News
Pantami says Technology is Critical to Economic Growth
Prof. Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, says government ought to pay more attention to reviving technology as it holds the key to virile development of the country.
Represented by Prof. Mohammed Bello, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Pantami made the observation at the second annual general meeting of the Relevant Technology Old Students Association (RETOSA) in Jos.
He explained that functional relevant technology education would impact the necessary skills on the people, adding that vocational training would address unemployment in the country.
“Technology remains the path way to sustainable development; it the way for the digital transformation of people in the society.
“Relevant technology mixed with Internet Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will move many out of poverty in Nigeria. Technology holds the key to sustainable development because it has the potential to fully transform our society,” he said.
Prof. Mohammad Haruna, the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), attributed the dearth of professionals in construction industry and other critical sectors to the collapse of relevant technology education.
“The deteriorating condition of relevant technology is reason we have incompetent workforce in our building and construction sector, industries and even ministries responsible for service provision,” he said.
Prof. Emmanuel Garba of the University of Jos, who spoke on the topic ”Reposition Relevant Technology Centres for Sustainable Economic Development: The Role of Stakeholders”, said that there was need for government to revive relevant technology education.
The don noted that a functional relevant technology would ensure capacity building that would in turn expedite the spate of growth and development in the society.
Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau maintained that the state government had put modalities on ground to improve relevant technology education in the state, adding that it had approved the recruitment of more teachers for centres across the state.
The governor, represented by the Mr Benjamin Jang, the Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state, said that it has constituted a board in that would boost relevant technology in the state.
Lalong added that government had mandated agencies, ministries and departments, including contractors, to panatronise the centres by buying their products to make them self-reliant.
Similarly, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Bala, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, said that his goverment had done a lot in terms of skills development.
“We have a functional incubation centre, skills acquisition centre and have not only renovated our technical colleges, but equipped them with modern facilities.
“We took these steps because we believe in skills development as a tool for national growth,” he said.
In a goodwill message, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Gyang Buba, said that a functional relevant technology would reduce poverty and insecurity because when young people have skills, it will take their minds ways from crime.
He promised that traditional institution we would support all that government would do advance the course of vocational education in the country.
Mr Caleb Yiljura, the National President of RETOSA, said that the theme for its 2022 convention “Repositioning Relevant Technology for Sustainable Economic Development”, aimed at reflecting on the values the sector plays toward addressing the challenges currently facing the nation.
He said that the relevant technology could offer better contributions toward tackling unemployment and economic development if properly harnessed.
Stakeholders at the event noted that relevant technology education is key to the growth and development of the nation’s economy which government ought to take seriously.
By Oluwole Alao
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has pledged the Agency’s full support for the Corporate Affairs Commission’s (CAC) artificial intelligence–driven transformation as the Commission marked its 35th anniversary in Abuja.
Delivering a goodwill message at the celebration, which was held at the Ladi Kwali hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, Inuwa commended CAC for its uncommon consistency and resilience, noting that while many organisations rise and fall after initial success, CAC has continued on a steady growth trajectory.
“We know organisations go up and come down, but some will keep thriving, thriving, and thriving, and today, this is what we are witnessing for CAC,” he said.
Reflecting on his early engagement with the Commission, the NITDA boss recalled that the Registrar General made organisational transformation a priority from the very start of his leadership, particularly in embracing digital innovation.
According to Inuwa, the current era demands more than basic digitisation, stressing that meaningful transformation can only be achieved through the integration of artificial intelligence into core operations.
“We are in the AI era, and the only way to transform today is to embrace and integrate AI into your operations. This is exactly what the Registrar General is doing,” he stated.
He assured CAC of NITDA’s commitment to working closely with the Commission to embed AI across its numerous processes, explaining that the technology would infuse intelligence into workflows, simplify company registration and business management, and strengthen cybersecurity.
“We will make sure you integrate AI into CAC processes. With AI, it will infuse intelligence in everything you do and make things easy for Nigerians to register companies and manage businesses,” Inuwa averred.
The NITDA DG added that deploying advanced AI tools would help CAC staff stay ahead of fraudsters and curb hacking and fraudulent alterations of company records, while also safeguarding the system through responsible deployment.
“At NITDA, we will make sure you deploy ethical and responsible AI in your operations, with the right guardrails in place,” he assured.
He further described CAC’s digital reforms as bold and impactful, noting that the Commission has reduced company registration timelines from several months to as little as 24 hours. He added that further integration of AI would enhance name search and reservation, automate filings, improve corporate governance, and significantly reduce fraud.
He also highlighted NITDA’s ongoing role in reviewing CAC’s digital and AI transformation roadmaps, providing guidelines, standards, training support, and safeguards to ensure sustainable, people-centred, and secure digital services.
The NITDA DG congratulated CAC management, staff, and members of the National Assembly for their support, expressing confidence that the partnership would further strengthen Nigeria’s digital business environment in the years ahead.
The United States has warned Nigerians that overstaying their visas could jeopardise travel opportunities for other citizens seeking to visit the US for education, business, or family purposes.
The warning came amid ongoing immigration crackdowns and tighter travel restrictions under the administration of President Donald Trump.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Feb. 9, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stressed that compliance with visa rules is essential to protecting access for Nigerians who travel responsibly.
“Visa overstays by Nigerian travellers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens,” the Mission said. “Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travellers and families who travel responsibly.”
The Mission also urged Nigerians to report cases of visa fraud to [email protected] or [email protected]
Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has urged creation of a unified national beneficial ownership register to bolster anti-corruption efforts and corporate transparency.
CAC
CAC Registrar-General highlighted how fragmented sectoral registers breed duplication, inconsistencies, and regulatory gaps during the Commission’s 35th anniversary Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, via representative Demola Bakare, praised CAC’s role in fostering accountable business environments that drive sustainable growth.
Global evidence links transparent institutions to stronger economies, with clear rules, accessible data, and open operations as key pillars.
CAC’s oversight on company registration, disclosure, and compliance directly builds investor trust and national integrity, closing avenues for illicit financial flows.
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