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Youth Strategy for ICT Development in Nigeria

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If am to summarize my experience as a zonal review panelist for Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria(YouWin!)-a business plan competition organized by the government with the objective of encouraging aspiring and innovative youths in Nigeria to expand their businesses, develop business ideas and engage in entrepreneurship,I will simply say that there exists a heavy gap beyond what we earlier thought between the Nigerian Youth, Entrepreneurship and Technologies(the YET syndrome) which only a well-articulated youth strategy can solve. It is important at this point to state clearly that Nigeria cannot achieve her goals whether it is vision 20:2020 or the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) without the key elements of the youth force,entrepreneurship and technologies(which I can comfortably refer to ICT in this article). These key drivers are not strange to us but we have over- looked them and still do,played lip service to them and then expect to have a place in the comity of great nations. What an illusion! For us to move forward as a nation,it is time to identify those root causes of our problems and address them through a holistic approach with all the resources (both human and material) we have at our disposal even the national insecurity problems we have right now in the country. For instance, theyouth force (a vital force)who make up the greater part of the entire population of the country have been left (over the years) to their own fate by bad government and corrupt leaders who are insensitive to their plight. With no education and employment, it becomes a population with no future,no aspiration, and no zeal only a people readily positioned and used as tools for crime. And like the blame game goes, everyone is quick to cast aspersion on them as if the youths are the cause of the problems we have as a nation. Are they the ones in government, are they the ones looting our treasury, or are they the ones making policies? So why blame them when the youths are just the victims of a failed state! ICTon the other hand is an enabler and also a driver ofdevelopment in any nation especially in the present dayeconomy; it is one sector that impacts on every other sector. It can be put clearly that no sector will grow to its full potential without using ICTs be it Finance,Agriculture, Education, Entertainment, Health you name it. And no nation will ever become relevant in the present economies if this key driver is not taken seriously. Yea,I will at this point commend the effort of the minister of Communications Technology, Mrs.Omobola Johnson who is right now in the advanced stage of unifying the sectors that make up the ICT sector in Nigeria through a National ICT Policy for Nigeria-the roadmap for the future of ICT in Nigeria. Having said that, this is the time to consider some of the points being raised here,it is the time to have a clear agenda and roadmap for ICT development in Nigeria and the Nigerian youths (who are the future) must be the epicenter of it all. Then entrepreneurship is the ways -and -means of attaining a robust economy in any nation.Economic experts will tell you the role of entrepreneurs in the economic development of any nation. Economies are driven by entrepreneurs not government, one key factor that have contributed to the growth of the BRIC countries we all talk about and admire is that they have their top priority and anchor onentrepreneurship. They are building more entrepreneurs that are helping to build their economies. But in Nigeria,entrepreneurship is often talked about and not encouraged by government and her policies. There will not be any real growth in the economy of Nigeria if entrepreneurship is not given its pride of place in the skim of things.The environment should be one that encourages entrepreneurs.Young entrepreneurswith ICTs as their tool are the hope of Nigeria and a Youth Strategy for ICT development in Nigeria will set the pace. The Way Forward Knowing that am not in the class of just saying things I think are right for the nation, am of the school of thought that every Nigerian has something to contribute to national development. With that said, am making this proposition I call Youth strategy for ICT Development in Nigeriawhich is simply a roadmap that first empowers the Nigerian youth who is so passionate about technologies,so that they can in turn contribute to national development. In other to actualize this, a national youth summit on ICT(www.nationalyouthsummitonict.com.ng) for Nigeria will be held where all of these issues concerning the youths, entrepreneurship and ICTs will be articulated.The summit brings together young Nigerians who are passionate about technology,innovations and ICT4D to learn,share ideas,collaborate and develop strategies on how to use technologies to solve some of the problems Nigeria faces as a developing nation. This summit is set to explore the potentials and capabilities of the Nigerian youth towards contributing their quota in National Development as young ICT entrepreneurs. No doubt in such forum, great ideas will be generated at the summit and then with the support of Government,Private and Public sector,International and local organizations, stakeholders in the technologies and ICT sector, these ideas, strategies will be put to use in solving our problems using ICTs.Therefore the summit will not be an avenue to criticize the government at any level but a platform to generate ideas that will assist government in planning for the youths. The National Youth Summit on ICT willalso promote the National Youth Summit Awards on ICT Development set to reward young Nigerians using ICTs to help fight challenging problemsand also pioneer different developments through their e-content,applications,Projects,Initiatives. The Objectives of the Summit -A Platform to bring Nigerian Youths all over the world together to explore the opportunities in ICTs and share relevant ideas that will help in the development of the country. -Contribute to Nation building through ICT4D and help actualize the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) and vision 20:2020 -Create agenda on how the youths can be part of National development and hence partner with the Government,Private and public sector on this. -The Summit will create a lot of opportunities for the youths to become entrepreneurs thereby reducing the unemployment and other social vices the youths are linked with. -The summit is an avenue to reward the efforts of young people contributing towards ICT4D through the National Youth Summit Awards. -An avenue to network with amongst the youths,with Technology CEOs,International organizations,Government,experts in ICT How the objectives of such summit will be achieved -Partnering with the government,private and Public sectors,Individuals,organizations and stakeholders in the ICT ecosystem. -Through the National Youth Summit Awards set to reward Young Nigerians using ICTs for development in different fields -A round table interaction with Tech CEOs on the future of the country -Implementation of the agenda,strategies,ideas generated at the Summit For further information on the proposed National Youth Summit on ICT please visit www.nationalyouthsummitonict.com.ng


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FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras across identified flashpoints in Plateau State as part of urgent measures to address the worsening security situation in the state.

FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

The President gave the directive during an emergency visit to Plateau on Thursday, where he held a brief stakeholders’ meeting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport following the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, where at least 28 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.

Tinubu also approved the formation of a delegation of key stakeholders to engage in further deliberations on lasting solutions to the security challenges in the state.

He condoled with families of the victims and directed that support be provided to cushion their losses.

President Bola Tinubu while expressing deep sympathy to families of victims said the installation of surveillance cameras was part of a deliberate move towards addressing the kind of attacks that befell residence of the recent attack in the State.

In his remarks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang appreciated the President’s visit and show of concern, but expressed worry over the recent wave of attacks in the state, describing the situation as disturbing and requiring urgent attention.

The meeting had in attendance, former Governors, serving and former National and State Assembly members, traditional rulers, government appointees as well as relatives of those killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack.


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FG Rolls Out N12Bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

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Federal Government yesterday unveiled a N12 billion investment in digital economy research, marking a strategic shift towards knowledge-driven development as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital landscape.

FG Rolls Out N12bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

Declaring the launch of the National Digital Economy Research Clusters under the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative mobilises over 200 researchers from universities and research institutions nationwide to produce data-driven solutions for pressing national challenges.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Tijani described the programme as an essential complement to infrastructure expansion, including the ongoing deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country.

He stressed that sustainable growth in the digital sector now hinges on robust research, innovation and evidence-based policies rather than infrastructure alone.

“As Nigeria expands its digital economy, attention is shifting from infrastructure to the knowledge that drives it,” the minister stated, adding that the sector was emerging as a major contributor to national GDP.

The research clusters will tackle critical areas including connectivity, digital public infrastructure, skills development, job creation, online safety and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Tijani explained that the project aims to bolster Nigeria’s research capacity while ensuring local insights guide policy and technology adoption.

The Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating to synchronise academic research with national priorities and advance specialised training.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, underscored universities’ evolving role as hubs of innovation and problem-solving beyond traditional learning.

The BRIDGE project aligns with broader government strategies to promote digital inclusion, spur economic growth and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.

Observers note that the programme’s impact will depend on effectively converting research findings into implementable policies across sectors.

For the administration, the message is clear: a resilient digital economy demands not just infrastructure, but the intelligence to power it.


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Myitura Launches Women-Focused Healthcare Financing Solutions to Bridge Access Gap

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In commemoration of Women’s Month, health-tech platform Myitura has released a new white paper addressing the critical gaps in healthcare financing for women in Nigeria.

Titled “Closing the Gap: Healthcare Financing for Women in Nigeria,” the report highlights how high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage, and socio-economic factors continue to prevent women from accessing timely healthcare.

According to the report, over 70% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria are paid out-of-pocket, disproportionately affecting women who often delay care due to financial and social constraints.

“When women can afford to take care of their health early, we don’t just save lives; we strengthen families, communities, and the economy,” said Chialuka Kelechi, MyItura’s Chief of Staff.

Key Insights from the White Paper:

  • Preventable conditions often escalate due to delayed care
  • Women are more likely to deprioritize their own health
  • Affordable, structured healthcare financing can significantly improve outcomes

Introducing a Women’s Health Initiative

As part of its commitment, Myitura is launching affordable women-focused health packages (powered by Mediloan), starting at ₦58,180, designed to encourage preventive care and early detection.

The package provides access to:

  • Fasting/Random Blood Sugar
  • Urinalysis
  • Electrolytes
  • Urea
  • Creatinine
  • Pap Smear Submitted slides
  • HIV I & II Rapid (Qualitative)
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening (Rapid)
  • Hepatitis C Virus Screening (Rapid)
  • Abdominopelvic Ultrasound
  • Ongoing support via the Myitura platform

Access:

Women can access these packages by downloading the Myitura app, which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.

Myitura is a health-tech platform focused on improving access to healthcare through financing, technology, and preventive care solutions.

 


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