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Minister Says Nigeria Must Act Fast to Catch up with New Technology
Federal Ministry of Education says there is an urgent need for Nigeria to catch up with the fast pace of technological advancement in order to remain relevant in the comity of nations.
Prof. Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education, said this at the inauguration of UNITes CiSCO “Internet of Things’’ innovation centre at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Yaba yesterday in Lagos.
The `Internet of Things’ (IoT), refers to the ever-growing network of physical objects with IP address for internet connectivity and communication that occurs between them and other internet-enable devices.
“We are in a world where we are running a race with technology and as it is today, human beings are almost being relegated to the background by robots.
“Today, technology has taken over as most of the jobs being done in developed countries are being done by robots and if care is not taken, in the next 20 years, almost all humans will be out of jobs.
“However, our hope still remains that technology is man’s creation, we can always make computers subject to human dictates.
“ We must strive to rise up to the various challenges thrown to us by technology and strive to move with the trend, otherwise, we find ourselves on the feet of comity of nations,’’ he said.
Anwukah noted that the internet has come to stay, as it is entrenching itself as a basic commodity that Nigerians cannot do without if the country was to be in the forefront of technological changes in the fast changing world.
According to him, it is imperative that the nation embraces the IoT innovation as well as consciously make efforts to bring about changes in a digitized form.
He added that the IoT was also expected to be effective even in the teaching and learning system.
Anwukah noted that the Federal government had made deliberate investments in the area of Science and Technological development through education.
“It is therefore needful to state here that no effort is enough and thus, collaborative efforts are welcomed so as to achieve gains in the area.
“In the zeal of this amazing feat, it is usually anticipated that the students and teachers alike will take advantage of the benefits the centre will offer, thus, also encourage all to ensure that the aim of this project is not thrown over board.
“I want to thank UNITes CISCO for their efforts in partnering with the Federal government to move the nation to greater heights in technology,’’ he said.
He assured that government would consider the replication of the centre in its technical colleges and Federal Universities of Technology across the country.
Mr Tayo Olatayo, initiator and Chief Executive, UNITes CISCO, said that the objective of the IoT centre was to digitalize both the communities and the homes.
According to him, the centre will seek to create technology solutions that will unlock opportunities at a speed of rapid prototyping as well as showcase what is possible with digital transformation and IoT.
He said that it would also raise a new generation of technology creators who would become problem solvers and job creators.
Olatayo said that it would also help local and global organizations improve business outcomes by making the most of smart data and digitalization.
He added that the UNITes CISCO Networking Academy has concluded arrangements to establish a network of IoT innovation centres in Secondary Schools and Universities across the country.
Earlier in his address, Rev. Chris Ugorji, Principal of the college said that the innovation was an intelligent connection of things where a community or an environment would become completely digitalized.
He noted that elsewhere in the developed world, a lot of innovations in technology were being deployed in a number of activities such as control of erosion, fighting poverty as well as arresting climate changes.
“Today is a memorable day in the history of this school because UNITes CISCO has opened this innovation centre in FSTC and it is particularly remarkable because our school is the first in sub-Saharan Africa to have an IoT centre.
“Therefore, our teachers and students will not only be global community of problem solvers but also IoT creators,’’ Ugorji said.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
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