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Lawmaker Lauds Microsoft, Supports Localising Technology-in-Education

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Mohammed Mahmud
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Mohammed Mahmud, a Nigerian lawmaker has extolled Microsoft’s leadership role (both hardware and software ) in technological revolution in education.

Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek at the Inaugural BETT Middle East Leadership Forum & Expo, held in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council at Intercontinental Abu Dhabi, from 6 to 7 April, said that he will work with other legislators to ensure adequate policies are in place to support the use of technology in teaching and learning in the country.

Bett is the global meeting place for the education technology community. Through a series of world class events, Bett’s mission is to promote the discovery of technology and knowledge to enhance lifelong learning. Bett embraces innovative solutions that inspire, in order to shape and improve the way people learn from the classroom to the boardroom.

Mahmud representing Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said, “Sincerely, the BETT 2016 conference was educative including the principal partner- Microsoft Corporation.

“What we learnt here are eye opening and impactful; as we return home (Nigeria), I will put up a team to assess how we can localize some of the things we learnt here. Truly and as advised by one of the speakers, we may not be able to do everything same time, but we will be doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t act now.

“The team will tropicalize what we have seen here; if there is a need for legislations, we will not hesitate to call the attention of other honourasble members of the House of Representatives to that effect.

Harnessing Relevant Contents to Boost Education in Nigeria
“Let me tell you here, categorically, the Federal Government of Nigeria has directed that data collected by several government agencies be put together in the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC’s) database. At the moment, people may not appreciate what that implies for education in the country, but as technology-in-education becomes more ubiquitous, such data will form very critical content for researches and learning. Whatever technology we are bringing into our education system has to be localized; in such way, our people will benefit from it,” the Honourable said.

Partnerships
He added that government, really, needs to partner with technology providers like Microsoft which has demonstrated enough passion for educational developments in the Middle East and Africa, to be specific.

He said, “Our problems are multifaceted such as lack of adequate power supply, internet connectivity and all that, but I am happy that Microsoft and other service providers are coming up with power efficient devices. At that point, government should ‘cash’ on this and integrate technology into the education system in the country”.

Appropriating More Budgets for Education
He said that education deserves adequate budgetary provision to meet the current needs and help set the youths on the path for global competitiveness.

“Well, it is not actually what I think as a person on appropriating adequate funds for education. The United Nations charter through the UNESCO had advised for specific minimum percentage for education in countries’ budgets. And the present government in Nigeria is giving education a priority compared to other budgets. We believe that subsequent budgets will even benefit education more.

Motivating The Teachers
“Technology does not operate in a vacuum, so to say. Therefore the place of teachers cannot be over emphasized. Through constant training and retraining, improved welfare packages, improved conditions of service and the provision of relevant technologies or gadgets to aid teaching and learning; these are critical in repositioning our education system. The teachers need to be brought to page with the technological advancements in the system. Honestly, any teacher who fails to adapt to technology should be shown the way out of the system”, he said.     

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras across identified flashpoints in Plateau State as part of urgent measures to address the worsening security situation in the state.

FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

The President gave the directive during an emergency visit to Plateau on Thursday, where he held a brief stakeholders’ meeting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport following the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, where at least 28 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.

Tinubu also approved the formation of a delegation of key stakeholders to engage in further deliberations on lasting solutions to the security challenges in the state.

He condoled with families of the victims and directed that support be provided to cushion their losses.

President Bola Tinubu while expressing deep sympathy to families of victims said the installation of surveillance cameras was part of a deliberate move towards addressing the kind of attacks that befell residence of the recent attack in the State.

In his remarks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang appreciated the President’s visit and show of concern, but expressed worry over the recent wave of attacks in the state, describing the situation as disturbing and requiring urgent attention.

The meeting had in attendance, former Governors, serving and former National and State Assembly members, traditional rulers, government appointees as well as relatives of those killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack.


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FG Rolls Out N12Bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

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Federal Government yesterday unveiled a N12 billion investment in digital economy research, marking a strategic shift towards knowledge-driven development as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital landscape.

FG Rolls Out N12bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

Declaring the launch of the National Digital Economy Research Clusters under the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative mobilises over 200 researchers from universities and research institutions nationwide to produce data-driven solutions for pressing national challenges.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Tijani described the programme as an essential complement to infrastructure expansion, including the ongoing deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country.

He stressed that sustainable growth in the digital sector now hinges on robust research, innovation and evidence-based policies rather than infrastructure alone.

“As Nigeria expands its digital economy, attention is shifting from infrastructure to the knowledge that drives it,” the minister stated, adding that the sector was emerging as a major contributor to national GDP.

The research clusters will tackle critical areas including connectivity, digital public infrastructure, skills development, job creation, online safety and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Tijani explained that the project aims to bolster Nigeria’s research capacity while ensuring local insights guide policy and technology adoption.

The Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating to synchronise academic research with national priorities and advance specialised training.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, underscored universities’ evolving role as hubs of innovation and problem-solving beyond traditional learning.

The BRIDGE project aligns with broader government strategies to promote digital inclusion, spur economic growth and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.

Observers note that the programme’s impact will depend on effectively converting research findings into implementable policies across sectors.

For the administration, the message is clear: a resilient digital economy demands not just infrastructure, but the intelligence to power it.


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Myitura Launches Women-Focused Healthcare Financing Solutions to Bridge Access Gap

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In commemoration of Women’s Month, health-tech platform Myitura has released a new white paper addressing the critical gaps in healthcare financing for women in Nigeria.

Titled “Closing the Gap: Healthcare Financing for Women in Nigeria,” the report highlights how high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage, and socio-economic factors continue to prevent women from accessing timely healthcare.

According to the report, over 70% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria are paid out-of-pocket, disproportionately affecting women who often delay care due to financial and social constraints.

“When women can afford to take care of their health early, we don’t just save lives; we strengthen families, communities, and the economy,” said Chialuka Kelechi, MyItura’s Chief of Staff.

Key Insights from the White Paper:

  • Preventable conditions often escalate due to delayed care
  • Women are more likely to deprioritize their own health
  • Affordable, structured healthcare financing can significantly improve outcomes

Introducing a Women’s Health Initiative

As part of its commitment, Myitura is launching affordable women-focused health packages (powered by Mediloan), starting at ₦58,180, designed to encourage preventive care and early detection.

The package provides access to:

  • Fasting/Random Blood Sugar
  • Urinalysis
  • Electrolytes
  • Urea
  • Creatinine
  • Pap Smear Submitted slides
  • HIV I & II Rapid (Qualitative)
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening (Rapid)
  • Hepatitis C Virus Screening (Rapid)
  • Abdominopelvic Ultrasound
  • Ongoing support via the Myitura platform

Access:

Women can access these packages by downloading the Myitura app, which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.

Myitura is a health-tech platform focused on improving access to healthcare through financing, technology, and preventive care solutions.

 


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