Telecom
NCS Holds 14th International Conference, Discusses ‘Smart Nations, Digital Economies and Meaningful Lives’
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has announced activities to mark its 14th International Conference scheduled to hold from Tuesday 16th to Thursday 19th of July, 2019, at the International Conference Centre, Gombe.
Prof Adesola Aderounmu, President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) stated this on Tuesday during a press conference in Lagos.
The conference themed: “Smart Nations, Digital Economies and Meaningful Lives” will have leading researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, industry experts, thought leaders and international scholars share their extensive knowledge and experiences on the theme and sub themes of the conference.
According to Prof Aderounmu, “the reason why we called for this press briefing is primarily to inform the media and public about the upcoming NCS conference.
“As you know this most important and influential event which is Nigeria’s largest event for the IT Industry and Profession is organized yearly by NCS.
“In line with our emphasis on innovation we will be adopting various approaches through this most unique gathering of IT academia, industry and thought leaders address to challenge and highlight opportunities related to building Smart Nations, Digital Economies and Meaningful Lives that leverages on information technology”.
He noted that the conference will explore how emerging technologies can be developed and utilized to create new services and improve solutions in the public and private sectors.
“For NCS, forward looking nations should focus on leveraging the power of fast changing digital economies to boost economic growth and address diseases, education, poverty and security, and enable sustainable development“, he added.
The NCS President explained that the gathering will provide opportunities to share important ideas and experiences, as well as showcase initiatives, examine vital issues and proffer solutions that are actionable and sustainable.
He stated that building a Smart Nations and Digital Economies will foster growth and make a difference to the lives of people.
He called on IT professionals, interest groups and stakeholders to be part of the historic event, adding that Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data are some of the disruptive technologies the conference will focus on, in order to identify best practices, opportunities and challenges witnessed in the industry.
Prof Aderounmu also stated that the conference which is an annual event has become a powerful voice advocating for government intervention, legislation, environmental and societal changes that affects the IT sector and IT enabled activities.
He noted that NCS is dedicated to advancing the interests of its esteemed members, the IT Industry, Profession as well as the Nation as a whole.
The conference will comprise of plenary, parallel and technical sessions, networking meetings, panel discussions and special focus forums.
Highlights of the conference will include: Official Opening and Keynotes, Plenary and Parallel Sessions, Technical Sessions, Seminars, Research Consortium, Induction of New Members, Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Platform, Exhibition and Products Launch, Public Sector ICT Showcase, Social Media Masterclass, NITDA session, National IT Competitions, Fellows’ Forum and Annual General Meeting.
Billed to attend from all over Nigeria, and outside the country are Academics, professionals, innovators, service providers, researchers, suppliers, consultants, students, youth innovators and entrepreneurs in the sector as well as policy makers in government and business people.
ntel, has officially moved away from its traditional voice and data business, unveiling a major transformation that will see it focus on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and technology-driven services.
As part of the consolidation process, ntel unveiled The Next Frontier, a transformation agenda planned to see the firm transform into an integrated digital infrastructure, connectivity and real estate enterprise.
Its new focus is a now BET Agenda – anchored on three growth pillars, Beam, Eden, and Titan and the drivers said that the strategy reflected ntel’s commitment to creating new opportunities through technology innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic asset optimisation.
The launch comes as ntel continues its journey towards regaining spectrum assets, while actively leveraging strategic partnerships to redefine innovation in the telecommunications industry and unlock new pathways for growth.
Built on the company’s BET Agenda – anchored on three growth pillars, Beam, Eden, and Titan – the strategy reflected ntel’s commitment to creating new opportunities through technology innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic asset optimisation.
The launch comes as ntel continues its journey towards regaining spectrum assets, while actively leveraging strategic partnerships to redefine innovation in the telecommunications industry and unlock new pathways for growth.
The company also showcased a portfolio of initiatives designed to strengthen its position as a future-focused infrastructure platform.
Under Beam, ntel announced the launch of WakaGo, a global e-SIM solution that delivers seamless connectivity for international travellers, alongside AirFibre, a high-speed fixed wireless broadband service designed to provide reliable internet access for businesses.
Under Titan, the company highlighted its growing infrastructure business focused on tower development, fibre connectivity, duct infrastructure, colocation services, and infrastructure sharing solutions that enable operators, enterprises, and technology providers to expand efficiently and sustainably.
A major highlight of the launch was Eden, ntel’s real estate development platform, which is transforming NatCom’s extensive property portfolio into high-value commercial and residential developments.
To further push its transformation, the company unveiled three flagship projects. They are Eden Place, a premium multi-storey commercial development in Lagos’ prime business district.
There is also Nova Place, a modern commercial development strategically located within Port Harcourt’s growing technology and business hub.
Terenna Court, a premium multi-storey residential apartment development in Abuja.
Together, these projects demonstrate ntel’s ambition to unlock the full potential of its real estate assets through strategic partnerships, innovative design, and long-term value creation.
Speaking at the unveiling of The Next Frontier, Soji Maurice-Diya, managing director/chief executive officer, NatCom Development and Investment Limited (trading as ntel), described the initiative as far more than a business transformation strategy.
According to him, it represents the company’s commitment to building an integrated ecosystem that connects people, empowers businesses, drives digital inclusion, and creates sustainable economic value for Nigeria.
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s future workforce with a high-impact virtual masterclass designed to equip young people with the practical skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The Initiative, held to commemorate World Youth Skills Day 2026, themed “Skills for a Shared Future – The NextGen Advantage,” presented a platform on which experienced Airtel professionals provided mentorship and coaching to undergraduates, interns, and recent graduates for the current realities of formal work environments.
Organised on the auspices of the Airtel Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), by which staff donate their time and expertise towards social programmes, the 90-minute virtual masterclass, which was attended by over 400 undergraduates and young professionals, extended the reach of the Foundation’s education and youth development programmes.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said investing in young people remains one of the most impactful ways to build Nigeria’s future economy.
He said, “The future of work is changing faster than ever before, and success will increasingly belong to those who are equipped with the right skills, the right mindset, and the confidence to adapt. As an organisation, we believe that empowering young people with practical digital and professional capabilities is an investment in Nigeria’s future competitiveness.
Through our Employee Volunteer Programme, our people are sharing not just knowledge, but real industry experience to help shape careers, unlock opportunities, and prepare the next generation to lead in a digital world.”
Unlike traditional career seminars, the masterclass adopted an interactive learning model that offered participants the option to select specialised breakout sessions aligned with personal interests and career aspirations.
In his keynote remarks titled The Next Gen Advantage, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, noted that the future will be shaped by the skills to transform great ideas into impactful solutions.
He summed up the pathway to a future-ready career into five actions, namely learning continuously, solving problems, building a digital reputation, embracing Artificial Intelligence, and developing human skills.
“Technical knowledge remains important, but employers today are equally looking for adaptability, collaboration, communication, digital confidence, and the ability to learn continuously,” he said.
In the first general session titled Your Network is Your Net Worth, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, Director, Human Resources and Administration, Airtel Nigeria, charged attendees to build character. The second general session themed Your Money, Your Future, delivered tips on budgeting and financial discipline was facilitated by Olakunbi Osigbesan, Head, Treasure, Smartcash PSB.
Following the general sessions were five breakout rooms, in which attendees were offered curated guides designed to develop contemporary workplace competencies.
The first session, Digital Transformation and Growth, led by Oyebowale Akideinde, General Manager, Digital and Innovation, Airtel Nigeria, presented a mechanism to leverage digital platforms for visibility and opportunity creation.
The CV Clinic and Interview Masterclass, which was led by Chidera Okoye, HR Outsourcing Lead, Airtel Nigeria, discussed practical recruitment strategies, including applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly CVs, and the STAR interview framework.
A third session on Communication and Personal Branding, delivered by Sam Adeoye, Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, focused on value presentation, executive communication, and earned visibility, built on “V.I.R.A.L.”, a mnemonic device created for the attendees by the facilitator.
The programme also featured a dedicated session titled AI as Your Superpower, presented by Ezenwa Agbanusi, IT Governance Executive at Airtel Nigeria, in which participants discussed prompt engineering and AI-powered tools for enhanced learning, creativity, and workplace performance.
Corporate Social Responsibility Lead at Airtel Nigeria, Victoria Ndu, led the fifth breakout room on Emotional Intelligence, with a guide on building a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) for improved workplace and business performance.
By connecting future professionals directly with industry experts, the company continues to support the development of a workforce equipped to participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy and contribute to shared prosperity.
Meta has announced new safety measures that will notify parents when teenagers using its artificial intelligence assistant show possible signs of suicide or self-harm during conversations.
The company said the initiative is aimed at ensuring age-appropriate AI experiences while helping parents provide timely support to children who may be in emotional distress.
Under the new feature, parents using Instagram’s parental supervision tools will receive alerts if Meta AI detects that a teen’s conversation indicates a potential risk of suicide or self-harm.
Meta said the alerts would be based on signals developed in collaboration with mental health experts and would include resources to help parents respond appropriately.
According to the company, all conversations flagged by its AI system will undergo manual review before any notification is sent to parents to minimise false alerts.
Meta said that where a teen’s intentions remain unclear, it would err on the side of caution by informing supervising parents.
The company also announced plans to introduce a system that would enable it to alert emergency responders when conversations with Meta AI suggest that a user—whether a teenager or an adult—may be at imminent risk of taking their own life.
It said the initiative builds on its existing suicide prevention efforts across Facebook and Instagram, where the company already notifies emergency services about credible suicide threats.
Meta disclosed that it made more than 19,000 referrals to emergency responders worldwide in the past year, leading to welfare checks on individuals considered to be at risk.
To improve the quality of its responses, the technology company said it consulted more than 75 clinicians specialising in adolescent mental health to review how Meta AI responds to prompts relating to suicide and self-harm.
The experts evaluated hundreds of AI interactions and provided recommendations on making responses more empathetic while directing teenagers to professional support and trusted adults.
Meta said it had incorporated the recommendations into its AI system to ensure more supportive and age-appropriate conversations.
The company also announced that its stricter Limited Content setting for Instagram Teen Accounts would now apply to Meta AI conversations.
According to Meta, the setting further limits the types of conversations teenagers can have with the AI assistant by declining to respond to a broader range of sensitive prompts.
The parental alert feature is already available to supervising parents in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, while global rollout is expected before the end of the year.
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