the special anniversary lecture titled: Teachers and quality of education: 50 years after Ashby Report on May 19.

    Highlights of other activities are football match between ACE and O.A.U team

    The celebration will be rounded up on May 23 and 25 with Jumat and thanksgiving services.

     

  • Sanctioning telcos

    Sanctioning telcos

    •Govt should compel them to perform or face sanctions

    POOR quality of service (QoS) is a problem consumers have been enduring for years, in spite of the telecommunications revolution that the country witnessed in 2001 with the advent of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication in the country. And this is causing the Federal Government a lot of concern.

    It was government’s concern that prompted Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, to warn at a joint press conference by the ministry and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) of Nigeria, that government will no longer condone poor service delivery to telecoms subscribers: “Henceforth, it is no longer business as usual, and operators must rise up to redress the current poor state of service delivery”, she said.

    Over the years, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulatory agency for the telecoms sector, had taken some actions to remedy the situation. For instance, last year, the four major mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat were fined a total of N1.17billion ($7.38million). That the QoS challenges persist suggest that firmer actions needed to be taken against the telecoms providers.

    It is against this background that we welcome the Federal Government’s decision to sanction or prosecute erring ones among them over the matter and sundry other concerns that have been agitating the minds of subscribers. The collaboration between the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and the CPC is pointer to the fact that it will, henceforth, be business unusual on the part of the telcos. It is good that the government seems set to compel them to improve on their operations or face sanctions. The same telcos that cannot cope with normal service delivery have compounded the problem with unsolicited messages as well as telemarketing calls they deliver to subscribers on their networks.

    At the root of the poor QoS is failure of the operators to expand their facilities. And if they are doing this at all, it is not commensurate with the traffic. Yet, about N979billion was to be ploughed into network expansion this year alone.

    The December 31 deadline to them to meet minimum requirements for service delivery, failing which they will not be allowed to embark on further network expansion initiatives is welcome. Indeed, it is surprising that the operators had to be given a deadline on this. Perhaps more shocking is the continued selling of SIM cards by them, when those already on the networks are not having value for their money.

    Of course we are not unmindful of the fact that the telcos have their own peculiar challenges. These include challenges in the area of deploying or maintaining infrastructure, vandalisation of their equipment, multiple taxation, power inadequacy as well as the prohibitive costs of doing business in Nigeria. But the profits posted by the telcos show that they can still do better if only they reckon that subscribers, as customers, are kings.

    The fact is, the telcos are also not helping matters. In some other countries, they cut cost through co-location, for instance; which is sharing of some facilities like masts, etc., instead of hoisting individual masts. The procurement, running and maintenance costs are thus shared among the collaborating operators.

    It’s high time the government rescued telephone subscribers. Its threat to sanction or prosecute erring telcos this time around should not be an empty threat; it should be sincere about it at least to prove that Nigeria is not a place where companies can take Nigerians for granted and get away with it.

    As a matter of fact, that the government itself is wading into the matter suggests that the NCC is not working as it should. Perhaps it is high time the government reorganised the commission itself.

  • Photo: Dame Jonathan, Minister at Telecom World

    Photo: Dame Jonathan, Minister at Telecom World

    First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and the Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson were at the International Telecommunication Union Telecom World 2013 was held in Bangkok recently.
    Picture shows the Minister, Dame Jonathan and Airtel’s Director: Regulatory Affairs & Special Projects, Osondu Nwokoro at the programme.

  • 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.

  • Minister urges girls to embrace ICT career

    Minister urges girls to embrace ICT career

    The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, has urged  girls to embrace careers in Information Communications Technology (ICT) to bridge the career gap between the male and female gender in ICT.
    Mrs Johnson who made this call at a ministerial programme to celebrate the Girls in ICT Day in Abuja in line with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) global advocacy to get more girls into ICT, stressed that despite the advances recorded in ICT globally, there are not many women in ICT due to the perception that it’s for geeks’ or for males.
    The Minister added that the Ministry is encouraging girls to come into ICT in order to erase that perception.
    ‘’When I was studying engineering I was one of five girls in a class of about 80. My daughter has just graduated in an engineering degree and she was also one of about five or six girls, so nothing has really changed in 30 years, ’’ Johnson noted.
    She decried the fact that despite the growing advocacy for women to embrace technology across the globe, nothing has really changed and many women are still not embracing the power of technology.
     ‘’We need to ask ourselves why and help remove all the barriers militating against girls and women embracing technology. Some of the barriers limiting women has to do with lack of support and encouragement and the Ministry will provide the necessary support by encouraging women to embrace careers in ICTs,’’ she stated.
    The International Telecommunications Union ITU in 2010 set aside the fourth Thursday of April every year for the celebration of Girls in ICT. The Girls in ICT Day is an international initiative, backed by ITU Member States in Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 (Guadalajara, 2010), to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in ICT.
    A statement made available by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Efem Nkanga disclosed that the Minister invited the best girls in Sciences in their various schools to the one week programme of the Ministry in order to encourage and expose them to do more in sciences and increase the percentage of women and girls in ICTs.
    The girls during  the one week programme were exposed to the power of technology and its impact on development. They met with several female engineers and interacted with many role models during the duration of the programme that increased their enthusiasm for the ICT profession.Earlier, the permanent Secretary Dr Henry Akpan had flagged off the programme by encouraging the girls to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Ministry as they commenced the programme to celebrate ‘’Girls in ICT Day to learn and excel.
    In his closing remarks, the Director Planning and Research, Mr Wole Edun on behalf of the  Minister and the Permanent Secretary thanked the students , teachers and the various schools represented for taking time out to grace the programme.
    The programme was well attended by the management and staff of the Ministry, representatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Managing Director of NITEL, Hajia Zainab iiyasu-Saab, teachers and students of various schools in Abuja
  • Nigeria gets first software incubation centre

    Nigeria gets first software incubation centre

    Nigeria has finally launched the first software incubation centre in Lagos.

    It is known as the Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) Software Incubation Centre.

    iDEA is a not-for-profit special purpose vehicle (SPV) constituted to ensure the successful implementation of the programme across the country.
    Speaking at the event, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said the official launch of the project  marks a significant milestone in the country’s quest to grow the software development industry and grow young entrepreneurs too.
    The software incubation centre is located in the popular Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, a middle class business and residential area on the mainland of metropolitan Lagos.
    She recalled that the idea of the centre came shortly after she was appointed minister of the new ministry, adding that every consultation she had with stakeholders in the industry all pointed to the fact that the software industry has huge potential to support ongoing efforts at job and wealth creation for the youths of the country
    The consultation led to setting up of  a committee to provide a working template since it will be impossible to import wholesale what has been done in places like China and India.
    The committee worked assiduously to produce what has led to the establishment of the incubation centres.
    “There is a lot of work to be done. We will bring all the multinationals to this initiative,” she said.
    Mrs Johnson said the launch of the other incubation centres, first in Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar, Cross Rivers State, and others will follow suit.
    Chairman, Governing Board of iDEA, Adedotun Suleiman, said the centre will offer all the technical and financial assistance needed by students, developers and start-ups to grow their ideas, adding that with the funding from the Federal Government, the coast was clear for youngsters with promising business plan to make them a reality.
    Project Manager, Helen Anatogu, said the centres will provide developers the opportunity to develop their skills and market it.
  • Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology

    Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology

    Since the creation of the Omobola Johnson-led Ministry of Communication Technology in 2011, there has been some progress in bridging the digital divide between Nigeria and the rest of the world. Still there are complaints aplenty.

    The poor quality of telecom services has been a consistent pain for both the subscribers and regulators says Ogochukuwu Ifegbuna, a systems database analyst, who believes this could have been curtailed if the ministry had lived up to its responsibilities.

    “I do not see any improvement in the ICT sector because many of the issues we faced in 2011 are still here. For example, I still do not understand why the quality of network should be as low as it is. “

    “Nigeria currently has one of the largest bandwidths in the world due to the fibre-optic channels we have running here, and yet to access good 3D network is a problem. This is something the ministry should have addressed and they still have not. I am scoring them a ‘D’ just for leniency sake,” he stated.

    Taking a similar position, Adebayo Ogunseye, Chief Executive Officer of DodgeComm Ltd, an information technology service provider says: “The issues we have had to deal with last year are basically the same ones we have been battling with for about a decade.

    “Since the initial push in the early 2000s when the big telecom and IT giants rushed in to take advantage of the large market our population offers, we are yet to see any other major milestone. Instead, what we have are situations where foreign investors are frustrated out of the country due to the ridiculous amount of corruption shoved down their throat by government officials.”

    When asked to rate the ministry’s performance, he said, “If I am to assess them, I will give them an E.”

    Although there is some displeasure at the slow pace of achievement in the ICT sector, with the surge in the use of social media and technological gadgets, the sector took some major strides in 2012.

    Juliet Ibeh, a CISCO certified database analyst says liberalisation of the telecoms sector, as well as improvement in rural telephony, are commendable efforts backed by the ministry.

    “I am pretty sure almost all the villages and remote towns in the country have some access to GSM service. They might not be able to get full internet service but at least they can make phone-calls. That is something we could not do about 10 years ago.

    “Plus we should not forget the national registration exercise that they tried to do with the telecoms companies. If the ministry had not put its foot down and insisted that it should be done, many of them would have run away from it because of the additional cost.

    “And all the IT companies have had to sit up because it has become an open field where once you have the expertise, you have a fair chance to deliver on a job. So this makes competition stiff and ensures that customers get value for their money. This is why I am giving them a ‘C’ because I know they can do better,” she said.

    Highlighting some of the recurring challenges operators face, Ms. Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable, Africa’s largest fibre-optic laying company, at a recent meeting fingered poor infrastructure as a leading cause.

    She said, “It is not that we do not have the capacity to generate enough but there are infrastructural challenges which need to be addressed for optimal usage of the already available resources.”

    In the ministry’s defence, Johnson says the sector is improving but still has a long way to go.

    “The software industry is fledgling and fragmented. There are a number of young people who have developed software for the local and international market but it is not well co-ordinated. So first of all we are trying to bring standards in terms of software development.”

    To flag this off, the minister at the start of 2012 announced the launch of IT incubation centres for small and medium scale entrepreneurs. The centres, she claimed, would begin to teach these entrepreneurs ways to commercialize their products by the end of the year 2012. A software training programme for five hundred youths was organised and not much else has been heard about that.

    RATING: C