News
Technology in Government Summit /Expo’16 In Line with ‘Change Agenda’- NITPCS
IT professionals in Government – Federal, State and Local Governments in Nigeria under the auspices of the Nigeria Information Technology Professionals in Civil and Public Service (NITPCS); an interest professional group of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is taking the pull by the horn by standing up to be counted as the critical technology enabler to the current change direction of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria led government.
In an exclusive chat with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, this new bold move on enabling the “Change Agenda” of Nigeria’s Governments as stated by Raphael Omosola, the NITPCS National President, is predicated on the fact that as civil and public servants and more importantly as IT professionals we are the fulcrum in which the successful implementation of policies and programmes of government rest upon, within government; government to business and to its citizens or otherwise.
NITPCS whose Vision remains to Promote professionalism, provide conducive environment for continuous career development and progression; protection of member’s interest and condition of their practice.
Its Mission: To enable the government to drive the Information Technology (IT) component of IT polices and professionalize “IT” practice in Nigerian Civil/Public services.
Omosola told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that as part of the process of that change, NITPCS will be hosting Nigeria’s largest and most prestigious public sector ICT Summit/Expo in Abuja at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, FCT; April 13th – 15th, 2016. The summit/expo delegates will come primarily from Federal MDAs, State MDAs and Local governments as well as the Legislature and Judiciary.
“We are having over 70+ premium industry exhibitors for this event. The event includes plenary sessions, case studies, insightful and practical innovation roundtables, capacity building and industry based seminars with speakers from both the public and private sector”.
The event, he said, is endorsed and fully supported by Federal Ministry of Communications, Galaxy Backbone Plc (GBB), Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) powered by DMCL.
The three day Technology in Government Summit/Expo is Nigeria’s most prestigious public sector technology event that combines a high level conference with large scale exhibition, bringing together senior public sector leaders, IT professionals and Experts to learn, connect and solve.
“It is a platform that will showcase ICT solutions that will play an integral part in the on going ICT modernisation within the public sector.
“Governments are increasingly becoming smart, efficient and citizen facing with the adoption of appropriate technologies to drive governance and create the requisite enabling environment for national change and transformation.
“Meet over 2000 distinguished top government functionaries, Senior government policy makers, ICT leaders, professionals and stakeholders.
“Because of the uniqueness of this event and the critical role IT plays globally today, particularly in governments, we are humbly expecting the gracious presence of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) as the Presidential Guest of Honour to declare the event open and a visit to the Expo halls while the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo is expected to grace the Summit Dinner/Awards Night as the Vice Presidential Guest of Honour”.
The theme of the summit/expo, he disclosed, is “Information Technology: Enabling and veritable tool to deliver “Change” in Governance” while the sub themes focuses on things that matter most to government:
Security and Protection of Key National Information Infrastructures
Delivering stream lined services 24×7 in an on demand society
Developing Smart government
Enabling the strategic use of ICT to deliver on policy and effective governance
Engender Innovation and disruptive technologies
Engaging openly to build and leverage knowledge and foster collaboration
Revenue Assurance and Taxation
Enabling Strategic use of ICT to deliver free and fair elections
Government IT Spending: doing more with less
Intellectual Property Issues in Government with a view of the Cyber Crime Act in a technology enabled public sector
Treasury Single Account (TSA): Operation and Myth – Technology Enablers and Governance
Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) and Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management System (IPPIS)
Nigeria ICT Policies: Impact on government IT Service delivery
He added that NITPCS has begun to collaborate with government entities whose mandate revolves around technology services in the public sector and also will be partnering with private sector technology providers to support government
“NITPCS is therefore fully geared up to support government at all levels to achieve its mandate to Nigerian citizens by ensuring that through the adoption of appropriate technologies governments will begin to realise the following: enhanced efficiency and timeliness
cost reduction in governance; citizen focused service delivery and government to business efficiency.
“Having said that, I on behalf of NITPCS wish to invite the general public to the summit /expo particularly to the expo halls. We are looking forward to welcoming and receiving the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and top government functionaries, IT professionals and Government and Industry Exhibitors. Summit website: www.techingovt.org.ng”, he said.
EFCC
The African Development Bank Group last week approved an investment of €6.5 million in the Saviu II fund in order to support technology start-ups through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising, mainly in French-speaking Central and West Africa.
The Bank will invest €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission, under the Boost Africa Programme.
This participation of the Bank Group will enable the Saviu II fund to give priority to companies with a strong technological or digital component.
Saviu II, the second investment vehicle of Saviu Partners, plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in about 20 technology or technology-oriented business-to-business start-ups in the seed phase or carrying out first institutional fundraising.
The Saviu II venture capital fund aims to make at least 60% of its commitments in the French-speaking countries of West and Central Africa: Côte d ‘Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The fund can also co-invest in promising technology companies in East Africa that have a strong team and business model, and whose strategy includes entering the market in French-speaking West African countries and establishing a strong presence there.
In addition, the fund will devote a dedicated envelope to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity investments, usually in co-investment with studios, incubators or other ecosystem partners.
Nigerian Government has signed a $1.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) via the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to fund an alumina refinery, national geoscience mapping, and a strategic investment vehicle for mining growth.
Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, said the refinery will process one million tonnes of bauxite yearly using a modern Bayer process, powered by an on-site gas-fired cogeneration plant.
Minister Dele Alake called it a transformative milestone boosting GDP, aligning with reforms that improve investment climate, regulations, and licensing to attract private capital. He directed agencies to fast-track permits.
The 20-year project at 95% utilization eyes 19 million tonnes total output, $1.2 billion annual GDP addition, $25 billion economic impact, and $8 billion forex earnings, per feasibility studies.
SMDF Executive Secretary Fatima Shinkafi termed it the agency’s biggest funding deal, supporting value-addition policy.
The partnership extends to geoscience mapping for mineral data, de-risking exploration, and a joint vehicle for mining assets.
Permanent Secretary Engr. Farouk Yabo praised the reforms. Shinkafi signed for government; AFC’s Franklin Edochie for the corporation, witnessed by AFC CEO Samaila Zubairu.
Tomori positioned it as Nigeria’s largest private mining investment and FDI magnet.
GCR Affirms Afreximbank’s International Scale Ratings of A, A2
SmartCash Launches ‘No Be Cho Cho Cho’ Campaign to Boost Digital Banking in Nigeria
MTN Nigeria Non-Executive Director Mazen Mroue Quits to Focus on Group Role
Google Adds Yorùbá, Hausa to AI Search, Boosting Access for Millions of Nigerians
MultiChoice Shuts Down Showmax After 11 Years Amid Streaming Wars
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation Bolsters Nigeria’s Education Drive with ₦2.7m Student Support
Kaspersky Brings more Transparency to Threat Detection with New Hunt Hub
NDPC Commits to Balancing Data Privacy, Protection Information
PwC Reveals AI Scaling Gap Slows Africa’s Digital Transformation
Firm Reviews the Evolution of Phishing Threats in 2025
E-Financial3 days agoNRS Targets N40trillion in Tax, Royalty Revenue in 2026
General News3 days agoPurple Woman 3.0 Is Back, to Empower Women in Tech this IWD 2026
E-Financial3 days agoSEC Revokes Registration of Kensington Agro Trading Limited
News3 days agoEFCC Arraigns Two FSDH Bank Officials Over $307k, €50k Fraud
E-Financial2 days agoNigeria’s VAT Jumps 34%, CIT Soars 48% to ₦14trn in 9M’25 – NBS
E-Business3 days agoNDPC, 60 DPAs Collaborate on Enforcing Privacy Rights in the Use of Al
Telecom2 days agoFG Approves GIS-enabled Digital Postcode to Tackle Logistics Gaps, Boost E-commerce
Telecom3 days agoKonga Launches ‘Berekete Sales’ with Up to 50% Discounts Across Major Categories