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Tag: ICT

  • Over a quarter of African population connected to Internet in 2016

    Over a quarter of African population connected to Internet in 2016

    Expanded connectivity has enabled about 341 million people in African countries to have access to the Internet, a report said.

    The report was released by the Internet Society during the Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue on Monday.

    “Thanks to increased access to mobile broadband and the development of submarine cables, more than a quarter of the African population had Internet access in 2016.

    “This represents a significant opportunity to use the Internet to provide education and learning opportunities,’’ the report said.

    The report entitled: “Internet for Education in Africa, Helping Policymakers to Meet the Global Education Goals”, assesses how the Internet is used in the education sector in Africa.

    It also looked at the untapped opportunities by examining experiences in other regions, and provides recommendations for policymakers to help encourage learning via the Internet.

    Dawit Bekele, Africa Regional Bureau Director for the Internet Society, said that a skilled workforce that can use ICT effectively to solve Africa’s problems will determine Africa’s competitiveness in the global economy.

    “Policymakers have a critical role to play in creating the necessary ecosystem for integrating ICT in education,” he said.

    The first Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue was organised in partnership with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and ICT.

    Government and inter-governmental organisation officials, business and educational leaders from across Africa will discuss how Africa can use the Internet to advance education, innovation and job creation.

  • Government institutions lagging behind in adopting ICT – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has lamented the snail pace at which government institutions are adopting Information and Communication Technology (ICT), stressing the institutions have lagged behind far too long, and have to turn a new leaf.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, represented by the Executive Commissioner, Sunday Dare, made the lamentation at the Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series in Lagos.

    He noted that while “our youth have fully embraced ICT, our government, institutions both public and private are still in the process of adopting ICT in their operations and activities. Yet, the future lies in ICT. Nigeria must make deliberate policies that will accelerate ICT penetration.”

    While regretting the technology weaknesses among public institutions, he however disclosed that government has made some commendable strides in adopting ICT in various aspects of its operations.

    “However, a more systematic and accelerated approach will yield more dividends; create more opportunities and jobs for the economy and our teeming youth,” he stated.

    According to him, Nigeria is yet to acquire the full dividends of the ICT revolution.

    “Nigeria, though already plugged into the ICT ecosystem, is yet to harvest fully the dividends of the ICT revolution sweeping across the world,” Danbatta said, adding that ICT has become a one-stop shop for modern tools of development, innovation, employment opportunities and for a smarter world.

    He said that as the world moved towards the Fifth Generation (5G) revolution and the Internet of Things (IoT), Nigeria must embrace fully the opportunities offered by the ICT.

    The NCC EVC said that Nigeria’s ICT initiatives must focus on cyber crimes, cyber security, indigenous software development, digital multimedia platforms, amongst others.

    Convener of BoICT, Ken Nwogbo, said that the lecture is aimed at charting the way forward for the ICT sector in order to put the country on the global ICT map.

    Nwogbo said that the awards were to reward best practices and recognize outstanding contributions to the growth of the sector.

  • Shittu visits Lt Gen Buratai, to deploy ICT in wiping out Boko Haram

    The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu has said the ministry is ready to collaborate with the Nigerian Army on Information Communications Technology (ICT), with the view of deploying ICT to wiping out terrorism from Nigeria.

    The Minister said this when he visited the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) recently in Defense Headquarters, Abuja.

    Shittu recalled receiving the COAS some months ago in his Office where the collaboration was first initiated and he deemed it fit to reciprocate the visit in order to further strengthen the collaboration.

    He said the Ministry is set for the collaboration and all the agencies under the Ministry would be engaged to help in deploying technology in all aspect of the Military activities and operations where necessary.

    He commended the achievements made so far under the leadership of the COAS in fighting Boko Haram and other miscreant groups; he however, encouraged him to do more so as to completely wipe out terrorism in the country.

    The Minister suggested that the COAS should consider establishing a strong ICT department in the Nigerian Army and Military Academy, assuring him of necessary support to complement his effort in fighting crime and terrorism, stating that war cannot be fought with arms alone but with technology as well.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai thanked the Minister for finding time out of his tight schedule to reciprocate the visit.

    He commended the Minister for the good job he is doing in reforming the telecom industry and using ICT to add to the growth of the GDP.

    Lt Gen Buratai added that, the role of ICT is key to military operations and also the use of cyber space where today one can fight war or battle right from ones office, stating that this cannot be achieved without the support of the Ministry, hence the collaboration.

  • We’ll reposition economy by leveraging on ICT – FG

    We’ll reposition economy by leveraging on ICT – FG

    The Ministry of Communications says the Federal Government is repositioning the country’s economy by leveraging on Information Communications Technology, ICT.

    A statement issued in Abuja by Mrs Pauline Sule, the Assistant Chief Information Officer, quoted Mr Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry as saying this at the 6th edition of DSTV Eutelsat Star Awards in Lagos.

    Multichoice Africa and Eutelsat Star Awards is aimed at showcasing innovative ideas on the application of satellite technology in Africa, create awareness among African students and stimulate their interest in Science and Technology, especially ICT.

    Echono said that the star awards encourage young students to write an essay or design poster on satellite-related topic on the amazing power and capabilities of satellites and the ability of scientists to make sense of “our world’’.

    He said that the ministry of communications would take the lead in repositioning the country’s economy to leverage on ICT for growth and development.

    He added that the ministry in taking the lead needed the support and cooperation of the organised private sector like MultiChoice, civil society groups and well-meaning Nigerians to unlock the potential of the ICT sector.

    According to him, the task of repositioning the economy will require necessary steps to encourage the ICT ecosystem, identify policy benefits, business opportunities and technology solutions.

    The perm sec said that it would also share best practices and form strategic relationships that would drive the country’s ICT and telecoms industry to profitability and growth.

    “ In addition, it will support key players and start-ups like social responsibility initiatives to encourage a passion for ICT in young people across the African continent and Nigeria in particular,’’ he said.

    He said that Galaxy Backbone, a leading ICT infrastructure and services provider and NIGCOMSAT, a communications satellite company had signed an MoU.

    He said that the MOU was designed to improve efficiency, reduce cost and avoid duplication in the provision of connectivity services to government ministries, departments and agencies.

    Echono said that the synergy would accelerate social inclusion, support the National e-Government Master Plan as a tool to improve governance and efficiency in the delivery of quality public services.

    He however urged the organisers of the award to take advantage of the huge business opportunities in the ICT sector and to strive for excellence in their operations

    He tasked the awardees not to rest on their oars, saying that this should be an incentive to learn and explore more in the area of ICT also to invest in the skills and talents at all levels.

     

    NAN

     

     

  • Osun to intensify intervention programmes 2017 – Aregbesola

    Osun to intensify intervention programmes 2017 – Aregbesola

    In his 2017 New Year broadcast titled ‘From recession to recovery, growth and consolidation,’ the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has voiced his government’s commitment to intensify intervention programmes in the State in the New Year 2017.

    “We are going to intensify our intervention programmes among the people. This year, we are going to initiate another batch of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).

    “We are going to create more opportunities for people in agriculture, commerce and information and communications technology (ICT),” the Governor said.

    Aregbesola said that since 2014, it is evident that there is no free money again, emphasizing that the way to go is to work hard and earn money.

    “No one should be under any illusion about this. Oil price doesn’t look like it will spike up very soon, as we have had in the past.

    “Even if it will, we should never find ourselves in a position of dependency again. If oil windfall should come, it should go into special projects and savings for the future,” he said.

    The Governor envisioned that “Many developments are coming to our world which we should be prepared for and for which new opportunities will arise for the discerning, the bold and the prepared”.

    For instance, governor Aregbesola said “there will be a quantum leap in technology in the foreseeable future which will produce self-driving cars, robots and automation in agriculture and construction industries, rendering jobs redundant in these areas,” calling on academics, researchers and investors to be prepared and provide leadership for this inevitable transition.

    The Governor was optimistic about the year 2017, stressing that it is going to be a year of consolidation.

    “We are going to consolidate on all our programmes, especially in education, agriculture and road infrastructure,” he said.

    “We are not going to abandon any of our projects,” he added, enthusing 2017 is going to be the busiest year ever in the history of Osun state.

  • Bauchi Govt. to establish ICT centres in schools

    The Bauchi State Government says it will establish three Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres in secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education, Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed, said this while distributing 50 computer sets to principals and head teachers of government schools on Wednesday in Bauchi.

    Mohammed said that the action was to strengthen the education sector in the state and set facilities on ground to train secondary school students in modern information techniques.

    According to him, since the inception of the present administration, the education sector has been given priority in order to achieve its mandate on education reforms.

    Responding on behave of the principals, the state President of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Musa Jahun, expressed gratitude to the state government.

    Jahun said that the gesture would further inspire them to do more.

    Bauchi state government has allocated more than N27.451 billion to the education sector in its 2017 budget.

     

  • Nigeria to achieve 30% broadband penetration by 2018 – Minister

    The Federal Government says the country will achieve the 30 per cent national broadband penetration by 2018 as projected in the country’s National Broadband Plan.

    The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, disclosed this when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

    Shittu said the country had so far achieved between 18 to 20 per cent penetration as a result of private sector initiatives.

    The minister said government was encouraging all GSM and ICT companies to invest in the communication sector to expand the broadband penetration.

    He said the government was also encouraging a number of initiatives, including foreign companies coming to invest in the country, who had expressed interest.

    “I have had the privilege of attending a number of international platforms where I met a lot of them as the chief marketer of the industry.

    “The ministry of communications is not into business, government has no business in business, what the ministry does is to provide an enabling environment for operators and industry entrepreneurs to be encouraged to invest.

    “When I say entrepreneur, it is not only Nigerian entrepreneurs even the foreign entrepreneurs.

    “Already, the rate at which we are now, we are about 18 to 20 per cent penetration and all of this is mostly as a result of private sector initiative.

    “I am very confident that by the Grace of God within the next two years, we will reach the target of 30 per cent,’’ he said.

     

  • ICT key to poverty reduction – UN boss

    ICT key to poverty reduction – UN boss

    United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, says access to information and communications technology (ICT) is necessary to address the challenges of poverty and climate change.

    Ban stated this in his message to the ongoing 11th session of the Internet Governance Forum in Jalisco, Mexico, delivered by Lenni Montiel, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development.

    “I welcome the theme of this session: ‘Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Growth’.

    “Indeed, the Internet and information and communication technologies can play an important enabling role in our efforts to fulfil the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “They can deliver smart solutions to address climate change, hunger, poverty and other global challenges.

    “They are tools for providing digital and mobile health care and wider access to education to those in rural areas.

    “They can also help to empower women, generate efficiencies in industrial and agricultural production, and safeguard the environment,” he said.

    The Secretary-General said the 2016 gathering was the first since its 10-year renewal by the General Assembly, which reaffirmed the importance of the Internet Governance Forum multi-stakeholder platform for public policy dialogue.

    “Your efforts have made profound impacts as we strive together to create an equitable, human rights-based knowledge society,” Ban said.

    The UN chief urged the forum to keep working to ensure universal access to a more open information society.

    “Let us address the challenges we face by empowering people everywhere with these transformative technologies so that they can help build a better future for all,” he said.