News
Onu Applauds NOTAP-PZ Collaboration
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, has applauded the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) for the effective and result oriented collaboration with PZ Cussons Nigerian PLC, one of the multinational Companies operating in Nigeria.
Dr. Onu made this commendation while commissioning a multimillion naira Chemical Engineering laboratory of Alex-Ekweme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwe (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State.
The facility was equipped through collaboration between NOTAP and PZ Cussons plc to upgrade the laboratories of some selected knowledge Institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country to ensure a rapid development of skilled manpower in the country.
He said Industry must work closely with the University because Universities are the home of research and when there is synergy, researches carried out in the Universities will be such that will solve the problems of the industry.
He added that with this kind of collaboration, commercialization of research finding may not be a problem because Industry will be very ready, very willing and very committed to ensuring that such research results are commercialized and made available in the market as products.
According to him, Nigeria cannot become a truly great nation if we depend on other nations to meet our demands. He cited Japan, China, India and other countries as nations that should be emulated as they have taken their citizens out of poverty through research and innovation.
He however decried the use of alternative to practical in teaching students in our institutions, stressing that students cannot be skilled enough when they are not taken through the practical aspect of their courses of study, adding that Nigerian knowledge institutions should fully embrace practical to ensure that students graduate with technical skills that can dovetail into improved techno-economic growth of the country.
In his remarks, the Director General of NOTAP Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim thanked the Hon. Minister for always making himself available for commissioning of projects of NOTAP especially the commissioning of upgraded laboratories in the Nigerian knowledge institution as donated by PZ Cussons.
He recalled that in carrying out the registration of technology transfer agreement which is the primary function of NOTAP, it was discovered that over 90% of the technology powering Nigerian economy are foreign and for a country that is striving to develop and become one of the highest economies in the world, the situation was unacceptable.
He said PZ had upgraded three chemical laboratories and is ready and willing to upgrade more three including the just commissioned one in AE-FUNAI. He thanked the Management of PZ for their interest in developing Nigeria technologically and therefore urged other multinational to emulate PZ.
In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons, Mr. Christos Giannopoulos said the commissioning of the project was in furtherance of agreement the company had with NOTAP to commit resources towards provision of state-of-the-art equipment in some selected Nigerian Universities and research centers.
He said the agreement was necessitated by the fact that no meaningful break-through can be achieved in scientific inquiries without necessary facilities and infrastructure that can compete globally.
News
PalmPay Launches CSR Initiatives to Empower Women, Foster Financial Literacy in Northern Nigeria
In a strategic move to expand financial inclusion in Nigeria, leading mobile banking platform, PalmPay has launched a series of CSR programs across Kano and Kaduna. The CSR initiative named “Passing the Baton” represents the brand’s commitment to passing on knowledge and providing the resources individuals and businesses need to achieve financial independence and drive economic empowerment.
This initiative is a bold move by PalmPay to bridge the opportunity gap in the North by providing financial literacy training and micro-business branding support to 5,000 women-owned businesses in Kano and Kaduna. This strategic initiative reaffirms PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive development and economic empowerment, particularly in underserved regions.
“At PalmPay, we believe that real financial inclusion must be far reaching and cover the grassroots,” said Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay. “Our new CSR program is focused on supporting gender equity by equipping women with the knowledge, tools, and visibility they need to thrive as entrepreneurs in their communities.”
Through this initiative, beneficiaries will receive free health insurance, hands-on training workshops, enhanced store branding to boost visibility, and branded merchandise to strengthen their business presence.
The initiative is part of PalmPay’s broader strategy to extend its innovative solutions, expand its footprint in Northern Nigeria, while building sustainable partnerships with local stakeholders for long-term impact.
In a show of support, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, has endorsed the initiative, calling on other stakeholders to join forces with PalmPay in ensuring the North benefits fully from the growing digital economy. PalmPay has received commendation from community stakeholders, as the initiative aims to serve as a model for similar projects across other northern states.
As PalmPay continues to scale across Nigeria, the company remains committed to bridging the financial inclusion gap and empowering underserved groups, particularly women and youth, through its innovative solutions and impact initiatives.
Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
SEC Alerts Public on Silverkuun, Trending Dubious Investment Schemes
Glo, Huawei, Communications Ministry Bring Digital Services to Abuja Village
PalmPay Launches CSR Initiatives to Empower Women, Foster Financial Literacy in Northern Nigeria
Tripoint Travels Hosts Pre-GEC Brunch for Nigerian Delegates Ahead of Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2025
Africa Cross-border Payments Set to Hit $1 trillion by 2035
E-Financial3 days agoFidelity Bank Plc Wins 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support
E-Business3 days agoNigeria Among Hotspots as Kaspersky Warns of Rising Ransomware Threat in Africa
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Invests ₦900Bn in 2025 to Boost Network Quality in Lagos & Abuja
E-Business3 days agoNDPC Probes Suspected Data Breach in Examination Centres
Telecom3 days agoVitel Wireless Completes Interconnectivity with all Major Telcos in Nigeria
Telecom3 days agoMTN inducted into Brand Africa Hall of Fame
Telecom3 days agoeBusiness Life Girls In ICT: Stakeholders Call For More Action On Girls Participation In ICT
General News3 days agoNigeria Approves $500m for AfDB’s Trust Fund Replenishment over Next 15 Years