News
Prof Iwu. Ekeh, Others Make Case for Imo’s Development
Prof. Maurice Iwu, former chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Leo Stan Ekeh, serial digital entrepreneur and chairman, Zinox Group; Senator Chris Anyanwu and a host of other prominent sons and daughters of Imo State have expressed their determination to see Imo State enjoy an unprecedented level of socio-economic development commensurate with the immense potential and human capital resources at its disposal.
They made this call on Thursday December 28th 2017 at the launch of the Imo Economic Development Initiative (IEDI) – a landmark private initiative set up to boost human capacity development, wealth creation and poverty alleviation in the state.
The high-profile event also witnessed the commissioning of the IEDI office located in Owerri.
In his speech at the event, Prof. Iwu, chairman of IEDI, disclosed that, in addition to the need to address the development challenges of Imo State, the driving force behind the establishment of IEDI was to stir aright the socio-economic affairs of the state in order to complement the efforts of past, present and future governments of the state.
“While each government administration, past or present has put in some efforts to improve the condition of the state, and amidst the clamour for political power, it has become apparent that our beloved state would benefit from citizens’ involvement and private sector engagement, to see Imo progress to a level that is a true reflection of the enormous talents, intellectual and material resources of its sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora.”
According to him, a deliberate well-thought out plan of strategies to accomplish the goals are being addressed in the areas of agriculture, urban renewal of the three major cities in the state, rural vitalization, health, energy, education and security.
“Imo sons and daughters have excelled in many fields of human endeavour but there appears to be no nexus between the acclaimed individual educational and business accomplishments and our ability to develop our state or to produce and effective and responsive governance structure. The challenge facing us now is to development of Imo economy to reduce poverty and unemployment, create wealth and improve the internally generated revenue of the state.
“We are greatly encouraged by the progress members of IEDI have made in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, projects on skills acquisition and exploring Federal resources in energy, industries reactivation and health care development. Projects in information technology are being articulated by some of our members to prepare our state to participate meaningfully in the IT-driven knowledge economy. We are in contact with our brethren in neighbouring states and our members have indeed facilitated the establishment of corporate joint-ventures with like minds.
“The IEDI plans to hold an economic investment summit early in 2018 in partnership with the government of Imo State to highlight the low-hanging fruits projects for investors and entrepreneurs, articulate an economic development blueprint that will accommodate short-term, medium-term and long-term goals of the state and how to accomplish them.”
Also speaking at the event, Group, Ekeh, chairman, Zinox who highlighted the important role ICT can play in rewriting the history of Imo State, also harped on the importance of a conducive and responsible political climate in the state as a necessary condition to attract prospective investors.
“Through ICT, Imo State has the potential of becoming a conveyor belt of globally-certified talents that will create sustainable wealth, not only for the state but for Nigeria and the African continent at large. ICT remains the only profession in the world today that can make the son of a poor man the richest man in the world. By making significant investments in this area, we can unleash the power of the youths, give them a level playing ground with their contemporaries in other parts of the world and make them global citizens. I assure you, the effects will transform the state and change the narrative for good. Sadly, the governments and even those at the centre seem not to realize the huge potential in this area.
“I must also point out the need for us to ensure that we contribute in ensuring we get our political governance structure correct and responsible to the development needs of the state. This is because investors calculate political risks before making investment decisions and only a stupid investor will want to put his money in a state where the political system will negatively affect his investment,” he counselled.
While expressing agreement with Ekeh, Prof. Iwu noted that though non-partisan, the IEDI will show an active interest in the governance of the state, going forward.
“Our prime focus remains the economic development of our state through private sector funding and leveraging on available Federal and State Government resources. But we are keen stakeholders in the affairs of Imo State, including how it is governed,” he concluded.
Among the dignitaries and well-meaning citizens of the state in attendance at the high-profile event were renowned technocrat, doyen of Corporate Nigeria and founder of Diamond Bank PLC, Dr. Pascal Dozie; Chairman, National Population Commission, Mr. Eze Duruiheoma (SAN); former President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Rtd. Major General Sebastian Onwuama; industrialist and past President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engr. Charles Ugwu; Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Prof. Placid Njoku; former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof. Jude Njoku; astute politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Imo State, Chief Jerry Chukwueke; former PDP Deputy Chairman, Imo State, Chief Cosmos Iwu; former Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary, Chief Eddy Onuoha; Chairman, First Index Group and former member, Federal House of Reps, Chief ThankGod Ezeani and media consultant, scholar and frontline Nigerian journalist, Chief Amanze Obi.
Others include Chief Cyril Amako, Dr. Vin Udokwu, Chief Louis Ezeigwe, Dr. Chinedu Iwu, Chief Patrick Okereke, Chief G.G. Iheka, Chief Charles Onyirimba, Mr. Uchenna Iwu, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu; Dr. Bola Njoku, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu, Dr. Mrs. Chukwu Ngozichukwu; Dr. Harold Onunmuo, Chuka Gabriel, Mr.& Mrs. Wilson Nwafor, Ifeanyi Ukaigwe, Steve Nwoga, Barr. Golden Nwosu,Timothy Iheamatu, Mr. & Mrs. Emeka Agoawike and Chidi Nkpobara, among others.
Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd, in a strategic move to modernise its operations and foster a results-oriented workforce, has officially adopted the Federal Government’s Performance Management System (PMS).
The initiative, aimed at driving efficiency and institutionalising accountability, was marked by an intensive staff training program designed to align the agency’s operations with national performance goals and the Presidency’s vision for a digital-first public sector.
According to a statement from Stephen Kwande, the Agency’s acting head of Corporate Affairs, “the transition to PMS is a departure from historical evaluation methods. The new system is designed to provide real-time performance tracking and instill a stronger work ethic across all directorates”.
Welcoming participants, Mrs. Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, managing director/CEO of NIGCOMSAT, represented by Abiodun Attah, executive diirector, Technical Services, described the adoption as “long overdue.”
She emphasised that the system is critical for ensuring that NIGCOMSAT contributes effectively to Nigeria’s broader digital economy targets.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Chinwe Udogu, general manager, Human Resources Management, expressed NIGCOMSAT’s enthusiasm for the program, urging staff to dedicate themselves fully to the three-day training.
She noted that the exercise was pivotal in repositioning the company to achieve its highest aspirations.
The training consultant, Mrs. Njoku Chioma, said the program is expected to drive culture change, automate work processes, and strengthen institutional performance.
The three-day training, jointly organised by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and NIGCOMSAT Management, covers key themes including:
• Overview of the FCSSI25 as an institutional performance-driven Federal Civil/Public Service
• Service culture and workplace attitude in the Nigerian public sector
• Implementation of the Performance Management System in NIGCOMSAT
• Application of Artificial Intelligence tools to enhance performance in the Nigerian public sector
The move comes at a time when NIGCOMSAT is expanding its footprint, with recent initiatives like the 2026 SpaceTech Accelerator Programme and partnerships for grassroots digital skills training.
By strengthening its internal management framework, the agency aims to ensure that its technical advancements in satellite technology are matched by an equally efficient administrative engine.
Most companies choose to outsource at least part of their Security Operations Center (SOC), with a significant number adopting SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS), according to global research by Kaspersky.
This strategic move enables organisations to benefit from round-the-clock protection, ensure compliance with regulatory standards and leverage advanced cybersecurity solutions and qualified expertise that are often beyond their internal capabilities.
As cyberthreats become increasingly sophisticated, organisations are rethinking how they build and operate their Security Operations Centers. With this in mind, Kaspersky carried out a comprehensive global survey to identify the main motivations, strategic goals, and potential challenges associated with its planning and implementation¹.
The findings of this research revealed that 64% of companies plan to outsource part of their SOC, combining internal capabilities with external expertise.
Meanwhile, over a quarter of respondents (26%) are ready to fully implement an SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS) model. By contrast, only 9% plan to build their SOC entirely in-house, highlighting the growing challenges of maintaining round-the-clock monitoring and attracting qualified specialists.
SOC outsourcing enables organisations to delegate selected SOC functions or even the entire operational cycle to a trusted external provider. This approach can include a variety of services:
Design and architecture of the SOC.
Deployment and maintenance of SOC technologies.
Monitoring and analysis by external security analysts.
Consulting and training services.
Full SOCaaS delivery, where the provider handles detection, investigation and response around the clock.
Most companies prefer maintaining strategic tasks internally, whilst leveraging external teams and advanced technologies for operational and highly technical workloads. Among organisations planning to outsource SOC functions, the most commonly delegated tasks to third-party providers included solution installation and deployment (55%), solution development and provisioning (53%), and SOC design (47%).
When engaging external SOC specialists, companies also showed a clear preference for augmenting specific roles, with first-line analysts (61%) and second-line analysts (52%) being the most in-demand among external specialists. These figures illustrate that companies focus more on frontline and intermediate security tasks, such as monitoring and responding to threats.
Why do organisations choose SOC outsourcing?
The leading motivator for SOC outsourcing is the need for 24/7 protection (55%) – an operational requirement many internal teams cannot sustain alone. Another highly cited benefit is reducing workload on internal IT security specialists (47%), enabling teams to focus on strategic tasks.
Additionally, access to advanced solutions and technologies (42%) and external support to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and standards (41%) further drive the decision to outsource, highlighting the value of specialised expertise and cutting-edge tools such as XDR, MDR, MXDR and others.
Budget optimisation is important for only 37% of companies – indicating that the primary value of outsourcing lies in improved protection, not just cost savings.
“The trend towards outsourcing SOC functions, whether fully or partially, is primarily driven by the necessity for enhanced operational focus and strategic agility. By shifting routine and technical tasks externally, organisations are able to concentrate on high-value activities such as strategic decision-making and orchestrating responses to sophisticated threats.
“Moreover, this approach often results in considerable cost efficiencies, allowing for optimised resource allocation. Ultimately, this model transforms the SOC into a critical strategic capability, directly contributing to business continuity,” comments Sergey Soldatov, Head of Security Operations Center at Kaspersky.
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has made public the full names of 16 officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria indicted by a Special Investigative Panel over alleged serious misconduct, including an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
The officers suspected to be involved in the coup plot include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, a lieutenant, a lieutenant commander and a Squandron Leader.
Major General Samaila Uba, director of Defence Information, disclosed this on Monday, stating that the panel had concluded its investigation and established that the affected officers had cases to answer.
According to him, the indicted officers will face a military Court Martial in line with established procedures and existing regulations.
Major Gen. Uba said the probe examined the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the officers and identified actions “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
He stressed that the exercise was purely disciplinary and aimed at preserving internal discipline, cohesion and operational effectiveness, adding that the Armed Forces remain loyal to the Constitution and Nigeria’s democratic order.
- Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)
- Colonel M. A. Ma’aji (Niger, 47th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (Bauchi, 56th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Hayatu (Kaduna, 56th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel Dangnan (Plateau, 56th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (Nasarawa, 56th Regular Course)
- Major A. J. Ibrahim (Gombe, 56th Regular Course)
- Major M. M. Jiddah (Katsina, 56th Regular Course)
- Major M. A. Usman (Federal Capital Territory, 60th Regular Course)
- Major D. Yusuf (Gombe, 59th Regular Course)
- Major I. Dauda (Jigawa, DSSC 38)
- Captain I. Bello (DSSC 43)
- Captain A. A. Yusuf
- Lieutenant S. S. Felix (DSSC)
- Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi (Nigerian Navy)
- Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (Nigerian Air Force)
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