BAYERO AND HAMZAT TO BECOME FELLOWS OF NIGERIA COMPUTER SOCIETY

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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.

NITDA COLLABORATES WITH THE FEDERAL COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION (FCCPC) TO TACKLE DATA ABUSE BY MONEY LENDING OPERATIONS

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PRESS RELEASE

11TH NOVEMBER  2021

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).

Mrs. Hadiza Umar, mcipr, m.apra, mcipr

Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations,

NITDA

DIGITAL ECONOMY: COLLABORATION AMONGST STAKEHOLDERS ACCOUNTS FOR UNPRECEDENTED ACHIEVEMENTS-DG NITDA

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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.”

FG HANDS OVER 195,000 UTENSILS TO NASARAWA STATE

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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.

A LOT OF PASTORS LISTEN TO US BECAUSE OF THE CREDIBILITY OF OUR PLATFORM – NCPC BOSS

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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

NCPC THANK GOD FOR A SUCCESSFUL PILGRIMAGE TO JORDAN.

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It is customary for the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC to go for thanksgiving at the end of every year after a successful pilgrimage to the Holy Land to return all glory to God and thank Him for His mercies and guidance.

The thanksgiving service is usually rotated among different Christian denominations.

For this year, the thanksgiving service was held at Living Faith Church, Goshen, Nassarawa State and the event was graced by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, staff of the NCPC, cleric from different denominations and other members of the public gathered to sing and dance to the glory of God.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam, the thanksgiving service as a source of strength for members of the commission to  become more efficient and renewed to carry on the duties of working towards giving pilgrims a quality and memorable experience.

He then thanked God for a successful pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jordan. He appreciated and congratulated technical crew and all those from his commission that took part in the planning and ensuring that the 2021 Pilgrimage to Jordan was a huge success. He also charged Christians to remain steadfast in their service to God adding that, the pilgrimage is an important aspect of Christian life as it helps in strengthening ones Christian faith.

NSIP: FG, stakeholders review feasibility of N70 per child school feeding program

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In view of the rising cost of living, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has organised a two-day workshop with stakeholders and industry experts to review cost of feeding per child in the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

The workshop, held in Abuja Wednesday, was aimed at reflecting the current economic realities in the country, which has reportedly affected the implementation of the NHGSFP in states across the nation.

The stakeholders, drawn from across the country, were tasked to deliberate on the present N70 cost of meal per pupil, make appropriate recommendations on the possible cost of meal per child then suggest possible alternative sources for funding.

Addressing journalists at the workshop, Head of Catering, Federal Ministry of Education, Katrina Adamu, said that the workshop is aimed at sustaining the gains of the school feeding programme and improving on lapses observed in the implementation.

She said: “We are still on it. We’ve not finished, but as I have seen, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have not really gotten it right. We are still working to actualize the dream for the indigent children in this country to enjoy.

“The food shared in the school feeding programme attracts children to school and encourages high school attendance. As there is food waiting for the children whenever they come to school, they will always be excited to go there. What we are doing now is to try to see if they get the right food and the right temperature to help the children nutritionally in growing up and take them off the street.

“The program is aimed at helping the parents too at home, who cannot afford feeding the children. So, it is a kind of relief. If the facilitators take our suggestions, they will get there. They need to involve the right people in the right places, so that this programme can stand the test of time.”

Other measures initiated by the ministry to scale up the NHGSFP is training of focal persons on recommended dietary requirements for creating menu, engagement of quality control officers to supervise and train cooks, revision of menu to reflect local availability, optimisation of food procurement budget against prices and value of all available food items, among others.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES THE COMMENCENT OF N-KNOWLEDGE PROGRAMME IN THE SIX GEO-POLITCAL ZONES

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 PRESS STATEMENT

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has announced the commencement of the N-Power, N-Knowledge programme in the six (6) geo-political including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

 She made the announcement through a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Bashir Nura Alkali . He said,” N-Knowledge is a component of the N-Power Programme focused on equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills and certification to become competent workers, innovators and entrepreneurs prepared for both the domestic and global digital job market. N-Power (N-Knowledge) programme will upskill 20,000 young Nigerians on the global radar as exporters of world- class services and content in the creative and information technology sectors”.

 The Permanent Secretary noted that the training component is targeted at developing competencies of the youth in software development and Hardware training which will be catalyzed to make Nigeria compete in the outsourcing market for software development.

According to him,“it will develop the skills and capacities along the skills set in the value chain of mobile apps and website development while boosting the talent development effort for the growth of information technology industry in Nigeria”.

“The programme consists of centralized in-camp training for 3 months with a 6-month apprenticeship across the 6 geo-political zones. A total of 20,000 beneficiaries will participate in the programme”.

 He added that at the end of the programme, qualified trainees would be awarded their certificates and attestations. The trainees will be introduced to different schedules that will definitely make them more informed and ready for the global competitions in the global market. This is significant because the trainees will be introduced to Life-Skills and attitude re-orientation, work ethics while rules of engagement are also exposed to them.

Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA,FCT I

Permanent Secretary

November 3, 2021

𝗚𝗬𝗕 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗡 𝗞𝗢𝗚𝗜 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘.

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𝘈𝘯𝘬𝘱𝘢, 28𝘵𝘩 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳, 2021

Kogi State’s 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼 has called for more mining partnerships and ventures in the state, declaring Kogi open for business.

The charge was made today at the ribbon cutting ceremony and commissioning of a block of classrooms constructed by Zuma 828 Coal Ltd, a coal mining company with sites in Okobo/Enjema communities, Ankpa LGA. The building was erected in partial fulfilment of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) duly signed by the company and its host communities.

In attendance were the Governor who was represented by the Chairman, Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), 𝗛𝗮𝗷𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝘇𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻, His Royal Highness, The Ejeh of Dekina, representatives of the State and Federal Ministries of Mines and Steel Development, as well as Education, respectively. Representatives of the company and the community also attended the event.

In her remarks, Hajiya Suleiman lauded the socially responsible company for fulfiling its binding contract with its host community. She recounted her committee’s initial encounter with both parties through a petition detailing the displeasure of the community over negligence by the company, and the eventual signing of a comprehensive CDA at the MIREMCO secretariat almost four years ago.

The Chairman expressed gladness at the peaceful relations that has existed between both parties since then, and the efforts by the company to fulfil its obligation as stipulated in the CDA. She also commended the community for their forthright manner in seeking redress through the appropriate channels rather than take matters in their own hands.

Hajiya Suleiman then charged other mining operators and their communities to emulate both parties. While calling for more operators to invest in the sector, she stated that the Government has created a safe, enabling environment for business to thrive, for the good of the companies and the state as a whole.

FG CHARGES NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS/CSO TO BUILD PARTNERSHIP TO ACHIEVE IT’S GOALS.

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The Federal Government has charged Civil Societies and Non – Governmental Òrganisations to build strong partnership and capacity to achieve their desired results in the protection of the rights of the vulnerable groups in the society.
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq made this known during a one- day forum titled “Strengthening Civil Societies / Non- Governmental Organisations in the COVID-19 PANDEMIC”.
Represented by the Acting Director for Social Development Mansur Kulliya, she said that “issues concerning COVID-19 Pandemic cuts across the globe and are reflected in all socio-economic pursuit hence the need for strong partnerships and capacity building to achieve desired result in the protection of the Rights of the vulnerable groups in the Society. It is in realization of the above, that the FMHADMSD is strengthening alliance and Networks among NGOs and CSOs at all levels of Government.
According to her, ” NGOs has been playing vital role from the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the area of building Community resilience, supporting vulnerable Communities through food park distributions, supplying of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among others. It is also a well-known fact that NGOs/CSOs have been playing a vital role in poverty eradication through collaboration and partnership with various MDAs and other development partners.
“The Ministry, in line with our mandate has developed various programmes aimed at improving socio- economic well-being of the vulnerable groups in Nigeria. According to Mr. President’s directive on National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) which aimed at achieving macro-economic stability, it may interest you to know that the Ministry has been implementing many programmes on N-SIP which are also replicated at the National level. These programmes includes: National Home -Grown School feeding programme (NHGSFP) whose objective is to improve the enrolment of primary School Children and to stimulate local agricultural production and boost the Farmer income”.

“Therefore, there is need to ensure that these programmes, really touch the lives of people, particularly those at the grass-roots and Community levels. It is a common knowledge that Non-Governmental organizations when properly organized and coordinated are catalyst for contributing towards the achievement of the Ministry’s mandate. It is in recognition of the vital roles played by NGOs that the Ministry attached much importance on the need to build /strengthening their capacities for effective service delivery”.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Nwodo reiterated the need for participants to collaborate despite the challenges of hijackers of programme initiatives. She recommended that NGO’s should be sincere in their commitment to providing assistance to vulnerable members of the community.
She advised aspiring Non Governmental Organisations to look for consultants for training and writing proposals.
The second presenter Dr. Mai jama’a recommended that NGO’S, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) should work with people at the grassroots.
He recommended an organised reporting format for NGO’s at the grassroots.He added that they should be coordinated by an umbrella NGO at the National level via focal NGO, down the line.

Grace Osuji
Principal Information Officer
For: DD( Information)
20th October 2021

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