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MobilottoAfrica Brings Sanity to Promos, Lotteries

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MobilottoAfrica, through its technology partner, Humber Technologie, has developed a unique and proprietary SMS and USSD based lottery gaming that promises to transform lives of ordinary Nigerians and enrich the country.

Unlike the telecom service providers operated promos and lotteries, winnings on MobilottoAfrica is secured and guaranteed.

And because, MobilottoAfrica uses Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), there are no problems of congestion that can affect quality of service (QoS) provisioning by services providers.

Promoters of the lottery said that it distributes wealth; creates jobs as well as revenue for the government from the sale of tickets.

Andrew Humber-Osofisan, president & CEO, said that “my goal is to use the mobile platform running on cutting-edge technology as a vehicle to stimulate the Nigerian economy, put money in the hands of the people, create social and financial opportunity, and better the lives of all Nigerians.”

A person starts the mobile lottery by sending USSD or SMS to a dedicated short code to register or play the lottery game; in the next step he selects his winning numbers and sends the numbers to lottery centre through USSD or SMS; person gets the acknowledgement message; If the person wins, he’s automatically notified by SMS; and in addition to this, a person can check the winning numbers, his previous play history and his credit balance.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the player will play the lottery by choosing any six numbers from 1-50 or QP (quick pick) for a random numbers selection and this cost N100 per session.

The lottery game result is drawn every evening on live NTA network at 8pm, Monday to Saturday and winners of 4, 5 and 6 correct numbers are contacted to claim their prize winnings.

The prize pool fund is based on a pari-mutuel share, a calculation where the total monies allocated to a prize category are divided by the total number of winners in that category.

Sometimes, players select certain number combinations more often than other number combinations, and this may result in a greater number of winning tickets and a lower prize share.

The beginning jackpot prize is N2 million and it increases as the number of players or wagering grows.  Only 40 per cent -50 per cent of the total wager is allocated to winners.   

A player holding a registered phone number with any one of the networks can securely play lottery games through Mobilotto round the clock.

“Our innovative technology provides lottery players a secure, scalable, and exciting way to play lottery games. Mobilotto technology verifies lottery player’s age legality, mobile phone number and network registration, as well as the security and integrity of all transactions” Humber-Osofisan added.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that Mobilotto eliminates retail and terminal based sales by providing secure and convenient access to the lottery on devices carried and used by consumers on a daily basis – thus turning the mobile phone into a mobile lottery terminal.

As it is an account based wagering platform, Mobilotto offers a far better solution for problem gaming. Mobilotto system can limit the number of plays, how much a player spends and how often an individual is able to play  the lottery.

No such restrictions or preventative abilities exist for the traditional land based lottery system.

The primary goal of MobilottoAfrica (Mobilotto) is to utilize the generated revenue to enrich the lives of the players and transform the communities.

With the lottery’s popularity as the most accepted form of legal gaming in combination with the continually expanding wireless infrastructure in Africa, it is anticipated that the SMS and USSD mobile platform will become the acceptable way to play the lottery and generating additional revenue for the government.

 The federal government can use the revenue from the scheme for such programmes as building of new schools; recreational activities; sports and youth development; technology centers; technical and vocational schools; adult education centers; business development and incubation centers: as well as  agriculture and a sleuth of infrastructural developments.

What the lottery will do for Nigeria is that it will stimulate the economy by putting money in the hand of the people as they win the lottery every week or every day.

 The impact will be dynamic and profound.  Lives will be transformed and communities will be enriched.


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NITDA Equips Federal Character Commission with Data Tools to Drive Public Sector Reform

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In a strategic move to modernise Nigeria’s public service, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has concluded a specialised digital capacity-building programme for the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The initiative, which included the donation of 35 laptops, aims to transition the Commission from manual processes to a data-driven oversight model, ensuring more transparent and equitable representation across all government MDAs.

In alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s key priority area of reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth, as well as improving governance for effective service delivery, it forms part of NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4All) programme aimed at strengthening digital capacity across public sector institutions and building a workforce equipped to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

The training, held at the Commission’s headquarters, focused on enhancing participants’ competencies in critical areas such as data analysis and data management, skills considered essential to improving institutional performance and service delivery.

Representing the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr Ahmed Yusuf Tambour, explained the purpose of the intervention.

“We are here at the Federal Character Commission to carry out a training for staff of the Commission in the area of digital literacy to enhance their proficiency,” he stated.

He noted that the training was deliberately tailored to align with the Commission’s statutory responsibilities.

“We are particularly focusing on data analysis and data management, because this really aligns with the core mandate of the Commission,” he said.

The Federal Character Commission, which is responsible for monitoring and ensuring equitable representation in public service across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), relies heavily on accurate and well-managed data to carry out its oversight functions.

By strengthening staff capacity in data handling and digital tools, NITDA aims to enhance the Commission’s ability to manage nationwide datasets efficiently and transparently.

Describing the programme as impactful and well-received by participants, Inuwa said, “So it’s been a great journey. We’ve trained 35 participants here, and the training has been very well received.”

As part of the intervention, NITDA donated 35 laptops to the Commission to facilitate continuous learning and enable staff to seamlessly integrate digital tools into their daily operations.

The gesture is expected to reinforce the sustainability of the training outcomes and improve workflow efficiency within the Commission.

Expressing optimism about the long-term benefits of the initiative, Inuwa added, “We are hoping that this will help the Commission to manage the very, very important data that they collect across all MDAs.”

The intervention reflects NITDA’s sustained commitment to deepening digital inclusion within government institutions under the Renewed Hope Agenda. By equipping public servants with practical digital skills and the necessary tools, the Agency is advancing institutional efficiency, strengthening data-driven decision-making, and supporting the Federal Government’s vision of a modern public service capable of driving inclusive national development and economic reform.


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Nigeria, EU Ink Research, Innovation Deal Worth €100Bn

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Nigeria and the European Union have inked a scientific and technology deal that grants access to about €100 billion in research and innovation funding for scientists, start-ups, and public institutions.

The agreement is a significant boost to the country’s tech environment, providing new prospects for research, innovation, and start-up growth.

The arrangement was signed in Abuja by Gautier Mignot, head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Kingsley Udeh, Nigeria’s minister of innovation, research, and technology.

After more than two decades without a formal framework, the agreement transfers cooperation from informal to structured, large-scale collaboration.

The European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, the world’s largest public research budget, is at the heart of the deal, which will bring together Nigerian researchers and firms to work on cross-border projects in health, agriculture, climate, food systems, and new technologies.

Udeh stated that the relationship puts Nigeria as a continental powerhouse for science and enterprise, with an emphasis on translating research into commercially viable products and assisting startups in scaling into global players.

Gautier Mignot noted that Nigerian organisations are already active in several Horizon-backed and global health research projects, but the new pact provides a legal and political framework to significantly expand participation, funding access and visibility.

To ensure delivery, both parties created a Joint Science and Technical Cooperation Committee to drive implementation and track measurable outcomes.

Beyond academia, the agreement aims to support innovators, boost university–industry collaboration, and help more Nigerian tech firms compete globally, strengthening Nigeria’s position as a leading startup hub in Africa.

 


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Microplastics Found in 90 Percent of Prostate Cancer Samples

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Microplastics have now been found inside most prostate cancer tumors — and at strikingly higher levels than in healthy tissue.

Microplastics Found in 90 Percent of Prostate Cancer Samples

A new study reports that tiny plastic particles were present in nine out of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Researchers also found that these fragments appeared in greater amounts inside cancerous tumors than in nearby noncancerous prostate tissue.

The investigation was conducted at NYU Langone Health, including its Perlmutter Cancer Center and Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards.

Scientists set out to examine whether exposure to microplastics could play a role in the development of prostate cancer, which the American Cancer Society identifies as the most common cancer affecting American men.

Plastic used in food containers, packaging, cosmetics, and other everyday products can break down into microscopic pieces when heated, worn down, or chemically altered.

These particles can be swallowed, inhaled from the air, or absorbed through the skin. Previous research has detected microplastics throughout the human body, including in major organs, bodily fluids, and even the placenta.

Despite their widespread presence, scientists still do not fully understand their health effects.

For this study, researchers analyzed prostate tissue samples from 10 patients undergoing surgery to remove the prostate gland. Microplastic particles were identified in 90% of tumor samples and in 70% of noncancerous samples.

Notably, tumor tissue contained significantly more plastic.

On average, cancerous samples had about 2.5 times the concentration found in healthy prostate tissue (about 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue compared with 16 micrograms per gram).

“Our pilot study provides important evidence that microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer,” said study lead author Stacy Loeb, MD, a professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Departments of Urology and Population Health.

Loeb explained that while earlier studies had hinted at links between microplastics and conditions such as heart disease and dementia, there had been little direct research connecting them to prostate cancer.

The findings will be presented on February 26 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

According to Loeb, this is the first study conducted in the West to measure microplastic levels in prostate tumors and directly compare them with levels in noncancerous prostate tissue.

To carry out the analysis, scientists first examined the tissue visually. They then used specialized instruments to measure the quantity, chemical makeup, and structural characteristics of microplastic particles. The team focused on 12 of the most commonly produced plastic molecules.

Because plastic is widely used in medical and laboratory tools, the researchers took extra precautions to prevent contamination. They replaced plastic equipment with alternatives made from aluminum, cotton, and other nonplastic materials. All testing took place in controlled, clean rooms specifically designed for microplastic analysis.

“By uncovering yet another potential health concern posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit the public’s exposure to these substances, which are everywhere in the environment,” said study senior author Vittorio Albergamo, PhD.

Albergamo, an assistant professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, said the next step is to determine how microplastics behave inside the body and whether they contribute directly to cancer development. One theory the team plans to investigate is whether these particles trigger a persistent immune response (inflammation) in prostate tissue.

Over time, chronic inflammation can damage cells and lead to genetic changes that allow cancer to form.

Albergamo emphasized that the study involved a small number of patients and that larger studies will be necessary to confirm the results.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

Meeting: American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.

In addition to Loeb and Albergamo, the NYU Langone research team included Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP; Trevor Johnson, PhD; Fang-Ming Deng, MD, PhD; Mark Strong, DO; David Wise, MD, PhD; José Alemán, MD, PhD; Zixuan Mo, BS; Mariana Rangel Camacho, BS; Nataliya Byrne, BA; Tatiana Sanchez Nolasco, MPH; Adrian Rivera, MPH; William Huang, MD; Herbert Lepor, MD; Wei Phin Tan, MD; and James Wysock, MD.

Samir Taneja, MD, of Northwell Health in New York City also contributed to the study.

Loeb has consulted for pharmaceutical company Astellas, digital health company Savor Health, and men’s health organization Movember, and has received research support from Endo USA Inc. She also participated in advisory boards for Endo USA, Blue Earth Diagnostics, Pfizer, Sumitomo Pharma, and Doceree. Wysock has consulted for medical equipment manufacturers Edap — Focal One, and URO-1 Medical. Wise is a paid consultant for Pfizer, Bayer, K36, OncoC4, AstraZeneca, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and is an expert witness for Exxon Mobil. None of these activities are related to the current study. NYU Langone Health is managing the terms and conditions of these relationships in accordance with its policies and procedures.

Credit…..scitechdaily.com


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