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Minister Says Nigeria Must Act Fast to Catch up with New Technology
Federal Ministry of Education says there is an urgent need for Nigeria to catch up with the fast pace of technological advancement in order to remain relevant in the comity of nations.
Prof. Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education, said this at the inauguration of UNITes CiSCO “Internet of Things’’ innovation centre at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Yaba yesterday in Lagos.
The `Internet of Things’ (IoT), refers to the ever-growing network of physical objects with IP address for internet connectivity and communication that occurs between them and other internet-enable devices.
“We are in a world where we are running a race with technology and as it is today, human beings are almost being relegated to the background by robots.
“Today, technology has taken over as most of the jobs being done in developed countries are being done by robots and if care is not taken, in the next 20 years, almost all humans will be out of jobs.
“However, our hope still remains that technology is man’s creation, we can always make computers subject to human dictates.
“ We must strive to rise up to the various challenges thrown to us by technology and strive to move with the trend, otherwise, we find ourselves on the feet of comity of nations,’’ he said.
Anwukah noted that the internet has come to stay, as it is entrenching itself as a basic commodity that Nigerians cannot do without if the country was to be in the forefront of technological changes in the fast changing world.
According to him, it is imperative that the nation embraces the IoT innovation as well as consciously make efforts to bring about changes in a digitized form.
He added that the IoT was also expected to be effective even in the teaching and learning system.
Anwukah noted that the Federal government had made deliberate investments in the area of Science and Technological development through education.
“It is therefore needful to state here that no effort is enough and thus, collaborative efforts are welcomed so as to achieve gains in the area.
“In the zeal of this amazing feat, it is usually anticipated that the students and teachers alike will take advantage of the benefits the centre will offer, thus, also encourage all to ensure that the aim of this project is not thrown over board.
“I want to thank UNITes CISCO for their efforts in partnering with the Federal government to move the nation to greater heights in technology,’’ he said.
He assured that government would consider the replication of the centre in its technical colleges and Federal Universities of Technology across the country.
Mr Tayo Olatayo, initiator and Chief Executive, UNITes CISCO, said that the objective of the IoT centre was to digitalize both the communities and the homes.
According to him, the centre will seek to create technology solutions that will unlock opportunities at a speed of rapid prototyping as well as showcase what is possible with digital transformation and IoT.
He said that it would also raise a new generation of technology creators who would become problem solvers and job creators.
Olatayo said that it would also help local and global organizations improve business outcomes by making the most of smart data and digitalization.
He added that the UNITes CISCO Networking Academy has concluded arrangements to establish a network of IoT innovation centres in Secondary Schools and Universities across the country.
Earlier in his address, Rev. Chris Ugorji, Principal of the college said that the innovation was an intelligent connection of things where a community or an environment would become completely digitalized.
He noted that elsewhere in the developed world, a lot of innovations in technology were being deployed in a number of activities such as control of erosion, fighting poverty as well as arresting climate changes.
“Today is a memorable day in the history of this school because UNITes CISCO has opened this innovation centre in FSTC and it is particularly remarkable because our school is the first in sub-Saharan Africa to have an IoT centre.
“Therefore, our teachers and students will not only be global community of problem solvers but also IoT creators,’’ Ugorji said.
George Akume, secretary to the Government of the Federation, has raised alarm over the activities of a criminal syndicate allegedly cloning his voice and using it to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of Federal Government appointments.
George Akume, SGF
In a statement issued by Yomi Odunuga, his special adviser on Media and Publicity, on Thursday, Akume said the fraudsters have impersonated him in audio calls and text messages, targeting high-profile individuals and soliciting payments ranging from ₦5 million to ₦15 million in exchange for phantom political positions.
“From information available to the office, the fraudsters cloned the voice of the SGF, using it to solicit money in return for federal appointments,” the statement read.
The SGF further revealed that the scammers not only cloned his voice but also spoofed the phone numbers of other high-profile individuals to give credibility to their fraudulent scheme.
“These scammers attach bank account details to messages sent to victims and request them to send their CVs to cloned emails,” Odunuga added.
The statement noted that the fraudsters have been operating through both traditional bank accounts and fintech mobile wallets, complicating efforts to trace the financial trails.
Distancing himself from the illicit scheme, Akume stressed that appointments to Federal Government boards and parastatals are transparent and not for sale under any guise.
The statement noted, “Senator Akume emphasized that the appointment processes for Nigerians into boards and parastatals are transparent and verifiable, urging individuals not to pay any money in expectation of securing a position.”
The Office of the SGF confirmed that it has notified relevant security agencies, urging members of the public to report suspicious calls or messages to law enforcement.
“The Office of the SGF strongly advises Nigerians to report the activities of these fraudulent people to the authorities while taking all precautionary steps necessary to avoid being victims of th
Ola Olukoyede, executive chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has denied claims that he compelled Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to step down from his role.
Bayo Ojulari,
The allegations stemmed from an August 2, 2025, online publication which alleged that Olukoyede and Adeola Ajayi, director general, Department of State Services (DSS), pressured Ojulari into signing a resignation letter during a closed-door meeting in Abuja.
The report also suggested that Ojulari was interrogated over his purported links to Olatimbo Ayinde, British-Nigerian oil mogul, who is reportedly close to key figures in the present administration.
In a follow-up story, the news outlet further claimed Ojulari was later invited to the Presidential Villa, where First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu reportedly opposed his resignation.
Responding to the allegations, Dele Oyewale, spokesman, EFCC< issued a statement on Wednesday on behalf of the Commission, noting that Olukoyede, through his legal counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), described the publications as defamatory and injurious to his integrity.
“The publications and the imputations conveyed by them are so damning and cannot be ignored or treated with levity,” the statement quoted.
Olukoyede denied any suggestion that he was acting at the behest of Ayinde or that his actions were influenced by external political figures.
A letter addressed to the editor of the publication, signed by Olumide-Fusika, reiterated the gravity of the claims and insisted on corrective measures.
“He, therefore, demanded that the medium acknowledge your wrongdoing, expressly admit that what you published and imputed against my client are false, apologise for it unreservedly and retract and pull down the stories from your newspaper website and social media handles,” the statement added.
Olukoyede said the story portrayed him as “someone that has betrayed and subverted public trust by submitting the authority of his public office and trust as Chairman of the EFCC to the dictates and directives of one Olatimbo Ayinde.”
Labelling the report as entirely fabricated, Olukoyede demanded an official apology and complete removal of the story from the outlet’s digital platforms within 48 hours.
PalmPay reinforced its commitment to data protection and youth empowerment with a ground-breaking partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to launch the Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training (YDPAT) Program, which is targeted at equipping over 1,000,000 Nigerian youths digitally over 3 years.
The training program, commissioned last week at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja, will focus on providing youths with the right knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital landscape safely. With over 70% of the Nigerian population consisting of youths, this is an important move to foster trust, security and youth-focused innovation.
Speaking at the launch, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, commended PalmPay’s partnership in the actualisation of the program and described YDPAT as a bold step toward building a digitally literate and security-conscious generation.
In his words, “This is about building a privacy-first generation, one that is inclusive, future-facing, and globally competitive.” He also emphasised the low awareness of the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023 and the critical shortage of certified Data Protection Officers (DPOs), despite over 500,000 data controllers operating in the country.
This position was equally supported by PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr Chika Nwosu, who stated how data protection is as important as innovation in tech. He noted that PalmPay integrates privacy into every stage of its product development, ensuring that user information is safe.
Beyond ensuring data protection, PalmPay is committed to empowering young Nigerians with real opportunities for growth, with mentorship and internship placements for top-performing participants. It has led several youth-oriented initiatives, including the Purple Woman campaign, and Passing the Baton CSR for thousands of youths and women in urban and rural communities.
With a drive to achieve nationwide digital literacy, PalmPay is championing campaigns in Northern Nigeria, with more activations planned across various states.
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