National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has unveiled FutureMakers, a flagship programme designed to instill innovation and creativity in children aged 5 to 16 years.

Speaking at the launch held at NASENI headquarters, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the initiative is part of a long-term national strategy to build technical confidence early and prepare young Nigerians for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), entrepreneurship and leadership.

“Today, we take another step toward securing Nigeria’s long-term innovation future. FutureMakers by NASENI is designed to identify, nurture and empower young innovators. Early exposure creates lifelong innovators, and Nigeria is joining that league,” Halilu said.

He urged parents, teachers and the private sector to support the programme by encouraging creativity, sponsoring competitions, funding prototypes and investing in young talents.

Special Adviser to the EVC/CEO on Commercialization and Efficiency, Engr. Dr. Anas Balarabe Yazid, described FutureMakers as more than robotics or coding. “It is about believing in our children before the world has fully seen them, investing in their talent before their CV exists, and creating an experience that will stay with them for life,” he said.

Head of NASENI Innovation Hub, Mrs. Rachael Oluwabusola Perez-Folayan, announced that 60 children from the six geo-political zones will participate in the programme, which runs from December 2025 to February 2026. Prizes worth up to ₦5 million will be awarded to winners from each zone, alongside scholarships and an exclusive study tour abroad with NASENI’s EVC.

Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, commended the Agency for the initiative, noting that it would inspire a new generation of innovators. “As we launch FutureMakers, let us renew our collective commitment to building a nation where creativity is elevated, ideas are supported and the potential of every child is allowed to thrive,” he said.

The event was attended by students from Aflon Digital Academy, Kuje, and Government Secondary School, Idu-Karmo, Abuja.

Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, yesterday claimed that bandits and terrorists are able to communicate and coordinate their activities with ease because they exploit gaps in the country’s telecommunications network.

Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,

Tijani, who spoke  Politics Today, a Channels Television’s programme, on Friday, Tijani said the criminals exploit gaps in the country’s telecommunications network.

He also claimed the bandits use advanced technology to bounce calls across multiple towers in areas with poor connectivity.

“They weren’t using the normal towers; they bounced calls off multiple towers, which is why they favor areas that are largely unconnected,” he said.

When asked about reports that unregistered or fraudulently registered SIM cards are still in use despite the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the National Identification Number (NIN)–Subscriber Identity Module linkage policies, Tijani said the issue is technically complex and the reports are not fully verified.

“Whether it’s fact or not, I do not know where you’re getting that from, and I do not know who has evidence that there are people with unregistered SIMs,” he added.

The minister stated that the federal government is investing in telecom towers in underserved regions, upgrading the country’s communication satellites to improve coverage, and expanding fiber-optic networks to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.

“If our towers are not working, our satellites will work. Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with communication satellites, and we are bringing new satellites to upgrade their capabilities,” Tijani said.

He added that these initiatives aim to ensure better connectivity for Nigerians while closing loopholes that criminals exploit, thereby enhancing national security.

The minister’s comments come amid rising concerns over insecurity in several parts of the North, where banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism have escalated in recent years.

There are also reports of bandits flaunting ransom payments on social media platforms such as TikTok, raising alarm among authorities and the public

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday announced plans to partner with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to develop an industry-wide short code for consumers to lodge complaints with financial institutions anytime, anywhere, even without internet access.

CBN

Dr Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, CBN Director, Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department, disclosed this at a virtual Consumer Protection Town Hall meeting titled “Ask the Regulator”, organised by Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA).

She said the initiative addresses challenges faced by vulnerable consumers using feature phones who often have to visit bank branches physically to report issues amid the convergence of telecom and banking services.

Isa-Olatinwo said the CBN had achieved 94 per cent month-on-month timely resolution of consumer complaints, adding that the apex bank had streamlined processes and partnered with banks to balance consumer protection with financial system stability.

An EFInA poll presented at the event revealed that 61 per cent of respondents experienced failed transactions in the past 12 months, while 26 per cent had reversals within 24 hours and 54 per cent between 24 and 48 hours.

Other complaints included six per cent for fraud, 14 per cent for hidden charges and 15 per cent for poor customer service, with 66 per cent of respondents aware of complaint escalation steps.

President of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), Mrs Sola Salako-Ajulo, lamented that consumers often feel unprotected and urged introduction of fraud insurance for instant reversals, shifting the burden of proof from customers.

She said: “What is missing in our system—unlike more developed economies—is fraud insurance, where banks reverse reported fraud immediately, refund consumers, and investigate later.”

Mr Ajibade Laolu-Adewale, Chairman of Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH), represented by Mr Adeyemi Salisu, stressed that banks must resolve disputes between acquiring and issuing banks without redirecting customers to merchants.

The short code initiative is expected to enhance financial inclusion by providing accessible redress mechanisms in Nigeria’s evolving digital payment ecosystem.