By Rommy IMAH “The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” — William James There are men whose greatness is measured not merely by the offices they occupied but by the countless lives they transformed. Professor Chief Ihechukwu Chiedozie Madubuike, OON, KJW (Enyi Abia), belongs to that rare class of distinguished Nigerians whose enduring legacy is written in the success stories of those they inspired, mentored and empowered. As Professor Madubuike marks his 83rd birthday on July 9, 2026, I join family members, friends, associates, admirers and the entire people of Abia…
Author: Rommy Imah
Rommy Imah
Rommy Imah is Founder/Editor of Digital Times Nigeria (www.digitaltimesng.com). He has been in active journalism in over two decades with a bias for technology and business reporting. He is particularly passionate about technology and how it can be used to transform human life, businesses and services.
Abia State has taken centre stage in Nigeria’s industrial future with the unveiling of the country’s first Manufacturing Technology University Innovation Pod (Manu-Tech UniPod) at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU). The groundbreaking initiative is a joint effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the Abia State Government, designed to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial competitiveness. Representing Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf OlaTunji Alausa, described the UniPod as a reaffirmation of the government’s resolve to reposition higher education as…
Education took centre stage in Abia State on Tuesday, July 7, as the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, commissioned the Ogbo Central Smart School in Ubakala. The project, built under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, represents a bold step toward transforming learning and preparing Abia children to compete on a global scale. Dr. Alausa, visibly impressed by the facility, lauded Governor Otti’s foresight and commitment to human capital development, and stressed that sustainable progress is not defined merely by roads and bridges but by deliberate investment in education and the intellectual empowerment of citizens. “The Governor’s education…
News Highlights: Tony Elumelu will retire as UBA Group Chairman on August 21, 2026, after completing the maximum 12-year tenure for non-executive directors stipulated by the CBN. Emmanuel Nnorom has been appointed incoming Group Chairman, succeeding Elumelu as UBA continues its pan-African growth strategy with a network serving over 50 million customers. United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced that its Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, will retire from the Board of Directors on August 21, 2026, with current non-executive director Emmanuel Nnorom appointed to succeed him effective the same day. The transition was approved at the bank’s board meeting…
News Highlights: FCCPC launches investigation into Big Tech and AI platforms Probe to examine compensation and copyright concerns Global tech giants, including Meta, Alphabet and X (formerly Twitter), as well as Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms operating in Nigeria, are set to face a major regulatory investigation by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful exploitation of news content, and other potentially unfair market conduct. The investigation follows a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, instructing the FCCPC to examine a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO),…
News Highlights: Zinox’s digital platform powered NABTEB’s record-high FTC admission applications in NCEE history. The NIN-enabled platform streamlined registrations, enhanced transparency, and advanced digital transformation in education. Zinox Technologies, Africa’s leading ICT solutions provider, has delivered the digital platform behind the National Business and Technical Examinations Board’s (NABTEB) record-breaking registration exercise for admission into Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs), enabling the Board to achieve the highest number of applications in the history of the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE). The milestone marks a significant increase over previous admission cycles and reflects the growing national interest in technical and vocational education. According…
News Highlights: Polaris Bank trained over 650 journalists in AI and ethical reporting, bringing the total number of beneficiaries of its annual media seminar to more than 6,200. The Bank reaffirmed its commitment to ethical journalism, urging the responsible adoption of AI to strengthen public trust and media credibility. More than 650 media professionals gathered on Thursday as Polaris Bank Limited intensified efforts to prepare Nigerian journalists for the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence, while reaffirming its commitment to promoting ethical journalism and rebuilding public trust in the media. The occasion was the 12th edition of the Bank’s Annual…
News Highlights: AI, RegTech, and cyber resilience identified as banking’s next growth drivers Greater regulatory collaboration and AI adoption advocated The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has said the next phase of growth for Nigeria’s banking sector will be driven less by capital accumulation and more by the ability of financial institutions to build digital trust through artificial intelligence (AI), regulatory technology (RegTech) and cyber resilience. Speaking during a panel session titled “The Efficiency Frontier – AI, RegTech and Cyber Resilience” at the Future of Banking Nigeria Summit organised by CNBC Africa in…
News Highlights: Through the UK’s Digital Access Programme, the new SPRIRET initiative will support policy, regulatory and institutional reforms in Abia, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu and Niger states. Alongside SPRIRET, the UK is introducing a Technical Assistance Facility to improve the USPF and launching the STRIDE Nigeria Project to promote responsible data governance. The United Kingdom (UK) has unveiled a new package of initiatives aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation, deepening bilateral cooperation through its Digital Access Programme to strengthen policy reforms, expand digital inclusion, and unlock investment across key sectors of the country’s digital economy. Central to the new collaboration…
News Highlights Dinesh Balsingh emphasized that businesses must move beyond traditional telecom services and adopt intelligent platforms like AI, IoT, and satellite connectivity to drive productivity and resilience. The Airtel CEO stressed that organisations investing today in integrated digital infrastructure will lead Nigeria’s economic growth in the next decade. Nigeria’s business leaders have been urged to fast-track the country’s digital transformation by embracing intelligent technology platforms that foster innovation, enhance productivity, and drive sustainable economic growth. Making the call at the Lagos Business School (LBS) Breakfast Club, Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, said businesses must look beyond traditional…