By Funmilola Gboteku

Havilla University (HUNI), a privately-owned institution, has partnered New Horizons, an information technology training company, to expand Information and Communications Technology (ICT) related programmes in the school.

The Chancellor of Havilla University, Mr Jones Tangban, made the announcement during a ceremony held to induct the Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr Tim Akano, as a member of the institution’s Governing Council in Lagos.

Tangban said: “We want to leverage on the expertise and resources of New Horizon to establish strategic partnership to enhance the university infrastructure.


“This collaboration will help us update and expand ICT related courses and programmes by ensuring that they remain relevant and aligned with industry best practices,” Tangban said.


He added that it would facilitate scholarship and internship opportunities for Havilla University students at New Horizons Nigeria and provide them with practical experience in the ICT field.


Speaking on Akano as a member of the institution’s governing council, he said the Information Technology education expert had been playing a vital role in the lives of many Nigerians, especially youths.

“Akano has shown capacity in giving the best to mankind, particularly the young ones who are thirsty to be the best of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.


“We believe in the parameters that qualify you to be a member of Havilla University, and we wish to let the world know that you are now an exquisite member of the institution’s governing council.



”As a man who has engineered the training of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths and professionals, we are confident that making this caliber and rare person to be a member of the Governing Council of the university is a privilege,” Tangban said.


In her presentation of Letter of Appointment, the Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, who was represented by Prof. Peter Okafor, Deputy Vice Chancellor (HUNI), urged the recipient Akano to reciprocate the trust extended to him by Havilla University.


“Going by your antecedents, we strongly believe that your wealth of knowledge and passion will be significantly felt in the institution’s operations. We trust your track record,” she noted.



In his speech, Akano expressed gratitude to Havilla University for the privilege given to him to serve as a Members of Council.


“When I reflected over this call to service, I concluded that this is another opportunity for me to do what I have been doing for the past 20 years- which is about youth mentorship.


“I believe that together with the council we will take Havilla University to the next level in Cross River; and the whole world will come to recognise the institution,” Akano said.


Other dignitaries present at the event include Dr John Adeniyi, Board of Trustee member (HUNI); Pastor Gbenga Olufisayo, General Overseer, Fresh Oil Global Impact Church /Secretary, Board of Trustees (HUNI) among others.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Havilla University popularly known as HUNI was established on Nov. 6, 2021 at Nde-Ikom in Cross River State.


The university is known for its dynamic system of teaching and research in a serene environment, aided by cutting-edge equipment, facilities, and structures to aid in the development of world-class graduates who will be competitive in content and character.

NAN

By Funmilola Gboteku

The Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), says it will be extending a hand of partnership to operators in the gaming industry to build a world-class online lottery university.



The Director-General of NLRC, Lanre Gbajabiamila made this known while speaking to stakeholders and operators in the betting and gaming Industry in Lagos.



Gbajabiamila said the university would cater to operators and regulators by enabling them to stay abreast of evolving technology trends, development and best practices in the gaming industry.



He added that it would avail regulators the opportunity to combat sports betting harms through comprehensive education, active monitoring and data-driven research.



” The task of regulating remote gaming has become more intricate than ever before.

“This digital era has a higher appeal than the traditional instruments employed in the gaming industry, demanding a comprehensive re-evaluation of the regulatory frameworks and strategies.

“Amidst this transformation, the commitment to addressing the emerging challenges remains unwavering.



” In light of this, regulatory bodies and stakeholders must adapt to this new landscape to ensure the continued integrity and security of the gaming industry, ” he said.





According to him, there is need to sanitise the gaming industry and put in place measures that would enhance the ease of doing business.


The director-general appealed to all the stakeholders to come together and form a common front adding that the industry had grown in leaps and bounds in recent years.


“The Industry have grown so much that no state can do it on their own, the federal and state must collaborate and that is the reason NLRC have come to stay and continue to be the leader, “he said.



On checking the issues on fraud and unwholesome practices, the NLRC boss said the commission would need the support of other financial monitoring commission to help.



Gbajabiamila stated that existing financial intelligence commission including the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) National Security Adviser (NSA) Office would help adjudicate in forming a document guiding the commission’s operation. (NAN)

By Funmilola Gboteku

Some stakeholders in the technology industry have called for more inclusive learning through the usage of visuals, animations, graphics and other media tools in schools and colleges.

The stakeholders made the call at a workshop, which was powered by both Wificombat Academy and American Corner at Ikeja.


The event was sponsored by Vibranium Valley Tech City and Venture Garden Foundation and facilitated by Wifi combat Academy.


The theme of the event was: “Animate to Educate.”

The convener of the empowerment programme, Ms Dele Tejuoso, in an interview on the sidelines of the workshop said the centre had been engaging in re-training of educators for the past 10 years.


“We have been training educators from both public and private schools and other stakeholders in appreciation for using media tools for inclusive learning.

“I am happy with the trend of tech appreciation in Nigeria over the years, now we are way ahead of other countries when it comes to coding and tech learning among children.


“However, we are still lacking in some areas which includes using the old ways and method of teaching in our schools which is a bit outdated,” she said.

Tejuoso added that they wanted children to grow up becoming tech gurus, who were ever ready to solve critical problems in the technology industry.


She noted that presently teachers were lagging behind because they were not equipped with the right skills, adding that some don’t know how to empower themselves with technology.

“This programme is meant to open their eyes to know their self worth; our teachers need to be aware of the value of technology.


“Also, it is designed to empower the teachers to be the right resource person to create contents especially in the digital space. Contents that cannot be learned in the four walls of the university.

“Our educators need to change the way they teach because teaching should be more engaging. Our children now have access to mobile gadgets which they can learn faster from,” she said.

Tejuoso urged educators to be more creative and ensure that their contents were put on various platforms online.

“Our educators should see create content online that can go viral. There are different ways to do this either through videos, animations, illustrations, graphics which are more engaging.

“Visuals and media tools are way better than text forms. Our text formats need to be converted to animations to make them more engaging.

“The easiest way to learn now is through animation which expose the educators to more of visualised teachings,” she said.

Tejuoso noted that the old literature written by scholars could be saved by adapting them into animations.

“There is a demand for African local content around the world now. The world is going through culturalisation which is the use of culture to teach.

“Our literature text, folklore and others can be converted to animations to tell the world who we are, so that children can know their roots and be involved in our evolving world,” she said.

The Keynote Speaker, Ms Nissi Madu, the Managing Partner, Co-creation Hub Ltd., said telling African stories in digital form would go a long way in adapting to inclusive learning in Nigeria.

“There are lots of conversation around telling our own stories, so that the upcoming generations can have a reference point and help strengthen our cultural identities.

“Visual is the best way of connecting the old generation to the new generation.

“The kids nowadays watch Super Heroes, and now, they want to create our own version creating videos of African children who are going on adventures to solve problems.

“Having these visuals empower them, build their confidence, self esteem and make them realise that they can solve their problem and that all they have to do is to create contents,” she said.

Madu added that the old traditional way of learning was difficult and cumbersome.

“Our curriculum is not yet perfect because we have some of the subjects that we need to work on.

“The visuals around our children can make them learn faster, parents can also take their children out to teach them practical example such as engaging them in some simple transactions.

“The challenge in our educational system is upscaling the teaching methods from text to visuals. The process of upscaling should start from the Colleges of Education and the Faculty of Educations.

“The pre-training schools need to have cutting edge equipment and visuals to aid the educators. Also there is a need for more in-training for those already in the system,” she said.

Another facilitator, Mr David Victorious, said Africa had a lot to tell about her cultural heritage that could be a landmark for learning across the world.

“The passion in building African culture across the world is stronger now. Africa has a wealth of story, we pride ourselves in creating authentic values.

“Our kids are at the forefront of learning and we need to start teaching them now while they are young. We need to look into the future right now.

“Animations can bring great support to learning. The best way to learn now is through visuals instead of books,” he said.

Over 80 educators benefited from the workshop and empowerment which had various scholars teaching on the use of technology to aid learning in schools.

By Funmilola Gboteku

Some stakeholders in the technology industry have called for more inclusive learning through the usage of visuals, animations, graphics and other media tools in schools and colleges.


The stakeholders made the call at a workshop organised for educators at American Corner along Murtala Muhammed Airport Road, Ikeja.

The event was sponsored by Vibranium Valley Tech City and Venture Garden Foundation and facilitated by Wifi combat Academy.


The theme of the event was: “Animate to Educate.”

The convener of the empowerment programme, Ms Dele Tejuoso, in an interview on the sidelines of the workshop said the centre had been engaging in re-training of educators for the past 10 years.


“We have been training educators from both public and private schools and other stakeholders in appreciation for using media tools for inclusive learning.

“I am happy with the trend of tech appreciation in Nigeria over the years, now we are way ahead of other countries when it comes to coding and tech learning among children.


“However, we are still lacking in some areas which includes using the old ways and method of teaching in our schools which is a bit outdated,” she said.

Tejuoso added that they wanted children to grow up becoming tech gurus, who were ever ready to solve critical problems in the technology industry.


She noted that presently teachers were lagging behind because they were not equipped with the right skills, adding that some don’t know how to empower themselves with technology.

“This programme is meant to open their eyes to know their self worth; our teachers need to be aware of the value of technology.


“Also, it is designed to empower the teachers to be the right resource person to create contents especially in the digital space. Contents that cannot be learned in the four walls of the university.

“Our educators need to change the way they teach because teaching should be more engaging. Our children now have access to mobile gadgets which they can learn faster from,” she said.

Tejuoso urged educators to be more creative and ensure that their contents were put on various platforms online.

“Our educators should see create content online that can go viral. There are different ways to do this either through videos, animations, illustrations, graphics which are more engaging.

“Visuals and media tools are way better than text forms. Our text formats need to be converted to animations to make them more engaging.

“The easiest way to learn now is through animation which expose the educators to more of visualised teachings,” she said.

Tejuoso noted that the old literature written by scholars could be saved by adapting them into animations.

“There is a demand for African local content around the world now. The world is going through culturalisation which is the use of culture to teach.

“Our literature text, folklore and others can be converted to animations to tell the world who we are, so that children can know their roots and be involved in our evolving world,” she said.

The Keynote Speaker, Ms Nissi Madu, the Managing Partner, Co-creation Hub Ltd., said telling African stories in digital form would go a long way in adapting to inclusive learning in Nigeria.

“There are lots of conversation around telling our own stories, so that the upcoming generations can have a reference point and help strengthen our cultural identities.

“Visual is the best way of connecting the old generation to the new generation.

“The kids nowadays watch Super Heroes, and now, they want to create our own version creating videos of African children who are going on adventures to solve problems.

“Having these visuals empower them, build their confidence, self esteem and make them realise that they can solve their problem and that all they have to do is to create contents,” she said.

Madu added that the old traditional way of learning was difficult and cumbersome.

“Our curriculum is not yet perfect because we have some of the subjects that we need to work on.

“The visuals around our children can make them learn faster, parents can also take their children out to teach them practical example such as engaging them in some simple transactions.

“The challenge in our educational system is upscaling the teaching methods from text to visuals. The process of upscaling should start from the Colleges of Education and the Faculty of Educations.

“The pre-training schools need to have cutting edge equipment and visuals to aid the educators. Also there is a need for more in-training for those already in the system,” she said.

Another facilitator, Mr David Victorious, said Africa had a lot to tell about her cultural heritage that could be a landmark for learning across the world.

“The passion in building African culture across the world is stronger now. Africa has a wealth of story, we pride ourselves in creating authentic values.

“Our kids are at the forefront of learning and we need to start teaching them now while they are young. We need to look into the future right now.

“Animations can bring great support to learning. The best way to learn now is through visuals instead of books,” he said.

Over 80 educators benefited from the workshop and empowerment which had various scholars teaching on the use of technology to aid learning in schools.

Newmark Group Officially Inducted Into Public Relations Global Network


By Funmilola Gboteku

Newmark Group Ltd., a Pan-African Public Relations and Communications agency, has officially been inducted as a member of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN).

Newmark Group in a statement said that the event was held on Thursday, October 19 at the Hilton's San Francisco District in California, United States.

According to the statement, joining PRGN is a testament of Newmark's growing influence and impact within the global communications industry.


It said Newmark in March 2023 became the fifth sub-Saharan African agency to join PRGN, bolstering the network's overall membership to an impressive 54 agencies.

Speaking, Gilbert Manirakiza, the founder of Newmark Group said: "Our membership with PRGN signifies a vital connection that amplifies the distinctive role we play as a strategic communications agency, encompassing various dimensions of Public Relations, digital, experiential, insights, technology, and creativity.



"This unique fusion of expertise wields the extraordinary ability to mold identities, foster unity among diverse audiences, and propel growth for the organizations under our care.


"At its core, our affiliation with PRGN encapsulates our unwavering mission to leave an indelible mark on the landscape of communications, making a tangible impact on the world, "Manirakiza said.




President of PRGN, Andy See said he was excited that Newmark had become a member of the organization.


He said that; "We're absolutely thrilled to have Newmark on board because we truly appreciate the incredible thought leadership and expert positioning that they've carved out for themselves in Africa’s vast landscape.



"With Newmark's impressive reach spanning over 30 countries, we see a game-changing opportunity for PRGN, enabling us to unlock new horizons in our global and local partnerships within our affiliations, "See said.

Established in 2010, Newmark Group has rapidly evolved into a Pan-African communications and brand positioning powerhouse.


The agency's expertise spans a wide spectrum of strategic services, including strategy design and execution, stakeholder mapping, thought leadership, media training, and content production.

The agency's exceptional capabilities and contributions are poised to drive positive change and growth for clients around the world.
==========

By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lotus Bank Nigeria confirmed its partnership with the 7th edition of the Adron Games as both organizations struck a partnership deal to showcase the annual sporting event.

In a brief, but meaningful ceremony, the top executive of Adron Sports Foundation paid a courtesy call to the headquarters of Lotus Bank Nigeria to officially unveil the Adron Games trophy.

In an exciting event at Lotus Bank Headquarters, Adron Sports Foundation, one of the leading nonprofit organizations promoting sports in the country, delivered a captivating presentation to Lotus Bank executives.

The occasion marked a significant milestone in the partnership between Adron Sports Foundation and Lotus Bank for the upcoming Adron Games event.

The event showcased the vision and objectives of Adron Sports Foundation and the passion the organization has for promoting sports in the community.

The presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the Adron Games event, highlighting its significance in fostering unity, promoting healthy competition, and creating opportunities for young athletes to showcase their talents.

Lotus Bank, known for its commitment to supporting various community initiatives, expressed its enthusiasm for the partnership with Adron Sports Foundation.

The bank's executives acknowledged the importance of promoting sports as a means of improving physical and mental well-being, as well as developing leadership skills and team spirit.

During the presentation, Adron Sports Foundation discussed the various ways in which Lotus Bank will contribute to the success of the Adron Games event.

This includes providing financial support, offering resources, and leveraging their extensive network to attract more sponsors and participants.

The collaboration between Adron Sports Foundation and Lotus Bank is expected to have a significant impact on the Adron Games event. With the bank's support, the event is anticipated to reach new heights and create a positive influence on the sports community at large.

The partnership between Adron Sports Foundation and Lotus Bank is a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared goal of promoting sports excellence.

As the excitement builds, both organizations are confident that the Adron Games event will be a resounding success, leaving a lasting legacy in the sporting landscape of the country.

The Executive Director of Lotus Bank Nigeria Mr. Isiaka Ajani-Lawal received the Adron Games Trophy and official merchandise and commended the organiser for the initiative. 

While he also confirmed Lotus Bank as one of the sponsors and Partners of the Games, he stated that the staff of the Bank will also participate in the Games. 

Speaking on this development the Director of Operation for Adron Sports Foundation, Mr. Oladapo Emmanuel reiterated the need for such collaboration to drive an all-inclusive sports development in Nigeria. 

"We are very excited to have Lotus Bank join us for this wonderful initiative. I do not doubt in my mind that this will not only add value to the project but also send a strong message that Sports is a unifying factor". Oladapo said. 

The Adron Games event will feature competition in over sixteen (16) major sports with medals and cash prizes for all winners.

By Funmilola Gboteku

The Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd. (NIGCOMSAT) says that it will further deepen broadband penetration in the rural and underserved areas of the country using satellite.

The newly appointed Managing Director of the NIGCOMSAT, Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, gave this assurance while addressing the media, after a tour of the organisation’s hub and office in Lagos.

Egerton-Idehen said the agency was aware of how technology was evolving and as an infrastructure provider, it would intensify efforts to reach underserved areas.

The NIGCOMSAT boss noted that the agency was poised for business and planned to remain relevant by constantly innovating ideas and technologies for the good of the country.

Egerton-Idehen added that, more than ever before, NIGCOMSAT was strategically positioned to meet the five critical pillars set by the Federal Government to build a strong digital economy.

The managing director noted that the Federal Government understood the role of NIGCOMSAT in increasing access and advancing communications capabilities for the benefits of the populace, especially the underserved and the unserved populations.

“I am optimistic about fostering partnership with the public and private sectors for strategic innovation and seeing key players in the market collaborate to help drive the industry.

“We are counting on critical stakeholders in the industry to support NIGCOMSAT, the nation’s premier communications satellite operator and one of the few in Africa,” Egerton-Idehen said.

NIGCOMSAT Ltd owns and operates the Nigerian Communications Satellite systems.

The NigComSat-1R system is built to provide domestic and international satellite services via a 2-way satellite communications services across West, Central, South and East Africa, Europe and Asia.

As contained in the latest report published by the Nigerian Communication Commission, broadband penetration (BP) percentage, which is the summation of counts of total active 3G, 4G & 5G subscriptions stood at 47.36percent as at December 2022, this is as the federal government targets a 70 percent broadband penetration by 2025.
NAN

By Funmilola Gboteku

Joy Basu, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of United States, Bureau of African Affairs, has described Nigeria’s young population as an asset to Africa and the world at large.

Basu made the remark during a visit to Vibranium Valley Tech City to discuss about the African economy in Lagos.

She said it was important for the world to know that the young talents in Nigeria were incredible.

According to Basu, not only is the population of Nigeria so young but filled with youths who are very smart.

“These young talents have a history of unlocking economic prosperity through creativity and innovations.

“They see challenges in diverse perspective and are ready to delve into it to find solutions,” Basu said.

She said the young talented population were not only needed to solve Nigeria’s problems, but also Africa and the world.

Basu explained that such young assets should not be left unrefined, stressing that opportunities should be created for them to thrive for economic growth and development.

She noted that the U.S government recognises the immense potential of Nigeria’s young population and would continue to provide support through investment, partnership and trainings.

“We will continue to partner with Nigeria and Africa to build a better world,” she said

Basu stressed that talent discovery and development needed to be taken seriously.

On bridging gender gap, she said the U.S government had been doing a lot to support women by ensuring they had equal opportunities.

Basu noted that the U.S government was not only supporting women through access to funding, but also by ensuring that it reaches those in the underserved communities.

Basu said bridging the gap had been a challenge for both the U.S and Nigeria, adding that several opportunities through innovative programmes had been provided for women, to ensure they had equal rights.

Speaking on what Vibranium Valley Tech City had done to bridge employment gap, Mr Bunmi Akinyemiju, the Chief Executive Officer Venture Garden Group, said a lot of money had been spent to groom 1,500 talents in Nigeria.

Akinyemiju said for job creation, they had also built about 22 companies from the scratch.

He added that Vibranium Valley Tech City had invested in about 65 companies through their venture capital arm.

Akinyemiju said he believed that the growing of Nigeria Gross Domestic Product and Africa had to do with building bridges, noting that the bridge was between Nigeria and America.

He also noted that the U.S consulate had been an incredible partner in driving some of their goals of building talents.

Also, Mr Debo Omololu, the Chief Executive Officer, GetFundedAfrica, a tech-enabled marketplace, said Nigeria and other countries in the continent were going to be the workforce in the future.

Omololu explained that Nigeria, which had one of the youngest population in the world with 60 per cent younger than 45, needed jobs.

He said that to provide solutions to some the job challenges, GetFundedAfrica had partnered the Federal Government and one of the banks to provide opportunities for young Nigerians.

Omololu explained that the company uses technology to help aspiring business owners, existing businesses, job seekers and working professionals.

Omololu noted that leveraging on their partnership, they were able to get a bank to provide financing of up to $50 million to train every single person that registered under their organisation.

He explained that asides learning skills they were also given certificates to help them get jobs easily.

By Oluwatope Lawanson

The eighth edition of The Beatz Awards will accommodate more underserved individuals in the music ecosystem, the Founder, Elijah John, has said.

John gave the assurance in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

The Beatz Awards is a Nigerian awards music show introduced in November 2015 by Eliworld International Ltd. to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements of the creative minds behind music production, business and distribution.

John, also the Chief Executive Officer of Eliworld International Ltd., said that the eighth edition tagged: `The Octave’, would feature a new category called the Female Producer of the Year.

According to him, the category makes the edition unique.

“This is the first of its kind in the industry as we have quite a number of female producers in this industry.

“We want to be the first to push this narrative while making sure that they are properly recognised.

“From inception, we have had the female DJ category, but did not have a category for female producers.

“Some of them might not be as big as you expect them to be, but because they are in that space already, this award shines a spotlight on them and would encourage others to begin to come out,” he said.

John said that the nominees’ party for the awards would take place on Oct. 28 while the awards would hold on Nov. 18 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

“There are 25 different categories, and the minimum number of nominees in each of the categories is five.

“While the awards are also now open to public voting for people to vote their favourites, the selection process was rigorous because everybody shortlisted in each category is a winner.

“Opening the winner up to public voting is in a bid to try to involve consumers of the music in the process,’’ he said.

John condemned discrimination in the music industry, saying that it hindered growth.

“We have to all come together in order to move the narrative forward, and to ensure the Nigerian music scene is globally accepted.

“Both the music producers and the artistes have to come together to grow. Global attention is good, but we must keep developing,” he said.

Davido, DJ Lambo, Cohbams Asuquo and others won awards in different categories at the seventh edition of the Beatz Awards held at Muson Centre, Lagos, in November 2022.

Hip-hop star, Davido, won the best songwriter award, while Disc Jockey (DJ), Olawunmi Okerayi, emerged the best female DJ of the year for the second consecutive year.

Music producer, Cobhams Asuquo, was honoured with lifetime achievement award.

Blaise Beat won the producer of the year award.

Sliverbird Television won the best entertainment television station of the year award and MTV Base emerged the entertainment cable of the year.

Food security: Experts urge youths to take interest in agriculture


By Oluwatope Lawanson

Mr Adekoya Oluwagbemiga, Chief Executive Officer, Adbond, Nigeria’s pioneering Agro-to-Home Development Company, has emphasised the need to reawaken the interest of agriculture among youths to boost food production.

Oluwagbemiga said the call became pertinent to ensure food security and food sufficiency in the country.

He said this during a press conference to mark the company’s seventh year anniversary on Friday in Lagos.

Oluwagbemiga said Nigerians needed to embrace the fact that we were first farmers before any profession.

“We all should go back to promoting agriculture as our backbone in Nigeria.

“The truth is that agriculture from inception is the core profession of Africans and our forefathers that have been the source of our national, corporation, and individual prosperity .

“You can be a medical doctor, you can still own a farm, as a legal practitioner you can still own a farm, as a tech giant owning a farm doesn’t leave you out.

“Owning a farm is a simple task every generation of Africa needs to be part of starting from Nigeria in fulfilling the Nigeria purpose to aid its gross domestic product.

“No farm goes big without starting small and note you don’t have to buy it from Adbond, all you need is just start from where you are,” he said.

He said the company, since its inception, had embarked on initiatives to woo youths to agriculture.

He said the company had sensitised 50 people on gardening and global approach in solving food insecurity through its green wealth summit event where they gave out seeds to encourage people.

“Also, we have 2,000 youths employed both directly and indirectly as virtual staff, who work passionately to realise the vision and they remain the backbone of our success.

“We have also successfully awarded 10 outstanding students with lands through our academic excellence award programme, a platform for nurturing talents,learning and encouraging quality education.

“We have successfully empowered the lives of 600 corps members as landowners, which we call villa owners.

“By integrating agriculture and residential development, we not only redefine comfortable living but also pave the way for sustainable and prosperous communities in Africa,” he said.

According to him, the company’s vision and purpose is to promote wealth and unity from Nigeria and Africa.

“Our impact over the years cut across also fulfilling some sustainable development goals in the areas of zero hunger, no poverty, gender equality, quality education and economic growth and empowerment,” Oluwagbemiga added.

On his part, Mr Steven Awoyemi, Director of Agriculture for Adbond, called on governments to support farmers with grants to enable them venture into mechanised farming.

Awoyemi also urged the government to provide farmers with resources to market their produce to avoid wastage and loss.

By Stellamaris Ashinze

A Pan-African cryptocurrency exchange and financial technology firm, Yellow Card (YC) says it has partnered with Web3Ladies to provide $3,000 grant mentorship programme to empower over 500 Nigerian women.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) Yellow Card, Mr Jason Marshall said at a press conference in Lagos that the grant would empower women with relevant technology and blockchain skills.

Marshall said that the initiative would go beyond profit and align with the company’s broader mission of uplifting lives through accessible and innovative financial services.

The COO said that the decision to partner with Web3Ladies, a women-centric organisation, was driven by the need to provide greater access to training and tech resources for females who face significant barriers.

He said that the move was part of Yellow Card's Social Good, CSR Initiative, aimed at promoting financial freedom and enabling access to tech resources for everyone across the continent.

According to him, Yellow Card believes in financial inclusion, youth empowerment, education and innovation as essential pillars of progress on the continent.

‘’Our decision to invest in empowering these women reflects our deep commitment to making a real impact.

‘’By providing training and access to resources, we aim to bridge the gender gap in tech and contribute to the economic growth of the continent.

‘’In the near future, an estimated 230 million jobs in sub-sahara Africa will require digital skills by 2030 making initiatives like these even more critical,’’ he said.

According to him, Yellow Card commitment extends beyond partnership and recognises the importance of financial education.

Marshall said that the Yellow Card Academy, one of its key initiative offers knowledge about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, economics and financial literacy.

He said that only 30 per cent of women receive STEM training, with even fewer girls possessing essential digital skills for the modern workforce in the region.

Marshall said that Yellow Card, through its YC Social Good Initiative, intends to close this gap, equipping and preparing young African talents with the necessary skills required to shape the future of the continent.

Associate Programme Manager Web3Ladies, Nkechi Enebeli while commenting on Yellow Card’s $3,000 grant to power their mentorship programme said, Yellow Card’s commitment to CSR is nothing short of remarkable.

Enebeli said that asides from the mentorship for women, 25 of them would also be empowered with toolkits.

She said that the partnership reaffirms the belief that empowering women in tech is not just a matter of equality but an investment in the future.

According to Enebeli, the partnership is more than just financial support, it is a testament to the power of collaboration.

‘’We are immensely grateful to Yellow Card for recognising our mission and offering their hand in our journey towards a more equitable tech ecosystem”.

According to Enebeli, the Web3Ladies mentorship programme is a three-month intensive boot camp designed to train skilled designers, engineers and managers for the blockchain industry.



She said that the Web3Ladies mentorship programme would run in four different phases for a duration of three months with over 500 registered mentees and an intake of over 200 accepted applicants in the current cohort.

‘’We are looking to provide work tools such as laptops, inverters, and MiFis to successfully graduated mentees after the cohort programme, "Enebeli said.

Yellow Card is a financial services company that offers a crypto exchange, easy cross-border payments powered by crypto, and an API suite for companies among others.

Web3Ladies, is a web3 community focused on raising the next generation of female disruptors.

NGO calls for more women inclusion in decision making



By Funmilola Gboteku

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Women Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) on Thursday advocated the inclusion of more women in decision making process for gender-balance.

Officials of W.TEC made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the programme organised to mark the 2023 International Day of Girl-Child held at Lagos City Senior College, Yaba, Lagos.

NAN reports that the workshop, which was in partnership with an American-based Internet Cybersecurity outfit, F5 inc., had in attendance students from Lagos City Senior College.

One of the facilitators, Mr Adeyemi Odutola, the External Relations Lead, W.TEC, told NAN that the International Day of Girl Child was majorly about raising the awareness and support towards the girl child rights.

Odutola said it was essential to keep hammering on the opportunities and advancement of girls in all fields to create gender balance and have diverse contributions of talents.

“There is need to educate the public on the need for a gender-balanced society because we realised that 50 per cent of the population of women may not be productive.

“We need to empower the girl child with requisite knowledge and let them know why we should have more women in major fields, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM),” he said.

Odutola further emphasised that giving the girl child the same opportunity the boy child has, would allow for fairness and equality in the society.

He explained that young girls needed to be more involved in decision making, especially those decisions that had direct impacts on their lives.

Odutola added that during the workshop the female students were also taught on how to defend themselves against abuse.

Another facilitator at the event, Miss Oluwanifesimi Osho, said the NGO had not been comfortable with the system which held women back in the decision making process.

“We are not comfortable with the fact that women don’t make much impact in the decision making process of our country.

“When making decisions, it should be a 50-50 gender space; that way, we will make more impact.

“In most cases, women are disadvantaged in decision making, although not in all cases. For example, the designing of seat belt of a car puts women at a disadvantage because the belt has to pass through their breast.

“Another one is a transparent escalator which when going up shows the lower parts of a woman’s body, except the woman is putting on trousers,” she said.

Osho explained further that more advocacy needed to be done to attract more women to the technology space which presently had more men.

She said a lot of misconceptions were going around that science was difficult, which in the real sense was all encompassing, when compared to other professions.

Speaking on the impact of the workshop, Mary Zamenu, a Badagry indigene and a student of Lagos City Senior College, said girls had many rights that were unknown to them, which the programme had highlighted.

“We have many rights that we are not aware of, but through this workshop we have been exposed to the opportunities and benefits of studying STEM subjects.

“We also learnt that the woman’s place is not only to tend to Kitchen duties, but to also occupy positions of power like the men,” Zamenu said.

Also, Pelumi Omosehin, a student at the same school, said the choice of career mattered a lot, adding that more girls should be encouraged to join science class.

NAN reports that W.TEC held the workshop in five different schools in Lagos, which included Lagos City Senior College, Yaba, Gbaja Senior Girls High School, Surulere, Stadium Girls Senior College, Surulere, Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, and John Wesley Senior High School, Yaba.

By Funmilola Gboteku
MediaTek, a global fabless semiconductor company that powers nearly two billion connected devices annually, says it is partnering with Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunications company to enhance mobile connectivity in Nigeria.

Rami Osman, Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing, MediaTek Middle East and Africa, said this during a virtual media briefing organised to announce the partnership.

Osman said that the collaboration, which was aimed at driving technological advancements and enhancing mobile connectivity nationwide, would see the integration of hundreds of millions of individuals into the digital economy.

He said that this would consequently advance mobile connectivity throughout Nigeria.

According to him, the collaboration highlights MediaTek’s T750-powered Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), a groundbreaking technology that enhances internet connectivity.

“This advancement allows users to access high-speed 5G networks from the comfort of their homes, opening doors to remote work, gaming, online education and entertainment streaming like never before.

“The T750 offers remarkable out-of-the-box 5G speeds, reaching up to an impressive 4.7Gbps.

“It competes with or surpasses the performance of traditional fixed-line services, harnessing existing cellular infrastructure while avoiding the expenses associated with cable or fiber installation.

“Our collaboration with Airtel Nigeria focuses on enhancing high-speed internet access through advanced chip sets.

“It offers a wider range of premium and flagship devices while supporting the transition from feature phones to smartphones, and exploring innovative AI-IoT solutions, “Osman said.

He explained that the collaboration would drive digital inclusion, revolutionise connectivity in Nigeria and contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Ismail Adeshina, Director, Marketing at Airtel Nigeria, emphasised the importance of the collaboration with MediaTek and how it would provide affordable connectivity to Nigerians.

Adeshina said that Airtel’s commitment to innovation was evident through the Telco’s early adoption of 5G technology.

“We are proactively investing in this technology to improve connectivity, to tackle coverage and cost challenges and make 5G devices more accessible across Nigeria.

“MediaTek powers globally recognised brands and remains dedicated to providing state-of-the-art innovations through its latest products and solutions.

“These offerings span a diverse range, including smartphones, smart devices, automotive technology, satellite connectivity solutions and next-generation wearables,” Adeshina said.

NAN reports that MediaTek’s product portfolio includes MediaTek Dimensity for 5G smartphones, MediaTek HelioG series for 4G gaming smartphones and MediaTek Kompanio for arm-based Chromebooks.

It also includes MediaTek Pentonic for Smart TV technologies and MediaTek Genio for Internet of Things applications among others.

QNET denies alleged involvement in human trafficking ring

By Funmilola Gboteku


QNET, an E-commerce direct selling platform has expressed its deep concern regarding the statement made by Ondo State-based youth representative and social media influencer Oluyemi Fasipe on the company's alleged involvement in a human trafficking ring.


"We want to unequivocally state that QNET is a global wellness and lifestyle-focused direct-selling company, and we are committed to ethical business practices.

"We take these allegations very seriously and are conducting a thorough internal investigation.


" We have a strict policy against any form of illegal or unethical activities, including human trafficking, " it said.


According to QNET, If any such activity is found to be associated with their business, immediate and decisive action would be taken to address it.


It also said that any representative found culpable will face the necessary disciplinary action, including the immediate expungement from QNET's database and required court processes.

According to the statement , QNET has always prioritized the well-being and empowerment of individuals and, therefore, does not condone or engage in any activities that exploit or harm people.




It said the company had a robust compliance measures in place to ensure that distributors adhere to code of conduct and operate within the bounds of the law.


"Our processes and systems ensure transparency, compliance, and the protection of our stakeholders through our Direct selling Disinformation Centre (DSDC) and previous media awareness campaigns such as the Public Announcement Campaign in Nigeria and the Mama Campaign in Ghana.




"We are fully committed to cooperating with relevant authorities and agencies to investigate this matter thoroughly. We urge anyone with pertinent information to share it with the appropriate authorities to serve justice.


"We encourage anyone who may have been affected by these alleged incidents to come forward and report them to the appropriate authorities and also to QNET.

"QNET remains committed to upholding the trust placed in us by our customers, partners, and the communities we serve.


"We will continue to operate with honesty, integrity, and a genuine desire to improve lives through our products, services, and business opportunities, " the statement said.

Market

By Funmilola Gboteku

Mr Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager, Zoho, a technology company, on Friday described Nigeria as a market with very good potential for doing business in the world.

Ogundare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Friday that the Nigerian market could not be overlooked, as it had lots of prospects.

He said that Nigeria was a country that was open to new products, markets and innovations.

Ogundare, however, noted that Nigerians were slow in adopting new technologies, adding that the private and government sectors should look into educating people on the importance of using technology.

“For instance, in this digital times, you still find some people questioning whether they need a financial application.

“We complain about government not doing much, but we as citizens also need to embrace innovations.

“In doing business, you cannot position yourself without using technology. If you want to advance your business right now, sitting within the four walls of your office will not help you scale globally,” Ogundare said.

He said that this post-COVID period had made a lot of people realise that businesses should be done using a multi-faceted approach.

Ogundare added that one had to understand that in a market like Nigeria, there was need to make noise, for people to know and adopt one’s innovation.

Speaking on what Zoho does for businesses, he said the company acted as a single repository to bring sales, marketing, customer support activities together, streamline process, policy and people, all on one platform.

“Another thing is that when you think of Zoho, what comes to mind is security first and privacy. And in this age and time, it is imperative for any business owner to trust the technology they are using.

“We ensure that businesses are safe by not selling their data. Nobody is going to hack and expose their business. So our value proposition is very strong in Zoho compared to any competition we have,” Ogundare said.

By Funmilola Gboteku

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) says it is imperative for the country to sharpen its focus on broadband development and intensify support for data centre services to boost digital sovereignty.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umaru Danbatta, said this on Thursday during the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) 4.0 organised by Business Remarks in Lagos.

The theme of the event was: “Mainstreaming Data Centres in the Nigerian Digital Economy.”

Danbatta, who was represented by Dr Sunday Atu, Head, Tariff Administration NCC, said mainstreaming data centres required collective efforts.

According to him, there is need for support to ensure data centres not only operate to guarantee national digital sovereignty, but also prioritise contents reflecting the country’s cultural norms, contexts and ideological values.

He said data was regarded as the new oil globally with increasing intensity in the context of the emerging digital economy.

For that reason, Danbatta explained that data had become a subject of special consideration by regimes, requiring appropriate structures and frameworks to truly tap and optimise the opportunities provided by this new order.

Danbatta noted that data centre services, no doubt, held the keys to the ultimate crystallisation of the new line of thinking within the ICT sector and by extension to the greater national economy of nations in so many ways.

“Recent developments point to the limitless treasure within this space. Africa has recently assumed a new frontier and compelling destination for global big tech players.

“Tech giants, like Google with its Equiano subsea fibre cable spanning 15,000 km from Portugal to South Africa and strategic landing points in Nigeria and Namibia, are expected to increase connectivity more than five-fold within Nigeria while creating an expected 1.6 million jobs.

“Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is equally on the threshold of launching its own subsea cable called 2Africa in 2024 to connect 16 African countries at an estimated cost of 1 billion dollars.

“It is targeted to generate close to 36 billion dollars of economic output within two to three years of operation.

“While these, no doubt, portend significant socio-economic impacts for Nigeria, they bring to the fore the debate around digital sovereignty and the need for national policy and regulatory frameworks to further localise traffic and data,” he said.

According to Danbatta, the global data centre market is worth billions of dollars, and Nigeria is well-positioned to attract a fair share of this investment.

He explained that by providing a reliable and secure environment for the services they offer within a well nurtured policy and regulatory framework, Nigeria would represent an attractive destination for more investment in data centre services and operations.

“With the commencement of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the role and critical nature of data centres become increasing overwhelming.

“This is underscored by the kind of efficiency derivable when critical resources are shared at costs far significantly smaller than the actual costs of setting up such resources from scratch,” Danbatta said.

He said this would provide a veritable platform for greater productivity for businesses and public sector entities to effectively harness the opportunities to be unlocked from the estimated 1.2 trillion dollars latent treasure within the AfCFTA block through its 1.3 billion people.

In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Data Centre Ltd., Ikechukwu Nnamani, said: “If we look at other parametres
Nigeria should be at the fore front of data centre industry in Africa.

“Unfortunately we are lagging behind and surprisingly African countries like South Africa and Egypt are way ahead of Nigeria.

He explained that from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) point, broadband connectivity, and in terms of mobile subscription, Nigeria had significantly lower figures than other African countries.

Nnamani stressed the need for Nigeria to be put in its rightful position as the giant of Africa, not just in terms of population, but also in the area of quality of life of citizens, GDP and the digital benefits.

Also speaking , Bukola Olanrewaju, the convener of TSSF stressed the pivotal role data centres played in the digital era, saying beyond data storage and accessibility, they underpinned the digital world, fuelling economic growth, environmental sustainability and data security.

Olanrewaju said currently, there were only 86 colocation data centres in 15 African countries, with the majority concentrated in the big four African countries, which included South -Africa , Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya.

She said according to Allied Market Research, the global data centre market was valued at 187.35 billion dollars in 2020 and was anticipated to reach 517.17 billion by 2030.

According to Olanrewaju, data centres, alongside fibre optic broadband expansion and telecom towers, are poised to become the new backbone of Africa’s economic growth.

By Funmilola Gboteku

Some telecoms stakeholders on Thursday said that return on investment in infrastructure could only be achieved in major cities where there was relative stability and a ready market.

Mr Mike Ofili, Chief Executive Officer of Coloplus, a tower infrastructure company, buttressed that remark during the West Africa Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE) organised by Technology Mirror in Lagos.

The theme of the event was: “The Future of Infrastructure Connectivity and Services: A New Interdependent of Ecosystem of Partners.”

Ofili said that most telecoms infrastructure are concentrated in major cities, because of the possibility of vandalism, insecurity, and high right-of-way charges experienced across the country.

He said that this explained why in several parts of the country outside the three major cities – Lagos, Abuja and Port- Harcourt – many Nigerians are still on 2G networks.

Ofili noted that Right-of-Way charges are also high in the major cities, especially Lagos, but operators are able to sustain infrastructure deployment with higher returns from the state.

Speaking on why operators had to slow down their expansion into rural areas, he said that most telcos had to pay through their noses to lay fibre cables.

“I can tell you that 90 per cent of the data centres in Nigeria are in Lagos and I don’t know how you want to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration in Nigeria with almost all the data centres in Lagos.

“It is very difficult to lay fibre cables across many communities in Nigeria, you cannot cross any community without paying different people.

“You cannot build towers without going through different communities of people demanding all kinds of things,” Ofili said.

He explained that if one did not meet the demands of the communities, they would either not allow you to deploy or vandalise your equipment.

“There are many states that operators cannot go to lay fibre because they will need heavy security.

“Operators have lost many of their engineers to insecurity in the North while trying to deploy infrastructure.

“To deploy infrastructure in some communities that are considered important, operators have to negotiate with the people and align with them” Ofili said.

In his remarks, Mr Spencer Itive, the Managing Director, RS Engineering Global Ltd., said that government had not paid enough attention or prioritised its declaration of telecoms infrastructure as critical national assets.

According to him, the consistent attack on telecoms infrastructure across the country underscores this.

“We are yet to see the commitment of the government with regards to protection of telecom infrastructure.

“This is why every community sees the deployment of infrastructure as a favour to the telecom operators,” Itive said.

On the future of infrastructure connectivity, he said that all stakeholders in the sector had to understand that no single entity could meet the multifaceted demands of the digital age in isolation.

“A complex tapestry of partnerships now weaves together telecom companies, technology giants, governments and a thriving ecosystem of startups.

“These partnerships will redefine the boundaries of what is possible in telecommunications.

Also speaking, Rachael Orumor, the Chief Executive Officer, Sens Orbit Nigeria, said that over 20 million businesses across Africa use technology to interact with their clients and potential customers.

According to Orumor, the factors driving digital transformation in West Africa are increasing investment in infrastructure, growing awareness of the benefits of technology and a supportive regulatory environment.

She noted that however, there was limited access to education, especially for people in rural areas, who do not have access to high-speed internet or reliable mobile service.

QNET inaugurates hotline to clamp down on scammers




By Funmilola Gboteku

Lagos, Sep. 29, 2023 (NAN) QNET, a direct selling e-commerce company, says it has launched a WhatsApp complaince hotline to clamp down on scammers and enhance cyber security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Biram Fall, the company’s group Regional General Manager incharge of the Sub-Saharan Africa, said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

He said the initiative was a way of taking decisive action against individuals misrepresenting the group through dubious means.

He said the compliance hotline on WhatsApp was specifically tailored towards its operations in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea, Benin, Togo, among others.

He said transparency was paramount, especially in the direct selling industry in emerging economies.

According to him, the company actively encourages strict adherence to its code of conduct, compliance policies and procedures, aiming to set and maintain high industrial standards.

“In a concerted effort to combat policy violations and discourage unethical practices, QNET has taken robust disciplinary actions against those found in breach.

“Over the past three years, QNET has terminated numerous independent representatives (IRs) across 30 countries for non-compliance, policy violations, and unethical behaviour.

“The legal representatives of QNET have aided authorities from nine African nations in submitting complaints against more than 50 Independent Representatives.

“These actions underscore QNET’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of the direct selling industry,” Fall said.

He noted that to enhance communication with stakeholders in Sub-Saharan African markets, including customers, independent representatives and distributors, QNET had introduced the WhatsApp compliance hotline exclusively for the region.

According to him, the hotline number is now operational, enabling individuals to easily reach out with questions or concerns regarding QNET’s policies and procedures or to report any irregularities.

“Our dedication to transparency and the fight against scammers remains steadfast, and we continue to collaborate with security and judicial agencies across the region to deter fraudulent activities,” Fall said. (NAN)

AstraZeneca, advocates strong healthcare system to fight hypertension in Africa

By Funmilola Gboteku

AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical company, has called for public-private partnership, strong health care systems to combat cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Africa.

Qutaiba Al Manaseer, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs for the Middle East and Africa Region at AstraZeneca, made the call during a webinar organised to celebrate nine years of impact in the fight against hypertension through the Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) programme.

The webinar was also held to mark the World Heart Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Healthy Heart Africa is an initiative of AstraZeneca, being implemented across Africa in collaboration with African governments and non-governmental organisations.

Manaseer said the programme had helped to decrease the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa.

He said according to the World Health Organisation, hypertension affected one in three adults worldwide and Africa had the highest prevalence of hypertension in any region.

Manaseer said the number of adults suffering from high blood pressure in sub-Saharan Africa was also projected to reach 216.8 million by 2030.

He added that In 2019, more than one million deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, which constituted 5.4 per cent of all global CVD-related deaths and 13 per cent of all deaths in Africa.

On what HHA had done since its inception in 2014, Manaseer said the programme had conducted over 38.5 million blood pressure screenings and diagnosed over 3.1 million people.

“We have trained over 10,600 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, community health volunteers and pharmacists to provide education, awareness, screening and treatment services.

“Also, we have activated over 1,300 healthcare facilities to provide hypertension services.

“Healthy Heart Africa has demonstrated the power of public-private partnerships in delivering sustainable solutions that strengthen the resilience of local health systems.

“We will continue collaborating with stakeholders to tackle the silent killer hypertension and improve patient outcomes,” Manaseer said.

Mr. Deepak Arora, Interim Country President, AstraZeneca in African Cluster, said transforming the lives of patients, ensuring people in Africa had access to innovative medicine was of major importance to them.

He noted that through the HHA they would continue to Invest in medical education and knowledge sharing by ensuring health care professionals had access to information to make the best treatment decisions.

“Healthy Heart Africa is on track to achieve its ambition of reaching 10 million people with elevated blood pressure by 2025, with 7.7 million readings recorded so far,” Arora said.

Dr Yvette Kisaka, Programmes, Division of NCD Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health Kenya says: “We need to strengthen health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage, as envisioned by Sustainable Development Goal three on good health and wellbeing.

“That is why together with our partners, we are developing strategies such as the National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases.

“We applaud the Healthy Heart Africa programme’s pivotal role in the fight against cardiovascular disease in Kenya and we will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure a healthier future for our citizens.”

Kisaka explained that HHA supported local health system resilience by addressing the barriers that prevented access to care by increasing awareness of the symptoms and risks of hypertension.

Dr Suleiman Lamorde, Programme Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria, lauded the HHA programme for the support it has extended in combating hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria.

Speaking on the challenges of primary health care centres in Nigeria, Lamorde said the major issue was shortage of human resources for health.

“For instance, having few health care workers to attend to over 100 patients who needs to get their blood pressure checked.

“As a result of this shortage, most of our patients don’t get the best services.

“However, as a country, Nigeria has mapped out strategies to be able to resolve the issue of human resources in primary health care centres.

“For example, at the national level we are working with states across the country to provide primary health care facilities. We have a database, so we know there shortcomings,” Lamorde said.

He added that they had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with states across the country to recruit more health workers and also engaged the School of Health Technology and School of Nursing.

NAN reports that HHA started in Kenya in 2014 and subsequently expanded to Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Rwanda, Nigeria and Zanzibar. (NAN)

QNET trains over 750 youths on financial literacy


By Funmilola Gboteku

QNET, an e-commerce company, has partnered Transblue Nigeria Ltd. to empower over 750 youths on financial literacy in the second phase of FinGreen, its corporate social responsibility initiative.

The Managing Director of Transblue Nigeria Ltd., Mr Akeem Ajisafe, said this on Wednesday during the graduation ceremony of the 25 Fingreen Ambassadors, who were trained on financial literacy in Lagos.

He said the interactive workshops and train-the-trainer approach had empowered 25 FinGreen ambassadors to educate over 750 youths in crucial financial principles through the peer-to-peer module.

Ajisafe said the training was successfully executed with the support of the programme’s content and training partner, Financial Literacy for All (FLFA), who developed all the training materials and conducted the ToT (Training of Trainers) workshop for the 25 alumni.

He said an implementation partner, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), recruited, assessed, and tracked the participants’ performance to monitor their learning outcomes and gauge their development in various areas.

Ajisafe said there was a growing demand for job creation among young people in Nigeria to drive economic growth.

“A sizable proportion of the Nigerian population faces financial challenges and they have few options for revenue generation.

“Through FinGreen, our mission is to instil a comprehensive understanding of how financial literacy profoundly impacts the lives of those who have undergone our training, empowering them to, in turn, educate others,” Ajisafe said.

He noted that they planned to train over six thousand youths with the train the trainer approach.

He also said that to encourage the participants, awards and gifts would be presented to the three best ambassadors.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Financial Literacy For All (FLFA), Mr Laja Shoniran, explained that financial literacy was about making informed decisions on one’s finances.

He said educating youths about the importance of financial management and making sound financial decisions would go a long way to prevent them from making costly mistakes.

Shoniran added that programmes such as the Fingreen would encourage them to be financially prudent when making decisions, noting that the importance of educating young people on financial literacy could never be overstated.

“The problem Nigeria is facing presently is as a result of having leaders who do not know much about financial literacy,” Laja said.

He said the initiative also gave the participants the advantage of having practical insights into budgeting, savings, investment and entrepreneurship.

The Executive Director, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, who described the programme as an amazing opportunity said financial literacy was a necessity for all.

She said the six weeks programme not only taught them about financial literacy, but how to also reorganise their thoughts, be wealthy and the kind of inheritance they would leave behind in their various environment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the top three Fingreen Alumni, who performed exceptionally well during the peer-to- peer training were awarded N1,000,000, N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

Temitope Adesemowo was the overall best while Olayinka Olanrewaju won second prize, and Chikwere Nwosu got the third prize.

Airtel, UNICEF support more schools through ‘Re-imagine Education’ initiative



Education



By Funmilola Gboteku

Lagos, Sep. 26, 2023 (NAN) Airtel Africa and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) say they have added 109 schools to the list of beneficiaries of ‘Re-imagine Education Programme’ in Nigeria.





The Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya, disclosed this during a joint visit with UNICEF to Oremeji Primary School, Ajegunle, Lagos, as part of the activities to assess the impact of the programme on the learning outcomes of the students.



He said that both organisations would continue to work hand-in-hand to expand the programme’s reach, bringing the benefits of technology-enabled education to more schools and communities across the country.





Speaking on the primary school, Ogunsanya said Airtel and UNICEF were delighted at the progress rate of the Re-imagine Education programme in Nigeria, describing the students’ enthusiasm and improved learning outcomes as proof to the effectiveness of the initiative.





“As a business, we have focused on education as a key area of our Corporate Social Responsibility, and this far-reaching partnership with UNICEF helps us to accelerate results.





“So far, we are pleased that this partnership which is aimed at advancing the education agenda on the continent through facilitating connectivity and online access is also driving change,” he said.







Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, noted that the visit to the school was a testament to Airtel’s commitment to ensuring the impact of the Re-Imagine Education project.





He said that the students’ enthusiasm and improved learning outcomes were proof of the efficacy of the initiative.



“Our commitment is the reason we have come as a full team, to pay a visit and be well acquainted with how much this project has impacted both the teachers and students of Oremeji Primary School, and we are delighted to see the tangible impact of the Re-imagine Education programme.







“At Airtel, education especially digital learning, forms a significant part of our sustainability agenda for Nigeria and Africa at large and we will stop at nothing to bridge the huge digital gap that currently exists in many primary schools across the country,” Cruz said.



Similarly, the UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to re-imagine education.



Lafoucriere said UNICEF was happy to join hands with Airtel in improving the digital learning landscape to create a brighter future for children and young people in Nigeria.







She noted that every child deserved an equal opportunity to learn and thrive, adding that both organisations would continue working together to provide innovative solutions that empower children to fulfill their potential.



“The visit provided an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the digital tools and resources provided to the school as part of the programme.





“Teachers and pupils showcased how they have been utilising these resources to create engaging and interactive learning experiences, promoting critical thinking and creativity among students.





The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Airtel/UNICEF Re-imagine Education programme, which officially kicked off in Nigeria in December 2022, aims to transform education, leveraging the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences for children across the country.



With a shared vision of empowering children through education, Airtel and UNICEF have been working together to provide innovative solutions that bridge the digital divide and create equal opportunities for all children. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Nigerian Breweries launches Goldberg Black

Launch

By Funmilola Gboteku

Lagos, Sep.4, 2023 (NAN) In a bid to revolutionise the Nigerian alcohol beverage market, Nigerian Breweries has officially launched Goldberg Black, with a relatively higher ABV of six per cent.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Ita Bassey, Portfolio Manager Mainstream Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said the unveiling comes as a momentous step, marking the company's commitment to expanding its reach and catering to the discerning tastes of Nigerian consumers.



Bassey during the launch which took place at Cubana in Ikeja, said that Goldberg, a name synonymous with premium quality and rich heritage, was embarking on a strategic journey with the introduction of its iconic dark lager beer to the young Nigerian demographics.




According to him, What sets Goldberg Black apart from the plethora of beer brands available in Nigeria's bustling beer market is its rich taste, cultural intonation and unique features that resonate with the Nigerian consumer base.



"Brewed with exceptional quality, Goldberg Black is renowned for its unwavering commitment to excellence.


" The brand's commitment to using the finest ingredients ensures that every sip delivers a taste of uncompromising quality and craftsmanship.


" This is a testament to our commitment to building meaningful connections with consumers. Goldberg Black not only provides a refreshing option for beer enthusiasts but also contributes to the growth and development of the Nigerian beverage industry, "Bassey said.



He said that the choice of Goldberg Black represents an embodiment and celebration of ‘Same Root, New Rhythm.



Bassey said that the drink which was backed by decades of brewing expertise, the crisp and refreshing flavour profile of Goldberg Black captivates the palates of those seeking a refreshing and enjoyable drinking experience




He noted that the brand’s commitment to sustainability and responsible brewing practices is a noteworthy aspect that resonates with modern consumers.




Bassey said that as the iconic dark lager graces the shelves of Nigerian stores and finds its way into the hands of eager consumers, Goldberg Black's entry into the Nigerian market is poised to redefine the standards of excellence in the alcohol beverage industry.

FOG
====

Nigerian Breweries launches Goldberg Black

Launch

By Funmilola Gboteku

Lagos, Sep.4, 2023 (NAN) In a bid to revolutionise the Nigerian alcohol beverage market, Nigerian Breweries has officially launched Goldberg Black, with a relatively higher ABV of six per cent.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Ita Bassey, Portfolio Manager Mainstream Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said the unveiling comes as a momentous step, marking the company's commitment to expanding its reach and catering to the discerning tastes of Nigerian consumers.



Bassey during the launch which took place at Cubana in Ikeja, said that Goldberg, a name synonymous with premium quality and rich heritage, was embarking on a strategic journey with the introduction of its iconic dark lager beer to the young Nigerian demographics.




According to him, What sets Goldberg Black apart from the plethora of beer brands available in Nigeria's bustling beer market is its rich taste, cultural intonation and unique features that resonate with the Nigerian consumer base.



"Brewed with exceptional quality, Goldberg Black is renowned for its unwavering commitment to excellence.


" The brand's commitment to using the finest ingredients ensures that every sip delivers a taste of uncompromising quality and craftsmanship.


" This is a testament to our commitment to building meaningful connections with consumers. Goldberg Black not only provides a refreshing option for beer enthusiasts but also contributes to the growth and development of the Nigerian beverage industry, "Bassey said.



He said that the choice of Goldberg Black represents an embodiment and celebration of ‘Same Root, New Rhythm.



Bassey said that the drink which was backed by decades of brewing expertise, the crisp and refreshing flavour profile of Goldberg Black captivates the palates of those seeking a refreshing and enjoyable drinking experience




He noted that the brand’s commitment to sustainability and responsible brewing practices is a noteworthy aspect that resonates with modern consumers.




Bassey said that as the iconic dark lager graces the shelves of Nigerian stores and finds its way into the hands of eager consumers, Goldberg Black's entry into the Nigerian market is poised to redefine the standards of excellence in the alcohol beverage industry.

FOG
====

African-Asian partnership will foster use of herbal medicine – Malaysian University

Herbal

By Funmilola Gboteku

The Quest International University (QIU), a private research-led institution in Perak, Malaysia, has advocated African-Asian partnership to foster the use of herbal medicine.

The Chief Operating Officer of QIU, Nicholas Goh, made the call during a tour of the institution with journalists from Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone on Thursday.

Goh said it was necessary for Africans and Asians to leverage emerging technologies to boost the use of herbal medicine.

He said medicinal therapies based on traditional herbs and plant products had long been practiced widely in Asia and Africa.

Goh noted that this vast experience in Asia/Africa over a wide range of products, diversity of applications and treatments could be shared by Asian and African countries.

He explained that Asian countries could offer and extend support to African countries as they had a comparative advantage in this field.

“For instance, most developing countries are short of research facilities, so it is essential for us to form partnerships to move ahead in that area.

“I believe developing countries should not live by western standards, but strive to enrich their nations by not depending on imported medicine,” Goh said.

He added that the production technology and marketing capacities in these countries needed to be more vigorously developed based on their knowledge and extensive use of traditional medicinal practices.

Goh explained that it was common knowledge that the safety of most herbal products was further compromised by inadequate labeling and proper measurements.

He noted it was essential to work on the standardisation of herbal medicine so that it could compete with modern medicine.

Speaking on commitment of the university, he said the main aim was to provide quality education while maintaining affordability, facilitated by a team of experienced educators from Malaysia and abroad.

According to him, Quest is also focused on producing well-rounded graduates equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.

“Research and innovation form the backbone of QIU, with special research projects focusing on sustainable construction materials, technology innovations, health intervention, and food sustainability initiatives,” Goh said.

Goh stressed the importance of students gaining first-hand knowledge of groundbreaking research by working alongside dedicated educators.

The chief operating officer said the university also had a huge passion for social responsibility, with students actively participating in community service and volunteering for good causes.

Goh said the university’s student body comprised 10 per cent international students and 90 per cent of local students.

He added that QIU, which currently had close to 2,000 students from about 50 countries on its campus, offered 40 programmes and did not have any branch in any other country.

Goh emphasised that the university had not authorised any agent or anyone to collect money from applicants.

He warned against scammers exploiting prospective students and advised individuals to verify information through the university’s official website.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other representatives present at the tour included the University Relations Director, Pauline Lee, Senior Manager Digital Communications Department, Loghun Kumaran, the Registrar, Muhammad MG Omar, and Prof. Zita Mohd Fahmi, Vice-Chancellor of the University. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

W.TEC trains secondary school girls on Artificial Intelligence


A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Women Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), has completed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowerment summer camp for 24 girls drawn from some secondary schools in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two weeks intensive Summer Camp was held at Laureates College and Kiddies Kingdom Private School,Mafoluku, Oshodi.

The training tagged: “SheCreatesCamp”, with the theme “Solve with AI”, according to the organisers was necessitated primarily to target more females to embracing technology and its immense opportunities.

The Chief Executive Officer of W.TEC, Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, told NAN on the sideline of the event that the organisation was seeking ways to encourage more women in the STEM – Science, Technology Engineering and Maths – career path.

“We target women and girls because of the unfavourable statistics that shows that women are under-represented in the technology space and not just tech alone but the broad spectrum of STEM.

“When we look at the numbers of women who are studying and working in STEM field, it is very low. Looking at the numbers of women studying STEM degrees across the world, they only make up of 36 per cent while the rest are men.

“In Nigeria, the figures we have show that we only have 22 per cent of women in engineering and technology.

“When we also look at the workspace, women only make up 20 per cent, so we can see that women are already in the minority in STEM field,” she noted.

Lesi explained that the purpose of having the rudiments of AI taught among the school girls was to arouse their interests and help the society to bridge the gap and disparity in the numbers of women in STEM.

“We are targeting these young girls because we want to catch them young, while some of them have yet to make up their minds on the career path they want to take.

“We chose the topic `Solve with AI” so as to introduce the topic to younger girls, we want to assist them to make informed decision about their careers.

“We are providing workshops, seminars and summer camps like this so that the little children can think about themselves and possibly pursue a career in tech or generally STEM field.

“The camp also has other activities to relax them and allows them to connect more because AI has spaces in all fields of human endeavours.

“No matter what people might have studied, there is an application of AI in them which makes it more interesting and amazing,” she said.

Lesi noted that with more awareness women would understand the immense opportunities in AI and embrace its study and applications.

“There are immense opportunities in STEM because we cannot only leave it to the men alone, if our women are able to contribute to the development of AI, then a meaningful impact would be made in terms of decisions when creating an App that both men and women will eventually use.

“The children from the summer camp actually performed above my expectations as they have been able to solve complex issues using the AI, while many of them have also developed interests in STEM related subjects.

“During the intense camping, they were able to build an automated waste bin that we don’t need to use our hands to open, but can open by itself through human sensor.

“The children were also able to build an automated water dispenser machine that can operate just with human sensors, these are some of the amazing projects carried out by the girls during the summer camp,” she said.

The beneficiaries who were esctatic about the prospects in AI told NAN various things that they had gained at the summer camp.

Ikenna Okoro, a Senior Secondary School Student of Trinity International College, Lagos, said that camp experience was worth more than the time she invested in it.

“I have been able to learn new things about AI and I will like to pursue a career in any STEM course in the future,” she said.

Also, Bushroh Yussuf from Tunwase High School, said through AI she learnt about software innovations and how to create apps.

“We were also taught web designing, we sat down to think about our own ideas on how to develop apps which led us to our projects on automated waste bin and automated water dispenser machine,” she said.

Adaeze Nworah, from International School of Beam, told NAN that though she already had ideas about AI, yet the summer was challenging.

“I already knew about AI before the camp and I have developed interests as well, all in all, this summer camp is very interesting and challenging to me.

“I am so thrilled that we can actually sit together to think about how to make an automated water dispenser, because it took us a lot of test run to making sure that we achieved the best product.

“We had time to correct the errors and minimise the human factor that may affect the efficient usage of the water dispenser as well,” she said.

Tamilore Paul-Taiwo from Springforte Lead College, said that her knowledge of AI would help her embrace the idea of creating more job opportunities in the tech industry.

Esther Ajanigo of Royal Regent School, said that the summer camp had opened her consciousness to pursuing a career in software engineering.

“I want to join the league of women in tech space especially AI and I want to create more awareness so that more girls can join me on this journey.

“I will like to build an app that can work on smartphones which will make life easier for us all,” she said.

Lesley Tarabina, a coach at the summer, said that the students had learned a lot which could change their future positively.