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SCCI@10: Sidmach Welcomes Pupils On Software Dev ‘Hands-On’ Experience Tour
By peter oluka
Schools Computer Club Initiative’s (SCCI) has continued its bid to build up student/pupil experts as the workforce of future advancement for tomorrow’s information and computer technology.
The team recently led pupils from different schools in Lagos on excursion at Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited as it seeks to ensure school pupils’ acquisition of computer skills, exposure to a real IT world through seminar, workshops, and exhibitions.
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek while leading team to Sidmach, as part of activities to mark SCCI’s tenth anniversary, Mr. Adesina Adewale, the president, said that they are keen to ‘impose’ professional responsibilities on school IT team leaders, build self esteem for members, and motivate young growing children to embrace the appropriate use of the computer.
Adewale said that the big picture behind SCCI was to develop technology innovators ‘Technnovators’ who will eventually become technology entrepreneurs, developing solutions to solve the nation’s multifaceted challenges.
He said, “We hear about the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, and other technnovators who today are big entrepreneurs. Today, Microsoft, for example has become a household name world over; people are using the products of Microsoft daily, ranging from the development of animation, games, office allocation to the point of using thee cloud.
“It is part of reasons we brought the students on tour of Sidmach Technologies. So, we are passionate about ‘catching them young’, right from primary and secondary schools, such that on graduation they don’t keep hoping on a non-existing white collar job. They are been positioned to develop the entrepreneurial mindset.
Speaking Achievements in the Last 10 Years:
“We started this advocacy in 2007. what inspired us was a speech by Professor Charles Uwadia, who happens to be the current President/Chairman in Council of CPN. At that year’s conference he charged us to develop the students at the secondary school levels to the point they can stand out and develop solutions/platforms that meet societal needs.
“Since then, we have been developing students in primary and secondary schools to the point many of them are interested in taking up careers in IT which is called the Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS).
“We have some who have passed through Sidmach Technologies either during industrial training/ attachment or internship programmes. We have some of them who can develop games, others- animations; we have others who can develop browsers and other solutions that can meet the need of the society.
Hopeful About the Future of the Students:
“Following our activities in the last 10 years, we are hopeful that technnovators and techpreneurs will be developed from these students. Invariably, we are reducing the problem of unemployment in the country. We are hopeful that these students will be able to meet the needs of our communities.
Why Choice of Sidmach
“Recently, we had training at the University of Lagos (Unilag); we had a ‘hands-on’ session. In IT, it is always imperative to marry the academic and the industry ideas to have a robust solution or platform. So, it is a combination of the gown and the town. At times we develop curriculum that fails to meet the needs of the society.
“Therefore, we have to find means of bringing the academic knowledge to bear in the industry practice. This excursion has accorded the students opportunity to meet software developers at Sidmach. The Company has done so much in the software for JAMB, WAEC, even in the oil and gas industry. They have the smart school solution too. So, we are here to let the students appreciate what is happening in the industry so that upon graduation it wouldn’t be all new terrain to them. That’s why we choose Unilag, representing the academic environment and now Sidmach Technologies, a leading indigenous software development firm.
Also, in a chat with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Jide Awe, chairman, Conferences at Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said that such programmes that allow hands-on experience, are critical in building the future of the youths. “We are already in a knowledge-led economy showing more digital processes. We don’t want to continue as consumers, therefore, we must train our children on 21st Century skills- programming, application development, so they will not be disadvantaged. Already, a lot of countries (developed) are ahead of us. Thank God some of the kids have access to the resources they can use; what we now need are initiatives as Schools Computer Club Initiative (SCCI) to provide guidance. The essence is to ensure the students do no use those things for wasteful ventures”.
“The significance of exposing the students to industrial operations,” Awe added, “is that, it is one thing to learn to program or build software, however, it is important to know how it is being done; which is more encouraging to the students who have seen how this Company operates daily, especially in developing the software. It is a sort of career enlightenment to them. It gives them a practical feel of what it takes to be a programmer in a theoretical and practical sense. They were not on tour of a foreign firm and the reason was to inculcate the spirit of patriotism; we can develop solutions to the challenges we face in the country and even ship the solutions to other nations”.
He urged the students to make best use of knowledge acquired during the visit at Sidmach which was set up by entrepreneurs. “It must be stressed that Sidmach was established by entrepreneurs. They (the students) too can become IT entrepreneurs”, he charged them.
On Schools Computer Club Initiative (SCCI) at 10, the Chairman NCS Conferences, described the platform as a commendable initiative that should be encouraged; “that is why NCS and CPN have always been part of it. The Initiative has had its ups and downs, but it is here to stay. We really have to encourage them, because the issue at stake deals directly with the future of our children”.
Legacy Sidmach Is Leaving Behind For Next Generation,
Mr. Olayemi Oladiran, head, Sales & Marketing, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, while addressing the students, said he was quite impressed to see them, especially with the capabilities they have shown, even as younger ages. “They are already coding. It gives me the confidence the next generation will do better than we have done”.
“We don’t mind any one of them working for Sidmach. Obviously, we have a standard and of course it is going to be the best that will take in it. For those that have the vision, I will encourage them to work hard to excel in what they do. Importantly, they should not have employee mentality. Rather a mentality that can tell them- look I can develop a prototype software solution that I can take to the market. So, they should not limit themselves.
Partnership with OEMs
He said they are partnering with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) We do have such as HP, Microsoft and Sophos to build dependable solutions that address student’s e-learning challenges.
“We support them; to get them achieve their best. We support their dreams and aspirations. Whatever we need to do, that we shall do to provide encouragement and enabling environment to fan up their dreams”, he pledged.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reinforced its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through strengthened collaboration with key strategic institutions, as it hosted the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, alongside participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 48, 2026.
The visit, which builds on an earlier strategic study tour, provided a platform for in-depth engagement on the role of digital innovation in driving sustainable economic growth, with particular focus on the Orange Economy.
Representing the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, highlighted the Agency’s commitment to fostering a vibrant digital ecosystem through inclusive policies, strategic partnerships, and capacity development initiatives.
“NITDA is committed to creating an enabling environment where innovation can thrive by bringing together government, private sector, academia, and creatives to drive Nigeria’s digital economy,” he stated.
Inuwa underscored the growing importance of the Orange Economy, describing it as a critical driver of innovation and economic value through intellectual property. He identified sectors such as digital content creation, film, animation, and digital art as key contributors to national development.
“The Orange Economy represents a powerful opportunity to transform our rich cultural heritage and creativity into sustainable economic growth,” he noted.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s unique advantage, particularly its youthful and creative population, while calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to fully harness the sector’s potential.
“With our youthful population and rich cultural assets, Nigeria is well-positioned to become a global leader in the Orange Economy if we deepen collaboration and investment across the ecosystem,” he added.
During the engagement, NITDA also presented its strategic initiatives aimed at supporting the digital and creative sectors, including digital infrastructure development, promotion of digital literacy, and implementation of policies that enable startups and innovators to scale.
Addressing challenges facing the sector, Inuwa pointed to issues such as limited access to funding, infrastructure gaps, weak intellectual property protection, and ecosystem fragmentation, while emphasising the need for coordinated action.
“Addressing challenges such as funding gaps, infrastructure deficits, and intellectual property protection is critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s creative economy,” he said.
The Agency reiterated its target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027, noting that ongoing programmes are equipping millions of Nigerians with essential digital skills, including those in underserved and informal sectors.
In his remark, Professor Omotayo described the visit as an important opportunity to deepen understanding of how digital technologies are reshaping economic sectors, particularly the creative industry. He noted that the insights gathered would contribute significantly to policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economic framework.
Participants of the SEC 48 programme engaged actively during the session, raising questions on capacity development, access to tools, and frameworks for protecting digital content. NITDA highlighted its ongoing collaborations with industry stakeholders to provide training, innovation hubs, and access to digital tools for young Nigerians.
The engagement concluded with a renewed commitment from both NITDA and NIPSS to strengthen collaboration in research, policy development, and capacity building, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a globally competitive force in the digital and creative economy.
Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has assumed responsibility for collecting mineral royalties from mining operators nationwide, following new tax laws effective January 1, 2026.
NRS
The shift emerged from a Thursday meeting between Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake and NRS Chairman Dr. Zacch Adedeji. Their joint statement, endorsed by both, confirms NRS now administers all federally collectible revenues, including royalties.
Enacted by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025, the Nigeria Tax Laws 2025 empower this transition. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development remains a key partner, supplying pricing data, geological insights, and sector coordination.
NRS Special Adviser Dare Adekanmbi’s statement outlines collaborative steps: a nationwide sensitization program for operators on filing and payments; development of a digital royalty system; and regular joint technical sessions to address issues.
Both agencies pledge orderly, transparent implementation to boost the mining sector. Operators must comply with obligations and join upcoming programs.
The move aims to streamline revenue collection while fostering mining growth.
Microsoft has rolled out a new set of features for its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform, including tools for complex, multi-step work and deeper research tasks, as competition in workplace artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies.
The update introduces Copilot Cowork, a capability aimed at handling long-running tasks across Microsoft 365 applications.
The feature is being made available through the company’s Frontier programme, which typically gives early access to experimental tools.
Microsoft is also integrating technology linked to Claude – an AI model developed by Anthropic –into Copilot, signalling a broader shift toward using multiple AI systems within a single product rather than relying on a single model.
Jared Spataro, chief marketing officer for AI at Work at Microsoft, says the company is positioning Copilot as a system embedded directly into workplace software, rather than a standalone tool.
“Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI for work,” he says, adding that it draws on multiple AI models and is integrated into existing workflows.
Alongside this, Microsoft has upgraded its Researcher feature, which is designed to analyse information from multiple sources and generate structured reports.
A new “Critique” function separates the drafting and review process between different AI models – one generates an initial response, while another evaluates and refines it.
The company says this approach improves output quality, with Researcher showing gains on its internal benchmark for accuracy, completeness and objectivity.
Another addition, called Model Council, allows users to compare outputs from different AI models side-by-side, highlighting differences in responses and reasoning.
The updates form part of what Microsoft calls “Wave 3” of Copilot, as it pushes to embed generative AI deeper into enterprise software. The move reflects a wider industry trend towards combining models from multiple providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to improve performance and reliability.
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