Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of governor of Lagos State, has raised alarm over the rising cases of Tuberculosis (TB) in the state insisting that the disease remains a pressing public health concern.

Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed during a media briefing in Lagos, said that Nigeria reported over 479,000 cases in 2023, with Lagos accounting for 18,541 cases.

“These figures are alarming,” she stated, “but we have the resources, knowledge, and partnerships to change this trajectory. TB is preventable and curable, and with focused efforts, we can eradicate it from our communities.”

To combat the spread of TB, the First Lady announced a major grassroots initiative aimed at strengthening advocacy and prevention.

The initiative will include the investiture of female chairpersons and wives of Local Government Area (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairmen. It will also feature the official launch of the Stop TB Partnership, Lagos, and the inauguration of the Lagos State TB Steering Committee.

These measures, according to the First Lady, represent critical steps in Lagos’ aggressive campaign to eradicate TB. The initiative will leverage local leadership to drive TB awareness and prevention efforts, particularly in high-risk communities.

“The 10 female chairpersons and 47 wives of LGA and LCDA chairmen will be instrumental in spreading TB awareness and promoting early detection and prevention strategies within their communities,” she explained.

“These local leaders are closest to the people, making them uniquely suited to challenge misconceptions, encourage health-seeking behavior, and ensure that TB is taken seriously. Tomorrow’s investiture is a step toward empowering them to lead this charge,” she added.

Sanwo-Olu further highlighted the critical role of the STOP TB Partnership and the TB Steering Committee, which will bring together public and private stakeholders, including international partners, to combat the disease.

The Steering Committee will oversee the implementation of strategies aimed at reducing TB transmission and improving health outcomes across the state.

During the briefing, the First Lady also praised the ongoing efforts to improve living conditions in slums and overcrowded areas such as military barracks, where TB thrives due to poor sanitation.

“Improving sanitation, clearing gutters, and ensuring better housing conditions are part of our broader strategy to fight TB,” she noted.

Collaboration across sectors will be key to the success of these initiatives, Sanwo-Olu stressed, calling on stakeholders from healthcare, education, infrastructure, finance, and law enforcement to contribute to the fight against TB.

She also called on religious bodies, community leaders, and private organizations to raise awareness and combat the stigma surrounding the disease.

Sanwo-Olu reiterated that TB diagnosis and treatment are free in Lagos, with services available at 301 Primary Healthcare Centres, 30 General Hospitals, and selected private hospitals offering Directly Observed Therapy Shortcourse (DOTS).

She urged anyone experiencing TB symptoms, such as a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, to seek medical attention promptly.

Expressing her gratitude to the TB Steering Committee and the Stop TB Partnership for their dedication, Sanwo-Olu called for regular meetings with state TB champions to ensure continuous progress.

“Tomorrow’s event is not just a ceremony. It is a call to action. Together, we will make a lasting impact in the fight against TB, not just in Lagos, but across Nigeria,” she said.

Five Nigerian researchers made a significant impact at the 17^th International Conference on the Theory and Practice of E-Government (ICEGOV2024), held in Pretoria, South Africa. The event, organized by the United Nations University and UNESCO, attracted over 336 participants from 49 countries, underscoring the global importance of digital governance.

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Director-General, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasized that the researchers’ participation aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to leverage technology for economic diversification and enhanced governance.

Abdullahi highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s representation at the conference, noting that out of 157 submitted papers, only 85 were accepted, reflecting the competitive nature of the event. He stated that the insights gained from the research could catalyse technological innovations crucial for Nigeria’s economic diversification and governance improvement, furthering President Tinubu’s vision.

The Director-General confirmed NITDA’s commitment to supporting research initiatives, ensuring that Nigeria remains at the forefront of advancements in digital governance.

The showcased research spans various aspects of digital transformation, collectively aiming to enhance e-governance and stimulate economic growth through technological innovation. Below are brief outlines of the pivotal works presented:

Hassana Asuku’s presentation, “Bridging the Broadband Gap,” Asuku addresses the digital divide in rural areas by proposing a comprehensive strategy to improve broadband access. Her multidimensional approach seeks to enhance economic inclusion and civic engagement, aligning with the government’s push for digital growth.

Adeyinka Patrick Adewumi’s research on “Digital Competency in the Public Sector” highlights the challenges posed by low digital skills among civil servants. He proposes a model for targeted training and infrastructure upgrades to accelerate digital transformation.

Dr. Agbali Mohammed’s work on Scalable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) tackles institutional barriers to deploying effective DPI in Nigeria, aiming to enhance public-private partnerships and improve regulatory frameworks.

Dr. Tanimu Mukhtar Garba’s research on Tax Compliance for SMEs introduces the Taxpoynt platform, designed to simplify tax processes for small businesses. This advancement is crucial considering the significant role of SMEs in Nigeria’s economy.

Dr. Salihu Dasuki Ibrahim’s work on Citizens’ Freedoms in E-Governance explores how DPI can enhance citizen liberties, addressing obstacles such as inadequate ICT infrastructure and data privacy concerns.

The contributions of these researchers not only position Nigeria as a leading voice in the global conversation on digital governance but also reflect the nation’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable economic growth and improved governance.

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is organizing a 3-day procurement in-house training for all procurement and other relevant officers in NASENI system -wide to acquaint them with best procurement operations and in line with global practices.

The training will take place at the NASENI Headquarters, beginning from Tuesday 8^th  to 10^th October, 2024, targeted at building the capacity of procurement officers, and other select staff from Accounts, Audit, legal, Media, Planning and other officers involved in procurement activities in NASENI System-wide.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu will deliver the keynote address while Olusegun Omotola, Ag. Director General/CEO, Bureau of Public Procurement will declare the in-house training officially open.

The training amongst other things aims at ensuring that NASENI is doing the right thing and adhering to 2007 Procurement Act, Manual and other vital information that will enable the Agency to continue on the right track and to utilize the right information at every given time, as far as procurement matters are concerned.

Speaking on the upcoming training, the Director of Procurement, Dr. Mohammed A. Mohammed said that the training is based on NASENI needs and to enable officers meet up with changes in technology and practices which are global phenomenon, especially against the backdrop of on-going transformation in the NASENI system.

He said, “Things are changing, and you need to change with time, technology is changing globally, you need to build your capacity. This training is based on NASENI Needs on procurement which is slightly different from other sectors.

“Almost 75-80 per cent of NASENI activities is based on science and engineering, our method of procurement, is a little different, from the ministry of works, raw materials, etc.  Again, you must build your capacity to be able to cope, which is why we are having this training, to build capacity in line with NASENI needs and mandate.”

According to him, building capacity is a continuous exercise and procurement is all about law end to end, adding that the officers working in procurement must be trained from time to time to equip them with new trends.

He also noted that with the Standard Operation Procedure globally and the World Bank new version on procurement, NASENI cannot work differently, it must key into global practices. He stated that 95 per cent of the resource persons for this training are from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as NASENI has an agreement with it, to assist in building the capacity of procurement and relevant officers in NASENI system-wide.

Also speaking on the upcoming in-house procurement training, Mr. Adekoya Olatunji, BPP consultant, said, that “the In-house training that is coming up in NASENI is very good, it will enable the officers to adhere strictly to procurement Act. What NASENI is doing is very good, so that the officers will do what they need to do very well”.

Highlights on some of the topics of the training with the theme: “Building the Best Procurement Operations in NASENI System-Wide” includes, Effective Procurement Practices & PPA, 2007, Procurement Planning, Procurement Record Keeping Procedures, Contract Agreement and Implications amongst others.