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Ekanem, Uniben Student wins DigitalSENSE Student Essay contest 2013
Nyeneokpon Emmanuel Ekanem, a 400 level of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, has emerged winner of this year’s DigitalSENSE Africa Media Students Essay Contest,
with an entry which a judge said offers good connection between improving access to the Internet in Nigeria, cybercrime activities, need for Internet Governance, and a great call for caution to avoid hurting Internet freedom.
Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, executive director, Operations, DigitalSENSE Africa Media, said that Ekanem, who hails from Akwa-Ibom, scored the highest over-all marks among all the contests for the year as submitted by panel of judges made up of eminent Internet Governance crusaders in Nigeria.
Nweke said that the judges of the essay include: Mr. Gbenga Sesan, executive director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN); Emmanuel Edet, head, Internet Governance Unit, National IT Development Agency (NITDA); and Mrs. Titilayo Akinsanmi, chairperson of the judges and also Google Policy and Government Relations manager.
The essay was judged based on the annual theme of Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) which held in Lagos last March, tagged “Internet Governance and Cybersecurity in Nigeria.”
Mrs. Nweke, while commending the judges, congratulated Ekanem for this feat, and said that as the winner for 2013, Ekanem would attend the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) holding in Abuja on Tuesday, June 18 at Musa Yar’Adua Centre, as DigitalSENSE Student Ambassador on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) 2013.
She explained that Ekanem’s roles at NIGF 2013, would centre on championing the crusade based on this initiative to be more meaningful in Nigeria and for Nigerians as a shining example to other youth, mostly in the Youths Forum and Plenary at NIGF this year
.
One of the judges, Mr. Sesan, described Ekanem’s essay as a demonstration of knowledge of the theme and offers good connection between improving access to the Internet in Nigeria, cybercrime activities, need for Internet Governance, and a great call for caution to avoid hurting Internet freedom.
Reacting on his emergence, Ekanem said he was indeed very excited to learn that I had emerged the overall winner of that highly competitive essay contest.
In fact, at first, it sounded very unbelievable, but now, it is here and true and I am very grateful to the organizers and judges of the essay contest for a job well done.
He promised to focus on acquiring more knowledge at the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) on how to expand internet connectivity to millions who currently lack access to such without compromising the integrity and security of such.
“I will also make contributions based on my experiences, on how broadband infrastructure could be extended to remote communities and rural settlements to ensure that they too positively and advantageously harness the huge potential of the information superhighway to improve their lives,” he said.
He added that Internet governance in Nigeria, though commendable when compared with other African countries, leaves a lot to be desired. Citing cyber security as an issue of concern, for instance, lamented that more Nigerians fall prey to cyber criminals.
Ekanem, therefore, suggested that some deliberate effort should be expedited to ensure that the inputs of all stakeholders in internet business are synergized and directed towards enthroning a secured cyberspace.
He further advised Nigerian youths specifically on internet usage noting that internet has both positive and negative sides and people are at liberty to choose which side becomes relevant to them.
“The internet can make the next president as well as the next world acclaimed terrorist. It can also create a utopian society as well as a tumultuous society. All depends on the application. Therefore, youths should exploit the advantageous aspect of the internet to develop their capacities and relevance in the marketplace,” he said.
Maintaining that the youths should desist from all acts capable of undermining the internet`s credibility or harm a fellow user of the internet. This is the only way the positive gains of the internet can be made available to all global citizens.
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.
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