In a significant move towards bolstering collaboration in the realm of the digital economy in order to fulfill President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of creating one million digital jobs for Nigerians by 2025, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represented by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, met with Dr. M.M. Tripathi, the Director-General of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), India.

The meeting, which was part of the Federal Government‘s participation at the G20 Summit in India, was aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the Indian digital economy and exploring avenues for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

The discussions covered topics ranging from digital skills development to cybersecurity and innovation.

Speaking on behalf of Dr Tijani, Inuwa expressed his optimism about the prospects of mutual growth, while underscoring the importance of leveraging India’s vast expertise in digital technologies to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy.

Leaders from Nigeria and India emphasized that this partnership is not only about bilateral cooperation but also about contributing to the broader global digital ecosystem.

They believed that by joining forces, they could accelerate their respective digital transformations while also playing a more influential role in shaping the global tech space.

In a related development,  the Nigerian delegation also paid a working visit to the headquarters of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).

Mr. Shivendra Singh, Vice President of Global Trade Development, welcomed the Nigerian team and engaged them in fruitful discussions regarding potential areas of collaboration in the tech ecosystem.

Singh highlighted India’s thriving software and service industry, which has earned a global reputation for excellence. He expressed his enthusiasm for working with Nigeria to identify trade partners and explore synergies that could benefit both nations.

Inuwa, representing Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to building a robust digital economy.

He spoke about the government’s initiatives to support tech innovation and foster a vibrant startup ecosystem in Nigeria and the need for international partnerships to accelerate Nigeria’s progress in the digital space.

On his part, Singh acknowledged Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s tech ecosystem and expressed a willingness to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange between Nigerian and Indian tech companies.

Following the positive meetings, the Nigerian and Indian teams agreed to build an execution plan on the identified areas of cooperation, which include skills development, technology transfer, and business partnerships. The aim is to strengthen bilateral relations and promote sustainable digital economy development.

Amb. James Momoh Congratulates Princess Atika Ajanah on SSA Appointment, Pledges Support.
Amb. James Momoh, the CEO of Social Plus Africa Communications Ltd has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Princess Atika Ajanah on her recent appointment as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on social events.

The warm wishes and pledge of support were conveyed through the organization’s Head of Corporate Affairs , Hajia Jemila Abdullahi.

In a statement, Amb. James Momoh expressed his enthusiasm for Princess Atika Ajanah’s new role and acknowledged her capabilities and dedication.

He stated, “Princess Atika Ajanah’s appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on social events is a testament to her exceptional skills and commitment to promoting social engagement.

We congratulate her wholeheartedly on this well-deserved position.”

Amb. James Momoh also emphasized his commitment to supporting Princess Atika Ajanah in her new capacity, ensuring she has the necessary assistance to carry out her duties effectively.

“We pledge our unwavering support to Princess Atika Ajanah in her new role. We are confident that her wealth of experience and dedication will make a significant contribution to the President’s agenda for social development,” he affirmed.

Princess Atika Ajanah’s appointment is seen as a positive step towards enhancing social event management within the government, and Amb. James Momoh’s endorsement further underscores the collaborative spirit needed for effective governance in the realm of social engagements.

There are indications that exchange rate crises that trailed the foreign exchange market reforms in June 2023 may linger further as the supply gap led to further depreciation of the Naira in the parallel market yesterday to N930/ $1, down from N925 mid-last week.

However, the exchange rate improved week-on-week in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window to N758.1 from N775.6.

The prevailing exchange rates indicate a rising parallel market premium which is the gap between the parallel market rate and that of the I&E window.

The gap, as of last week Wednesday, was N153.41 per dollar but has risen to N171.9 per dollar by yesterday, a development which has created a huge incentive for round-tripping and arbitraging in the foreign exchange market ecosystem.

Moreover, market observers have also noted that the Bureau de Changes, BDCs, have not helped the market as envisaged a month ago when the segment was re-admitted into the Central Bank Of Nigeria, CBN, the official trading window for the purpose of opening the market to more independent forex supply and better access for individual retail end users.

The BDCs have, instead, lamented that the renewed depreciation of the local currency was mainly due to the scarcity of foreign currencies.

A BDC operator told Vanguard that the scarcity is so much that ‘‘even some Nigerians are unable to withdraw forex from their domiciliary accounts in banks”.

He said the lifting of the ban by the CBN on sales of forex to BDC operators has failed to help resolve the scarcity as the banks are not selling to the BDCs.

Data from FMDQ showed that the market opened at N761.24 to the dollar, recording a high of N807.15 and a low of N738.

A total of $42.26 million was traded in foreign exchange at the I&E window.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has landed in Russia, sparking Western concerns over potential military support for Moscow in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Kim’s arrival in Russia marks his first international trip in three years, following a period of pandemic-induced isolation.

In footage broadcast by Russian state media, Kim was seen disembarking from a luxurious armored train, the preferred mode of travel for North Korean leaders. The anticipation surrounding this meeting has led to warnings of possible new sanctions from the United States as they seek to preempt any potential arms agreements.

South Korea’s defense ministry reported that Kim entered Russia early on Tuesday, stating, “We are closely monitoring the possibility of negotiations between North Korea and Russia regarding arms trade and technology transfer.” It was noted that Kim was accompanied by several high-ranking arms industry and military officials.

The Kremlin spokesperson announced that Kim’s visit to Russia and his meeting with President Putin would serve as a comprehensive effort to strengthen ties between the two nations. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson, stated on Monday, “There will be negotiations between two delegations, and after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue their communication in a one-on-one format.”

U.S. officials believe that President Putin is likely to concentrate on securing additional supplies of North Korean artillery and ammunition as part of his efforts to de-escalate the Ukrainian conflict. The U.S. government has expressed its keen interest in closely monitoring the meeting between these two world leaders.

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has announced an adjustment to the fees to be paid by both its new and returning students for the new academic session.

In a press statement by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university disclosed that new students in the faculties of arts, law, and Humanities, will pay N151,200 while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200.

New students in the faculties of Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences will pay N190,200 and the returning students will pay N128, 200 respectively.

The institution noted that the fee modification which takes effect from the 2023/2024 academic session has been established to ensure a fair and balanced fee structure throughout the university’s faculties.

With this announcement, the OAU joins some other federal universities that have increased tuition fees recently.

The move comes in the wake of a protest by students of the University of Lagos over the hike in tuition fees by the institution.

Their counterparts at the University of Jos also came out en masse to protest the hike in tuition fees with students from both institutions calling on concerned parties to come to their aid.

The Chairman of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, said that the construction and rehabilitation of about 360 projects had commenced in the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

According to a statement from the Press Officer of the agency, Tolu Ogunjimi, the chairman was quoted to have made this disclosure in a brief chat with newsmen in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

He explained that the projects would be executed through the 2018-2019 Intervention Project Fund made available by the state and Federal governments and that the projects would be executed within three months.

Majekodunmi said the shortlisted contractors have received letters of Award of Contract to embark on the projects, adding that the project would cover the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, toilet facilities, borehole installations, supply of furniture and e-library materials, among other essential components.

He urged the contractors to uphold the highest standards of specifications outlined in their Bill of Quantity, stressing the importance of ensuring the safety of the learners who would benefit from the projects across the state, warning that the agency would not tolerate substandard work.

Meanwhile, Majekodunmi lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration for partnering with the Universal Basic Education Commission on the implementation of the School-to-Farm programme in primary and junior secondary schools.

He stated that the programme would help to revive the dying interest in agricultural practice among young learners.

He said he was delighted because the agricultural programme, by its design, is more practical than theory as the young learners would not only be taught about various agricultural practices but also have the opportunity to practice what they have been taught in class.

Speaking during an advocacy meeting of the Agriculture Education Training Programme at the Nigeria Union of Teachers’ Hall, Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital; Majekodunmi noted that in recent years, the teaching of agriculture as a subject had been predominantly theoretical and less practical, saying the theoretical-based approach leaves most learners unaware of what some agricultural products look like, with no idea of how they are grown, harvested, processed or stored.

He said this agricultural education programme would introduce students to a variety of job prospects, including agribusiness, agro-technology, agricultural engineering, sustainable farming methods and rural development.

The state SUBEB boss said that under the programme, the students would get involved in poultry farming, animal husbandry, and maize, and cassava farming, among others, saying that one other lofty advantage of the programme is that it would impact food production in the country.

‘’To address this issue, UBEC has allocated a certain percentage of its grant to AETP in order to make Agricultural Science at the basic education level more practical and hands-on. The goal is to equip learners with the necessary skills to stimulate self-employment, provide them with functional entrepreneurship and life skills, promote the dignity of labour and self-esteem, and expose them to the biological processes of agriculture,” Majekodunmi said.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, represented by the Director of Primary Education in the state, Mrs. Bamidele Makinde, said effective engagement of children at a young age in agriculture would help them learn other important aspects of life, as agriculture was based on the cycle of how things grow, live and die.

Abayomi advised education stakeholders to support the initiative, adding that it was part of the state government’s efforts to enhance learners’ interest in agricultural enterprises.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Headteacher-General for Remo Division, Mr. Kalejaiye Tunde, described the programme as well thought-out due to its capacity to expose the children to broad-based practicals in Agricultural practice

“We must thank the state government for this noble initiative. This is no doubt a welcome development. With this programme, our young learners will have a change of orientation as far as agricultural practice is concerned. They will no longer think that farming and all of that are for the illiterates, the poor or the never do well in the society.

“They will know that they could as well embrace any sector of agriculture later on in life. They will be exposed to practical training in agriculture and the overall effect of this is that these activities will eventually lead to a boost in food production among others,” Kalejaiye explained.