TheNewsGuru

Tag: Technology

  • US technology frightens mono-economies – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday during a joint press conference with President Donald Trump in Washington has said the advancement of the United States in terms of technology is frightening to mono-economies.

    TheNewsGuru reports President Buhari who was on a 3-day working visit to the US said the threat is majorly for nations, especially those in Africa that overly depend on crude oil to drive their economies.

    The President of the largest democracy in Africa, being the first African leader to visit President Trump in the White House, also harped on the need for the US to patronize Nigeria’s crude oil in the stead of Shell’s.

    “The progress made by the United States in technology is certainly frightening for us that are mono-economy. I hope technology will allow them use our crude for its quality, for petrochemicals, being light one, vis-à-vis what they are getting from Shell,” he said.

    In his reaction, President Trump stressed the need to take down certain trade barriers between the United States and Nigeria, while also revealing that the US is working to expand trade and commercial ties with African nations, including Nigeria.

    “The United States is currently working to expand trade and commercial ties with African nations, including Nigeria; to create jobs and wealth in all our countries. We hope to be the economic partner of choice for nations across the continent and around the world.

    “Nigeria is a valued partner and a great friend. The United States is committed to working alongside Nigeria as we seek a future of strength, property, and peace for both of our countries,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru reports Trump went further to say that he is pleased with Nigeria as one of the US largest trade partners in Africa.

    He said his country is looking further to growing the trade relationships with Nigeria based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity.

    The US President revealed that his country gave Nigeria over $1 billion in aid every year; “And we have already started talking with the President about taking down the trade barriers”.

    “Very substantial barriers to the United States trading with Nigeria. So, we think that we are owed that,” he added.

    The US President, who acknowledged steps President Buhari has taken in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa, said it will be easier for the US to invest in Nigeria if the barriers were taken down.

    “President Buhari has also taken steps to fight corruption and improve the Nigerian business climate and most of all and to me helping rip down the trade barriers.

    “It will make it easier for the United States and companies to invest, and we will be investing substantially in Nigeria if they can create that level playing field that we have to very much ask for and maybe demand,” he said.

    When asked what the US government is doing to repatriate stolen and illicit funds back to Nigeria to fund critical infrastructure, Trump said “We have also discussed all of those topics at length over the last period of time”.

    He added that “In terms of corruption, Nigeria has a reputation as you understand very well for very massive corruption. I also know the President has been able to cut that down very substantially.

    “We talked about it. He is working on it and they have made a lot of progress and I think they will continue to make a lot of progress.

    “We have a lot of people in this country, and frankly speaking the country itself, that invest in Nigeria.

    “So, cutting down on that element and a corrupt element is very important to us. And the President will be able to do that”.

    The US President stressed that more than anything else he discussed with President Buhari was US agricultural products coming into Nigeria, which he said Nigeria wants but that there have certain barriers that do not allow that to happen.

    “So for the good of our farmers, US farmers and for the good of Nigeria, and all of Africa, it is very important that we are able to sell our great agricultural products into Nigeria.

    “That will happen and we are going to be working on that right away,” he said.

     

  • Q/A: FG mulls new national technology council

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said plans are underway by the federal government to set up a national technology and innovation council to cater for technological advancement in the country.

    Vice President Osinbajo stated this in an interview with journalists at Co-Creation Hub during his visit to ICT/Innovation hubs/companies in Lagos on Tuesday.

    “One of the things we are trying to do is to set up a council of sorts. Already, we have an industrial and competitiveness council. We want to look at doing one for technology and for innovation as well,” he said.

    Osinbajo said technology will massively dictate the future of the country, while also stressing that the future is here already.

    “There is so much going on, so many young people, and so many creative ideas. It’s just incredible. And that tells you what the future is going to look like. Already, as we always say, the future is here.

    “I have seen for myself the sheer creativity. Practically every type of enterprise has been disrupted by the technologies that we see. And a lot of the payment systems that we have been seeing, a lot of the technology companies that we see are doing incredible things.

    “A lot of the technologies and innovators we’ve seen got the attention and to where they are by being innovative and being creative. So, the only way to keep ahead of the curve, the way to keep ahead of anyone else is by increasingly innovative and by finding newer ways of doing things better.

    “My advice is that the only way to keep ahead is by ensuring that you are ahead in terms of innovations and technology,” the Vice President stated.

    Question: What’s your impression of the seven Technology & Innovation hubs you visited?

    Vice President: It has been an exciting day. We’ve been, as you said, to a number of technology enterprises and hubs. We’ve been to Paystack, Andela, Flutterwave, Workstation, FarmCrowdy, African Fintech Foundry, and here we are at Co-Creation Hub.

    What strikes one immediately is the sheer amount of innovation that is available and is going on. And I must confess that it is unbelievable that so much is going on.

    I have been talking for a few months now about some of the businesses and the hubs that I visited today. I had a chance to chat and talk about various things. What strikes you is that there is so much going on, so many young people; so many creative ideas. It’s just incredible. And that tells you what the future is going to look like. Already, as we always say, the future is here. I have seen for myself the sheer creativity. Practically every type of enterprise has been disrupted by the technologies that we see. And a lot of the payment systems that we have been seeing, a lot of the technology companies that we see are doing incredible things.

    Question: How can the Federal Government harness these tech talents?

    Vice President: As you know, I chair the Economic Management Team of the Federal Government. I’m also chair of the National Economic Council. Technology is obviously the future; the future of our economy, the future of commerce and the future of industry. We recognize this in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and that’s one the reasons why I am here in the company of the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, the DG of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and, of course, the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, and Commerce. We recognize that this is the way commerce is going to develop and that is why we are taking, first of all, such an active interest in their personal engagement.

    We are also trying to see how we can collaborate, how we can partner with all of these enterprises and, in some cases, with membership organizations they have in order to be able to create the kind of environment that makes it possible for this to happen seamlessly and in a way that we actually can have a multiplication or replication of all we are seeing today.

    So, we are collaborating already with a number of hubs and also with some that we are starting. For example, we are doing some work in partnership with Civic Hub in Abuja. We are doing some with the Humanitarian Hub in the North East, where we are focusing on the humanitarian challenges in the North East of Nigeria, and creating technology and innovation that could be helpful in solving some of their problems. We also have a Climate Change Hub in collaboration with the Lagos Business School. And, of course, we intend to collaborate and partner with Co-Creation Hub and several other hubs.

    The point is that we are anxious not to get in the way. Government can sometimes get in the way of enterprise. What we really need to do is to partner and to work hand in hand with them so that we help in whatever way, in whatever difficulty that they have. In some case, it might be credit; in some others, it may just be in creating and ensuring the right policy.

    So, one of the things that we are trying to do is to set up a council of sorts. Already, we have an industrial and competitiveness council. We want to look at doing one for technology and for innovation as well so that we bring in some of the key players and thinkers around technology working with government and government officials to develop policy and various ways we can help them to do what they are doing better.

    Question: Advice to existing and potential tech developers in the country?

    Vice President: I’m going to borrow from the wise Minister of Science and Technology, who, earlier in the day in our discussion, said something. It is that a lot of those who are doing these enterprises, a lot of the technologies and innovators we’ve seen got the attention and got to where they are by being increasingly innovative and creative.

    So, the only way to keep ahead of the curve, the way to keep ahead of anyone else is by increasingly innovative and by finding newer ways of doing things better. My advice is that the only way to keep ahead is by ensuring that you are ahead in terms of innovations and technology. From what I’ve seen here today, it is obvious that these guys do not have any plans to rest on their oars, as they say. They certainly intend to keep ahead. I’m excited to say that the advice they need is the advice they’ve already taken. I hope that when we come back to see them, what we see here would be much more advanced than what we are seeing here today.

     

  • Science, technology drivers to sustainable development – IT expert

    Mr Saheed Balogun, Chief Executive Officer, Kara.com.ng Ltd. on Tuesday said science and technology had direct and indirect impact on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined by the United Nations.

    Balogun made this known in Lagos during the Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) 52nd annual conference tagged: “Science and Technology in an Emerging Smart City and Sustainable Development”.

    According to him, good health, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy and all the items in SDGs are pronounced in their relationship with science and technology.

    He said the effect of technology in achieving sustainable development on good health and wellbeing had to do with access to information about patients’ medical records and history.

    Balogun said a wearable device could report the blood pressure and pulse of a patient on admission or at home.

    “There is a smart ambulance that allows the nearest free ambulance to be available at accident spots and emergencies.

    “Monitoring of water sources, tanks, ground water, rivers and treatment plants allows for quick detection of pollutant via sensors.

    “Test can also be as basic as pit level reported electronically.”

    The CEO said by 2030 there should be access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport system to all, notably by expanding public transport.

    The expert said the roadmap of emerging smart cities was to develop the interest across all fields of science and humanity and view it as better way to solve problems.

    He emphasised the need to engage youths in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and established the concept of big data sciences as basis for information in all degree courses.

    He, however, advised that there should be a collaborative effort among all the stakeholders and adequate funding to achieve the sustainable development and smart city.

     

  • Ericsson lists 10 hot consumer trends

    Mobile phone company, Ericsson, on Thursday listed 10 mobile phone consumer expectations in the next five years the organization has tagged the expectations “10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2018”.

    The company’s Country Manager, Mr Olivier Vandermoten, said at the event in Lagos that the trends were discovered from surveys.

    Vandermoten said that while some of the expectations would be met, others might not, due to unrealistic values. According to Vandermoten, the expectations include body interface with digital technology.

    He said that more people would want interactions with technology with the aid of body language.

    “The first trend is that two out of three persons think the use of technology will impact more through gestures and thereby make voice assistants to operate on human terms,” he said.

    The official said that the second trend had to do with augumented hearing

    “It is an expectation that explains the consumer need for a wireless earphone that can translate languages in real time.

    “Sixty-three“ per cent of consumers will like earphones that translate languages in real time, while 52 per cent want to block out a family member’s snoring.

    “The third survey on “Eternal Newbies” shows that 30 per cent of new technologies makes it hard to keep stories up to date since there are too many information to contend with,” he said.

    Vandermoten said that other survey included those on social networking, uncanny communications, intelligent ads, robotic expressions, photo room, street in the air and long-lasting batteries.

    According to him, “the fourth trend is that 42 per cent of consumers believe companies will use artificial intelligence to produce persuasive advertising.

    “Fifth survey talks about the use of a more social media broadcasting against the traditional method of transmitting news content.

    “The sixth trend is consumers want uncanny communications of the technology provider, which means more simplified technology languages,” he said.

    Vandermoten said that “ one out of five students and working class people believed that robots would replace them in their jobs, while 40 per cent wanted more robotic contributions.

    “The eighth survey showed that consumers will prefer their photos in a room to relieve a virtual memory, bringing back old timeline.

    “The ninth survey says consumers want solution to chaotic traffic congestion with preference to drones and flying cars,” the official said.

    “He said thst the tenth trend was the more than 80 per cent believed that in five years, there would have been long-lasting batteries to put an end to charging concerns.

    According to Vandermoten, all the consumer expectations can be met through the use of 5G network and political will from all parties concerned to bring them to reality.

     

  • Science expo: Exhibitors call for funding to boost science, technology

    Exhibitors at the ongoing 4th Science and Technology Expo have appealed to the Federal Government to fund their researches to boost the science and technology sector of the country.

    The expo is organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Education Secretariat, Department of Science and Technology holding from March 13 to March 15.

    The theme of this year’s expo is “Technology and Society in the 21ST Century’’.

    Some of the exhibitors, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, said they were always invited to the expos to exhibit their innovations and inventions but nothing to show for their efforts.

    The exhibitors were therefore appealing to government to provide funds to enable them commercialise their innovations.

    Mr Adetuji Kolawole, the Chairman FCT, Chapter of Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria told NAN that the Federal Government could assist its members to develop the car tracking system they invented.

    Kolawole said they were a team of professionals that specialises in car tracking system, which could monitor cars with smart phones anywhere and anytime.

    “This is something we can produce in our country to reduce the high rate of unemployment in this country.

    “ If the government can assist us in providing funds and an enabling environment for us to comfortably produce all these things, it will encourage us a great deal.

    “We have written to different agencies under the science and technology ministry, both at the federal and state level, and we are getting good results from them,’’ he said.

    Mrs Christiana Okonta, a representative of Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse who showcased portable waste water and management plant using moringa seed, appealed to the government to help showcase the project of the students.

    “We appeal to government to showcase our project for Nigerians to see and to commercialise.

    “We came together as a team to analysis our country and we discovered that the country was passing through a lot of challenges in the area of epileptic power supply, unemployment, food scarcity and water borne diseases.

    “That was why we came out with the project to address some of these challenges.’’

    Miss Jessica Njoku of Young Girls Science Club also told NAN that the club was appealing to government to heighten its support in science and technology sector.

    Njoku called government to build more science and technical schools in different parts of the country, adding that this would encourage more Nigerian children to take up science and technology.

    “Therefore increasing the country’s opportunity to advance in science and technology.

    “This is what prompted us to establish the club in to encourage girls in science and technology.’’

     

  • Amazing ways technology has changed the way you travel

    Technology has beamed its searchlight in almost every sector you can think of including the travel industry.

    For example, today, you can easily open an app on your smartphone, decide where you want to go, book your flights and hotels in under 15 minutes and before you know it, you’re all set for your quick weekend getaway.

    Technology has undoubtedly changed the face of travel and made travelling so much easier, and Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, looks back at how travel has changed over the years.

    Staying in touch

    While on the go, you’d send back pretty postcards, write letters and occasionally spend on that long-distance phone call from the hotel reception, or a local phone booth. Staying in touch certainly wasn’t easy and most people back home didn’t expect to hear from you unless it was an emergency. Now, free WiFi hotspots at airports and cafés make it so easy to email, Skype and Tweet as much and as often as you like.

    Booking hotel/flight

    Brochures were the lifesaver in the past. You have no choice than to go through hotel brochures, ask friends where they have stayed during their holiday and then actually phone the hotel to book a room. While doing all this, you do not know if you will like the room or not. Now, we have Online Travel Agencies like Jumia Travel now provides everything you need to know about the hotel you want to book including room pictures and review. This is almost the same for flight.

    Learning local language

    You can travel anywhere in the world today and can communicate with ease without any difficulty. This is because you can learn or understand any language you want with the aid of apps like Google Translate, iTranslate or Waygo. These apps can help you dialogue with the locals.

    Determining your destination

    In the past, you have to exhaustively look over holiday brochures at a travel agent’s office, buy guidebooks or taking a friend’s recommendation when it came to deciding where to go. But today, you can easily Google any destination and all the information you need will be at your fingertips within seconds.

    Taking photographs

    There was nothing like a selfie in the pre-technology travel age. However, presently you can take as many pictures as you so desire and even share them on any of your desired social media platforms. Smartphones have made this very easy and clearly, these gadgets are a huge threat to digital cameras.

     

  • NAF showcases innovative products at technology expo 2018

    Participants at the just concluded Technology and Innovation Expo 2018 have expressed absolute delight over the innovativeness and achievements of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the area of Research and Development.

    The NAF, which was invited by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to the 5-day exhibition, had on display various innovative products such as the Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), Air Marshal SB Abubakar Aviation Power Pack and Hydraulic Diaphragm for the Mi-Series Helicopter.

    The exhibition, which held from 5-9 March 2018 at the Eagle Square Abuja, had as its theme, “Fast Tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria Through Science and Technology”.

    Apart from showcasing its innovative products, the NAF was also invited as an assessor along with other reputable research organisations and members of the academia due to its immense contributions and progress in Science and Technology.

    The products on display were the efforts of the Air Force Research and Development Centre and the Air Force Institute of Technology in partnership with universities and Research Institutions in the country.

    The event was attended by representatives of various Research institutes, industries, schools and private organisations.

    The opening and closing ceremonies of the Exhibition were attended by His Excellency, the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu among other dignitaries.

    The NAF Research Team was led by the Director of Research and Development, Group Captain Ahmed Shinkafi, who also delivered the goodwill message on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the Engineering Day organised by National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) at the event.

    At the end of the exhibition, certificates of participation and prizes were presented to participants.

     

  • Technological advancement key to ending youth unemployment – Dogara

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has said that Nigeria cannot expect to excel as a nation if it does not match words with action in science and technology development.

    While pledging the commitment of the House to supporting the growth of science in the country, he added that it is innovation that dictates the country that leads, and is key to ending youth unemployment.

    Speaking at the Technology and Innovation Expo 2018 in Abuja on Friday, Dogara stressed the importance of scientific development and said that it also provides an avenue to tackle youth unemployment, which has been a perennial challenge to successive administrations in Nigeria.

    He stated, “If we think that we can continue to pay lip service to innovation and still excel as a nation, we will be deceiving ourselves or we will be expecting something that was never the case, never has been and never will be.

    “There is no way in the contemporary world that the destinies of nations can be secured without the needed advances in science and technology. As a matter of fact, this should be the most important national focus because whatever it is that you have as a nation, whether it is the wealth that is buried beneath the surface of our land, you need science and technology to bring it out.”

    The speaker also urged young people to be innovative, as it remains one of the most effective ways of attaining global recognition and effectively managing resources.

    “When we talk about science and technology, we are talking about innovation. Thankfully, innovation involves nothing new because all that we need to innovate with is already here with us. Innovation involves arranging old things in new ways and I guess some of the participants today can attest to that. It’s thinking about things that are not working and even things that are working, and how to improve on them.

    “Any nation that out innovates you can outcompete you in the modern global space so as a nation, we have every reason to devote attention to events like this. I can tell you there’s no better way that we can rein in resources in terms of money than to innovate. When you innovate, it’s like a light that attracts the entire world to you.”

    Citing an example with agricultural breakthroughs in Israel, Dogara urged young people to attain technological feats which will speed up the pace of development in the country and pledged the commitment of Parliament to ensuring adequate funding for science and technology.

    “I’m particularly impressed, for instance, if you take the area of agriculture in the nation of Israel. Even the United Nations said that Israel, though a desert nation, is the most agriculturally efficient nation on earth. Just because of innovation, so many people go to that desert nation to learn how to farm.

    “I want to commend this initiative and say that as members of the National Assembly, we pledge our support. We will continue to put the funds there for our teeming young people to innovate and to be candid, if we innovate, the crisis of unemployment facing us in this nation will be brought to an end.”

    The Speaker also congratulated those who won awards and various prizes and urged them to strive hard to actualise their full potential. He commended the minster for science and technology, whom he described as a “round peg in a round hole”.

     

  • NASRDA boss calls for more funding to boost space technology

    The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Tuesday called for more funding of Space Technology (ST) programmes in the country for sustainable development.

    The Director General, Prof. Seidu Mohammed made the call during the Space presentation at the ongoing Science and Technology Expo in Abuja.

    The expo tagged `Fast Tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria through Science and Technology’ is expected to end on March 9.

    Mohammed said that Nigeria had enough potential that could develop innovations, space technology, but the sector was poorly funded.

    “We know that our income in Africa is low and for us to reap the benefits of space technology there is need for more investments in low earth orbit.

    “Spin offs from ST have rewards on revenue generation and sustainable technological growth in the Information Communication Technology world.

    “Opportunities abound in ST, but that area of science is underfunded and that will make us as a country lagging towards developing the sector.

    “If we are more funded, it will ensure that benefits of ST are reaped and will engender more jobs to our engineers and youths,” he said.

    According to Mohammed, ST involves developing and deploying space craft satellites and space stations into the orbit.

    He added that launching of more satellites into the orbit, especially communication satellites would reduce capital flight, which amounted to over N1 billion yearly.

    The director general emphasised that communication satellites were more resourceful to establish, adding that its benefits were on a short term compared to other forms of satellites.

    He reiterated that ST enabled high level research and create employment which required huge funding.

    Mohammed noted that Nigeria had the capacity, potential to develop innovations to drive the ST sector, but fairness and protection of the market space was needed.

    He, however, said that the agency would ensure capacity building for its engineers, promoting innovations and deploying the appropriate approach to ST development.

     

  • Women critical in advancement of technology – NGO

    Dr Wummi Hassan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), High-Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youth, an (NGO), on Tuesday said women had a critical role to play in the advancement of technology in the country.

    Hassan said this in Abuja at the Nigeria Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summit tagged “NigFiSTEM’’ billed to end on Thursday.

    She said the summit, which was part of the celebration of International Women Day and usually held on March 8 every year, was for women and young girls to brainstorm over their challenges in technology.

    International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world.

    It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, nationality, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political interests.

    The event first emerged from the activities of labour.

    “This particular week has been dedicated to celebrating women; for us as an NGO, we thought through the fact that we needed a change in Nigeria.

    “So we brought together women and girls in the secondary or primary schools in FCT to look at problems in the environment and to see how they can collaborate with others to advance technology.

    “Nigeria has taught us; we may not get it fully as people complain that the curriculum is not enough now that we have known what we know, so we have to create solution.

    “We want to bring the girls and women together to see how they can become producers of technology and innovators as technology is a driver of change.”

    Hassan said it was quite depressive most times to find out that lip service or low attention was paid to the development of the nation’s industries.

    According to her, to develop a nation, its industrial base must be sound; so, this programme has gathered women and girls to see how we can advance technology for national development.

    On her part, Hajiyya Ramatu Kamal, Deputy Director, FCT Education Board, said the board was encouraging female students to embrace science subjects.

    Kamal said STEM was planning to institute an award for female students in science.

    “The board had discovered that more female students were embracing science subjects.

    Some of the participants at the summit told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the event would help them pay more attention to science subjects.

    Miss Mercy Anator, a student of Junior Secondary School Jabi, Abuja, said she hoped to leave the summit with the knowledge that girls could change the generation.

    “I want to go home with the impression that change begins with us,” she said.

    Miss Ngozi Ufum, student of Government Secondary School Lugbe, Abuja, said the summit would help her in the ambition of becoming a dentist.