News
DigitalPR-Wire Named Official Media Partner for NIS 2017
DigitalPR-Wire’s innovative approach to media and PR strategy has gained more attraction as the platform has been selected as the official media partner for Nigeria Innovation Summit (www.innovationsumit.ng).
NIS is an an annual event that brings together stakeholders from different sectors of Nigeria’s economy to share ideas, trends, and opportunities around technology, innovation and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, and scheduled to hold from September 7-8, 2017 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
DigitalPR-Wire (www.digitalprwire.com) was selected, according to Emerging Media, Conveners of the Summit, to help promote the Innovation Summit meant to educate Nigerians to apply innovation across all sectors to drive economic growth and sustainable development through emerging technologies, research & development, entrepreneurship, commercialization and investments as key drivers of an innovation ecosystem.
DigitalPRWire is an on-demand for Online PR, Social Communication, Influence Marketing and Online Broadcast platform, specifically designed for online press release distribution, news and mention monitoring, analytics and a full range of social media communication solutions.
“We are glad that two organizations that are leading the drive for Technology innovation in Nigeria and Africa are collaborating for the 2017 Nigeria Innovation Summit. We have seen your organisation’s robust work and platform for digital innovation in Africa and are convinced of a great outcome working together. This Summit is about value creation and we see DigitalPR-Wire as positioned to deliver on this mandate, Mr. Kenneth Omeruo, MD/CEO, Emerging Media, while speaking on the need for such Summit at this time, “Nigeria has the potentials to be a global economic power if we embrace and invest heavily in technology and innovation.
“Every sector in Nigeria’s economy needs disruptive ideas driven by technology. Right now we are nowhere in the global innovation index and the world is moving at a very high speed. It is instructive to note that Tunisia ranked 45th and Morocco 50th as the only African countries mentioned in the 2017 Bloomberg Innovation Index, which scores economies using factors including research and development intensity and the concentration of high-tech companies. South Korea, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Finland are the top five countries in that index. I think there is so much to learn from these countries. We should be implementing policies and investments that will encourage technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The Nigeria Innovation Summit 2017 is offering a platform to engage stakeholders across all sectors on the need for such.”
He further emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to invest in innovation, research and technology development, in order to become an innovation-driven nation and hence, improve in the Global Innovation Index ranking, attract foreign investments and boost the economy and life of the people.
“Therefore, we are proud to announce CIHAN Group, operators of Digitalprwire as our official Media and PR Agency for this year’s Summit. We have seen their robust and disruptive work and platform for digital innovation in Africa and are convinced of a great outcome working together”, Mr. Omeruo said.
The 2017 Summit under the theme ‘Transforming Nigeria’s Economy through Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship’, Mr. Omeruo said, provides opportunities for the 36 States, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government as well as Corporate bodies to showcase their agenda for digital transformation and innovation agenda.
He described the Summit as a platform that creates awareness on the need for Open Innovation in Nigeria where the government, industries across all sectors, academia, entrepreneurs collaborate to solve the problems of economic growth in Nigeria.
On his part, Mr. Celestine Achi, founder of Cihan Group, the developers of DigitalPR-Wire, expressed delight with the choice made by Emerging Media Group towards DigitalPR-Wire propagating the Summit.
“We understand the goals this Summit sets to achieve which are in line with our target in this market. As a country, we cannot stop innovation. It is natural for people to venture into new dimensions or/and approaches to doing things. So, we are happy to work with Emerging Media to achieving this aim,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Tony Ajah, the Director of Nigeria Innovation Summit said that the 2-day Summit will feature Keynote Speeches, Panel Discussions, Exhibitions, Workshops, and the Nigeria Innovation Awards. The expected delegates for the Summit are Government Representatives, International Organisations, Investors, Business leaders, CEOs of Companies and Organisations, Innovators, Academics, Start-ups and Entrepreneurs.
The Summit Sessions will cover sub-topics as: How to transform the challenging economy in Nigeria through Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; How Nigeria can build a sustainable Innovation Ecosystem and become more Innovative; Exploring the Concept of Open Innovation; Innovation in Telecommunications, Infrastructure Development and the Mobile Ecosystem; Innovation in the Manufacturing Industry and Innovation through Emerging Technologies; Big Data, Data Centres, Cloud Computing, IoT, Wearable Technologies, Cyber-security, Robotics, Virtual Reality and Smart Cities.
Other areas are Innovation in Power and Renewable Energy; Innovation in Oil and Gas; Agriculture; Banking, Finance, Funding and Investment; e-Commerce Industry; Small Businesses, Start-ups, Entrepreneurship Community; the Academic Community; Public Health and the Health Industry and Innovation in Media, Public Relations, Social Good and the Entertainment Industry.
Over 400 delegates are expected to attend this year’s Summit. And the Summit offers organizations a platform to connect with these top decision makers, cutting across all sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
“We have confirmed international participation from the following organizations: International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) UK, Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS), South Africa, African Innovation Foundation and great support from Ideation International Inc., USA, and the Israel Start-up Network.
Delegates for this year’s Summit will learn from leading innovation ecosystems around the world and from innovation experts who will facilitate the sessions. “The States have an opportunity to showcase and promote her innovation at the Summit. So, we urge them to visit www.innovationsumit.ng for more details.
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
Nigeria and Israel yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in research, technology and innovation as both countries pledged to expand partnerships that will drive entrepreneurship, commercialise research and accelerate economic development.
The commitment was made at the closing ceremony and innovation showcase of the I-FAIR Cohort of the Israel-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (I-FAIR) in Abuja, where the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, announced that funding had been secured for the fifth edition of the programme, scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Freeman described I-FAIR as a practical demonstration of the growing partnership between both countries, saying it had enabled Nigerian innovators to develop local solutions to national challenges through Israeli mentorship and expertise.
He said, “This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It’s been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation.”
The envoy noted that the initiative had brought together government, academia, investors, engineers and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Announcing the continuation of the programme, he said, “I am so proud to stand here today and announce that we have secured with our partners funding for I-FAIR 5 and I-FAIR 5 will be launching in October 2026.”
Freeman said the relationship between Nigeria and Israel had grown significantly over the past four and a half years through cooperation in innovation, agriculture, healthcare, education, water management and technology.
He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between both countries would unlock greater opportunities for startups, research institutions and businesses.
According to him, “Israel brings experience and innovation, technology, agriculture, healthcare, cyber security, security and water management. Nigeria brings extraordinary talent, creativity, entrepreneurship and one of the most dynamic young populations anywhere in the world.”
He added, “I have no doubt that the best chapters of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Architect Sonny Echono, also reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation through strategic partnerships with Israel and other stakeholders.
He said the I-FAIR programme aligned with Nigeria’s priorities in food security, agriculture, medicine, technology, clean energy and the circular economy, adding that TETFund would continue supporting initiatives that promote research commercialisation.
Echono stressed that collaboration between government, academia and industry remained critical to translating research findings into products and services.
He said, “It is this critical linkage, especially between science, engineering, technology and innovation, and the productive sector that is critical for translating R&D results and inventions into finished products for socio-economic benefits of our people.”
He disclosed that TETFund was working with partners to establish innovation facilities in about 60 tertiary institutions and had created a student innovation fund that would provide up to ₦50 million to students with commercially viable ideas.
The TETFund boss also announced plans for a National Research Fair later this year, where innovators would showcase products before policymakers, financial institutions and investors to attract funding and commercial partnerships.
Paying tribute to the outgoing Israeli ambassador, Echono described Freeman as a strong bridge between Nigeria and Israel.
He said, “Nigeria is grateful for your service. You have been a strong bridge between our two countries.”
Earlier, Head of Programmes at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said sustainable economic development depended on building an innovation ecosystem that transforms ideas into successful businesses.
She noted that Innov8 Hub had supported more than 3,000 innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, helping them convert research into products, startups and investment-ready ventures.
Aina said, “Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of brilliant minds, what we need are stronger pathways that help those ideas become products, businesses, and opportunities that improve life.”
She thanked the Embassy of Israel and TETFund for their continued support in strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
According to her, “Building an innovation-driven economy requires collaboration, long-term commitment and shared purpose.”
History as Lagos Becomes First Nigerian State to Launch Greenhouse Gas Registry
AMCON Puts ntel Up for Sale, Seeks Investors
Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Collaboration on Power Plants
AI Investment Gap Threatens Africa’s Future Growth
UNN to Partner Firm on AI, Smart Mobility Innovation Centre
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
Tokenization, Blockchain Technology will Transform Financial Institutions – IMF
From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
News2 days agoSee Verified 20 Countries Nigerian Passport Holders Can Travel Visa-Free
E-Business2 days agoReport Says Cybercriminals Deploy Malware to Hijack Crypto Wallets, Monitor Browsers Telegram
Telecom2 days agoSubscribers, Telcos Warn FCCPC over Airtime Lending Enforcement
Telecom2 days agoNCC, REA Partner to Cut Telecom Costs with Renewable Energy
E-Business2 days agoNPC Opens 131 Births, Deaths Registration Centres in Anambra
General News2 days agoAfDB, Nigeria Urge African Control of Mineral Resources
General News2 days agoLagos Chamber Opposes 21 Percent Pension Contribution, Warns of Job Losses
Telecom2 days agoNigeria Pushes for United African Front Ahead of Global Telecoms Elections