—Prioritises Capital Projects, Social Services and Fiscal Discipline Abia State has taken a bold step toward deepening its developmental transformation as Governor Alex Otti, presented a landmark ₦1.016 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly for consideration. Unlike previous cycles, the 2026 proposal, christened “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities,” places unprecedented emphasis on capital investments, with ₦811.8 billion (80%) dedicated to infrastructure and socio-economic projects, and ₦204.4 billion (20%) set aside for recurrent obligations. The overall budget represents a 13% rise from the 2025 allocation. Speaking at the Assembly Chambers, Governor Otti explained that the new…
Author: Our REPORTER
Nigeria’s spiralling electronic waste (e-waste) problem has reached a critical juncture, demanding immediate, unified national action from all stakeholders, from top regulators to individual digital citizens. This urgent call resonated profoundly at the 2025 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue in Lagos, where the nation’s foremost environmental agency issued a stark warning, buttressed by appeals from the event’s convener for a concrete national strategy. Delivering the keynote address, the Director General/CEO of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Professor Innocent Barikor, who was represented by the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at the Lagos State Liaison Office, Olaide Oyedele-Taiwo, underscored that…
Google has announced the launch of Gemini 3, its most intelligent and capable AI model yet, designed to bring state-of-the-art reasoning and powerful new agentic capabilities to the Google products people use every day. This launch marks a significant step forward in Google’s mission to make AI truly helpful for everyone, Digital TimesNG reports. “In this new chapter, we’ll continue to push the frontiers of intelligence, agents, and personalization,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. This next chapter in AI arrives as new data reveals people are increasingly looking for powerful tools to help them learn and grow.…
The UK Government, through its Digital Access Programme, has partnered Blue Sapphire Hub, a leading Civil Society Organisation, to scale digital literacy and inclusion in rural communities across Northern Nigeria. This collaboration aims to empower underserved populations in targeted states by leveraging storytelling through digital influencers and community-driven initiatives to bridge the digital divide and unlock economic opportunities. During a high-level stakeholder event in Abuja, government officials, development partners, innovators, and media representatives reaffirmed their commitment to advancing digital adoption across the region. The discussions centred on practical strategies to ensure technology becomes a tool for progress and equality. Stakeholders…
Jiji, Nigeria’s leading online marketplace, has officially launched its 2025 Black Friday campaign, themed “Deals Na Water.” The sale offers shoppers massive discounts of up to 85% across top-selling categories like Phones & Tablets, Electronics, Fashion, Home & furniture, and more. The month-long “Money Na Water” Black Friday campaign promises buyers unbeatable affordability, while verified sellers offer genuine discounts to create the best value shopping season Nigerians look forward to every year. Growing demand for online deals Recent industry data shows that over 70% of Nigerians now search online first when looking for the best prices on essential items. The…
The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) of Nigeria has unveiled its innovative model for transforming grassroots innovation into globally competitive enterprises, with 56 Commonwealth member nations set to adopt the framework. The NBTI model, showcased at the Nigerian High Commission in London, has been hailed as a game-changer for driving inclusive growth, creating employment opportunities, and diversifying economies across the Commonwealth. According to Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General of NBTI, the model has been proven to turn local innovation into globally competitive enterprises, and is aligned with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and the C-RISE Framework. The Commonwealth…
In a major step toward boosting digital inclusion and media efficiency, journalists in Anambra State now have access to high-speed fibre internet at the Godwin Ezeemo NUJ Secretariat, Awka, a development that underscores the state government’s commitment to technological empowerment. The facility, installed and activated by the Anambra State ICT Agency under the leadership of its MD/CEO, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, fulfills a promise made during the NUJ Congress held on October 3, 2025, and marks another milestone in Anambra’s determined push to embed technology into every facet of governance and civic life. Announcing the successful installation, Agbata hailed the…
The leading technology solutions aggregator in Sub-Saharan Africa, TD Africa, has officially announced the onboarding of Zinox Technologies into its basket of global brands. This milestone marks a strategic alignment between two industry giants united by one mission: to advance Africa’s digital transformation through homegrown innovation and world-class distribution. With this partnership, Zinox Technologies will leverage TD Africa’s robust distribution network and regional expertise to expand the reach of its cutting-edge ICT products and enterprise solutions across Africa. The collaboration underscores TD Africa’s commitment to bridging the gap between global standards and African innovation. “This partnership isn’t just about distribution;…
Nigeria is taking decisive steps to redefine its place in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape, with the government unveiling plans to develop an indigenous Large Language Model (LLM) tailored to the nation’s linguistic and cultural diversity. The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this during a Fireside Chat at the AI Stage of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2025 in Dubai, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to using AI as a catalyst for innovation, national development, and global competitiveness. “Nigeria has over 500 languages and countless dialects. If we rely…
PalmPay, a leading neobank driving financial inclusion in Nigeria, has been awarded Digital Governance Company of the Year (Fintech Innovation) at the Nigeria GovTech Awards 2025, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR). The prestigious event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, celebrated organisations and individuals driving digital transformation, innovation, and good governance through technology in Nigeria. Receiving the award, Chika Reginald Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Limited, expressed gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance financial inclusion and support Nigeria’s digital economy agenda. “This award…