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Ogun HoS says ICT Adoption is Crucial to Driving Government’s Plans, Policies
Mr Kehinde Onasanya, the Ogun State Head of Service, has urged information managers to embrace Information Communication Technology tools for effective information dissemination, which is central to mobilising and ensuring the success of government programmes and policies.
Onasanya made this call in a statement released to the media while declaring open a two-day training programme titled “Upscaling Public Information Management through Strategic Public Relations” for Information/Public Relations Officers in government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The training, organised by the Bureau of Establishments and Training under the Office of the Head of Service, was held at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The Head of Service emphasised the importance of the training in improving the practices of Information/Public Relations Officers to enhance effective governance in Ogun State.
He also expressed gratitude to Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for his investment in the capacity building of the entire workforce.
He said: “We must all realise that the world of information management for government institutions has changed dramatically compared to how it was practised in the pre-ICT era.”
“The participants in this training must learn to utilise the transition from the industrial age to the knowledge age, which is driven by technology and social media as its by-product, to perform their duties with competence despite operational challenges.”
Onasanya noted that the training also aimed to promote efficiency and effective work ethics among media managers, addressing core areas of information management, including the creation of a robust feedback mechanism to bridge the gap between the government and the governed.
Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Communication, in his address, said the training was necessary, as a significant information management gap had been identified in the state.
Akinmade explained that the gaps ranged from a lack of requisite knowledge and expertise to the limited roles played by information handlers. He added that the training would provide participants with the necessary skills to excel in their statutory duties.
He encouraged participants to ensure the government remains in constant touch with the public through the media, warning that any media space left unused would be exploited by detractors.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mrs Lydia Fajounbo, highlighted the agency’s primary responsibility of building workforce capacity for excellent service delivery.
Fajounbo stressed the importance of training in projecting the government’s image through accurate reporting of its programmes and policies, adding that media managers must be equipped with the necessary skills to meet today’s demands for optimum performance.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Mr Waheed Adesina, thanked the governor and the Head of Service for the opportunity to train the information officers, ensuring they are fully prepared to carry out their statutory duties of positively and promptly projecting government activities.
Other speakers at the training included Dr Niran Malaolu, former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Demola Badejo, a former Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Chief Fassy Yusuf, a former Commissioner for Information, Hon Tunde Tella, Chairman of the House Committee on Establishments and Training, and his counterparts from the Information and Education committees, Hon Segun Kaka.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
Cisco is exploring artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria, as part of efforts to expand digital inclusion and technology adoption.
The initiative focuses on improving agricultural productivity through accessible, data-driven tools.
The move aligns with growing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States under the Commercial and Investment Partnership, which prioritises the digital economy, agriculture and infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2026 World Business Chicago, Brian Tippens, chief social impact and inclusion Officer at Cisco, said the company is assessing practical AI applications to help farmers combine local knowledge with data insights.
He said Cisco is exploring tools such as AI-enabled WhatsApp communities, geospatial mapping and weather intelligence to support day-to-day farming decisions.
The approach reflects a shift towards low-cost, mobile-first solutions suited to rural environments.
Tippens added that the Cisco Foundation is investing in early-stage startups developing technologies for local agricultural challenges.
Industry analysts note that AI adoption in emerging markets depends on locally relevant solutions, rather than large-scale enterprise deployments alone.
Beyond agriculture, Cisco plans to expand digital skills development in Nigeria through programmes such as the Cisco Networking Academy’s One Million Learners initiative.
Tippens said the programme also supports partnerships with organisations working with persons with disabilities, including those developing tools for people with visual impairments.
He added that Cisco’s social impact strategy aims to improve access to technology and promote inclusion, including in conflict-affected regions such as Borno State.
Cisco’s initiatives form part of broader efforts to link digital skills, connectivity and AI adoption to economic development in Nigeria.
Federal Government has launched a nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity-building programme for teachers in Federal Unity Colleges, with about 11,700 educators set to acquire digital skills aimed at improving classroom instruction and preparing students for a technology-driven future.
The initiative advanced with the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, paving the way for the nationwide implementation of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.
The programme, to be implemented through the ministry’s Education Support Services Department, is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise Nigeria’s education sector, strengthen teacher professionalism and equip students with skills required in the digital economy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Director of the Education Support Services Department, Gabriel Amudipe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s teaching workforce and the future of education.
He said the nationwide rollout followed the successful completion of a pilot phase conducted in selected Federal Unity Colleges.
According to him, the implementation model developed by ICEDT Consult Limited will ensure effective coordination and quality delivery of the programme across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Amudipe urged officials responsible for monitoring the project to ensure strict compliance with the implementation guidelines and maintain the standards achieved during the pilot phase.
“The ministry remains committed to supporting innovative initiatives that strengthen teacher professionalism, improve learning outcomes and promote the responsible integration of emerging technologies into education,” he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Education Support Services Department, Oladele Fapohunda, described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to deepen digital innovation across Federal Unity Colleges.
He stressed that collaboration among all stakeholders would be essential to achieving the objectives of the initiative nationwide.
Also speaking, the Head of Strategic Partnerships and Learning Scientist at ICEDT Consult Limited, Dr Abdulrahman Orosanya, said the Federal Government approved the national rollout after the successful pilot implementation in six Federal Unity Colleges representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Orosanya, the pilot demonstrated the potential of Artificial Intelligence to improve lesson planning, classroom delivery, assessment methods and teachers’ productivity.
He said the nationwide implementation would strengthen teachers’ digital competencies, improve instructional delivery and support the government’s vision of building a technology-driven education system capable of producing globally competitive graduates equipped with 21st-century skills.
The ceremony ended with the formal signing of the Terms of Reference by officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, signalling the commencement of preparations for full implementation across all Federal Unity Colleges.
The ministry said the programme would directly train about 11,700 teachers, while thousands of students across the country’s Federal Unity Colleges are expected to benefit through improved classroom instruction, increased digital innovation and the responsible application of Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to modernise Nigeria’s education system, improve teacher quality and deliver inclusive, equitable and future-ready education nationwide.
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