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Misappropriation of Funds Greatest of Science & Tech-Jackson

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Charles Ifedi is the managing director of Verve International
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Sunny Jackson is the managing director/CEO of Holgate Communications, a thriving IT consultancy, training and event-packaging company. He has worked with different communications company. He spoke to funmi ilesanmi.

Operations
We are a firm that is into marketing and brand consultant, public relations and human resources. We train people on computer systems, package events and concept development.
Incorporating IT into Primary and secondary schools curriculum
IT courses should be introduced from the primary school. In the United Kingdom for example, children are introduced to the computer right from their homes. Parents provide their children with mini laptops and notebooks with instructor ready software and also make sure the children are connected to the internet. For Nigeria to move up with what is applicable in Europe, I believe the most appropriate thing to do is to incorporate these courses especially data processing into the curriculum.
Running successful computer vendorship
Financial support is needed to run a successful computer vendorship because IT is a very wide area. Unlike in other sectors where you can wake up one morning, make plans, forecast and everything falls into place but in IT it is not like that. Everyday we work hard to bring in new innovations, to create software and find ways to solve problems so financial involvement from the government is very important.
A conducive environment in the form of a leveled playing ground is also needed. If it is a government establishment, fair hand should be given to individuals to run it and if it an individual establishment, the government should do likewise.
Personnel is also very important, if possible expatriates should be brought in because everyday ICT comes in a new form. Five years ago, the industry was not like this, five years to come it will not be like this. So we need to be abreast and to be abreast, we need to marry ideas. Marry ideas, bring in expatriates and when they come together they sit with one another to forge a new way forward. Invariably, we can also send our engineers abroad to learn in order to bring in new ideas that obtain out there. IT is about the most expensive course for investors to run now. In our view, we believe in audio-visuals because there is the power of what you see and has a considerable level of impact.
Venture into IT reality show
In the past 36 months, reality TV shows have been on the screen. It has been about dancing and selecting the best dancer with nothing educational wise been achieved. The objective of coming up with the IT reality TV show is to create opportunities for the youths. The winner of the IT reality show has the opportunity to school abroad on scholarship basis which will be a plus for the Nigerian ICT industry and Nigeria as a country, hence our involvement in this empowerment programme. It is also designed for the growth of science and technology in Nigeria because it is developed by Nigerians for Nigerians.
Form of the show
The show requires youths to come up with software they can invent or manufacture and the processes involved in the development. We will bring in professors and experts in the IT space to look at the projects and inventions, and check if it matches the total solution. This means coming up with what you have and we do an elimination test to select the best innovation. We have done out logistics, the feeding will be handled by one of the best hoteliers in town. Every minute detail like accommodation, laundry and others will be well taken care of. We are into partnership with two top ICT companies, a reputable hotel in Nigeria and two other sponsors.
Challenges facing science and technology in Nigeria
Diversion and misappropriation of funds are the greatest challenges facing science and technology in Nigeria. If these funds had been channeled towards developing science and technology, the country’s technology sector would have been well developed. In Akwa-Ibom State for instance, they have an existing science and technology park and I commend the governor for this. If each state government has at least one ICT hub, then the federal government would have imagined the level of science and technology in Nigeria. In a bid to commit financial crime, they misappropriate funds and this invariably affects the growth of science and technology which accounts for why Nigeria as a country is still lagging behind in ICT.   
Preventing users from patronizing obsolete products
What we can do is to create awareness. The government should extend the same zero tolerance that applies to fake drugs to electronic products. The NCC should work hand in glove with the Nigerian Port Authority, the SON and the Nigerian Customs Service to checkmate the importation of substandard products. There should be a standard gauge. 
Setbacks in IT training
One is poor funding; two is lack of conducive learning environment and lack of electricity. Another militating factor is lack of skilled manpower.
Going by the recent ASUU strike, the number of months the students have been out of the classroom, if you are the lecturer teaching them on ICT and you have a syllabus to cover, how would you go about this? That means they can never catch up but when you have a stable programme and you follow it assiduously, you are sure of getting there.
Capacity
Currently, we have two main buildings accommodating our training facilities. As time goes on and the turnout of student increases, we are sure to expand our facility centre to accommodate more people.
Future of Holgate Communications
We seek to add value to the company on daily basis. In the next five years, we hope to build a one stop ICT centre. We are also looking at going into the energy sector.

 

 


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Teenager Hacks Celebrities Whatsapps, Sells Adult Content  in Delta

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Delta State Police Command has revealed how a 17-year-old boy allegedly hacked into celebrities’ WhatsApp accounts and sold explicit adult content to classmates.

Teenager Hacks Celebrities Whatsapps, Sells Adult Content  in Delta

This was disclosed in a viral video shared by comedian Otaghware Onodjayeke, popularly known as I Go Save, during a security awareness programme where he spoke with Temi Agbede-Zuokumor, divisional police officer (DPO) of Ugborikoko Division, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

The DPO explained that the case came to light after a routine check of a student’s phone, which first raised suspicion.

Agbede-Zuokumor disclosed that the student’s mother had initially claimed the phone belonged to his sister, but further inspection revealed otherwise.

“The woman looked very modest, so I asked her if she was from Deeper Life. She said no. I then asked why her son took a phone to school, and she claimed it belonged to his sister,” she narrated.

The DPO expressed that the development triggered her suspicion, prompting officers to examine the phone’s contents.

“Something told me to check the phone. When we did, we discovered that everything on the device belonged to the boy,” she said.

She added that the phone contained over 80 foreign numbers, including Australian contacts, alongside numerous explicit materials.

“We saw several foreign numbers, over 80 Australian lines, and the phone was filled with pornographic content,” she said.

The police officer further disclosed that the suspect allegedly sold explicit materials to his classmates, who referred to him as “boss.”

“We also saw chats with his classmates asking if he had explicit content to sell. They were calling him ‘boss’ in school,” she added.

According to her, investigations also revealed that the teenager had hacked into WhatsApp accounts belonging to prominent individuals and used them to solicit money.

“We discovered he had access to WhatsApp accounts of some celebrities, which he used to demand money from unsuspecting victims,” she said.

Speaking during the session, comedian I Go Save recounted a similar experience, describing how he was once contacted by a suspected fraudster impersonating Elon Musk, Forbes world richest man.

“That was how someone impersonating Elon Musk messaged me, saying he was stranded and needed a recharge card,” he said.

“I was surprised and asked which network he used. The person later sent an Opay account,” he added.

The police warned parents and school authorities to be more vigilant, stressing the growing concern of cyber-related crimes among young people.

 


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SERAP Asks Tinubu to Probe Alleged N2.9Bn Fraud In NIGCOMSAT, NNRA

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,  as well as the management of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), to account for and explain the whereabouts of an alleged ₦2.9 billion in missing or diverted public funds.

SERAP Asks Tinubu to Probe Alleged ₦2.9bn Fraud In NIGCOMSAT, NNRA

SERAP also called on Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of justice,  and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged diversion of funds, including those documented in previous Auditor-General reports.

In a letter dated April 11, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director SERAP, said: “These allegations, involving critical public institutions, represent a grave violation of the public trust and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws and international obligations.”

The group further urged the Federal Government to direct NIGCOMSAT to disclose the shareholders and beneficial owners of a company that allegedly received ₦465 million in “unauthorised investment” from the agency.

SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing or diverted public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

The organisation gave the government seven days to comply, warning that it may initiate legal action if its demands are not met.

It also stated that accountability in both agencies is critical, given their strategic roles, saying: “Accountability in NIGCOMSAT and NNRA is critical given their strategic roles in Nigeria’s digital economy and national safety systems. Mismanagement in these agencies not only wastes scarce public resources but also threatens national development, technological progress, and public safety.”

SERAP added: “Ensuring accountability is therefore essential to protecting both Nigeria’s present and its future.”

It warned that failure to address the allegations would continue to erode public trust, stating: “These allegations, if left unaddressed, will continue to undermine public confidence in government institutions, weaken Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, and deprive citizens of resources needed for development.”

The allegations were drawn from the Auditor-General’s report published on September 9, 2025, which examined financial activities in NIGCOMSAT and NNRA and raised concerns over possible mismanagement of public funds.

According to the report, NIGCOMSAT failed to account for over ₦465 million used for an “unauthorised investment” in Gicell Wireless Ltd, made without approvals from the Minister of Science and Technology and the Accountant-General of the Federation.

It also noted that “there was also no evidence that a competent Investment Analyst performed investment appraisal,” while the investment agreement raised concerns over valuation and exchange rate assumptions.

The Auditor-General further stated that “NIGCOMSAT made ineligible, irregular and wrong payments of over ₦3 million to staff,” and that “the payment was made without due process and any documents on what the payments were meant for.”

It also flagged an irregular rent payment of over ₦4.3 million, noting that although a refund was requested, “there was no evidence that the consultant refunded the money.”

It added that NIGCOMSAT “failed to remit over ₦507 million of its internally generated revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” while also failing to account for over ₦6 million for undelivered store items.

The report further stated that “there was also no evidence of how the transferred funds were spent or utilised,” referring to an irregular ₦84.78 million transfer from a Remita account to a special project account.

On NNRA, the report alleged that ₦4.35 million was spent on training without evidence that it took place, while ₦16.7 million was paid for ICT equipment without approval.

It also stated that ₦33.4 million was spent on items that were never supplied, and that “there were no documents to support” several payments for operational activities.

The Auditor-General further noted that NNRA “failed to retire over ₦6.5 million of cash advances granted to staff,” and that ₦2.05 million paid for foreign training had no evidence of participation.

It also stated that ₦1.95 million collected through Remita was not recorded in the agency’s cashbook, leading to concerns of revenue understatement.

SERAP said the findings point to “a systemic pattern of financial mismanagement, opacity, and corruption within an agency entrusted with advancing Nigeria’s digital and communications infrastructure,” adding that NNRA’s lapses also raise serious concerns about compliance with safety and financial regulations.

 


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IHS Nigeria Renovates, Upgrade Facilities at the National Museum Lagos

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L-r Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer, IHS Nigeria Limited, Dapo Otunla; Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway; during the commissioning of the newly renovated National Museum Gallery, sponsored by IHS Nigeria, on Saturday, 11th April 2026, at the National Museum Lagos, Nigeria.
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IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has partnered with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to renovate and upgrade facilities at the National Museum, Lagos.

Commissioned by the Honorable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the project is a significant step towards restoring and improving critical facilities at the museum complex, while supporting the long-term preservation of Nigeria’s cultural assets and heritage.

The project has improved the overall aesthetic appeal of the museum site and featured extensive restoration of the museum’s main gallery. The restored gallery incorporates the installation of modern display and lighting systems, air‑conditioning units, a solar inverter system to enhance energy efficiency, and surveillance cameras to aid safety, security and operational performance across the facility. These renovations and upgrades follow on from IHS Nigeria’s sponsorship of the museum’s efforts to digitize Nigeria’s cultural heritage and launch Nigeria’s first digital museum of antiquities at www.museum.ng.

Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, commented, Having seen the rich historical and cultural heritage housed in this national museum complex, we believed it was important to go a step further after supporting the development of the digital museum, to also improve the aesthetics, security and structural integrity of the main physical complex. This aligns with our broader commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and the preservation of Nigeria’s history.

“I am proud of these renovations and that visitors, including tourists, researchers and art enthusiasts, can visit the museum to be immersed in Nigeria’s rich history in an environment that is safe, beautiful and welcoming.

“The artifacts can also now be better preserved, protected and presented in a way that celebrates the history they represent. I thank the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for this ongoing partnership which continues to exemplify the power of a collaborative effort in driving innovation, fostering national pride, and enhancing the creative economy.”

Olugbile Holloway, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commented, “On behalf of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, I wish to express our deepest gratitude to IHS Nigeria for their generous support of the restoration of the National Museum, Lagos. This landmark gesture goes far beyond bricks and mortar — it is a profound commitment to preserving the soul of our nation.

“The National Museum Lagos is home to some of Nigeria’s most treasured antiquities, from the ancient terracotta of the Nok civilization to the magnificent bronzes of the Benin Kingdom and the classical works of Ife.

“To restore this institution is to restore our collective memory. We thank IHS Nigeria for choosing to renew not just infrastructure, but the heritage, identity, and the hope of our people. Their support ensures that generations of Nigerians yet unborn will walk through these halls and encounter the full greatness of who we are and where we come from.”


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