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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo advises stakeholders on cyber security

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advised all stakeholders in the nation’s cyber space, including the National Assembly, cyber security experts, security and other related agencies, as well as the private sector to collectively share cyber security best practices and ensure speedy implementation of requisite policies, to curtail the activities of cyber crooks.

    Osinbajo, who spoke in Abuja while declaring open Cyber Secure Nigeria 2019 conference with the theme:  Implementing Cyber Security and Data Privacy Practices in Nigeria, said no individual, organisation or entity is immune to cyber-crimes because of the sophistication and severity of cybercrimes, hence the need for all to jointly end the menace to ensure a secure Nigeria, otherwise every internet user would be a victim.

    According to him, cyber security has become essential as individuals and national development increasingly rely on Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools. This, he said, calls for stringent regulations to ensure that criminal elements do not succeed in taking advantage of hapless internet users.

    “The collection and processing of personal data raises significant privacy and data protection concerns for every citizen; the legal remedy to this problem is data protection to ensure privacy,” he said, adding that the conference was apt and a welcomed development in line with the key policy thrust of the government through the Ministry of Communications in view of the rampant activities of the cyber criminals and internet scammers, popularly known as yahoo yahoo.

    Prof Osinbajo urged the participants to come out with  ideas to combat cyber threat, curtail cyber-crime and ensure data privacy practices in Nigeria, as well as produce useful outcome for submission to the government.

    He promised that the government shall surely articulate various submissions emanating from the conference and put them to use.

    Earlier in his address, Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria President, Remi Afon called on the government to establish a national cyber security center that will be saddled with the responsibility of co-ordinating and implementing cyber regulations.

    He expressed worry that cyber security threats landscape has evolved rapidly and increased in number and sophistication, which needed to be quickly checked to attain a regime of secured cyber space in Nigeria through concerted efforts from all critical stakeholders.

  • Africa can leapfrog many phases of development with innovation – Osinbajo

    Africa can leapfrog or skip many phases of development with innovation and technology, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    Osinbajo communicated this on Thursday at the Calestous Juma Innovation Colloquium organised by the Africa Institute for Leadership and Public Administration at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre, University of Lagos(UNILAG).

    The theme of the colloquium is “Africa’s New Culture of Innovation.”

    Calestous Juma was a Professor of the Practice of International Development at the Harvard Kennedy School, US.

    The vice president said that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country would become the 4th most populous nation in the world.

    “Over 50 percent of that number will be young persons under the age of 25; today 60 percent of the unemployed in Africa are young people.

    “The implications for social upheaval are clear;  climate change poses special concerns, especially desertification, the drying up of the Lake Chad and its implications for lives and livelihoods that depend on the lake.

    ” The challenges of Healthcare delivery and education for a large population have led to the worst human development indices in the world.

    ” But these challenges have peaked at an auspicious time; a time when technology and innovation have begun to disrupt older and slower ways of achieving results.

    ” And for Africa a time when its young innovators, digital scientists and creatives have emerged with incredible creativity and resourcefulness.

    “There is no question that Africa’s future will be determined by innovation. With innovation and technology Africa will skip or leapfrog over many phases of development that other continents had to go through.”

    He said that Nigerian and African innovators had creditably acquitted themselves in areas of telecom, agriculture, healthcare, power, among others.

    According to him, Africa is leading the way in a new way of thinking, as innovators figure out how to produce power in situ.

    He said that new storage technologies also meant power was going to be portable for Africans.

    Osinbajo said that as part of efforts to diversify power sources and improve access, Nigeria started a programme of providing solar power in 20,000 homes in rural villages.

    ” We started in Wuna a village just outside Abuja. Wuna is an agrarian community. It is not on the national grid, and had no other source of power.

    “To charge their phones an entrepreneur with a small generator runs a service.

    ” You take your phone to his shop once a day or so, you pay a small fee for charging. Life in Wuna shuts down at about 7 p.m. until daylight.  But Working with a PPP model.

    “The government-owned NDPHC partnered with Azuri technology a private solar company to provide a domestic solar solution.

    Read also: Osinbajo presides over FEC

    ” Azuri had provided the same end to end service in East Africa.

    “A solar home system,  including a payment system; the Solar equipment cost N1,900 a month ( about 5-6 pounds a month) .

    ” Every home had one mounted on their roof. For the first time in its existence the village now has running water solar powered; the school has power.

    ” The school hall is now used as a community hall in the evenings. Each home has 4 points of light,” he said.

    Osinbajo said that children could stay up and do some studying at night as many of Wuna’s women could process their millet and yams at night.

    He said that new jobs had been created for, solar installers, maintenance, and management of the payment system.

    Osinbajo said that on a much larger scale, the Federal Government had facilitated private solar power supply to markets across Nigeria, using new extra powered lithium cells.

    He listed some of the markets as Sabongari market Kano, Sura market in Lagos,  in Ibadan, and Isikan and two other markets in Ondo state.

    Earlier, Director of the Institute, Yemi Cardoso, said that Juma, who died in Dec. 2017, was full of humanity and humour.

    He said that Juma, who was originally from Kenya, designed a course– Technology Innovation on Entrepreneurship in Africa–specifically for Africa.

    Cardoso said that Africa Institute, a world-class institute determined to promote governance and build society, was inspired by the thinking of Juma.

    Some former Juma’s students at Harvard also paid glowing tributes to the scholar(NAN)

  • FEC approves N2.8 billion digital prison decongestion contract

    The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved N2.8 billion for a contract towards digital decongestion of the Nigerian prisons.

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also: FEC okays N5.5 billion to create 60,000 jobs

    From the pressing of a button, he said that the stakeholders would be able to assess the daily situation of inmates in every prison in the country.

    The information to be obtained, according to him, included how many inmates in a prison on a daily basis, how many inmates have overstayed their sentences.

    Stressing that the system is to be operated by Prison staff, he said that it will also involve capturing the biometric of prison inmates across the country.

  • Osinbajo asks new NDIC board to sanitize banking system

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that a lot still ought to be done in the area of sanitizing the banking system.

    He also called for fresh ideas on how to address non-performing loans.

    But the Chairperson of NDIC, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun pleaded with the VP to assist in speedy passage of the corporation’s Amendment Bill pending before the Senate

    Osinbajo, who spoke while receiving the Board and Management of the NDIC during a courtesy visit, said the government was not ready to repeat the mistakes of the past.

    A statement by the Head, Communications and Public Affairs Department, Mohammed Kudu Ibrahim, said the Vice President assured the new board being led by Mrs. Ronke Sokefun of support.

    The statement said:  “The Vice President noted that a lot still needs to be done in the area of sanitizing the banking system.

    Read Also: Breaking: Osinbajo, Ndume meet in Aso Rock

    “He also stressed the need for fresh ideas to produce a more resilient structure involving the NDIC and other relevant stakeholders to address the issue of Non-performing loans in the industry and warned that the federal government was not prepared to repeat the mistakes of the past.

    “On the issue of financial inclusion, the Vice President remarked that it was desirous for millions of poor Nigerians to be empowered through the extension of credit and urged for a sustainable framework to achieve the objectives set by the regulators.

    “He expressed concerns over the current structure for the operation of Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs) had failed to achieve the desired goals and called for concerted efforts of the relevant institutions including CBN and NDIC to come up with a framework that would facilitate the funding of federal government social intervention programs such as the N-Power, Trader-Money, and Market-Money so as to alleviate the suffering of millions of Nigerians.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun had thanked the Vice President for his warm reception.

    She recalled that the NDIC as “a critical player in the Nigerian financial safety-net, had achieved remarkable success in the execution of its primary mandates of effective supervision of the insured banks, timely payment of insured deposits and the implementation of a robust and efficient failure resolution regime.

    The Chairman drew the attention of the Vice-President to the NDIC Amendment Bill currently pending before the Senate.

    She solicited for his assistance in ensuring a quick passage of the Bill before the expiry of the present legislative session.

    In his remarks, the MD/CEO of the Corporation, Umaru Ibrahim, FCIB mni, said the speedy passage the Bill to amend the NDIC Act will “strengthen the capacity of the Corporation effectively to supervise insured financial institutions for a safe and sound banking system in the country. On the activities of the Corporation, the NDIC boss informed the Vice President that it “undertakes periodic examination of banks in collaboration with the CBN and issues reports with far reaching recommendations to the Boards of banks for compliance to ensure the safety, soundness and stability of the Nigerian banking system.

    The MD/CEO recalled the efforts of the regulatory/supervisory authorities to sanitize and strengthen the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs).

    He said “enhanced capital requirements of MFBs and the establishment of a National Microfinance Bank will enable that subsector to play their role of providing credit.”

  • My visit to Osinbajo not on Senate President, says Ndume

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday held talks with former Senate Leader Ali Ndume at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Details of their meeting were not made public but the Borno senator dismissed speculations that he was at the State House over his aspiration to become the next Senate President.

    Ndume had declared his intention to run for the number three highest political office in the land despite the endorsement of the Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan for the position in the Ninth Senate by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    After his parley with the vice president, the senator declined to speak on camera with State House reporters.

    When asked by reporters whether he would step down, he asked rhetorically “me?”  He refused to speak further on his ambition.

    He, however, said that he was still holding consultation.

    “This is not the time to talk now because I am still holding consultation,” he stated.

    In a chat with The Nation, Ndume explained that his visit to the Presidential Villa had to do with humanitarian issues in Borno State.

    Ndume said: “My visit to the vice president has nothing to do with my ambition.  I did not discuss any political issue with him.

    “The vice president has been deeply concerned on the challenges in Borno State.  I normally get in touch with him because of humanitarian issues in our state. This was what I went to discuss with him.

    “I did not talk about my aspiration to be the next President of the Senate and the vice president also didn’t raise it.”

    Borno governor pays solidarity visit to Lawan

    Read Also: Breaking: Osinbajo, Ndume meet in Aso Rock

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima paid a solidarity visit to the Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who who has signaled interest to become the next Senate President.

    The visit dispelled insinuations that the governor hurriedly left for Saudi Arabia to avoid receiving Lawan last Saturday.

    According to a source, the governor’s visit boosted the morale of Lawan’s camp because one of the aspirants for the office, Sen. Ali Ndume also hails from the Northeast state.

    The source said: “The governor, who is also a Senator-elect, was at the campaign secretariat of Lawan to show some solidarity.

    “Lawan and leaders in his campaign group went for a wedding on Saturday in Maiduguri but the governor was alleged to have sneaked out of the state to Saudi Arabia in order not to receive the team.

    “But the governor dispelled rumours of shunning Lawan. His presence changed the mood at our campaign secretariat.

    “We were happy that the governor has demonstrated that he is true party leader. This is a plus for us because one of the contestants, Sen. Ali Ndume is from Borno State.

    “So far, Lawan has met virtually all the senators across party lines. We are making substantial progress.”

  • Osinbajo, Falana, charge journalists on professional ethics

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), publisher of Premium Times newspaper, Dapo Oloruyomi and former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Borno State, Muhammed Monguno have asked journalists to be committed to ethical conduct and professionalism.

    Osinbajo, Falana Olorunyomi and Monguno argued, by upholding ethical conduct and professionalism, journalists would better serve the nation’s democracy by exposing societal ills and holding government and its agencies accountable.

    They noted that, where journalists abide by the rules of professional practice, they will also be able to avoid conflicting with the law.

    Osinbajo, Falana, Olorunyomi and Monguno spoke in Abuja on the opening day of. a “two-day workshop on legal and ethical issues in investigative journalism in Nigeria,” put together by the Daily Trust Foundation, Centre for Media Law and Development and MacArthur Foundation.

    Read Also: Osinbajo urges journalists to expose corruption

    The Vice President, who was represented by his media aide, Laolu Akande, noted the challenges recent development in media technologies and the social media now pose to media practice.

    He said

    “We are living in interesting times; and I would say the free press has arrived at its best possible time and also possibly its worst time.

    “It is the best time for the free press because the advent of digital technology and the internet continually shape the ultimate definition of freedom of expression.

    “Everyone of us here can have access to and even own a medium. Any medium of communication is available to us now.

    “This is moreso in the age of social media, where for pecuniary, political or whatever interests, fake news spread like wild fire, and facts are distorted by a few individuals leveraging on various media platforms to push outright misrepresentation into the public space.”

    Osinbajo stressed the need for media practitioners to be more thorough and ensure adequate verification of the information they push out for public consumption.

    He noted  that “recent events, including the past general elections – where fake news and unverified information were shared by many on different media platforms, and on social media especially – have also put a spotlight on the importance of investigative journalism and why our country needs this aspect of the profession more than ever.

    “This is because as gatekeepers, the press can also help in making government accountable by publishing information on issues that overwhelmingly serves the greater good of public interest.

    Osinbajo, who assured of the willingness of the Federal Government to provide a conducive environment for the media to operate, advised that media stakeholders ensure adequate internal mechanism for regulation within the industry.

    He noted that with self-regulation, adoption of ethical codes and understanding the legal issues guiding the journalism profession in Nigeria, media practitioners can help preserve media credibility, check fake news and also enlarge its investigative journalism space, which is becoming a dying art.

    “Journalists should strive to abide by the code of ethics in the practice of their profession, because without adhering to a code of ethics, investigative journalism, or any profession at all, would not thrive as much as it should.

    “Of course, we should always be conscious of over-regulation or infractions of the freedom of the press or freedom of information. It is important that self-regulation is robust enough to prevent a situation where government or formal establishments pass laws and regulations of the trade.

    “I think once self-regulation is robust enough, it is easier to then make the case that we should not have government regulation.

    “As a government, we will continue to play our part in providing conducive environment for the practice of good journalism and ensuring the safety of journalists wherever they find themselves in the line of duty.

    “While freedom of speech and expression cannot be censored, it behooves on the investigative journalist to abide by the journalism code of ethics in carrying out his/her responsibilities.

    “This include observing strictly to the time-tested journalistic values of honesty, independence, accuracy, fairness, objectivity, credibility, balance and public accountability.

    “On the legal standpoint, investigative journalists should discharge their duties without infringing on the fundamental rights of an individual or having unauthorized access to information that may put the journalist at the risk of criminal prosecution or going against the laws of the land.

    “In all, the greater good should far outweigh any other reason for embarking on investigative reportage. Adhering to the ethics of the profession would help in avoiding the pitfalls of legal challenges,” Osinbajo said.

    Falana, who gave many instances where he had assisted journalists and media organisations avoid being sanctioned, encouraged media practitioners to remain committed to their trade.

    He said while the nation’s democracy desires a virile media, the practitioners must be conscious of relevant legal provisions to enable them effectively discharge their professional responsibilities without conflicting with the law.

    Falana, who identified existing laws that are not media friendly, admonished media houses and journalists to avoid practices that could expose them to liability.

    He condemned the practice where criminal suspects are paraded before television cameras, a practice he said has been criminalised under the Anti Torture Act, 2017.

    Olorunyomi, who identified the many changes in the nation’s media landscape and journalism practice, stressed the importance of investigative journalism.

    He urged journalists to always be conscious of the need to uphold professional  ethics if they want to be respected and taken seriously.

    Monguno stressed the relevance of investigative journalism, which he said must be practised with strict adherence to the ethics of the profession.

    He advocated continuous training for journalists, particularly laws relating to the regulation of the industry.

    Monguno argued that there was the need for the inclusion of representatives of the media industry on the Cybercrime Advisory Council.

     

     

  • National insurance key to healthcare delivery, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said an effective National Health Insurance scheme remains the best panacea for development of the health sector and an efficient healthcare delivery in the country.

    This was contained in a statement  by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

    Speaking while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in his office, Prof Osinbajo said, “We have a good opportunity to do something about the National Health Insurance; it is obvious that government, both Federal Government and State Governments, cannot adequately provide healthcare for almost 200million Nigerian people.”

    Citing India as an example, he mentioned that India has the most privatized healthcare system in the world, with individual states being responsible for providing healthcare.

    In addition, VP Osinbajo emphasized the need for “Doctors to be remunerated properly regardless of their location, either rural or urban locations. We must find a logical way of addressing this issue.”

    He added “We must ensure that the states pick up their own part of the responsibility of providing healthcare in their States.  With the National Economic Council, NEC, there is the opportunity to talk to State governors and one of the things we do is to look at the human development indices, especially for Primary Health Care.”

    Read also: Osinbajo urges journalists to expose corruption

    “There are States that are simply not doing enough and we must ensure that they step up to the plate.  States must be held to account because a lot of the responsibilities are theirs,” he said

    But he emphasized that National Health Insurance is the key in resolving a lot of the financial problems in the Health Sector, adding that this administration has made the National Health Insurance central to the plans for the healthcare system in APC’s Next Level document.

    Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, highlighted the ministry’s strides in achieving the Universal Health Coverage towards the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    He thanked the Presidency for the presidential assent of the Appropriation Act, which for the first time, approved the release of the 1% for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and disclosed that the Ministry of Finance has released the first quarter allocation of N13.7billion.

    He said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund would also help in fast-tracking the development of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Francis Faduyile, congratulated the President and Vice President on their victory at the 2019 Presidential elections.

    He also acknowledged the administration’s efforts in the health sector, which includes the signing of the Residency Training Act, the release of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, as well as the recently improved Cancer Centre in Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

  • Osinbajo urges journalists to expose corruption

    Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerian Journalists to continue to interrogate and expose corruption in the country.

    He said that in this age of social media and fake news which spreads like wildfire, the primary responsibility of media houses is accurate reporting.

    The Vice President made this plea on Monday in Abuja, at a two day editorial conference on legal and ethical issues in investigative reporting in Nigeria, organised by Dailytrust in collaboration with Daily trust foundation and MacArthur foundation.

    Prof. Osinbajo who was represented by his Special Assistant on media, Laolu Akande added that the level of fake news and unverified information which was shared on social media and media platforms during the general elections makes it important for investigative journalism trainings in the country.

    His words, “In the age of social media, where for pecuniary, political or whatever interests, fake news spread like wild fire, and facts are distorted by a few individuals leveraging on various media platforms to push outright misrepresentation into the public space.

    “Recent events, including the past general elections – where fake news and unverified information were shared by many on different media platforms, and on social media especially – have also put a spotlight on the importance of investigative journalism and why our country needs this aspect of the profession more than ever.

    Read Also: Osinbajo meets Blair in Aso Villa

    “Our country needs more of such brave, dogged and passionate investigative journalists, that can speak truth to power, with accuracy, without diluting the facts; journalists who can dig deep into the heart of a story that would enhance the common good and improve the life of the common man, and not the selfish interest of a few; journalists who would refuse the temptation of personal and political interests to rightfully investigate and expose corruption in every sector of society, and make our country and the world at large a better place for all of us.”

    Chairman, Daily Trust foundation, Mallam Wada Maida revealed that so far, the foundation has trained 200 Journalists in Nigeria in the art of investigative Journalism and is working towards training more.

    He added that worldwide, about 94 Journalists were killed last year in the cause of doing their jobs, he also said that any society that suppresses the voice of truth does not progress.

  • Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, others for APC summit in Anambra

    The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Adams Oshiomhole will be some of the big names to attend the party’s political summit in Anambra State on May 1st.

    While the Vice President will declare the summit open, Oshiomhole will deliver the keynote address. The former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, will deliver one of the lectures.

    This is part of the activities lined up by APC in the state, under the leadership of Chief Basil Ejidike, among others, to reposition the party in Anambra State.

    The party has equally concluded arrangements to set up a committee on how to bring back some of the elders of the party, who had backed out as a result of neglect.

    Some of the elders of the party were, former Governor of the state, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, Chief Dr. Obinna Uzor, among others.

    Before now, the party had set up a committee to investigate the abysmal performance of APC in Anambra State during the last elections of which the report was being awaited.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Olde English Hotels in Awka, the Acting Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Basil Ejidike, flanked by all the executive members, said the next target of APC was to win the governorship election of Anambra State come 2022, adding that the party still had a lot of grounds to cover in the state.

    Other activities lined up by the party apart from the three day summit included, the tour of all the 21 local government areas in the state, visit to all the federal government projects in Anambra, verification of the party’s register among others.

  • Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, others for APC summit in Anambra

    The Vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Adams Oshiomhole will be some of the big names to attend the party’s political summit in Anambra on May 1st.

    While the Vice president will declare the summit open, Oshiomhole will deliver the keynote address, with the former Senate president, Ken Nnamani to deliver one of the lectures on the day.

    This is part of the activities lined up by APC in the state, under the leadership of Chief Basil Ejidike among others, to re-position the party in Anambra state.

    The party has equally concluded arrangements to set up a committee on how to bring back some of the elders of the party, who had backed out as a result of neglect.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Blair meet in Aso Villa

    Some of the elders of the party were, former Governor of the state, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, Chief Dr, Obinna Uzor among others.

    Before now, the party had set up a committee to investigate the abysmal performance of APC in Anambra State during the last elections of which the report was being awaited.

    Addressing reporters on Saturday at the Olde English Hotels in Awka, the Acting Chairman of the party in the State, Chief Basil Ejidike, flanked by all the executive members, said ‘enough is enough’

    He said the next target of APC was to win the Governorship election of Anambra State come 2022, adding that the party still had a lot of grounds to cover in the state.

    Other activities lined up by the party apart from the three day summit included, the tour of all the 21 local government areas in the state, visit to all the federal government projects in Anambra,verification of the party’s register among others.

    Ejidike, who admitted that the party had not reached it’s height in Anambra State, however, gave kudos to the members to giving their best, adding that the aim of the current moves was to take APC to where it belonged.

    He said another important thing starring the party in the face was putting up a committee to harmonise all the warring factions in the state, which would give the party the opportunity to take over the state completely.

    According to him, “our aim is to take over power in Anambra as soon as possible and our target is the next governorship election and we are saying enough is enough “Ejidike said