News
Babachir Lists Buhari’s Expectations from ICT Professionals
Federal government has disclosed her readiness to partner the ICT sector in building applications to tackle multifaceted challenges facing the economy.
Engineer Babachir Lawal, secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the remark during a courtesy call on him in his office, by a delegation of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) led by the President, Professor Adesola Aderounmu.
The SGF’s message was re-echoed by Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, permanent secretary (Political) at the Presidency, during Aderounmu’s investiture as the 13th President of the Society held in Lagos at the weekend.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the SGF, who is also a member of the NCS, had told the delegates that in the era of change, the federal government believes that any economy not IT driven is primitive, hence every aspect of the nation’s economy and endeavour requires IT applications for productivity.
She said, “The President believes as a person, he might not have the capacity, but he has articulate people to rely on in driving the change mantra in four key areas including building an economy all of us will be proud of; fight corruption to a standstill; provide security and create employment opportunities for our teeming youths. The FG is looking at these directions with IT as major solution.
“There are many areas of governance that require IT interventions. Now, the federal government is not looking at individual solutions, rather a collective or industry constituted solutions.
In other words, it is the body like the Nigeria Computer Society (NSC) that the Federal Government hopes to work with due to the integrity it has created for itself over the years”.
On the headship of the Ministry of Communication Technology, Odusote said the SGF unequivocally informed the NCS delegation that, although nomenclature is not the problem, however, there is need for reinventing the Ministry’s set objectives for improved contributions to the economy.
Mrs Ibuku on her part urged the IT professionals to start engaging their brains and ensure youths are given adequate representations in future engagements, conferences and programmes.
“It is important we start engaging our brains and think of how to make best use of the opportunity we have now to engage the government for national development. At the same time, we the youths deserve adequate representation at least 45% representation during conferences and programmes organized by NCS because the future of the industry and the country deepens on them. NCS has golden opportunity,” the Permanent Secretary Said.
During the visit, Professor Adesola Aderounmu, president of NCS reiterated the members’ readiness to partner with the FGN in putting the country more firmly in the global IT map.
“This meeting is therefore an opportunity to immediately lay emphasis on a few critical issues for the benefit of our dear country:
Professionalism In Governance
“SGF Sir, as a professional to the core with immense experience in private and public sectors, we welcome your appointment which is in furtherance of our belief that the much awaited change is here.
“The Communication Technology Ministry, with other IT agencies in Nigeria, if well managed, is able to resolve Nigeria job crises and further create wealth for the nation similar to the IT revolution going on in India.
“Hence there is the urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to:
*Consider the appointment of seasoned IT professionals (registered members of NCS and CPN) to head the Ministry of Communication Technology and other IT agencies in the country;
*Give priority to the use of registered local IT professionals and registered local IT companies to execute IT jobs;
*Appoint seasoned IT professionals on the boards of MDAs to maximize and deepen the benefits of electronic governance and digital transformation in Nigeria;
*Direct BPP to amend the pre-qualification requirements for IT projects to include Evidence of registration with CPN and NCS in addition to the newly introduced pre-qualification requirements such as evidence of registration with PENCOM, and evidence of remittance of fund to ITF;
*Mandate MDAs to appoint IT professionals as directors of IT, direct all MDAs to establish IT career structure if not yet in place, implement the use of CPN registration as a condition to employ IT professional staff in MDAs to level 10 as approved and gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (the Federal Government already implemented this condition for professionals in Engineering, Health, etc.);
*Mandate NCS in collaboration with NITDA to supervise all IT projects to be implemented in Nigeria.
IT Penetration
Aderounmu said NCS believes there is an urgent push for comprehensive broadband access all over the country; implementation and monitoring of local content policy to encourage MDAs to patronize indigenous software and hardware; establishment of IT parks using Public-Private-Partnership models and establishment of Digital Centres in all the 774 LGAs in collaboration with the State Governments.
Security
He said that NCS concurs with President Mohammadu Buhari on the harmonization of the national database for Nigeria.
“In addition we call for: Urgent deployment of IT to tackle Boko Haram and terrorism in Nigeria (NCS is ready to provide practical solutions using IT to solve the problem), and collaboration of critical stakeholders with NCS in pushing the details and implications of the cybercrime Act into the public domain, and begin full implementation,” he said.
He said the role of professional bodies in the attainment of economic development in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.
“National policies, political, economic or financial, can only make the desired impact and make our dear country great, if implemented by qualified persons. We assure you that at Nigeria Computer Society, our doors are perpetually opened towards achieving the above briefly discussed issues of Professionalism in Governance, IT Penetration and Security,” the NCS President said.
Atte Ayodeji, a Nigerian computer scientist,has developed an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting, counting, grouping and generating healthy hair follicles during hair transplant procedures, an innovation that earned him the Best Innovative Technology award.
Atte Ayodeji
Ayodeji also graduated with a Distinction in his Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Birmingham City University on Friday, adding another milestone to an impressive academic year.
Beyond his award-winning hair transplant innovation, the Nigerian researcher developed a system and framework on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as a professional responsibility in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
His dissertation received a silver award at the PGXPO2026 Winter, further highlighting the impact of his research in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare.
Sunday Dare, special adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, celebrated Ayodeji’s achievements in a post on X, recalling how he first met him in 2019 during his National Youth Service.
“In 2019 when I became a Minister of the Republic, I met a young man of medium height, genteel with penetrating eyes: Atte Ayodeji. His words rarely come out and he could easily be passed by unnoticed. But I noticed him especially when my SA Kemi Areola brought him to me asking my approval for him to do his Youth Service in my office. I approved. From then on he was unstoppable. His brilliance shown and he developed skills beyond his frame.”
Highlighting Ayodeji’s recent accomplishments, Dare congratulated him saying, “Congratulations Atte. I am proud of you!”
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power, has said that the federal government plans to end power sector subsidies from 2027 and that there are no immediate plans for tariff increases.
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power
The minister told journalists during the media interactive session at the weekend that the government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of efforts to address mounting liabilities in the power sector.
He explained that the planned removal forms part of the broader reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector, while tackling the financial challenges confronting the industry.
According to the minister, despite the planned subsidy withdrawal, there are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, reassuring consumers that the government is not considering a tariff hike in the short term.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
SERAP Asks Tinubu to Probe Alleged N6.79Bn Missing Police Funds, Firearms
FCT Court Awards Ex-Customers N15m against Stanbic IBTC over Data Privacy Breach
CBN Exposes over 13,000 BVNs Tied to Fraud as Banks Tighten Security
Atte, Nigerian Develops AI Algorithm for Hair Transplants
Dare Tackles Onaiyekan over Criticism of Tinubu, Says Economic is Working
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
Tokenization, Blockchain Technology will Transform Financial Institutions – IMF
Broadcasting3 days agoDavido Shares Past Suicidal Thoughts, Drops Oriadé Album
E-Business3 days agoHow Temu Helped a Madagascan Vanilla Family Business Sell Direct to Consumers Across Europe
News3 days agoCisco Explores AI for Nigeria Farmers
News3 days agoAfCFTA Urges Africa to Stop Exporting Raw Materials
General News3 days agoMTN Nigeria Posts N707.5bn H1 Profit, Declares N26 Interim Dividend
E-Business3 days ago82% of Organizations Concerned about AI Risks Even as Adoption Accelerates – Survey Reveals
General News3 days agoGavi Okays $500m for Vaccines, PHCs in Nigeria
E-Business3 days agoFG Must Consider Data Security, Sovereignty in 3MTT Initiative – Stakeholders