Alex Otti, governor, Abia State, has said that the N306 million grant, called NKATA, is to support technology driven businesses across the 17 local governments of the state.

Alex Otti, governor, Abia State at the launch of NKATA

The governor unveiled the programme while receiving the management team of Abia State Technology Skills Acquisition Centre (ATSAC) in Umuahia.

Governor Otti noted that the programme, a carefully targeted macroeconomic intervention, is capable of raising business productivity, strengthening local enterprises, widening the tax base, creating employment and accelerating the emergence of a technology-enabled economy across the 17 local government areas of the state, with a strong emphasis on youths, small businesses, entrepreneurship, innovation and digital transformation, adding that, “the grant could turn Abia’s small businesses into a new engine of growth.”

He explained that the N306 million intervention fund had already been earmarked for qualified beneficiaries who meet the programme’s requirements, expressing optimism that the initiative would produce a measurable impact.

He said: “I want to congratulate everyone. The N306 million is available, but beneficiaries must meet all necessary conditions. In a few months’ time, I want to hear that this intervention has yielded results, not just in monetary terms, but also in job creation, poverty reduction and empowerment of our people.”

The Abia governor said the programme aligns with his administration’s vision of building a productive, self reliant and innovation-driven economy.

The most significant aspect of NKATA, the governor stressed, is not even the amount involved, but its deeper economic meaning, which lies in the structure of the intervention, adding that: “The programme is not designed as an indiscriminate cash-distribution exercise in which beneficiaries simply receive money that may immediately disappear into pressing household consumption.

“Rather, ATSAC has explained that support will be channelled through technology service providers, software companies, hardware suppliers, internet service providers and business mentors, who will help to select businesses, acquire practical tools capable of improving operations, efficiency, competitiveness and growth.”

The PalmPay Young Stars initiative continues to create memorable experiences for children across public schools, and in celebration of Children’s Day, this year’s experience was made extra special for the young beneficiaries.

Recently, selected pupils were taken on a shopping experience, where they redeemed vouchers worth N50,000 on essential items of their choice.

Since its launch, the initiative has recognised and rewarded outstanding pupils in public schools with scholarships, school kits, and shopping vouchers, supporting their educational journey while encouraging academic excellence.

For many children, N50,000 worth of shopping can feel like a dream come true, a chance to grab everything in sight, fill carts with snacks, toys, and excitement.

But for the beneficiaries of the PalmPay Young Stars initiative, it became something more meaningful: a real-life lesson in financial responsibility.

After participating in a financial literacy workshop organized by PalmPay at the presentation ceremonies held at the various schools, the students were given their N50,000 shopping vouchers as part of their rewards under the PalmPay Young Stars program. The experience was designed not just to celebrate academic excellence, but also to teach the children how to make thoughtful financial decisions from an early age.

And when it was time to redeem their vouchers, the children put their knowledge to the test.

Rather than spending impulsively, many of the students carefully selected practical items that would support their education, personal needs, and families. School supplies, food items, household essentials, and useful daily necessities filled their carts, a reflection of the values discussed during the workshop. The financial literacy session introduced the students to basic money management.

It was a powerful reminder that financial literacy is not just for adults. When children are exposed to the right knowledge early, they begin to develop habits that can shape their future positively.

Through PalmPay Young Stars, PalmPay continues to go beyond rewards and scholarships by creating experiences that equip children with life skills, confidence, and opportunities to dream bigger.

YouTube says it will soon begin automatically detecting artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content and applying labels to such videos for viewers on the platform.

YouTube

The Google-owned video-sharing platform announced the move on Wednesday, saying it marks a shift from its earlier disclosure system that relied on creators to voluntarily indicate whether they used generative AI tools in producing content.

According to the company, the new system will automatically apply labels where its technology detects significant use of photorealistic AI, even if creators fail to disclose it.

“If a creator doesn’t specify whether or not they used AI, but our systems detect significant photorealistic AI use, we will now automatically apply a label,” YouTube said in a blog post.

The platform introduced AI disclosure guidelines in 2024, requiring creators to flag content generated using artificial intelligence tools. However, the rapid advancement of AI technology has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish AI-generated material from authentic content.

Recent tools such as Google’s Veo 3.1 and ByteDance’s Seedance have enabled users to create highly realistic AI-generated videos, raising concerns over misinformation and manipulated media online.

YouTube said creators would have the opportunity to appeal labels if they believed their content had been incorrectly flagged by the system.

The company also clarified that the labels would not affect how videos are recommended or distributed through its algorithm.

Other digital platforms, including Spotify, have also begun introducing measures to identify AI-generated content as the technology becomes more widespread across online services.

Industry analysts say the move reflects growing efforts by technology companies to improve transparency and help users identify synthetic media amid the global rise of generative AI tools.