The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam has said that, Christmas Carol unites and build Christian Faith . He made this known while playing host to the Organizing Committee of the 2021 Service of Nine Lessons & Christmas Carol in his office in Abuja on 25th November,2021. Rev.Pam said “beyond the crisis faced in the country,there can be unity amongst Christians.” He commended his guests for promoting the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord. In his words, “I commend the Service of Nine lessons for promoting the spirit of the new born baby Jesus Christ our Saviour”.
The NCPC Boss intimated that the Service of Nine lessons & Christmas Carlos is not only building our faith as Christians but also uniting the country. He further opined that, “this is the time to unite the country and he affirmed that he is 100% interested in whatever unites the country”. He assured that the Commission would strive to ensure the success of the programme as NCPC stands for uniting the body of Christ through pilgrimage. The NCPC Helmsman disclosed that NCPC is the only Christian faith based agency under the Presidency that is saddled with the responsibility of conducting and regulating pilgrimage activities in the country. He informed that the Commission had commenced preparation for the 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel and the kingdom of Jordan. Earlier, the Executive Director News Voice of Nigeria, Ahaziah Suleiman who led the delegation thanked the Executive Secretary for receiving them. In his words , “we are happy to be here”. Mr.Suleiman informed that the Service of Nine Lessons and Christmas carols is an annual activity by three federal government owned organizations, Radio Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Voice of Nigeria (VON) who organize and bring Christians together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He explained that Christmas Carol is for the spiritual upliftment of Christian faithful in the country,he added that , through song ministration many souls would be won for Christ. NCPC MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
To
further underscore the role of data of various kind as the ‘new oil’ in our
emerging digital economy, the Director General, National Information Technology
Development Agency, (NITDA) Mallam Kashifu Inuwa has said; “It has become imperative
for stakeholders and regulatory agencies to engage in effective management of
environmental data and information management due to the rapid increase of
environmental impact assessment that has made data become more valuable during
decision making”.
Mallam
Inuwa, who was represented at the 15th National Stakeholder Forum of
the National Environment Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency NESREA,
by Barrister Emmanuel Edet, NITDA’s Head of Legal Unit, made this assertion
while delivering the goodwill message on his behalf on the theme
“Environmental Data and Information Management: A key to Environmental
Governance in Nigeria.
Mallam
Inuwa noted that by looking at levels of pollutants, emissions, and other
wastes that are being discharged, government and relevant stakeholders in the
environmental protection sector can evaluate how to remain environmentally
compliant, become more efficient, and save money, resources and manpower by
making informed decisions through the use data.
While
commending the convening of stakeholders’ forum at this period as very apt and
timely, the NITDA boss expressed that adequate consideration to the importance
of environmental data and effective information management in providing
solutions to environmental challenges would encourage and promote data
accuracy.
“The
availability, ease, and speed of collecting environmental data have
significantly accelerated in this information age due to the widespread use of
digital technologies that has enhanced easy access to direct observation of
various environmental data, which is now increasing within consumers’ reach,”
Inuwa said.
He
disclosed that robust environmental governance requires the participation of
stakeholders, provision of fair legal frameworks, and transparency in
decision-making processes, as well as the enforcement of policies following due
rules and regulations. He
also appreciated the management of NESREA for its consistency in involving stakeholders in making decisions
that concerns the nation.
In his welcome remarks, the NESREA’s Director
General, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, noted that the Agency had initiated the gradual
implementation of its data and information management through the recent
automation of its processes namely; the Compliance Monitoring Information
Systems, (NECMIS), which is dedicated to ensuring that compliance records
generated over the years are organised to produce useful environmental
governance and the NESREA Permit, Audit and Management, (NESPAM), which is
intended to aid the generation, collation, analysis, storage and retrieval of
data for compliance monitoring and enforcement programs.
He urged all the participants to
synergize their efforts towards achieving the expected outcomes of this year’s
forum. The event witnessed various environmental enthusiasts and stakeholders
from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) of Government, consultants, corporate
organisations, the academia and civil society groups.
The Hon. Minister of State Environment,
Hon. Sharon O. Ikeazor Esq presented the keynote address while the opening
remark was delivered by the former Minister of State for Environment and Emir
of Nasarawa, HRH Alh Ibrahim Usman Jibril, who was the special guest of honour at
the event.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, OFR, KSG who has been on medical vacation following a treatment offshore in Italy arrived the Ministry’s headquarters to a tumultuous special welcome-back reception by the Management and Staff led by the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, FNSE, on Monday, 22nd November, 2021.
The reception organized at a very short notice by the Director, Human Resources Management, Mrs. Funke Osunkoya and the Staff Union, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) who sought the permission of the Permanent Secretary for the short event was to demonstrate affection of Management and Staff for Dame Tallen, “to show her that her leadership of the Ministry at this time, is very well appreciated” as the few speakers at the short reception surmised.
Even though notice to the rest of the staff was short, it was very easy to quickly mobilize them even as they were supposed to be coming back to work on Monday morning because of the high regard which majority, if not all, the Staff of the Ministry have for their consummate political head and great advocate of issues that affect the Nigerian women, children and the vulnerable persons.
The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, FNSE told the staff that it is delightful news that Dame Tallen survived the special surgery to restore her health at her mature age and even when she has to lay-off work for a long while afterwards.
He expressed gratitude to God for bringing the Honourable Minister back to her bubbling and energetic self and to see the Ministry running and gaining momentum which he attributed to “the dynamic leadership provided for the Ministry by Dame Tallen.”
Adebiyi reeled out a list of progresses recorded during the Honourable Minister’s brief absence, notable amongst which are that the Ministry engaged with the Development Partners of the Ministry at a retreat in Lagos from 11th to 22nd October, on how best to achieve coordination with the various interventions on women, children and the vulnerable persons in Nigeria; that the Ministry has been engaging repeatedly with Development Partners to plan for a successful 2021 edition of the 16-Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which will run from Thursday, 25th November, through to 10th of December, 2021;
The Permanent Secretary further apprised the Minister that 14 Staff were promoted to different levels in the Management Cadre in the recently released promotion results in the Federal Civil Service; that the Ministry observed the various International Days which fell due as set aside for commemoration by the United Nations, such as the International Day of the Child; International Day for Girl-Child; that the Ministry was also represented in the Women Development Advocacy Meetings in Rwanda and Coite D’ Ivoire.
Engr. Adebiyi further apprised the returning Honourable Minister that various capacity building programmes for Staff done in conjunction with some Development Partners of the Ministry were being carried out for Staff in batches as he disclosed that some Staff are still at training in the Ministry’s Conference Room even as the special reception was on-going.
The Permanent Secretary added that the women empowerment materials and equipment which the Honourable Minister ordered for, have been moved to the various States across the Geo-political Zones of the Country as directed, ready for distribution just as the Ministry defended her Budget proposal for the 2022 Fiscal Year at the Senate.
The Chairman, ASCSN, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Chapter, Adekunle Balogun Ashir who spoke on behalf of the Staff expressed gratitude to God for restoring the health of the Minister which he said, he loves to affectionately called “Mother”.
Dame Pauline Tallen who has been wearing an arm-sling and having to endure some little discomforts disclosed to the delight and applause of her Ministry’s Management and Staff that she is getting back to full recovery and joy-filled to be returning to their warm embrace.
The Minister expressed delight at seeing them working very hard at the mandates of the Ministry in full cooperation with the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Adebiyi whom she specially commended for his inspiring leadership for the Directors and staff even while she was away.
Dame Tallen showered blessings of prayers on her staff in a return appreciation for the love shown her and for the special reception. Highlight of the reception event was the cutting of the cake which was moderated by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mr. Olujimi Oyetomi.
Signed. Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Press & Public Relations.
In recognition of the significant role of
traditional institutions as custodians of cultural values in the country,the
staff of the National Traditional Council for Traditional Rulers in Nigeria
NTCRN were selected among the recent beneficiaries of NITDA’S capacity building
on e- government.
The Director General, National Information
Technology Development Agency NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE,said,“the
exercise is being carried out with a view to ensuring successful implementation
of the e-Government Master Planas well as inculcating the use of Information
Technology in all government activities.”
Kashifu who was represented by the Director,InformationTechnologyand
Infrastructure Solutions of the Agency,Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, noted that the
training was aimed at ensuring application of Technology in running government
businesses especially in the Post COVID-19 era.
With this engagement of traditional institutions
in the country, the impactof the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy
NDEPS had recorded yet another breakthrough in it’s quest to ensurea Digital
Nigeria.
This feat was attained when the Federal Ministry
of Communications and Digital Economy, through the National Information
Technology Development AgencyNITDA, resolved to strengthen the policy by
engaging the administrators of traditional institutions in the country with digitaltechnology
as a platform for stimulating growth.
While highlighting the National Digital Economy
Policy and Strategy Policy’s components,the Director General explained that
NITDA has a Strategic Road Map which it has been implementing.He added that in
line with the National e-Government Master Plan for the country,a strategy to
have institutional framework was designed to implement the NDEPS.
“As engine room for the implementation of
government policies and programs,building the capabilities of government
officials to deliver on your mandates should be a priority to any government”,
he added.
He argued that as the apex body saddled with IT
development and regulations, our ability to deliver on the Federal government
Digital Economy mandate is our primary focus. “We recognize the fact that
building your capabilities as traditional institution should be among our top
priority.”
While further highlighting the benefits of the
training to the staff of National Council for Traditional Rulers in Nigeria
NTCRN,the Director General of NITDA described the role of Traditional
institutions as critical to sustenance of any meaningful development in view of
their closeness to the people at the grassroots.
“What the government is doing is to provide
services to the people,and the best way to doing thatis through the full
engagement of traditional rulers,” he alluded.
He said the Participants, during the training,
will be exposed to understanding how virtual platforms works and how to create
Teams and Channelsas well as how to set up Video Conferencing amongst many
others.
Mallam Kashifu also hinted thatthe training will
save participants from the vulnerabilities of onlineplatforms as Nigeria is
fast approaching the full attainment of Digital Economy,where the country must
be on the Cyber Space with its associated myriads of challenges.
Declaring the training workshop open, Etsu
Nupeand Chairman Coordinating Committee National Council for Traditional Rulers
in Nigeria, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar CFR, commended the Ministry of Communicationsand
Digital Economy under the able leadership of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami
for his resilience and commitment towards making Nigeria a digitally dependent
country.
Alhaji Abubakar noted that the giant strides
recorded in the sectordemonstrates that the country will soon join the league
of top economies of the world.
The Director, National Traditional Council for
Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, Kasim Yawa, express gratitude to the management
of NITDA for acquitting them with rudiments of ICT and benefits derivable from
digital economy.
As part of activities to mark 10th anniversary, CyberAfrica, a Pan-African Information and Communications Technology magazine has instituted a ‘Pan-African Digital Economy Award’, which is targeted at celebrating digital innovations across all sectors on the countinent.
Disclosing this in a short statement in Abuja, the Managing Editor of CyberAfrica magazine, tv and online Mr. Hillary Damisah, said the novel award, which is schedule to hold 19 December 2021 at the prestigious orientalist hotel Lekki lagos , will have categories covering the entire sectors that make up the Information and Communications Technology ecosystem.
“While we want to mark CyberAfrica Magazine @10, we also want to celebrate the huge digital transformation that has taken place across Africa, where virtually every sector of the economy is being driven by digital tools,” he said.
According to him, the essence of the ‘Pan-African Digital Award’ is to celebrate the digital transformation across africa and Africans. The award categories are cyber security, egovernance, startups, innovation, policy , infrastructure, finance and administration. The award he said will parade the best persons and organizations that are transforming africa.
The CyberAfrica Magazine is published by the Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD), a non for profit and non-governmental organization with focus for promoting cyber responsibility through advocacy, training and innovation. According to the executive director of Cecad Mojisola Alabi, cyber africa is AFRICAs first magazine to focus on cyber issues a decade ago and the event is a two in one show. First the forum called cyber africa forum with a theme building a new africa with digital knowledge, skills and innovation. According to Moji the forum will discuss infrastructure, security, policy and governance. This is in addition to the Cyber africa digital economy award.
The duo of Dr. Bayero Agabi, founder of DigiVation Network and Dr. Obafemi Hamsat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State will be among those to be conferred fellows of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) at this year’s National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA),
While Honourary Fellowship will be conferred on Dr. Bayero Agabi as a distinguished personality for hia dedication and exemplary service to IT growth and development in Nigeria, Professional fellowships will be conferred on Dr. Obafemi Hamsat, recognizing him as an authority in the field of computing through significant contribution to the growth of Information Technology with his professional expertise and activities.
Announcing this today at a press conference, the President of NCS, Prof. Adesina Sodiya said both Dr. Bayero and Dr. Hamsat have displayed sense of professionalism by contributing immensely to the growth of the Information Technology in Nigeria.
He disclosed that NCS will be conferring 51 people with the Professional fellowships, making the highest number of conferees in the annual history of NCS, while the honourary fellowship awardees are three, including Mr. Kayode Sobajo, founder/Chairman /CEO, HIIT PLC and Tim. Akano, MD/CEO, New Horizons Plc.
“This year, we are giving the honourary fellowship award to Dr. Bayero Agabi and two others, while the Professional fellowship award will go to Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and 50 others,” he said.
The National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) is in line with NCS’ advocacy efforts to achieve sustainable development and promote digital economy in Nigeria through Information Technology.
NITMA is done annually to recognizes, celebrates and rewards outstanding excellence and exceptional contributions in the Information Technology field. In choosing the awards, the key areas and issues affecting growth in the sector and society are addressed.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in continuation of its efforts to address the alarming rates of data privacy abuse by money lending operators, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Section
17(a) of the FCCPA, 2019 empowers the Commission to administer and enforce
provisions of every Nigerian law with respect to competition and protection of consumers.
NITDA has therefore found the FCCPC as a key stakeholder in its efforts to rein
in the activities of some micro-money lenders who have formed a penchant for
abuse of personal data of Nigerians. These operators execute this by abusing
their personal data, breaching their privacy and sharing it with others who are
not part of the initial contract.
The
Agency has received over 40 petitions from members of the public on the
personal data abuse of some lending companies. Our investigation led to the
imposition of Ten million naira (N10,000,000) fine and other administrative
sanctions on Soko Lending Company.
As
an Agency focused on using its mandate to empower Nigerians and make them
active players in the digital economy, NITDA is very concerned about the
worrisome effect the nefarious activities of the money lending companies is
having on families, friends, and the society at large. Some of the complainants
had contemplated suicide, indicating that government needed to do more to
protect vulnerable Nigerians.
The
partnership with FCCPC will lead to a more robust and concerted regulatory
approach which we believe would ensure that Nigerians get necessary reprieve
from the illegal use of their personal data for money lending operations. The
partnership would entail joint investigations, enforcement and possible
prosecution.
We
therefore use this medium to inform all money lending operators and other data
controllers and processors that NITDA is set to enforce the privacy right of
Nigerians in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR)2019.
Controllers and Processors who seek guidance on Compliance with the NDPR should
contact NITDA licensed Data Protection Compliance Organizations (DPCO).
The existence of shared
vision, partnership and collaboration amongst the Ministry of Communications
and Digital Economy, its parastatals and the sector’s stakeholders have been
identified as one of the reasons for the unprecedented 17.09 percent
contribution of the digital economy sector to the Gross Domestic product of the
second quarter of 2021.
The Director General,
National Information technology Development Agency, MallamKashifuInuwa, CCIE
disclosed this in a paper titled “The Nigerian Digital Architecture: The
Journey So Far.” The paper was presented at the World Fintech Festival, 2021.
An event jointly hosted by Nigeria and Singapore.
Inuwa who was represented
at the event by the Agency’s Director of e-Government Development and Regulations,
Dr Vincent Olatunji, stated that the way forward for Nigeria in attaining
vintage position in the global digital economy remains in the country’s resolve
to public private partnership initiatives, funding, human capital, advocacy and
continuity.
He said, “The digital
economy, from Nigeria’s perspectives revolves around the utilization of digital
transformation, knowledge and technology to deliver goods and services, economy
that drives on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, (4IR), convergence of all sets
of digital innovation that drives social economic development and economic
output created from digital technologies and innovations.”
According to the DG, the
redesignation of the Federal Ministry to Ministry of Communications and Digital
Economy and the launch of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy,
(NDEPS) were responsible for the paradigm shift in Nigeria’s digital economy
adding that NDEPS was developed to reposition the Nigerian Economy in order to
take advantage of the many opportunities that digital technologies provide.
He said that the eight
pillars of NDEPS align well with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the
Federal Government and address the three key focus areas of Mr. President,
namely economic development, anti-corruption and security noting that the
various policies and strategies put in place by the ministry and being executed
by its parastatals laid the foundation for the success recorded so far.
While listing Nigeria’s achievementsthrough
the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, he said the Nigeria DataProtection Regulation
initiative has impacted the Ease of Doing Business, cross border data flow, creation
of over 3000 jobs, international recognition, creation of a new sector worth
N5.2 billion and protection of Nigerian against digital colonialism.
On IT project clearance,
he said the initiative has saved the country over N30 billion and reduction in
IT project failurein the country while under the Digital Literacy and Skillprogramme,
over 20,000 Nigerians have been trained and 250,000 enrolled in both NITDA
Academy and Digital Nigeria dot gov dot ng platform.
He concluded that “digital
economy continues to play an important role in our developmental agenda as we
move into the age of artificial intelligence.”
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development have handed over feeding utensils to the Nasarawa State Government to enable them carry on with the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).
The National
Home Grown School Feeding Program is one of the four key interventions of the
Federal Government, under the National Social Investment Program which is aimed
at boosting school enrolment, nutrition and local economic activities across
communities in Nigeria. It is also aimed at impacting the lives and livelihood
of individuals, groups, communities and addressing issues of malnutrition and
poverty.
The School
Feeding Program is a collaboration between the Federal and State
Government where the FG is responsible
for the release of funds, guidelines, policies and monitoring while the State
carry out the day to day implementation which includes procurement of food
items, selection of cooks and vendors who prepare and serve the meals to
pupils.
According to
the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social
Development, Sadia Umar Farouk, over nine million pupils are currently
benefiting from the program with over 100,000 cooks tasked with the
responsibility of preparing this meals for them. She adds that the Federal
Government is working on adding 5 million pupils to the program.
She further
stated that the ministry is working tirelessly to ensure that quality of meal
is improved, capacity Development of all actors In the value chain, Development
of Evidence Based Policy Frameworks to guide implementation, build strategic
partnerships, support School Health Nutrrition, Data Upgrade and Management as
well as Improved Monitoring and Evaluation Systems.
The Minister
added that Extensive layered and technology supported monitoring system that
will give real time information of how the program is been implemented and
areas that need urgent intervention and correction have been deployed . She
however assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to continue to
improve Service delivery on all its Social Interventions programs.
On his part,
the Executive Governor of Nassarawa State,
Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule who was represented by his Special Adviser on
Special Duties, Hon Murtala Lamus thanked the Federal Government for her
support to the State’s School Feeding Program.
He said, the school feeding program started in Nasarawa State in the year 2019 with a total number of 1,200 cooks and 86,329 pupils, the number have now increased to 2,768 cooks and 194,649 pupils currently benefitting from the program.
He says the State is committed towards ensuring
continuous sensitization of individuals and communities through the various
structures on the importance of the program and the need to safeguard it from
all forms of corrupt practices by those who have been entrusted the
responsibility of preparing the meals, supply the food items and coordinate the activities.
The Governor
therefore commends efforts of the Minister of Humanitarin Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development for her efforts in rebranding and face
lifting the NSIP to a world class mode of social security.
It is the hope of all that the Nasarawa State Government will utilize all that have been provided by the Federal Government for the right reasons.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam has said that a lot of pastors listen and wish to partner with the Commission because of the credibility of NCPC as a veritable platform for uniting the church in Nigeria. The NCPC helmsman made this disclosure recently in Abuja while playing host to the President of California Congressional Black Caucus Delegation, United States of America, Amb.Dr. Zyra McCloud in his office .
Rev Pam intimated his guests that the Commission is saddled with the sole responsibility of organising and coordinating Christian Pilgrimage activities to the Holy Land of Israel, Jordan, Greece and Rome. He added that NCPC is the only apex Christian faith based Agency that has direct link with the Presidency and also interfaces strongly with the church. He stated that because of his peace building initiatives in Plateau State over the years, Mr President gave him additional responsibility of peace building to his job description as the Executive Secretary of NCPC.
Rev Pam reiterated that his peace interventions in some part Nigeria such as the Southern Kaduna, Plateau State, Taraba state,Benue State amongst others had yielded positive results. He described Ambassador McCloud as a woman with one vision which had endured for about three decades. He stressed that vision is the root of everything. He further added,”we are grateful that you have been consistent all these years”. In his words,” we welcome this kind of vision to work with because we have a platform”. He further stressed,” you will be part of those whom history will be remembered in the recovering process of Nigeria”. The NCPC boss described the project of the International Association of the African American Ambassadors to the Continent of Africa and the Middle East as one that would impact on the lives of Nigerians. He assured them that the Commission would collaborate with them to bring their vision to fruition in Nigeria.
Earlier, the head of delegation and President of the California Congressional Black Caucus Delegation, USA, Amb.Dr Zyra McCloud thanked the NCPC boss for receiving them at short notice.She described Rev Pam as a man of peace who is committed to humanity. She informed his host that her organisation would sponsor thousands of indigent school pupils in all Public schools in Nigeria, starting with the FCT.
She explained that aside the sponsorship of indigent school pupils, her organisation would collaborate with NCPC in the area of women empowerment and self sustainability programme. The high powered delegation was made up of Californian Americans, as well as Nigerian partners. NCPC PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
