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Microsoft Simplifies Technology with LLP
True to Microsoft’s promise that it would deliver Language Interface Packs that will make Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office packages more locally-relevant and easier to understand for Nigerian end users, all is now set for the national launch of the program slated for Abuja on May 29. The event commemorates with Nigeria Democracy Day and Microsoft has said the date was chosen to show the connection with democracy dividend as a direct deliverable of the Strategic Partnership between Microsoft and the federal government of Nigeria.
The launch to be done under the auspices of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua who will be represented by Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku , Honourable Minister of Science and Technology will be supported by Emmanuel Onyeje, Microsoft manager, Anglophone West Africa and Jummai Umar-Ajijola, Citizenship Lead, Anglophone West Africa while the language owner/zonal launch will be performed by Ooni of Ife for Ife Yoruba, Onitsha Igbo by the Obi of Onitsha, Sokoto Hausa by the Sultan of Sokoto, all to be done under the delight of students from select secondary schools and universities to be present at the launch.
As the global ICT sector continues on a growth trajectory, for many countries –whether in the developed or developing world, a digital divide exists between the sparsely populated areas and those densely populated areas such as major towns and cities. Some of the causes for this gulf have been identified as lack of local infrastructure to support traditional information technologies, commercial viability and sustainability of traditional information technologies and geography/ topology of the region making accessibility difficult.
Microsoft, known for the tradition of innovation aimed at increasing digital opportunities around the world has discovered that restricted access to technology, information, knowledge or education has social and economic consequences for a nation. It has observed also that people can be excluded from reaping the gains of technology because they simply do not understand the language of technology. It therefore introduced the Local Language Program in Nigeria incorporating Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba as part of the over 100 languages worldwide which it is localizing its product into. The target of the programme is to engender the digital inclusion and extensive reach and use of technology in our geographies. It provides people worldwide with an entry to technology in a language that is familiar and understands linguistic and cultural complexities.
Jummai Umar-Ajijola, Microsoft’s Citizenship Lead for Nigeria, had earlier reiterated that governments around the world are facing a great challenge in today’s global economy and harped on the need to quickly build a strong economy that can effectively participate in an increasingly-interconnected world.
“In an environment as diverse as Nigeria – with over 500 ethnic languages – the need to eliminate the language barrier around technology education is critical to the success of the efforts to bridge the digital divide.
“It is in the light of this need that Microsoft developed the Local Language Program to provide the tools and technologies required to develop, enhance, and expand local IT economies and to enable language groups of all sizes to participate in this growth,” she said.
This laudable objective of Microsoft is made possible by low-cost localization of Windows and Office solutions to create native language interfaces and the cultivation of partnerships with governments, language authorities, and universities to ensure software translations are keeping with the local culture and language
Microsoft started the localization process in Nigeria in 2005/2006 partnering with Allied Soft as the translators and Language Department of the University of Lagos as moderators.
The language programme is made up of three key components namely: a standard IT glossary that is translated into the local language made freely available, the Language Interface Pack – a native language desktop interface developed from the glossary, that once installed, translates the UI for Microsoft Office standard Edition 2007 and Windows Vista into the desired language and the development of local solutions like spelling checks, translation dictionaries, screen savers on top of the Language Interface Pack.
So far Microsoft is happy with the level of achievements of the programme made possible with thousands of partnerships it has with local governments and language experts around the world .This programme no doubt will go a long way in impacting IT to the society as complex ideas and notions will now be translated into simpler forms and experiences in one’s own language.
Honorable Lawan while representing the Speaker of House of Representatives during last year’s celebration of the International Mother Language Day in Abuja commended Microsoft for the continued efforts to grow a strong local IT industry to ensure that every citizen has fair and meaningful access to locally-relevant technology through the Local Language Program.
“Functional education and specialized training are the pre-requisites for a productive workforce, and good leaders. It is the only way to create a populace that is successful in all spheres of human life. All these cannot be achieved without understanding. This is the critical role that language plays…” Lawan said.
National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the nationwide digital registration of births and deaths under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system to strengthen legal identity management and improve demographic data.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lokoja on Tuesday, Mr Afolabi Yori, federal commissioner representing Kogi, said the initiative became operational nationwide on July 1, through the VitalReg platform.
Yori described the development as a landmark in Nigeria’s civil registration system, noting that it would modernise birth and death registration through a technology-driven platform that meets international standards.
He said the digital platform would improve service delivery, strengthen data integrity and ensure that every birth and death occurring in Nigeria was accurately documented and securely stored.
According to him, civil registration is more than an administrative process, as it provides reliable statistics that support public policy formulation, resource allocation and national development planning.
“Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, yet millions of births and deaths remain unregistered.
“Birth registration coverage currently stands at about 57 per cent nationwide, while death registration remains below 20 per cent,” he said.
The commissioner said that the commission had established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 local government areas and was working to expand the number to about 8,000.
He added that the commission was strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to improve the capacity of registration personnel and ensure prompt documentation of vital events through the VitalReg platform.
Yori said the platform would provide faster registration services, 24-hour online access, digital certificate issuance where applicable, and reduce paperwork, waiting time and unnecessary travel.
He disclosed that the platform was being operated under a Public-Private Partnership with Barnks-forte Technologies Ltd. as the commission’s technical partner to ensure system availability, cybersecurity and continuous technological improvement.
He called on parents, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to support the initiative by encouraging the prompt registration of births and deaths.
Earlier, Samuel Omonakpeme, director in Kogi, NPC State, described the commencement of the digital registration system as another milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system.
Omonakpeme stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16.9, which seeks to provide legal identity for all.
He appreciated the Federal Government, the leadership of the commission, UNICEF and other development partners for supporting the implementation of the initiative.
The state director also urged parents, guardians, health institutions, community leaders, religious organisations and the media to mobilise public support for the timely registration of all births and deaths.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that ICT personnel of the commission, led by Ehimoni Kolawole, conducted a live demonstration of the digital birth registration process using the VitalReg platform.
The demonstration showed that the registration process captures the biodata of both parents, while at least one parent must possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the registration of a newborn.
Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has alerted its customers to a fraudulent message circulating on social media, falsely claiming that electricity consumers can receive an additional 20 per cent bonus units when recharging their prepaid meters through unofficial channels.
In a statement issued by the company’s management on Monday, YEDC described the claim as false and urged customers to disregard the misleading information, stressing that it did not originate from the company.
According to the statement, YEDC does not offer bonus electricity units through individuals, agents, personal bank accounts, phone numbers, or social media contacts.
The company advised customers to purchase electricity tokens only through approved cashless payment platforms, including the YEDC Pay App, OPay, Interswitch, and other authorised vending channels, or to visit the nearest YEDC office for assistance.
YEDC also cautioned customers against sharing their meter details or personal information, or making payments to unauthorised persons claiming to represent the company.
The company further urged customers to rely exclusively on information disseminated through its official communication channels to avoid falling victim to fraud.
The management thanked customers for their continued cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to serving them.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that two foreign currency accounts opened in connection with the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) have remained inactive since their creation, with no funds deposited and no transactions recorded.
The revelation emerged on Monday during the ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the council.
Lawmakers are investigating allegations that the PFIPC was created and operated without a valid legal framework and outside the established procedures required for government agencies and institutions.
Appearing before the committee, representatives of both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) distanced their institutions from the establishment of the council.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stated that it neither created the council nor possessed the constitutional authority to establish federal agencies.
Representing the office, officials explained that the OHCSF is only responsible for approving administrative structures of government agencies after all necessary requirements have been fulfilled.
According to the office, records showed that the council submitted a request on August 6, 2025, seeking approval for its organisational structure.
However, the application was not approved because the required supporting documents were not attached.
The committee heard that despite the rejection of the request, officials linked to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)/PFIPC later appeared during the 2025 manpower budget defence exercise and sought approval for staffing and recruitment arrangements.
The office disclosed that the council informed government officials that its activities were being carried out largely through personnel seconded or deployed from other institutions.
Lawmakers were told that the council requested approval for a total of 314 positions. The figure consisted of 14 existing officers and an additional 300 proposed positions.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service further revealed that concerns later arose regarding documents presented by the council as evidence of its legal backing.
Officials told the committee that upon examination, the documents failed to display essential features expected of an enabling law or valid legal instrument establishing a government body.
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, head of the Civil Service of the Federation, also rejected claims that her office deployed civil servants to work for the council.
She maintained that the office did not assign personnel to the body and did not provide office accommodation for its operations.
According to her, matters relating to the creation, supervision and oversight of government agencies fall under the responsibilities of other relevant institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Central Bank of Nigeria also provided details regarding accounts linked to the council.Nigerian current events
Hamisu Abdullahi, director at the apex bank, who represented the CBN Governor before the committee, explained that the bank opened two foreign currency accounts following a formal request from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
He told lawmakers that the request was received on July 30, 2025, and instructed the bank to create a United States dollar domiciliary account and a Pound Sterling domiciliary account.
Abdullahi stressed that the CBN only opens accounts for government agencies after receiving official authorisation from the Accountant-General’s office.
However, he disclosed that the accounts never became operational because the council failed to provide authorised signatories required for activation.
As a result, both accounts remained dormant from the day they were opened.
He informed the committee that neither account had received deposits nor processed withdrawals. The accounts also recorded no foreign exchange allocations, remittances, inflows or outflows.Governor election news
According to him, the balances in both accounts remain at zero.
The CBN official further stated that the council did not engage directly with the apex bank regarding the management or operation of the accounts after they were created.
Following the submissions, members of the committee demanded more information as part of efforts to determine the full scope of the council’s activities.
Hon. Abdulmalik Danga, chairman of the committee, directed the Central Bank to submit comprehensive records relating to both the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
The committee requested details covering the opening of the accounts, their operational history and any information connected to related banking activities.
Lawmakers also instructed the CBN to work with commercial banks to identify and provide records of any accounts linked to the entities under investigation.
However, the committee is expected to continue its hearings as more government agencies and officials appear before lawmakers to provide explanations on the controversial council and the circumstances surrounding its operations.
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