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Pantami Commissions First National Centre for AI and Robotics, Extols its Immense Benefits

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Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), minister of Communications and Digital Economy,
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Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has lauded the immense benefits derivable from the establishment of National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR) in Nigeria, noting that it will serve as a leading hub of innovation, research and development, knowledge transfer, and training in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and other emerging technologies.

The minister noted this on Friday at the official commissioning of the centre, constructed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

He stated that the Centre would engage youths and support the diversification of the economy, create more jobs and inspire our digital entrepreneurs.

Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami

He explained that the ministry is committed to the digital economy drive of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, stressing that the drive gained more traction when the mandate of the Ministry was extended to include ‘digital economy’.

He added that the adoption of regulatory sandbox frameworks for testing technology in a controlled environment will enable the Center accelerate the progress the country is making in the development of digital economy.

The Centre, he noted will also serve the following purposes of Providing access to specialized technical skills for AI and Robotics, cultivate a network of influential supporters and champions across the country; Support the spread of early success stories with prioritized use cases to build and appetite for more AI activity, Develop an AI ecosystem; Create a vision for AI in the Country.

He also revealed that the Centre will house the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT-REAP) Office.

Speaking further on the benefits of the centre, Pantami said that he is confident that the Centre will engage Nigerian youths, support in the diversification of the economy, create more jobs and inspire our digital entrepreneurs.

He further directed the DG of NITDA, to ensure that the centre is run in line with the general Policy of the Ministry which he said will be conveyed to the Centre through him.

At the same time, he directed the Director-General to send him monthly report from the centre, from now until 31st of December, 2021.

However, he commended the DG of NITDA and his team for making this Centre a reality and urged them to redouble their efforts and do more.

In his opening remark, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director-general/ceo, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said the Centre was built to foster the development of emerging technologies in preparing Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which he said is in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and strategy.

According to him, “This project is one among many of our developmental programmes in accordance with our core mandate of facilitating the growth of Information Technology (IT) development in Nigeria.

“We are focused on providing support for viable innovations with socio-economic impact as well as a level playing field for all Nigerians to thrive in.

“As we enter the age of advanced technological breakthroughs such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigeria cannot be left out in harnessing the advantages of AI, Robotics and other emerging technologies.

“AI has the potential to add to economic growth but the impact may be gradual and take sometimes to manifest according to McKinsey Global Institute”.

The Director General noted that AI if properly harnessed could add 5 to 15% to Nigeria’s GDP, which he said could be around 400B USD.

He added that through AI developed countries could add 20 to 25% net income to their GDP while developing countries like could add 5 to 15%.

Mallam Abdullahi emphasized that the centre is aimed at achieving unprecedented boost to Nigerian economy.

He called on all stakeholders in the ICT sector to join hands in the optimum use of the facility so as to bring about the projected gains of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Nigerian technological space.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year

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The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.

The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.

These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.

Here are some of the featured talents:

  • Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
  • Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
  • Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
  • Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
  • David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
  • Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.

Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.


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Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

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Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON
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Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.

“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.

He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.

According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.

ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.

The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.

ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.

 

 

 


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Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

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In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.

Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.

However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.

For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.

Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023

Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs

Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network

 

 

 


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