TheNewsGuru

Tag: ICT

  • Expert calls for e-voting in future elections

    Expert calls for e-voting in future elections

    Mr Tunde Ezichi, an expert in Information Communication Technology (ICT) has called for the establishment of ICT infrastructure in the country to encourage e-voting in future elections.

    Ezichi, Chief Executive Officer of Sigma-Beta-Alpha Ltd, made the call on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

    He noted that a lot would be required in e-voting for a country like Nigeria, especially in the area of infrastructure.

    “The major challenge we have been having is getting to the rural area, voting electronically and to rely on that completely.

    “The infrastructure which is the backbone that will facilitate the electronic voting is not really complete at the present time, so we need the infrastructure to be all over the country,

    “Things like fibre optics should be made available all around the country as this is one of the things that will help facilitate electronic voting, ‘’ he said.

    Ezichi also stressed the need for massive voter education on electronic voting as most of the people who go out to vote are uneducated.

    He, however, said that most of the voters might have access to mobile phones, but there was still need to educate them on how e-voting could be done.

    He said there was also need for the country to study what had happened in countries which had implemented electronic voting.

    “We must thoroughly learn from the experiences and challenges they had before we can implement that in Nigeria, but it is not impossible because you can harness technology to make electronic voting possible.

    Ezichi also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decentralise the production of election materials.

    According to him, some of the voting materials produced abroad and then transported from there can be produced in Nigeria.

    “Why producing some of these things abroad if they can be produced cheaper and effective here, is it that they can’t trust the printers here?, ” he said.

     

  • ICT experts call for contingency plan, backups during elections

    Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts on Saturday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have contingency and backup plans that would help forestall challenges during elections.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews in Lagos that the postponement few hours to the commencement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections by INEC showed that it did not prepare for eventualities.

    Mr Jide Awe, Chairman, Conferences Committee of the Nigeria Computer Society, told NAN that the postponement might be due to alleged technological issues.

    He said that one could have the best card readers and everything, yet, lacked good planning.

    “Unless something has happened that the commission does not want to tell the public because INEC is supposed to have a plan in place to ensure that things move smoothly today.

    “That the postponement was because of logistics as said by INEC chairman means that they are not ready to deliver and since this is so, the best is to postpone the elections.

    “There is definitely a problem with their planning and we should understand that nothing can be perfect in life.

    “There is the need to foresee certain things and have a plan to tackle it,” he said.

    Awe, however, appealed to intending voters to be calm and ensure they perform their civic responsibility on Feb. 23 and March 9 respectively.

    Also, Mr Rogba Adeoye, the former President, Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals (ITSSP), told NAN that the postponement called for adjustment of schedules and activities nationwide.

    “As a citizen I do not have much choice. INEC is saying that this is the best they can give us for now, what can we do than to be patient and wait for the D-day.

    “The one thing that is bad in the whole postponement issue is the impact it will have on the citizens especially those with other engagements aside the election workers.

    “Likewise, the students and teachers who were given midterm break will have their schools calendar disrupted again and this is not good for the educational system,” he said.

     

  • FG committed to digital education – Official

    Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said the Federal Government was committed to the realisation of excellent Information Communication Technology (ICT) education in schools.

    Echono said this on Thursday in Lagos during the Commissioning of Skool Media Technology Experience Centre.

    The centre was built by Skool Media for Queens College, Yaba and Federal Science and Technical College (F.S.T.C) Yaba.

    Skool Media is an education technology infrastructure company focused on revamping the educational sector by redefining the learning processes and experiences in schools and communities using technology.

    Echono said ICT delivery in schools would redefine the teaching processes in order to give students the leverage to compete with their counterparts in other countries.

    “Skool Media came in with the aim of extending the frontiers of not only ICT education delivery but also to use ICT skills in solving problems prevalent in our world today,” he said.

    Echono represented by Mr Abubakar Isah, Director, ICT, Ministry of Education, said the centres would facilitate students’ technology experience, promote design thinking and enhance project based learning in schools.

    He commended Skool Media, saying that government believes in such Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects to develop the country.

    Mr Moses Imayi, Project Director, Skool Media, said the firm had invested about N500 million towards driving the growth of digital educational sector across the six geo-political zones.

    “Our expectation is to invest in the future of the Nigerian child and equip them to be at par with students across the world.

    “Quality education has been a major backbone of our strategic plan as we continue to be a role model for the adoption of technology in education in Africa and the opportunity of being a reference point for all ed-tech stakeholders in Nigeria,” he said.

    He noted that the purpose of the centre was to make learning fun and seamless whilst engaging technology and innovation to drive productivity.

    Imayi said skills to be acquired at the tech centres included: coding, Google digital skills, hackathons, information retrieval-information literacy using search engines, creative writing and public speaking workshops.

    Mrs Yakubu Oyinloye, Principal, Queens College, said the tech centers would enhance the value and performance of students while equipping them with various skills to boost their competitiveness in a dynamic world.

     

  • FG urges stakeholders to support 2019-2023 national broadband plan

    FG urges stakeholders to support 2019-2023 national broadband plan

    The Minister of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu, has urged stakeholders in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector to support the Nigerian National Broadband Council with credible suggestions toward the development of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2019–2023.

    The minister’s request is in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Mr Bolaji Kazeem in Abuja on Friday.

    Kazeem said that the minister stressed the need for sustainable broadband capacity that could drive the country’s socio-economic activities.

    He quoted the minister as saying “there is enormous need for sustainable broadband capacity to improve quality of services.

    “The Nigerian National Broadband Council has been reviewing the progress made so far, and has identified areas of programme adjustment to permit the realisation of new and emerging opportunities.

    “Such areas of review are: development of an Integrated National Broadband Backbone, development of National Policy on Open Access and the constitution of Inter-Ministerial Committee on ICT Convergence and related issues.

    “Others are engagement of strategic partners on specific issues such as funding, tax waivers and participation of stakeholders in the review process through suggestions to improve on the new strategy document.’’

    According to the minister, Nigeria has been improving its use of ICT enabled services to drive socio-economic activities.

    He added that the Nigerian National Broadband Council was established to provide periodic evaluation of progress, facilitate coordination and collaboration, as well as highlight areas of programme adjustment to permit the realisation of emerging opportunities.

    Shittu said that the Ministry of Communications had developed critical policy documents to guide interested investors and industry players to engender trust.

    “Some of the policy documents include the e-Government Masterplan, the Local Content Guideline, and ICT Roadmap,’’ he added.

     

  • ITF introduces ICT skills programme in 6 states

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has started the implementation of the Information Technology Skills Empowerment (ISEP) in six states as part of efforts to create jobs for youths.

    Mr Joseph Ari, the Director-General of ITF made the disclosure on Thursday in Jos, at a media interactive session organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Plateau council.

    He said that the ISEP, a new initiative had already started implementation in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Ondo, Imo and Cross River states to equip youths with Information and Communication Technology Skills.

    Ari said that the skills were necessary to enable the youths adapt to global technology best practices in the use of ICT, adding that ICT skill was the backbone of many developed economies.

    “In view of agriculture as the major preoccupation of our society, the training of Nigerians along the agricultural value chain will be given utmost attention in the agri-preneurship programme.

    “For its pilot stage, 180 Nigerians drawn from Katsina, Cross River, Ogun , Plateau and Enugu states will be trained in post- harvest techniques and product development, aquaculture, manure production, international business and marketing, green house technology and poultry farming,“ he said.

    Ari said that ITF was seeking partnership with state governments, Organised Private Sector (OPS) and philanthropists as critical stakeholders to train women and youths on technical and vocational skills.

    He said that in spite of training 300,000 Nigerians in 2018, there were still many unemployed youths and women who the fund could not accommodate in its training programme.

    He said that the cooperation and collaboration of politicians and other stakeholders would be critical to multiply the number of beneficiaries.

    Mr Paul Jatau, the Chairman of NUJ, Plateau council said that the media session was organised to better inform the public on ITF activities.

    While appreciating the D-G for attending the session, Peter Amine, the Secretary of the council pleaded with ITF to also organise skills acquisition programmes for journalists.

    He said that journalists also required additional technical and vocational skills to survive in an erratic economy as experienced in Nigeria.

     

  • FG’s intervention for tertiary institutions hits over N700bn

    The Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocated a total of N727,225,862,128.86 billion worth of investment in critical areas of infrastructure development in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

    Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, disclosed this during the Sixth Edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, saying that the intervention was for public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education from 2015 till date.

    Adamu noted that the intervention was specifically for physical infrastructure, project maintenance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) support, entrepreneurship, library development, special high impact projects, research, academic staff training and development among others.

    “Our focus for today’s briefing is on Federal Government’s intervention in critical areas of tertiary education in the life of the Buhari administration in the last four years.

    “During the period under review, the Federal Government through the instrumentality of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocated a total of N727, 225,862,128.86 billion worth of investment in critical areas of infrastructural development in our tertiary institutions.

    “Especially in physical infrastructure, project maintenance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) support, Entrepreneurship, Library development and special high impact projects, Academic Staff Training and Development, and Research among others.

    According to him, a breakdown of the funding efforts by the Federal Government indicates that in 2015, each public university both Federal and States, was allocated N337 million.

    He said when multiplied by 74 universities that benefited; it gave the total allocation to public universities to N24.93billion for that year.

    “In 2016, each public university was allocated N1,009,410,000 billion multiplied by 74 institutions; it brings the total allocation to public universities to N74,696,340,000 billion for year 2016.

    “In 2017, each public university was allocated N659, 150,000 million multiplied by 74 universities; you have the total allocation to public universities to N48, 777,100,000.00 billion for 2017.

    “In 2018, each public university in the country was allocated N785, 823,700 million multiplied by 74 universities; it gives the total allocation to public universities to N58, 150,953,800.00 billion for year 2018’’.

    The minister explained that the total allocations to public universities during the period under review stand at N206, 562,393,800 billion.

    Similarly, Adamu said that in 2015, 50 Polytechnics were allocated N250, 000,000 million each amounting to N12.5billion (Twelve billion, Five Hundred million naira) only.

    He also said, in 2016, the amount of N691, 632,000 million was allocated to each 54 Polytechnics; amounting to N37, 348,128,000 billion for all in that year.

    “ In 2017, N450, 800,000 million each was allocated to 54 Polytechnics, amounting to N24, 343,200,000 billion.

    “While in 2018 54 Polytechnics got N536, 703,502,000 million each; amounting to N28, 981,989,108 billion’’.

    He said that the total allocation to Polytechnics during the period under review was N103, 173,317,108 billion.

    Adamu, however, noted that states’ universities got a total allocation of N74, 620,416,900 billion.

    “Meanwhile, for the Colleges of Education, the total allocation during the period, stood at N101, 631,304,500 billion.

    He explained that a further breakdown showed that colleges of educations got N12,485,000,000 billion in 2015, N37,348,135,000.00 billion in 2016, N23,743,500,000 billion in 2017 and N28,054,669,500 billion in 2018.

    The minister, therefore, expressed the concern of the government over the lack of accountability in some of the tertiary institutions.

    He reiterated that that the Federal Government would not fold its arms to watch public educational institutions funded from the public purse to flout the laws of public accountability.

    “I want to put every stakeholder in this regard on notice, that in the coming weeks, the Federal Ministry of Education under my watch will roll out visitation panels to all tertiary institutions to deal with this ugly phenomenon,” he said.

     

  • NCC, stakeholders to collaborate to boost local content in ICT

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says collaboration is essential to boost local content in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made this known during the ICT Community Roundtable, organised by the Association of Information Communication Technology Local Content (ICTLOCA) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The theme of the roundtable is: “ICT Local Content: Dissecting Challenges and Proffering Solutions’’.

    Represented by the Lagos Zonal Controller of NCC, Henry Ojiokpota, Danbatta said that there was the need for stakeholders to work together to build the requisite skills that could boost local content.

    He said that there was the need to collaborate with tertiary institutions and the National Universities Commission (NUC) and look at contents the institutions had in the areas of ICT.

    According to him, the ICT industry needs to have a database of both formal and informal ICT skills across the country.

    He said that such database would ensure that skills required in a particular area were easily accessed.

    “We want to see how we can bring those people together under one roof, so that they can be able to speak with one voice.

    “Most importantly for us is having the data of all ICT skills available in the country, that will help people to be able to compete globally for jobs in other climes and also within Nigeria.

    “If Nigerians have the requisite skills, companies will not give their jobs to foreigners.

    “You don’t expect an employer to employ workers and then begin to train them all over again. The time is not there.

    “So if the skill that is required to take over the industry is not there, the problem of local content will continue.

    “We need to build up a database of ICT skills across the country, both formal and informal ICT skills and also collaborate,’’ he said.

    Danbatta said that NCC was bridging the skill gap by training people through the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), to help them to be able to compete for job in the oil and gas sector.

    He said that the commission was funding research proposals on ICT in universities across the six geopolitical zones, aimed at instilling local content.

    “We found out that people have excellent project proposals but with funding of those research proposals it can really help them to be able to bring those proposals forward and solve practical human problems,’’ Danbatta said.

     

  • Breaking: Former NCC Director, Tony Ojobo becomes President of African ICT Foundation

    Breaking: Former NCC Director, Tony Ojobo becomes President of African ICT Foundation

    Former Public Affairs Director of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo has been appointed into the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the African ICT Foundation as President.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) exclusively gathered the former NCC Director of Public Affairs was appointed President of the foundation alongside Dr. Ing Pierre-François Kamanou, who will serve as first Vice President/Francophone Regional Director and Country Director Cameroon of the foundation.

    According to the African ICT Foundation, Mr. Ojobo’s appointment as President was in line with existing template of appointment introduced by the founders of the foundation in 2009 following nomination by watchers of the ICT/Telecoms industry in Nigeria.

    Also to serve in the BoT alongside the former NCC Director, who also is Chairman Kulturekode Hub, are Ms. Rachel Orumor as 2nd Vice President/Country Director, Republic of Benin, and Senator Iyere Ihenyen as Secretary-General.

    Other appointed members of the BoT are Dr. Kevin Nwanze, Professor Effiong Johnson, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, Dr. Anthony Nwosu, Mr. Oludare Omoniyi Akinbo and Adebunmi Adeola Akimbo.

    TNG reports upon convening the first meeting of the BoT, Mr. Ojobo and the new leadership of the African ICT Foundation would elect other officials that will be responsible for the running of the foundation through the secretariat with the full support of its staff.

    In his letter of acceptance, Mr. Ojobo expressed excitement, saying “it is with a sense of humility that I accept this appointment, knowing that there abound an array of more knowledgeable and experienced professionals in this field”.

    “I feel humbled that I have been considered worthy of this responsibility. A portfolio such as this no doubt comes with a great deal of responsibility”.

    He stated that in the age when ICTs are major indices of economic developments, the continent of Africa cannot afford to be sleeping.

    “It’s high time we woke up to the reality facing us at this time. The advancement of the continent vis a vis the economic development lies with the ICT capabilities of her people.

    “With the level of disruptive innovations facing businesses today, there is need to assist businesses and governments with policies that can deliver the desired economic emancipation of Africa.

    “With the support of members of the board, we shall do our level best to add our voice to issues pertaining to ICT development in Africa,” he said.

    TNG reports inauguration of the BoT will hold February 2019 in earnest, subject to the approval of the BoT

     

  • Nigeria achieves 2013-2018 broadband penetration target

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the country’s broadband penetration stood at 30.9 per cent as at November 2018 surpassing the 30 per cent target by the National Broadband Plan.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC said this while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    The Federal Government National Broadband Plan 2013-2018 has set a target of 30 per cent penetration to be achieved by end of 2018.

    Danbatta, represented by Mr Sunday Dare, NCC Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management said that the commission had exceeded the target it set for itself with over nine per cent.

    “At NCC, we knew we have to meet the broadband implementation plan to get to 30 per cent at the end of 2018 due to the work done, we now stand at 30.9 per cent equivalent of 31 per cent.

    “NCC had issued license to seven infrastructure companies to deploy the needed infrastructure to facilitate the required penetration in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

    “This will enable penetration reach the served and underserved areas in the country.

    “Active Voice Subscriber base grew from 165,239,443 in October 2018 to 169,104,830 in November 2018,” he said.

    According to him, total active broadband subscription on 3G and 4G platforms as at November 2018 was 58,965,478.

    He said all information and progress on mobile, internet and data usage penetration would be sustained to provide the necessary requirements for increased investments and effective regulation of the telecom sector in Nigeria.

    The NCC boss said according to the reports between the first and third quarters, released by National Bureau of Statistics contributions of Telecommunications and Information Services to Gross Domestic Products (GDP ) stood at N4.7 trillion.

    On research grants to universities, Danbatta said N50million had been given to some universities for research that would improve ICT and beneficial to the NCC in the near future.

    According to him, NCC had set up a committee to come up with another strategy plan after the successful implementation of the 2015-2018 plans.

    He said the expected plan would ensure the realisation of the eight point agenda of the NCC that is valid up till 2020 and ensure that customer’s satisfaction is ensured.

     

  • Global retail telecom revenues hit USD1.7 trillion

    Global retail telecommunication revenues reached USD 1.7 trillion in 2016, representing 2.3 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), according to ITU’s new Measuring the Information Society (MIS) Report 2018 released on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the telecom revenues in 2016 represented on average 3 per cent of GDP in Africa and the Arab States, compared to 2 per cent in Asia and the Pacific and the Americas, which excludes the United States and Canada, and less than 2 per cent in the CIS and Europe.

    According to the MIS report, fixed-line revenue represented half of telecommunication revenues generated in 2016 worldwide. Globally, mobile revenues declined by 7 per cent between 2014 and 2016, from USD 924 billion in 2014 to USD 859 billion in 2016.

    The report finds that mobile revenue growth is impacted by the uptake in services that run “over-the-top” (OTTs) of existing telecommunications infrastructure, and that the success of IP-messaging apps is often to the detriment of traditional text usage and the associated revenue.

    It also noted that the ICT sector is characterized by large infrastructure investments, with growth in telecommunication capital expenditure driven largely by data demand and use in developing economies.

    The MIS report also found that improved ICT regulation and policy-making have played a pivotal role in creating the conditions for the reduction of prices, ensuring that part of the efficiency gains of higher ICT adoption are passed on to consumers.

    The report highlights that ICT prices have dropped globally in the last decade in parallel with the increase in access and use of ICT services.

    Fixed-broadband services recorded the largest price drop of all ICT services. Mobile-cellular prices also maintained a steady downward trend in the period 2008–2017, in line with the continuous increase in mobile-cellular penetration.

    “This year’s report shows how increased investment in broadband technologies is driving the global digital transformation and enabling more people to access a myriad of services at the click of a button,” ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said.

    “At the just-concluded Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18) held in Dubai, ITU Member States approved the four-year Strategic and Financial Plan, which includes a strong commitment to ITU’s statistical work.

    “We will work together to build the ICT infrastructure and develop ICT skills necessary to foster inclusive economic growth, drive innovation and bridge the digital divide,” he further stated.