In a significant meeting held in Abuja, the Nation’s capital, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo met with Senior Staff members in the Federal Civil Service who hail from the Central Senatorial Zone of the State. The meeting was a demonstration of the governor’s commitment to continuous engagement with key stakeholders both at home and outside of the state.

The delegation saw a good representation from Directors across some of the key MDAs across the Federal Civil Service, and was led by Alhaji A. M Abdulazeez, a Director from Public Camplaints Commission, as well as Hajia Khaltum Ibrahim, Director, Planning Research and Statistica, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy Abdulganiu Abdulmalik Aduvi, Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

In their remarks, they commended the Governor on His Administration’s significant improvement in Workers’ Salary Payment, visible infrastructure development projects, dogged resolve to Revolutionize Agriculture Sector, and the State’s renewed focus in Solid Minerals Development.

Also in attendance were Hon. Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, House of Reps member in the National Assembly representing Ajaokuta, Hajia Hassiat Suleiman, the erstwhile Executive Chairman of Kogi State Mineral Resources Development Agency, who co-engaged with Alhaji Wasiu Issah. Others included Alhaji Kazeem Abdul, Special Adviser to the DG National Productivity Centre/Head, Project Monitoring & Evaluation/NASS, and Alhaji Musa Onsachi, Director Federal Capital Developer Administration.

During the session, Governor Ododo expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the visiting team for their unwavering support and contributions that played a pivotal role in his electoral victory. He acknowledged that their dedication and advocacy were instrumental in galvanizing widespread support across the central zone, leading to a successful outcome at the polls.

The Governor emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and welcomed suggestions and advice from the attendees, highlighting that The Administration is committed to fostering open communication and leveraging the expertise and insights of seasoned professionals and stakeholders across board.

A number of welcome suggestions were raised which includes encouraging sons and daughters of Kogi State to join the Federal Civil Service and lending support to Kogites who are already in the service.

On a final note, Governor Ododo promised to have a more enlarged meeting with the Federal Civil Servants from the Central Senatorial District. The meeting ended with both parties reiterating their commitment to inclusive governance whole ensuring the well-being of all citizens is looked after, assuring that their collective efforts would lead to substantial and meaningful development in Kogi State.

By Maymunah Zubair

The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has announced plans for Nigeria to launch satellites built by Nigerian scientists and engineers, with ground stations and data collecting centres, domiciled in Nigeria.

He made the statement in Abuja at a two day stakeholders’ workshop, organized by the European Union, in collaboration with NASRDA, on “AI, Big Data Analytics, Automation and Space Technology Application for Sustainable Development.”

Chief Nnaji stated that the President Tinubu led administration is working to launch satellites aimed at providing innovative space-based solutions to address the challenges facing the country.

The Minister said the government is committed to actualizing this feat as it will be utilized in various areas such as security, pipeline monitoring, food security in agriculture as well as diverse sectors that will be beneficial to the sustainable development of our nation.

Chief Nnaji added that artificial intelligence is one of the primary focus of the Ministry and said it will support NASRDA in it’s activities, for the advancement of satellite technology.

He therefore encouraged participants at the workshop to actively share insights that will be strategically beneficial to the collaboration, adding that there is the need to develop practical solutions that can be implemented for the greater good of Nigerians.

Earlier in his remark, the Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, while appreciating the Minister for gracing the occasion, assured the Minister that there are competent and capable crop of engineers and scientists that can build, launch, and operate the proposed satellites in the Agency.

He stated that the Agency is prepared to take all necessary measures to continue providing space-based solutions to the country’s challenges, adding that the application of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics is a critical factor in satellite technology today.

The NASRDA boss pointed that the Space Agency is a leader in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and is open to collaborating with all stakeholders in related fields to significantly reduce poverty and enhance agricultural productivity.

He noted that while satellite technology is often considered elitist, it plays a crucial role in advancing agriculture, security, and other essential sectors of the nation.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the Energy Commission, congratulated the Director General of NASRDA on his recent appointment pledging his support for him as he drives the leadership of the Agency.

Also speaking at the event, the Programme Officer at the European Delegation to Nigeria and Ecowas Dr. Iuri Aganetto said the primary focus of the workshop is to explore the transformative potential of space technology, artificial intelligence, and big data analysis in enhancing agricultural practices for security in Nigeria.

He said, by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, critical challenges in climate-smart agriculture and environmental management can be addressed, thereby contributing to the resilience and sustainability of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

In a joint presentation, representative of the European Space Agency, Dr. Zoltan Szantoi, and NASRDA’s Dr. Idris Jega, gave a seven-point concept note on the theme of the workshop.

According to the presentation, the workshop is aimed at enhancing NASRDA’s AI expertise for remote sensing data analysis, which is critical for advanced agriculture and environmental monitoring.

The presentation further stressed that the workshop also purposes to generate evidence to enable informed decision-making in agriculture and environmental management, aligning with technological trends and addressing needs with precision and accuracy.

Participants were drawn from various agencies of government and non-governmental organizations.

In a press statement made available to the media by Dr. Felix Ale, Director of Media and Corporate Communications at NASRDA, the collaboration and discussions at the workshop are expected to significantly contribute to Nigeria’s technological and agricultural advancements.

By Maymunah Zubair

The World Bank Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid landscapes (ACReSAL) Implementation Support Mission in Nasarawa State has seen an impressive representation from Kogi State ACReSAL, led by Project Coordinator Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto. This mission, which spans a week, is designed to support States in implementation while reviewing the progress made by the 19 participating states and the FPMU, as project implementation grows increasingly complex.

The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, opened the mission by commending the synergy between the World Bank, the ACReSAL Project, and its implementing MDAs. He assured that Nasarawa State is committed to achieving the project’s development objectives.

Dr. Joy Agene, the Task Team Leader (TTL) from the World Bank, encouraged all participating states to embrace learning and collaboration. She emphasized that the mission should be seen as an opportunity to support one another and conquer new frontiers in project implementation. Dr. Agene also highlighted the importance of diligently studying the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) and Project Appraisal Document (PAD) to ensure success in the ACReSAL Project.

Throughout the week, participants will engage in site visits, discussions on various project components, and community/stakeholder engagement sessions.

Barr. Ladi Jatto, in her reflections on the mission, expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman-Ododo of Kogi State. She acknowledged that the Governor’s unwavering support and visionary leadership have been pivotal in her role as Project Coordinator for Kogi State ACReSAL. Governor Ododo’s discernment and guidance has allowed her to make significant contributions to the ACReSAL Project.

“The Governor’s backing has empowered our team and positioned Kogi State as a model for effective project implementation,” said Jatto. “His commitment to the project’s objectives has provided us with the resources and motivation needed to excel. Under his guidance, we are confident in our ability to contribute significantly to the success of the ACReSAL initiative, benefiting both our state and the broader region.”

Jatto emphasized that with Governor Ododo’s support and the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, Kogi State is well on the path to achieving the goals of the ACReSAL Project, fostering sustainable development in the semi-arid landscapes.The week-long mission promises to be a period of intense learning, strategizing, and refocusing, with Kogi State ACReSAL ready to make substantial contributions and learn from the shared experiences of other states involved in this critical initiative