Connect with us

Tuesday 28th March, 2023

TechExtra

Tech Experience Centre Represents Our Vision For A Digital Nigeria- Pantami

Published

on

L-R: Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, Zinox Group Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh, MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr Ernest Ndukwe, Mr Chris Uwaje, NITDA DG, Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat during the commissioning of TD Africa’s Tech Experience Centre in Lagos….

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami has described the Tech Experience Centre as strategic to the Federal Government’s plan to build a digital Nigeria for all citizens.

Pantami was speaking at the formal unveiling of the Tech Experience Centre located at the high-rise Yudala Heights on 13 Idowu Martins, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, October 1st, 2020.

The Minister, who was the Special Guest of Honour, expressed delight with the project, even as he conveyed the feelings of President Muhammadu Buhari on the launch of the massive initiative seen within the tech community as an ambitious technology project aimed at bridging the gap to cutting-edge technology for millions of Nigerians.

The Centre houses a convergence of globally renowned tech giants such as Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Zinox, Schneider Electric, Samsung, Apple and Bosch, among others, all under one roof to create an immersive experience of the latest technologies.

‘‘I am delighted to be here today to witness the commissioning of this landmark project. I am here to convey the regards of President Muhammadu Buhari who has been instrumental to the current drive of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for the ICT sector to achieve a Digital Nigeria.

‘‘We are happy to see this huge technology initiative become a reality as it shows the private sector has bought into our visions for Nigeria. Achieving a Digital Nigeria is not the responsibility of government alone. The role of government is to come up with the right policies and create the enabling environment while the private sector also supports the efforts of the government.

“This Tech Experience Centre is very strategic to the seven pillars of our digital economy strategy which include: Digital Literacy and Skills Development; Service Infrastructure; Solid Infrastructure; Digital Services Promotion and Development; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Societies and Emerging Technologies and lastly Indigenous Content Development.

ALSO READ  Buhari Approves Establishment of Nigeria Data Protection Bureau

‘‘I wish to commend TD Africa and the Zinox Chairman, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh for their efforts in birthing this Tech Experience Centre which we are certain will create a huge opportunity for our youths and many other Nigerians,’’ he disclosed.

L-R: Pantami, Ekeh, Ndukwe and Hamzat at the event…

Chief Host, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu hailed the management of TD Africa for the bold initiative, even as he disclosed that the Lagos State Government is already laying the foundation for the state to be the technology hub of Nigeria and West Africa.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the important role of technology as a game-changer in any society.

“Technology provides data and it is the most effective way to achieve the ease of doing business. Data is the new currency. Any company that does not have a good database will collapse as it helps in the ease of doing business.

“Technology also helps in managing information. It is used in security, education and to collect data in the hospitals. Nigeria needs to urgently harness the use of technology to develop the nation,” he said.

‘‘I commend the Zinox Chairman and TD Africa on the launch of this impressive technology project. Indeed, technology is the pillar of all the plans of the present administration in Lagos. In order to maximize the potential of the state, the deployment of technology is very critical,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, commended the Federal Government and the Lagos State government for their increased emphasis on the technology sector.

Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur, described the renaming of the Ministry of Communications by President Buhari with the addition of Digital Economy as a masterstroke, even as he heaped praises on Dr Pantami for his sterling leadership.

ALSO READ  Tech4Dev Partners FCDO On Basic Digital Literacy Training In Northern Nigeria

The Zinox boss, who revealed that technology is the currency of new wealth in the 21st Century, revealed that the sector holds the key to the future of Nigeria’s digital wealth.

Consequently, he called on the Federal Government to empower the youth, especially in ICT, noting that Nigeria is the only place in the world where tech guys are among the poorest.

“Government needs to encourage the youths by empowering them as most of them work in that sector. Also, many youths are equally interested in developing the country through technology so they need to be empowered,” he said.

He praised the Lagos State Government for creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, urging business owners to take advantage of the opportunity to invest in the state.

In her opening address, Head of the Tech Experience Centre, Chidalu Ekeh revealed that the Centre will play a key role in building local capacity and growing the Nigerian economy.

‘‘Right here and in this building, we are placing cutting-edge technology from the biggest tech giants at the fingertips of every Nigerian. As a matter of fact, we are not only bridging the gap to these technologies but also boosting local participation in the global technology ecosystem and increased adoption of technology by our people.

“We are excited by the multiple collaborations that would emerge from this landmark initiative, especially in view of its potential multiplier effects in re-writing our technology narrative and boosting the Nigerian economy.

‘‘The Tech Experience Centre will also play a very essential role in building capacity among Nigerians. Specifically, we intend to build an army of digitally-compliant youths and global citizens by exposing them to advanced training and certifications in the area of Information Technology, with many of them subsequently expected to build apps, crafts and other solutions that will address peculiar challenges in Nigeria or even solve global problems.’’

ALSO READ  Ericsson Completes Acquisition Of Cradlepoint

The event had a number of dignitaries drawn from the public and private sector. Among these was the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi; Commissioner for Science and Technology, Lagos State, Dr Hakeem Fahm; Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr Ernest Ndukwe; Founder/CEO, MainOne, Funke Opeke; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, Peterside Atedo; MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo; MD/CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya; and MD/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Lamin Manjang.

Others include MD/CEO, Ecobank, Patrick Akinwuntan; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ernest Ebi and his wife; former Chairman of Accenture, Mr Dotun Suleiman; MD/CEO Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr Funso Akere; Executive Director, Access Bank, Mr Victor Etuokwu, MD/CEO, Providus Bank, Mr Walter Akpani; Chairman, Aso Savings and Loans Plc., Alhaji Ali Magashi; former CEO, Diamond Bank, Mr Emeka Onwuka; Founder/CEO, Britannia Oil and Gas, Mrs Catherine Iju Ifejika and her husband, Mr Emmanuel Ifejika; media entrepreneur and ace blogger, Linda Ikeji; and renowned fashion couturier, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, just to mention a few.

The Tech Centre is widely expected to boost Nigeria’s relevance in the global technology race and shore up the country’s march to technology independence.

For the first time, Nigeria will play host to the latest global technologies including those not normally available in Africa, offering all classes of visitors a first-hand experience of new gadgets, solutions and infrastructure that would have previously required a visit abroad, thereby saving corporate organizations, government establishments and individuals money or scarce foreign exchange expended on these trips.

 

Share Post

TechExtra

NiRA, EFCC Sign MoU To Train Personnel On Cyber Security

Published

on

L-r: President, NIRA, Muhammed Rudman, and the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, during the agreement signing ceremony in Abuja.

The Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NIRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to provide cyber security training for the personnel of the EFCC and other national security organisations.

NiRA is the registry for .ng Internet Domain Names, responsible for and maintaining the database of names registered in the .ng country code Top Level Domain.

The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, speaking during the MoU signing ceremony at the EFCC Head Office, Jabi, Abuja, reiterated the resolve of the Commission to build the capacity of the personnel to effectively combat the emerging trends in cyber security.

The Nigerian Internet Registration Association, NIRA delegation to the ceremony, was led by its President, Muhammed Rudman.

Bawa said the MoU would further boost the understanding of his personnel on the modern trends in cyberspace and assist the Commission’s investigations.

“We are very proud to collaborate with you because we realize that part of our mandate is collaboration. We need relevant stakeholders whether in government or private sector to achieve our mandate,” he said.

The EFCC boss, while expressing delight over the collaboration, said that the EFCC had a well-equipped Academy to sustain the training.

A group photograph of NIRA and EFCC officials at the MoU signing ceremony


“I find this MoU very appealing. I accept your collaboration and we are ready to start as soon as possible.

“We have a well-equipped Academy to carry out this training and I advise that the training is not only onsite but also online so that many people can join, and even other agencies can benefit from this using the same platform,” he added.

ALSO READ  DigitalSENSE Forum 2021: Mba-Uzoukwu, ISPON President Is Keynote Speaker

Earlier, the President of NIRA, Muhammed Rudman while providing some insight into the goals of NiRA, stated that the purpose of the MoU was to strengthen collaboration between his Association and the EFCC.

According to him, there was a huge gap between NIRA and law enforcement agencies, which needed to be bridged.

“We have law enforcement agencies locking up for Registrars when there are cyber security issues in terms of websites, based on the crimes perpetrated by end users.

“So, to protect our Registrars from having challenges with law enforcement, we identify EFCC as the right partner to provide capacity building to address these gaps in terms of cybersecurity awareness and general knowledge of ICT,” he said.

He added that when the MoU was fully implemented it would benefit not only the EFCC but other agencies as well.

“To be honest with you, we want to kick-start this project as soon as possible to give high-level capacity building on the internet and how it works, to address the needs of Law Enforcement Agencies, using EFCC as an umbrella body to bridge the cybersecurity gap,” Rudman said.

Share Post
Continue Reading

TechExtra

NITDA, World Bank Train 200 Women On Content Creation

Published

on

Photo Session with NITDA DG, Kasifu Inuwa; Executive Director of NATVIEW TECH, Nuradeen Maidoki alongside participants of the Digital Skills Training

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with NATVIEW and World Bank has successfully rounded off a pilot digital skills development programme called “Gina Mata, Gina Al-Umma”, designed to identify, prepare, and connect disadvantaged girls and young women with emerging skills in the knowledge economy.

The programme which is part of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day and given the dire need to position young women for global participation in the Gig economy is geared towards integrating gender-intentional learning outcomes focused on technical training, soft skills, and right-based learning for young women interested in the tech ecosystem.

At the closing ceremony of the four-day event, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, noted that the training programme which is hinged on creating potential economic opportunities, increasing livelihoods, and access to better lives through the Gig economy is in line with the Agency’s mission to place Nigeria on the path to attaining 95% digital literacy by 2030, in alignment with the National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020–2030.

The DG who recognised the fact that women are underrepresented in the technology sector avowed that with programmes like the Gina Mata, Gina Al-Umma programme, NITDA aims to bridge the gap by providing young women with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the digital economy.

“At NITDA, we are very excited about this partnership with the World Bank, which is in line with our initiative of one million software developers and skills by the end of 2023; Our core mandate is to develop and regulate the information technology sector in Nigeria because we believe that the future of our nation lies in the development of its human resources, and as such, we are committed to providing access to training and development opportunities for all Nigerians,” Inuwa stressed.

ALSO READ  As COVID-19 Link To 5G Network Rages, Minister Pantami Says Nigeria Has Not Issued Any 5G License

Inuwa who seized the opportunity to thank the World Bank for driving the initiative and the implementation partner, Natview Technology, acknowledged the importance of partnerships in achieving the organisation’s goals, noting that Natview Technology has a proven track record of delivering quality digital skills development programmes, and expressed thanks for the execution of the pilot training programme.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as we round off this pilot today, let us remember that the digital economy holds vast opportunities for economic growth and development. However, to fully realize these opportunities, we must ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of gender, have access to the necessary skills and knowledge,” he said.

The NITDA Boss urged all the young women who participated in the training to take full advantage of the opportunity to make significant contributions to the digital economy and Nigeria’s development.

Inuwa reiterated NITDA’s commitment to ensuring that the entire citizenry is empowered with information technologies through the development of a critical mass of proficient and globally competitive IT manpower.

According to him, NITDA remains poised to actualise its mandate through strategic and inclusive stakeholder management, local and international partnership, and efficient utilisation of resources in the interest of Nigeria.

The Director-General who later presented certificates to the participants congratulated them and expressed the hope of seeing the positive impact of the programme on the lives of young women in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Natview Technology, Nuradeen Maidoki who earlier welcomed everyone to the closing ceremony described the Fasaha: Gina Mata, Gina Al-umma (“Building Women, Empowering Communities”) being implemented by Natview Technology as part of the firm’s contribution towards driving digital literacy and skills across Nigeria.

ALSO READ  Startup Bill Will Grow Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem, Says NITDA DG

While appreciating NITDA and the World Bank for delivering digital competency beyond Nigeria, Maidoki said through the initiative, Natview hopes to create a pipeline of highly skilled female technologists who can contribute to innovation and growth in Nigeria’s technology industry as the firm believes that by empowering young women with digital skills, it can create a more inclusive and diverse technology industry that reflects the richness and diversity of the society.

“During the 4-day launch, 200 young women were selected to participate in the digital content creation training. Beyond the digital content creation training, these young women also received skills training that will enable them to participate in the gig economy, which creates a platform for them to earn income from home,” Maidoki noted.

“The goal of the programme is to train and equip at least 800 girls and young women with digital skills and competencies to be globally competitive in the remote workplace. The pilot launch focuses on training 200 women around digital content creation and marketing while in the future, an additional 600 young women will be integrated from four Northern Nigeria states (Borno, Gombe, Kano, Zamfara) with high FCV cases,” Maidoki added.

 

Share Post
Continue Reading

TechExtra

UK-Nigeria Tech Hub And Google Collaborate For Startups

-To Award $3 Million Cloud Credit To Women Founders

Share Post

Published

on

A panel session at the programme marking the International Women’s Day by UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and Google, held in Lagos

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, a pillar of the UK government’s broader Digital Access Program (DAP), has announced a collaboration with Google for Startups, Africa.

This collaboration will see the two entities award $3 million in Google Cloud credits to women founders in Nigeria.

This support will subsidise cloud technology-related costs for startups, allowing them to focus on innovation, customer acquisition, and growth.

The joint effort by UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and Google for Startups Africa will help promote digital inclusion and jointly support technology businesses run by women founders.

To commemorate International Women’s Day in March, the two organisations co-hosted an event in Lagos, on Friday, bringing together women founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.

The event aims to help women founders understand the technology funding landscape and position themselves to secure funding for their startups.

Country Director, UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Justina Oha said, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Google for Startups, which comes at a time when the world is celebrating International Women’s Day.

“This partnership is a testament to our commitment to supporting women founders and helping them reach their full potential. Partnerships like this are one of the great ways that stakeholders can come together to advance Nigeria’s tech ecosystem at an accelerated pace.”

Head of Startup Ecosystem Google Africa, Folarin Aiyegbusi speaking on the collaboration, said: “We are excited to partner with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub to empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. This collaboration is a unique opportunity to provide women founders with the support and resources they need to scale their businesses and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

ALSO READ  Just In: FG Bars Unlinked SIM Cards From Making Calls

“At Google for Startups, we are committed to supporting startups and entrepreneurs around the world, and we believe that empowering women founders is key to building a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.”

 

 

Share Post
Continue Reading
TechExtra1 hour ago

NiRA, EFCC Sign MoU To Train Personnel On Cyber Security

Telecoms6 hours ago

NCC Committed To Strengthening Regulation Of Telecom Sector, Says Danbatta

TechExtra9 hours ago

NITDA, World Bank Train 200 Women On Content Creation

Business10 hours ago

MTN’s Funso Aina Wins SABRE IN2 ‘Innovator Of The Year’ Award

BANKING16 hours ago

ICSFS Receives Information Security Management System ISO/IEC 27001 Certification

Telecoms17 hours ago

Beware Of Pirated YouTube Software-Related Malware- NCC-CSIRT Warns

TechExtra3 days ago

UK-Nigeria Tech Hub And Google Collaborate For Startups

TechExtra5 days ago

Nigeria Recorded Over 1.4 million Cyber Attacks On 2023 Guber Elections Day- Pantami

TechExtra6 days ago

Effective Collaborations Will Enhance Stronger Africa IT Ecosystem- NITDA DG

TECH PRODUCT6 days ago

OPPO Launches Reno8 T Series In Nigeria

Blog6 days ago

As WAEC Prepares To Launch Its Revolutionary Platform, EduStat…

TechExtra6 days ago

Amazon To Lay Off 9,000 Additional Staff

Telecoms6 days ago

7 Months After Ministerial Objection, FG Removes 5% Excise Duty For Telecoms Sector

Blog1 week ago

Nigeria: A Nation In Need Of Accurate Education Statistics

DIGITAL CURRENCY1 week ago

Hyperspace Technologies Unveils Keymaster VAULT

TechExtra1 week ago

Inuwa Seeks Regional Collaboration Against Cyber Threats In Africa

TechExtra2 weeks ago

Free Digital Marketing Course: New Spots, MasterClass Available By Aleph CEO

Telecoms2 weeks ago

2023 WCRD Theme, A Call To Examine Environmental Impact Of Telecom- Adewolu

Telecoms2 weeks ago

Danbatta Outlines NCC’s Initiatives Aimed At Protecting The Nigerian Environment

Telecoms2 weeks ago

WCRD 2023: NCC Inaugurates TELCARE Desk At Abuja Airport

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: Remita Partners MTN’s Yello Digital Financial Services

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: 9PSB CEO Calls For Targeted Content To Accelerate Growth In Nigeria

BANKING7 months ago

FirstBank Hosts Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) Quarterly Meeting

FINANCE10 months ago

MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank Formally Commences Operations

FINANCE8 months ago

Verdant Capital Raises $10m Of Debt Funding For Zeepay

FINANCE10 months ago

Mastercard, OPay In strategic Partnership To Advance Africa’s Digital Financial Inclusion

BROADCASTING2 years ago

tvN, Korea’s Number 1 Entertainment Channel Debuts On DStv March 1

BROADCASTING3 years ago

ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Turn Up Friday With Pepsi’ Premieres On Africa Magic Channels

FINANCE2 years ago

9PSB, Flutterwave Partner To Deepen Financial Inclusion In Nigeria

Opinion6 months ago

Resiliency Is the Cornerstone Of Future-Proofing Business Continuity

Opinion6 months ago

Price Vs Quality: The Nigerian E-Commerce Shopper’s Dilemma

Opinion7 months ago

The Savvy Story Of National Pension Commission (PENCOM)- Part 2

Telecoms3 years ago

5G Services Go Live In Madagascar, As Telma Launches Ericsson-Powered Network In The Country

Opinion3 years ago

Africa In Motion: Accelerating Africa’s Digital Future

FINANCE1 year ago

Andela Announces $200m Series E Financing

Opinion6 months ago

Femi Falana, SAN: Your Client’s Publication On Zinox Chairman, A Cheap Blackmail

BROADCASTING8 months ago

NBC Fines DSTV, Trust TV, 2 Others N20m For ‘Terrorism Glorification’

SOCIAL8 months ago

Google Back Online After Reported Brief Global Outage

BROADCASTING8 months ago

MultiChoice Partners BON To Upskill 200 Broadcasters

BROADCASTING8 months ago

Tribunal To Rule On MultiChoice Price Increase July 25

Advertisement

Trending