TheNewsGuru

Tag: Technology

  • Technology: The missing link in Nigeria’s development, By Ernest Ndukwe

    Technology: The missing link in Nigeria’s development, By Ernest Ndukwe

    By Ernest Ndukwe

     

    I wish to thank the organisers of this Dokpesi @ 70 event for inviting me as guest speaker. I wish to congratulate Dr Raymond Dokpesi on the attainment of this landmark age. For the years ahead, I pray and wish him large doses of good health and happiness.

     

    Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I consider it an honour to share this platform with notable speakers and thank the organisers for the opportunity to be part of a gathering highlighting matters of far-reaching consequence to Nigeria.

     

    One definition describes Technology simply as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. Technology has been at the heart of the development of societies since the dawn of time. From the discovery of fire to the invention of the wheel; the internal combustion engine to electricity and the telephone; to the internet and the emerging areas of artificial intelligence; technology as you know, changes the way we interact, how we trade and do business, how we are entertained and how we understand the world around us.

     

    That world is currently experiencing a period of intense innovation. Innovation driven by the digitisation of economies. Clearly, one of the lessons of history is that it is those nations that lead the development of new technology, or new thinking, that emerge as leaders in the world. They are nations that can harness developments in science and technology, and apply them to many of the social, economic and environmental challenges that face mankind.

     

    In discussing the role that technology can play in driving Nigeria’s development, it is important to state that the nation has the talent and opportunity to become a leader in the development and the application of technology. Note that I have not said that technology is the missing link, because it may be correct to say that it is not completely missing in Nigeria.

     

    Therefore, for the rest of my presentation I would like to modify the topic to read “Inadequate Technology Infrastructure: The Bane of Nigeria’s Development.” This will enable us to focus our minds on the problems that leave us lagging behind many other nations. Also because, probably embedded in the minds of the organisers of this lecture is a wish that immediate solutions would be found and put it in place timeously to accelerate the nation’s development.

     

    Let’s consider some stats. The World Economic Forum report, 2011- 2012, in terms of the quality of overall infrastructure, ranked Nigeria at 125 out of 142 countries, with a value of 3.0 (1.3 below the mean value). In comparison, Cameroon was ranked at 122 and Ghana at 90. Regarding road quality, Nigeria was ranked at 120, with port infrastructure at 117, railroad quality at 104 and air transport quality at 104. Nigeria was also ranked at 139 out of 142 countries in terms of the quality of electricity supply, with a value of 1.5 (3.3 below the mean value). These rankings have remained largely unchanged as of 2020.

     

    Critical infrastructures are foundational technology services, software, equipment, facilities, and structures upon which the capabilities of nations, cities and organizations are built.

     

    I would like to expand on five main areas that could facilitate attainment of the desired development that the nation needs, namely, Technology Infrastructure for Education, Transportation, Energy/Power, Water and Communication.

    Technology in Education.

     

    According to the US Office of Educational Technology, the essential components of infrastructure capable of supporting transformational learning experiences, apart from physical buildings and associated furniture, include the following:

    • Ubiquitous connectivity. Persistent access to high-speed Internet in and out of school
    • Powerful learning devices. Access to mobile devices including computers that connect learners and educators to the vast resources of the Internet and facilitate communication and collaboration
    • High-quality digital learning content. Digital learning content and tools that can be used to design and deliver engaging and relevant learning experiences
    • Responsible Use Policies (RUPs). Guidelines to safeguard students and ensure that the infrastructure is used to support learning and not for nefarious pursuits.

     

    Building a robust infrastructure for learning begins with an understanding of the goals and desired outcomes that support engaging and empowering learning experiences. When based on learning goals, technology infrastructure decisions become clear.

    Preparing students to be successful for the future requires a robust and flexible learning infrastructure capable of supporting new types of engagement and providing ubiquitous access to the technology tools that allow students to create, design, and explore. This need became amplified in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

     

    We must therefore find ways to design, fund, acquire, and maintain the infrastructure that will make connectivity a reality for every teacher and every student in all learning environments.

     

    Technology in Transportation

    Transportation infrastructure are foundational structures and systems for transporting people and goods. It is a complex network that connects urban, semi urban and rural areas for various human pursuits. Additionally, transportation networks contribute to socioeconomic development and increased quality of life through generating inter- or intra-city connections. Efficient transportation infrastructure is a critical factor for national economic development.

     

    Traditional transport infrastructure includes roads, railways, airports, bridges, tunnels and waterways. Transportation infrastructure in Nigeria still leaves a lot to be desired. Most of inter-state and inter-city roads remain in disrepair. Employing modern technology in the roll-out of Road Transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion and its associated costs will work better if the roads are in good condition.

    For sensor-laden autonomous vehicles of the future, which will also communicate wirelessly with each other and to the wider internet of things to smoothen traffic flow, well planned and well-built roads are imperative. Secondly, large volumes of data transmitted by these technologies will require the high bandwidth and low latency of fifth generation (5G) wireless technology, as well as artificial intelligence that can analyze the data and anticipate future traffic risks for urban planners. (ref. Brookings Report on Smart transportation).

     

    The federal government’s recent expansion of railway infrastructure including extending the rails to the seaports, is a move in the right direction. However, a lot still needs to be done. Some heavy revenue generating routes such as the direct east-west rail route must be done. Rail transportation remains the most dependable mode of transport compared to other modes of transport if well planned. It is economical, quicker and best suited for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long

    distances. Although railway transport has many advantages, it suffers from certain serious limitations such as huge capital outlay and may be unsuitable for short distance and small loads.

     

    Technology in Energy/Power

    The energy sector encompasses the Oil and Gas as well as the Power subsectors. The huge contribution of down-stream Oil & Gas to national revenues and their potential to drive economic growth in the country, undoubtedly make it one of the most important sectors to Nigeria, because of its multiplier effect across all sectors of the economy. Nigeria however imports most of the fuel which it consumes, despite having large reserves of gas and oil. The current low average refining capacity of Nigeria’s four refineries in comparison to Nigeria’s needs for refined petroleum products for domestic uses, like cooking, powering machines and vehicles, etc. highlights some of the challenges in the sector; especially the need to increase capacity utilization of the refineries and improve maintenance culture generally. Things are however looking up with the Dangote refinery under construction and the planned rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

     

    The effect of poor infrastructure is most evident in the Nigerian power sector where total output currently stands between 3,500 MW and 5,000 MW for a population of over 200 million people, as against South Africa with about 50 million people and a total power output at about 60,000MW, mostly from coal-fired power stations.

    Public grid Electricity in Nigeria is generated from hydro, thermal power and, of recent, gas fired plants. Due to power shortages, the commercial and industrial sectors often depend on privately operated diesel- or gas- powered generators to self-supply electricity. Nigeria has in abundant supply of most of the energy sources (fossil fuels, hydro, solar, tidal, geothermal, and biomass) for power generation. If properly harnessedand deployed, they can meet the country’s energy needs and even generate export revenue. Currently, however, Nigeria’s per capita electricity generation is among the lowest in the world, limiting economic growth and productivity due to its negative impact on cost of doing business in practically all sectors of the economy.

     

    To achieve the goals and objectives of the Energy sector, Nigeria needs to increase its investment in energy infrastructure. Perhaps the greatest need today will be accelerating the construction of gas pipeline infrastructure to deliver gas to the critical areas of need, especially the new NIPPs. Barring any setbacks, some EPC contracts awarded by NNPC in 2018 for 614km gas pipelines projects will help solve some of the problems when completed.

     

    Technology in Water

    Nigerians derive their water from surface water, hand dug wells, rain harvesting, pipe borne water and boreholes. According to an independent study in 2009, approximately half of the population rely on shallow wells, which are vulnerable to contamination. Water supply therefore remains a significant problem in Nigeria. Difficulties include inadequate or non-existing water infrastructure, the contaminating effects of industry and the problematic nature of both the electricity supply (which can interfere with the proper functioning of water works) and the sanitation infrastructure.

    It is technology that enables water from a river or sea to be purified and piped to far locations of human habitation. Technology will also be required for the metering of the water and billing of the users where desirable.

     

    The water sub sector needs to be significantly revamped and upgraded.

    Communication and Information Technology

    Robust ICT networks are important for the economic growth of nations and constitute a base infrastructure that supports the world economy. It is vital for enhancing living standards and improving productivity and efficiency in other sectors. Thus, without communications and the technologies that support it, nations and businesses would become less competitive and lag behind others. It is the infrastructure of infrastructures.

     

    The progress made in the policy and overall regulatory environment has been a key driver for enabling needed investment and expansion of ICT infrastructure in the country.

     

    A number of Nigerians are involved in the technology revolution globally, and some of them are applying that capability here, to local challenges, and to local opportunities.

    And some of the opportunities are truly game-changing. Look at the incredible strides our fintech ecosystem has taken over the last decade. Would any of us today have envisaged a start-up technology company exceeding the value of a commercial bank within five years of conception? But it is happening, and it is happening across multiple sectors.

     

    Private capital has been attracted to the sector and with new innovative products continuously being introduced, the sector has become very vibrant and active and currently represents the sector with highest contribution to the national GDP.

     

    Ladies and gentlemen, the Internet is a fundamental tool for the information age and together with other recent technological developments, has the potential to help bridge the development gap between the advanced and less advanced countries of the world.

    The internet penetration in the country still remains limited in scope due to bottlenecks associated with right-of-way challenges at state and local government levels. There must therefore be a concerted effort by all to get everyone online and enable people to have access to communications infrastructure of one type or the other.

     

    It is now time to call on political leaders and office holders to measure their success from how many of their citizens have access to high-speed broadband internet. Quoting from an ITU publication: “if information is power, then the internet must be the easiest way of empowering those that have traditionally been left behind.”

     

    Strategic Imperatives

     

    To meet its current infrastructure needs in all sectors, Nigeria must aggressively increase investment and spending in infrastructure. This is especially challenging considering that other important sectors of the economy are also competing for the limited resources available to government. Additionally, maintenance costs will grow proportionately as infrastructure stock increases. This will obviously put additional pressure on Government budget if Infrastructure procurement and maintenance continues to go the route of full Government funding.

     

    To achieve the desired infrastructure investment levels that will serve as the catalyst for Nigeria’s economic transformation, other financing arrangements other than Government budgetary provisions must continue to be explored and employed. Private sector participation in the provision of infrastructure is inevitable since it is clear that Governments alone cannot afford these huge financial costs.

     

    Consequently, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have become the most widely used vehicle for accelerating sustainable infrastructure growth for socio-economic transformation of society both in the developed and developing economies. In Britain for example, the system was introduced in 1992 and since then several physical and social infrastructures have been developed through it. In Nigeria PPPs can help free up government’s limited capital budgets to focus on other key priorities, such as providing more basic health care, education, and social safety-net services to Nigerians.

     

    Just 10 days ago, at the Mid-Term Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, also reiterated that “Infrastructure is critical for unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s economy” and that “Nigeria will need $15 billion a year for investment in infrastructure.”

     

    PPPs have historically focused on physical infrastructure components. For example, the recent initiative for Road Infrastructure Tax Credits (RITC) for private sector investment in infrastructure is already yielding the desired results and a number of companies including MTN Nigeria have keyed into it. All efforts must be made to ensure that it is sustained.

     

    PPPs are also increasingly being employed by governments around the world in key social sectors such as health, education, housing, sports facilities and even public safety and emergency services such as Prisons, police and fire services.

     

    Conclusion

     

    I was worried when I was writing this paper because many studies in the past have articulated what needed to be done as a country. The vision 20:2020 document which was launched in 2009 had envisaged that Nigeria would be one of the first 20 economies in the world by the year 2020. Why were the lofty ideals of this vision not achieved? An analyst, one Ayo Olukotun, in an article likened the audacious goal to a “beautiful architectural drawing that signaled the possibilities of utopia, bereft, however, of precise or significant steps towards laying a foundation, much less, building the proposed edifice”.

     

    Also, in 2014 the Government of Nigeria requested the African Development Bank (AfDB) to prepare a report on the state of infrastructure in the country. The Bank accepted this request and produced the Flagship Report entitled, “An Infrastructure Action Plan for Nigeria: Closing the Infrastructure Gap and Accelerating Economic Transformation.” This was cognizant of the fact that, policy actions and investment in infrastructure have important roles to play in Nigeria’s economic transformation.

     

    The big question therefore is why these and other brilliant plans have not been successfully implemented. Perhaps there are other factors that contribute negatively to Nigeria’s Development apart from inadequate Technology Infrastructure. One that immediately comes to mind is corruption. The second is the incompetence of the nation’s managers in critical leadership positions. I am not referring here to the elected officials because, it is only the voters that have the right to choose their leaders. I speak of those appointed to head various critical institutions and agencies. No one can give what he/she does not have. In Nigeria we appoint medical doctors/CMDs by quota, Vice Chancellors by state of origin, we select air force pilots by quota, even appoint science and mathematics teachers by quota.

     

    We have witnessed tremendous successes whenever we have competent people manning sensitive and critical positions in the country. When we get it right with appointment of competent, bold and committed manpower, our development plans would have better chances of being successfully executed.

     

    Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in closing, I will be right in stating that nearly everyone in this hall will agree that we have serious technology infrastructure deficit in Nigeria which is negatively affecting our pace of development as a nation. What may not be obvious to everyone is how bad the situation is. The impact of infrastructure inefficiencies in Nigeria has been severe and has lasted for several decades and is reflected in impaired domestic growth, poor international competitiveness, and slowed rate of development.

     

    I hope that we have been sensitized sufficiently today to become strong advocates for change. We need to work together to create world class conditions for innovation, talent development and catalysing private sector investment. Just as it has been done in telecoms and fintech, we can also do it across the board.

     

    I pray that we all get serious as a nation and make the change happen.

     

    Engr Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission and now, Chairman, MTN, Nigeria, delivered this paper at the Dokpesi 70th birthday anniversary lecture.

     

  • Truth confronts Technology at Dokpesi Lecture, By Okoh Aihe

    Truth confronts Technology at Dokpesi Lecture, By Okoh Aihe

    By Okoh Aihe

    “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in closing, I will be right in stating that nearly everyone in this hall will agree that we have serious technology infrastructure deficit in Nigeria which is negatively affecting our pace of development as a nation. What may not be obvious to everyone is how bad the situation is. The impact of infrastructure inefficiencies in Nigeria has been severe and has lasted for several decades and is reflected in impaired domestic growth, poor international competitiveness, and slowed rate of development.”

     

    That was Engr Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and now Chairman of MTN Nigeria, speaking at one of the activities marking Dr Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi’s birthday which began in Abuja last week. Delivering a paper titled, Inadequate Technology Infrastructure as the Bane of Nigeria’s Development, at the occasion where Dokpesi’s biography, The Handkerchief, was also presented to the public, Ndukwe took a caustic look at the nation’s approach to technology adoption, development and acceptance and came to the verdict that the nation has not done well at all, thus challenging the authorities and the citizenry, to change their approach if the nation must partake in international competitiveness and national growth.

     

    At well over 70, Ndukwe speaks with no water in his mouth. He is widely reputed as the man who green-lighted the telecommunications sector in Nigeria by dressing it up for local and international competition. He ignited the strange fire that exploded the growth in the sector, which the nation still holds on to jealously today. He would acknowledge the opportunity given to him to serve the nation but no platitudes for the noticeable inefficiencies that hold the people down.

     

    Although those in attendance may have expected him to speak on telecommunications, which is his forte, Ndukwe demonstrated that every spectrum of life rests on technology which makes it more imperative for the nation to pay more attention to its development. He focussed on key subheads which include: Technology in Education, Technology in Transportation, Technology in Energy/Power, Technology in Water, and Communications and Information Technology.

    Ndukwe observed that the world is currently experiencing a period of intense innovation which is driven by the digitisation of economies. Clearly, one of the lessons of history is that it is those nations that lead the development of new technology, or new thinking, that emerge as leaders in the world. They are nations that can harness developments in science and technology, and apply them to many of the social, economic and environmental challenges that face mankind, he said.

     

    The stats he presented for consideration didn’t portray Nigeria as having the enthusiasm to share from the benefits of modern technology. “The World Economic Forum report, 2011- 2012, in terms of the quality of overall infrastructure, ranked Nigeria at 125 out of 142 countries, with a value of 3.0 (1.3 below the mean value). In comparison, Cameroon was ranked at 122 and Ghana at 90. Regarding road quality, Nigeria was ranked at 120, with port infrastructure at 117, railroad quality at 104 and air transport quality at 104. Nigeria was also ranked at 139 out of 142 countries in terms of the quality of electricity supply, with a value of 1.5 (3.3 below the mean value). These rankings have remained largely unchanged as of 2020, Ndukwe pointed out.

     

    The graphic presentation was even more depressing, and the audience must have felt a sense of shame and letdown by those entrusted with the responsibilities to make things happen. From the foregoing there is something wrong, very wrong and we must admit before contemplating solutions.

     

    Ndukwe observed that the country has the human capital to make things happen except that there is an inherent flaw which seems to be eating the nation from inside: self-imposed problems, totally corrosive and self destruct.

     

    “One that immediately comes to mind,” according to Ndukwe, “is corruption. The second is the incompetence of the nation’s managers in critical leadership positions. I am not referring here to the elected officials because, it is only the voters that have the right to choose their leaders. I speak of those appointed to head various critical institutions and agencies. No one can give what he/she does not have. In Nigeria we appoint medical doctors/CMDs by quota, Vice Chancellors by state of origin, we select air force pilots by quota, even appoint science and mathematics teachers by quota.”

     

    Seated in the audience and soaking in every information was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose singular responsibility at the occasion was to present Dokpesi’s biography to the public. The perennial would-be king would never miss such a tempting opportunity to declare that we need the right man to fix the nation and reform all the processes that would make her a modern state. But he remains a standing witness to the change.

     

    The panel of discussants was led by Prof. Pat Utomi, founder, Centre for Value and Leadership, whose big dream for the Lagos Business was to produce the right human capital for a country in need of help; others being Dr Wunmi Hasan, CEO, Hightech for Nig Women & Youth; Rock Adote, Director, Information Technology, Uhuru Group; and Obi Brown, COO, StudyLab360.

     

    All the speakers agree that Nigeria has a surfeit of capacity in every human endeavour, especially in the field of technology, but without appropriate development and utilisation, the country would not be able to compete internationally. And she is not competing!

     

    Utomi who confessed to have been close to those at the seat of power over the years, called out Atiku to witness his declarations.

     

    “Government policies have not enabled technology to advance as it should in our country. We need policy makers who are savvy enough to understand where things are going,” he said.

     

    And because they failed to understand or even strive to, this happened: “It is a tragedy and a shame to our country that the power situation is where it is today. Most of the challenges in the sector were caused by errors in choices made by leaders,” Utomi recalled with pain.

     

    Here is my little conclusion drawn from that lecture. Nigeria’s placement in the index of growth and development is very shameful and abysmal, so overwhelmingly deplorable that the people don’t even know how deep we are in the mire.

     

    My little advice is that we forget this irritating baloney of the biggest economy in Africa and the biggest black nation in the world, rebuke the lying devil who seems to beguile us with the lying spirit of a non-existent achievement, and confront the ugly reality genuinely so that we can, at least, dress up the country for growth in readiness for a generation that may not be as lousy as their forebears.

     

  • Ericson predicts increase in global 5G subscriptions

    Ericson predicts increase in global 5G subscriptions

    Ericsson technology company on Monday forecast 3.5 billion 5G subscriptions and 60 per cent global 5G population coverage by 2026.

    Borje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson, in a statement said that the scale of the technology shift would unleash an entirely new wave of innovation to address some of the planet’s most pressing issues.

    Ekholm said, “For almost 150 years, Ericson technology has transformed nearly every sector of society.

    “The networks we build have already connected billions of people and soon they will connect almost anything and everything.

    “This era of hyper connectivity is going to help to address major global challenges like climate change and digital inclusion.

    “Our new purpose and vision is anchored in the company’s values of respect, professionalism, perseverance and integrity.

    “To capture the emerging opportunities, Ericsson launches its new purpose and vision to create connections that make the unimaginable possible and a world where limitless connectivity improves lives, redefines business and pioneers a sustainable future, “he said.

    The statement said that Stella Medlicott, Head of Group Function Marketing and Corporate Relations, Ericsson, said that connectivity was key to reducing human impact on the planet and would help bridge the digital divide.

    “Ericsson is launching a new look and feel for its brand as well as a series of future scenarios it believes will emerge in an era of hyper connectivity:

    “By connecting every learning establishment and every learner.

    “Future workforces will be increasingly more dependent on digital technologies for life-long learning and upskilling while mobile networks will deliver quality education to every school regardless of location.

    “Entire business models will be transformed by limitless connectivity using real-time data that feeds instantly into design and manufacturing processes.

    “The 5G platform that is currently being rolled out around the world is a fundamental, first step in helping to build this future digital society.”

  • Senator Durojaiye, another good man with love for technology, makes a deserved exit – Okoh Aihe

    Senator Durojaiye, another good man with love for technology, makes a deserved exit – Okoh Aihe

    By Okoh Aihe
    Senator Augustine Olabiyi Durojaiye went home last weekend and his family, friends, well-wishers and political associates gathered at Ijebu Igbo to prepare him for the journey and wish him a befitting farewell. And he had lots of them, from the public sector to the private sector and politics where he had featured with his best elements of character in place, he had his crowd and they did not disappoint him as he embarked on that journey which every human must go alone.
    Of the three Chairmen of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) while I was there, he was the only one I was not really close to until one day in November 2018. He was billed to speak at Africacom in Cape Town, South Africa, and I was also attending the programme along with a couple of my colleagues. In the flight his seat was to my right but he was by the window. I love aisle seats and they serve the purpose of convenience especially in overnight flights when somebody would have to use the restroom a couple of times.
    As final instructions were being given before takeoff, I saw him fiddle with the seat belt and I immediately got up to help him fix it. That night I told myself, my work starts here at the airport. He would not have to fret for anything as long as we are together on this trip.
    Do not get me wrong. At 85 at the time, Senator Durojaiye was very strong, with an imposing height not blemished by age. He was a man of steel inside of his body, a fact, perhaps reinforced as a pro-democracy veteran, having been kept in detention in those days of the long fight against military dictatorship, causing Amnesty International to designate him a Prisoner of Conscience.
    In that flight I did not see Senator Durojaiye as an NCC Chairman but as a father figure. Each time I looked at his direction I saw my father in his eyes. My father never had the benefit of formal education but he overworked himself to ensure all his children from his three wives went to school. But just at the time that some of them were strong enough to be able to get him flight tickets, he went home, perhaps too tired, to wait for a little harvest for a life of toil. Anybody close to his age with respectable behaviour would always earn maximum respects from me. Besides a couple of days earlier Senator Durojaiye had suffered a personal tragedy with the loss of his daughter. This was the reason the son travelled to South Africa, ahead of him, to be with him all the time. He insisted on making the trip, according to him, because he didn’t want to give the organizers the ordeal of searching for a headline speaker just a few days to the conference.
    There was something about Senator Durojaiye, the enthusiasm to engage people and talk about the plans of the Buhari administration to use technology to turn the fortunes of Nigeria around. There were about 450 speakers that year but he particularly enjoyed significant attention not on the grounds of age but his sincerity in marketing the nation. When he spoke that morning, he placed a lot of emphasis on the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) which, he said, was one of the cardinal platforms President Muhammadu Buhari hoped to use to affect the life of the youths by way of extending digital IT skills and education to the younger generation. He was very interested in seeking the help and cooperation of international IT organizations. In that trip he was more of a salesman for Nigeria, talking only about the strength of the nation and the deep capacity of the youthful population to learn new IT skills and apply same in building new businesses. Listening to him one wouldn’t think there were challenges in the country and I think that he made his presence felt.
    Senator Durojaiye behaved like a man possessed with the spirit of those who birthed the dream of DBI. The Digital Bridge Institute is funded by the NCC to produce manpower for the telecommunications industry. Much latter the dream was expanded to include building capacity for academics in a train-the-trainer programme. DBI was a strategic vision for the telecommunications industry which has hardly been understood by those who would later superintend the regulatory agency.
    At the tipping point in the growth of the industry in early 2000, it was discovered by the Engr. Ernest Ndukwe led team that the country did not have enough trained professionals to pick up sensitive jobs in the industry. The few that featured at the top were headed hunted outside the country. At inception, some equipment manufacturers had training facilities at DBI. I still remember that the DBI training facility in Jabbi, Abuja, was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
    In those days, everybody was happy for the telecommunications industry and was ready to share in its glory. OBJ pulled every stop to place the industry on priority list. That encouraged the expansion. NCC built DBI offices in different parts of the country, really massive facilities, like the NITEL Training School, Oshodi in Lagos, which it acquired and gave massive remake. It was the same excitement that led to building the massive DBI building at Mbora, Abuja.
    DBI was not for self-aggrandizement but clearly intentioned as a transformational institution for a much younger generation of Nigerians. Unfortunately, DBI today looks misunderstood, misapplied and inexorably rudderless.
    Even with all his exploits and trajectory in life which he never wore on his shoulders as chevrons, Senator Durojaiye underestimated the shenanigans of the modern day Nigerian civil servant and politician. So, three years into his tenure as NCC Board Chairman, Senator Durojaiye was removed from office for reasons which pale into white luminance when viewed against the dark cumulous hanging all over the place. It is not always a good strategy for the fellow who lives in a glass house to use his abode as a bomb shelter.
    In terms of understanding the vision of the NCC and DBI, Senator Durojaiye could share the same platform with Ahmed Joda, pioneer Board Chairman of renaissance NCC. But both of them are gone now, and they deserve their rest. There is enough time for those who find themselves in such sensitive positions to work for nation, not self or tribe.

  • Remedy Portal launches in Nigeria with Regina Daniels as brand ambassador

    Remedy Portal launches in Nigeria with Regina Daniels as brand ambassador

    Opata Efungwu, a popular media entrepreneur based in Lagos, earlier this week took to his instagram to announce the launch of his latest tech solution called Remedy Portal in collaboration with Regina Daniels as a brand ambassador.

    Remedy Portal is an ecosystem of mobile apps for everyday use offering seamless, integrated and contextualized experience.

    The app aggregates multiple functions and offers simplicity and ease to users, a functional design and interaction of apps.

    The new app’s offerings include daily and trending news, scholarship for students, business funding for small businesses, job listing opportunities, digital courses on how to make money online, collaborative money saving among friends and family, loans for Nigerians and so much more.

    The app offers a bundle of multiple functions into one user experience that includes a range of daily services.

    The app’s capabilities include push notifications as important news breaks, as well as the ability to share stories on social media sites and inspire conversations.

    The wallet feature provides a simple way to pay and make free transactions to users within the app; changing the way consumers pay for everyday purchases.

    The collaborative saving feature also known as isusu is an exciting one because all over Nigeria within different groups it is common to see small contributory savings schemes where people contribute daily/weekly portion of their income to a collective, this feature takes the rigors of collating and payment off the team.

    Furthermore, Remedy Portal is also geared at improving lives and adding value to people with its scholarship Business funding and loan features, by making opportunities for funding accessible.

    The app also updates users with latest job opportunity listings and aims to help boost your chances of getting hired with daily published vacancies from top employers.

    Remedy Portal is currently in negotiations with Leadway assurance to include life insurance as part of the services Remedy portal offers, also with a reputable hospital to include online health services and consulting through the app and in time hopes to provide open an ecommerce platform with an escrow payment for users.

    According to the CEO, Opata Efungwu, “Remedy Portal will be focused on providing job opportunities for people while working hard on other features until things take a perfect shape”.

    Remedy Portal is making an impact by providing employment and empowerment opportunities for Nigerians even with the topsy-turvy nature of the Nigerian business environment

  • Federal Ministry of Science and Technology adopts new name

    The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday has changed its name now to Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, FMSTI, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu in his speech to declare its new name.

    According to Onu, in 2017, the Federal Executive Council, under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2017 2030).

    “This was to use Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to catalyse Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Competitiveness. This document laid out a core policy for driving positive socio-economic outcomes through

    “Science, Technology and Innovation initiatives in all activity sectors of the economy. This has necessitated the Ministry’s change of name from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) which has now been approved by Mr. President.

    “This new development will require the Ministry to drive the Innovation Agenda The FMSTI will embark on a branding campaign, in line with its expected mandate and its role in ensuring that there is improvement in productivity, economic growth and societal development through Science, Technology and Innovation.

    “This change of name will help us to meet the needs of other sectors of the Nigerian economy and all stakeholders, by supporting the generation and application of knowledge and innovation to solve socio-economic challenges, as well as providing a policy and funding environment that will establish the National System of Innovation (NSI). As an enabler of government, society and industry through policy, the FMSTI will also focus on ensuring the provision of STI-based solutions to overcome international, national and societal challenges.

    “This approval of the change of name will be gazetted to enable legal and policy frameworks as back-up for institutional and organisational arrangements, effective coordination of the NSI, development of appropriate work programmes and job descriptions. This development will help us bring about a shift in Research and Development (R&D) that is industry and services’ demand-driven, resulting in rapid commercialization and ultimately improved global competitiveness ranking of Nigeria.

    “We all know that there has been a missing link with the statutory responsibility of the Ministry. This decision by the President will ensure that the missing link will be adequately addressed. mitially, Science and Technology (S&T) remained our domain. However, only S&T cannot move the nation to its desired global competitiveness level. Hence, ST&I will spark off a demand-driven knowledge-based economy, characterized by industry and services R&D programmes, projects and activities within the STI Ecosystem.

    He explained that “when we succeed in achieving this, it will lead us to R&D breakthroughs and inventions that are commercializable. With the right policy and legal framework to protect intellectual property right, we can effectively promote commercialization in all activity sectors in the value chain for supply of raw materials, goods and services.

    ” Immediately we are able to commercialize R&D breakthroughs in Nigeria, the nation’s global competitiveness ranking will improve tremendously with varying degrees of development that are sustainable. Some of these will include:

    “The STI Ecosystem will be robust enough to accommodate continuous system improvement, product quality enhancement and guaranteed standardisation of Made-In-Nigeria goods and services; Nigeria will experience irreversible indigenous industrialization; There will be adequate platform for higher productivity.

  • INEC votes technology in a season of untruth, By Okoh Aihe

    INEC votes technology in a season of untruth, By Okoh Aihe

    By Okoh Aihe

    While our law makers were voting for a journey to the past penultimate week, by turning their back on modern technology in the conduct of elections, two significant things happened one after the other. Richard Branson went to the edge ofspace aboard Virgin Galatico’sSpaceShip Two on July 11, 2021. Nine days later, on July 20, the richest man in the world, Jeff Bezos was on his way up there, on a journey the world has tagged the race of the billionaires.

    In between, the National Assembly took a vote on the Electoral Amendment Bill and voted against the transmission of election results by electronic means. It was a major disappointment for some non –government organisatriiosns (NGOs) and some Nigerians who had prayed for the National Assembly to disappoint them by doing something that is good, by voting yes, just this once, to redeem some of their very deplorable image. It has been fire literally and the nation is aghast with anger. In July 2021, the law makers said some parts of the country are so underdeveloped in terms of telecom infrastructure rollout that it was not possible to execute any electronic transmission of election results. And a particular one boasted irritably that he uses Thuraya phone in his village. And that Thuraya cannot transmit data?

    But let’s return to the billionaires. Those ambitious guys with lots of bucks to throw around –Jeff Bezos ($209.2bn) and Richard Branson ($4.7bn) who are spinning the next frontier of business into reality by organizing space tourism where a rider could pay as much as $250, 000 for a seat, if you decide to go with Virgin Galatico.

    So, why am I linking the serious matter of space to the burlesque at the National Assembly? Just to say that the world is moving on. People are planning every day and whether we decide to remain on the same spot in this part of the world and continue to quarrel with providence for doing us wrong, life must go on and people must still go the edge of space to behold the beauty and fragility of the earth from up there. But that is life. You will have those who fly high and those who fly very low, struggling for the base concerns of life. Our politicians make the world hold us in ridicule.

    Anyway, in trying to unshroud the entire process, the National Assembly invited the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), regulator of the telecommunications industry, and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) who is in charge of election matters in the country. As it turned only the NCC went to the Assembly as INEC said it never really got any official invitation.

    NCC has made its submission which outraged a number of people but INEC has responded indirectly through several media appearances of its officials to the effect that it had the capacity to go the way of technology in conducting elections,having received assurances from service providers. While NCC vacillated and tilted towards impossibility the data on ground and previous statements from the Commission put a lie to such submission. The Commission’s position has been fact-checked and incredulity is preponderant.

    “We were bewildered by the NCC position because these were the same compatriots that had worked with us,” said Nick Dazang, INEC’s Director of Publicity and Voter Education, on AIT KAKAAKIprogramme.

    Dazang observed there were inconsistencies in the amended Bill. How do you do electronic voting and remove electronic transmission of results? It is counterproductive.

    He admitted that there were security challenges across the country but INEC has had to face some of these challenges in the past to organize elections that were acceptable. According to his story which is so well known to most people above the age of 10 in Nigeria, there has been insurgency in the North East since 2011. In all these years elections have been conducted in the States of the Region without fail.

    “If we could develop a template to conduct elections there, why can’t we transmit results using technology?” he asked.

    There continues to be disbelief within INEC just as it is in the larger Nigerian society. People are angry why our politicians in the National Assembly, a majority are smiling over a potentially dangerous move, trying to justify a position that is dismally selfish and only aimed at political preservation into the future.

    In the sordid tragic-comic story, some stakeholders, especially the operators, have remained silent. So silent that even when they have been told that the network they have built in over two decades didn’t have the appetite for modern transmission, none of them has said anything.

    When this writer reached out to some operators over the weekend, one official said: “I do not understand why NCC will give 2018 numbers. Why would they do that when the operators supply the regulator all the latest data? I don’t want to accept that NCC sounds political.”

    But do you have the capacity to do it, to carry the election results through your network backbone? The source was cautious explaining that there is no city in the country that has hundred percent coverage, just as there can hardly be any environment where there is no coverage at all. “Anywhere without a coverage may not have significant population otherwise an operator would put a base station there so as to provide services and make money.” Although everybody is expected to vote and the votes counted, the source maintained that such population may not be significant enough to affect the outcome of the elections.

    Simple answer. Yes, we have the capacity and capability, but know that even in the cities there are blind spots where such electronic transmission may not be possible. The source also explained that operators were ready at any time to be informed of such environments so that they can escalate their service deployment.

    The source expressed the fear that what is playing out at the National Assembly may have little to do with technology but more of the concealed agenda of the politicians who would never have moments to reflect on how low their image has plummeted.

    The Nigerian politician is only concerned about tomorrow which may be too far for his aspirations. So in a fit to shore up the impossible he piles untruth on technology, so that he can continue to live in the shadow of sin. The politician wants to eat up the future so as to set the teeth of his children on edge. How very ironic. Unfortunately the younger generation are too smart for their old tricks, and will fight to redeem their future, using that same technology.

    Okoh Aihe writes from Abuja.

  • Technology persecution and the pursuit of scurrilities, By Okoh Aihe

    Technology persecution and the pursuit of scurrilities, By Okoh Aihe

    By Okoh Aihe

    I sit in front of the television these days and am muttering to myself, I am probably one of the many people in Nigeria not thinking right. Our world is esoterica. We perhaps shout fire where there is even no tiny smoke around or run for cover when there is tranquil all around the nation and nobody is dying from any conflict whatsoever.

    Even if we suffered such delusions, are we so unperturbed about happenings in the world around us that we have thrown every sense of care and decorum to the wind? This question has become necessary because in the past few weeks the country has become one big stage of theatre of the absurd, so much so that the only ones not amused by the buffoonery going on here, are the citizens themselves.

    Just when you think that the spat between the country and Twitter is going to ebb out, the embers are stoked for the misunderstanding to develop a life of its own. The information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, remained in the news very solidly as a constant guest of the National Assembly whose members are looking at a litany of bills being arrayed against the media. He has also been using the opportunity provided by the National Assembly to demonstrate government’s capacity to intimidate anybody, including the citizenry and corporate organizations where Twitter will feature prominently but not yet ignobly.

    Any idea that the issue will soon be resolved has become a retrieved misnomer. Those who have gone to court and securing judgments are very free to do so but this government is very clear about its position and the direction being pursued. A clear indication of its pursuit is the setting up of a big team last week to negotiate with Twitter. Mohammed himself is heading the team which features the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Honourable Minster of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, SAN. The team will be supported by other relevant government agencies. Without a doubt Nigeria will be presenting an expansive team when the country negotiates with Twitter. And the meeting room will be like a political rally complete with all kinds of agbada and different shapes of caps. Only the drums will be missing.

    We have managed to dredge up trouble where there was none and every day the posts are shifted and rules of engagement thrown out through the windows. Initially it was about President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet that was deracinated but by the end of last week, some other accusations have been added as accessories after the facts by Mohammed to the effect that Twitter funded the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria. While one will concede that government has its sources of intelligence, it sounds a little reckless the way information is being dropped and it would have served better purpose if the evidence was served at the table during negotiations.

    My little observation here, which has been fairly made by other, is that the Twitter founder, Jack Dorsey, is 45 years old, while the head of the Nigerian team is 69. The youngest minister on the team is Pantami who is 48 years old. Ordinarily he shouldn’t be there at all because of the terrorism baggage he is carrying at the moment. But our nation does not care about the feelings of the people or does it care about the way the world profiles Nigeria because of actions that we fail to take. Since news broke about the Minister’s link with, and sentiments for terrorists the government didn’t react except to say one day that the past is history, Pantami has become a new man. Just like that.

    The Twitter boss may not come. He could send his government and regulatory team who will discuss with Nigeria. The point here is the drama we set up for nothing. Twitter has not craved this importance but we are dressing the organization with unfitting importance to the extent that a whole nation will sit at the table negotiating with Twitter. Yet the country has the generation that can speak the same language with Twitter but we are so afraid that there will be a conspiracy against the nation that we have decided to send as our first eleven some men who have obviously journeyed beyond their prime, plus one with a dot on his conscience. Oh, that word again, dot.

    Since the negotiation must hold, our present line of argument is too deficient to establish any sense. Oh Twitter must register. The organization must pay tax. What happens next? Is this is a punitive opportunity to deal with Twitter and other operators in the Social Media industry? What if Twitter decides to take a scram? This government will be excited with that line of action. Unfortunately technology is hardly conquered. The technology that is out there may be more powerful or monstrous than what government is presently fighting unsuccessfully with might. My little caution is for Nigeria not to start a corporate war against American companies for bogey reasons. The other day is was CNN. It is Twitter now. Which one will be next? And the world keeps records!

    But while this bile against the Social Media? When this government sought power only a few years ago the Social Media was the best thing to ever hit our shores, since Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, brought television to Ibadan in 1959. Just on the eve of the commencement of a new season of elections, the government is pumping up media bills, pursuing Social Media with ferocious vengeance.

    “Social Media is a menace anywhere in the world……If you do anything you are not supposed to do we will fine you.” Those are the words of Minister Mohammed with the constitution kept in abeyance. Is the government afraid of a past hidden from the public but which is buried in lies?

    Since coming to power it has already done a lot of harm to the broadcast sector. Unfortunately there is another broadcast bill in the house which seeks to further degrade what is already a very bad Broadcast Act and sow more mischief into the pages. This government has done frightening things to the industry. The Nigeria Broadcasting Code which the government released on July 4, 2019, has about 15 litigations instituted by people trying to salvage the industry from the hidden hands of greed. It is nearly conclusive therefore that the fear being expressed about the various media bills in the National Assembly are fully established. It should behoove people of good conscience to hold up a mirror to this government with the message that the future is more promising than a past and present which are fading out of the mirror in their hand.

    Okoh Aihe writes from Abuja.

  • Technology needed to fight ‘next level’ crime in Nigeria – Governor Ganduje

    Technology needed to fight ‘next level’ crime in Nigeria – Governor Ganduje

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said on Wednesday that the introduction of technology in addressing the security challenges in the country was necessary if the fight is to be won.
    “Since crime has gone to the next level in Nigeria, strategy too has to go to the next level,” he said, while receiving the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, in Kano.
    The governor said it was in consideration of that reality that the state government installed CCTV in some strategic places in Kano, to secure the lives and property of people.
    “We have installed CCTV all over the metropolitan city, and now laying optic fibre to complement the satellite services.
    “We also have trackers, and at the major entrance of Kano metropolis, we built security dometories where we have a number of security agents manning the major entrances,” he said.
    The governor also said the government established Ruga project at Dansoshiya forest that share border with Katsina State.
    According to him, herdsmen have now settled there, as such it will be difficult for any bandit to make the forest his home.
    “Coming to one of the biggest forests in the country, Falgore forest, we established military training ground and it is now working,” he said.
    Earlier, IGP Baba had told the governor that he was in the state in connection with the passing out ceremony of Cadets of Nigeria Police Academy Wudil, Kano.
    He commended the state government for its effort in providing security agents with enabling environment to secure lives and property.
    He explained that it was when there was security that there would be peace, hence the need for the all stakeholders to join hands to secure the state
  • NBC to use tech for boundary management – Adaji

    NBC to use tech for boundary management – Adaji

    Disturbed by the slow pace of data collection in the management of Nigeria’s boundaries, the National Boundary Commission (NBC) is looking towards a more comprehensive means of keeping detailed data and effectively managing its boundaries.

    The Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Surv. Adamu Adaji made this disclosure in his office while receiving his colleague from the National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA).

    Adaji stated that it is increasingly becoming difficult to successfully carry out its core interests mandate of determining its boundaries by relying only on the traditional method of data collection, which are sometimes influenced by human dispositions hence the Commission has decided to flow with the tide and embrace technology.

    “The use of satellite imagery will be an added impetus to Boundary management as it will help Boundary managers to keep track of the relevant data needed for boundary determination and definition”.

    “With the use of satellite we will not only be able to collect data to establish the boundary marks but we will also be able to immediately go into the field to commence demarcation thereby restoring peace to warring border communities”.

    “Our goal at the Commission is to ensure speedy resolutions of boundary disputes and stimulate economic growth and development in the affected areas”.

    We will count on your expertise to train boundary managers on how best to collect data to fast track the job.

    Partnership with a sister Agency will certainly aid in strengthening bonds and ensure lasting peace in warring communities.

    The task of determining boundaries without the relevant data from the local and state boundary committees can be very daunting it is hoped that with the introduction of the use of technology the task will be much easier as everyone will have an idea where the boundary line starts and ends.

    All Government Agencies and Formations have equal stakes at warring against the insecurity bedevilling our society and mapping out strategies of restoring peace and bringing development to the door steps of all its citizens and this can only be achieved when all critical Government Agencies agree to walk together in unity.

    Earlier, the Director General of the National Space Research Development Agency, Dr. Halilu Shaba said that he was at the NBC’s Corporate Headquarters with his management team to seek collaboration with the Commission on Border management.

    He stated that his Agency has developed a Satellite that would enhance effectiveness in boundary management.

    According to him, aside from boundary markings, auditing, mappings and monitoring, the Satellite can also help gather detailed information that will assist in the quick resolution of boundary issues “so that when you speak, you speak to evidences”.