NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Communications ministry urges private sector to invest in women-led tech

Communications ministry urges private sector to invest in women-led tech

260 total views today

By Jessica Dogo

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has urged the private sector to invest in women-led tech hubs and support workplace policies that empower women in the society.

The Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, made this call on Friday in Abuja, during a press conference to mark this year’s World Telecommunications and Information Society Day 2025 (WTISD-25) celebration coming up on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is celebrated globally by the Telecommunications Community all over the world every May 17.

The theme of this year’s WTISD-25 is: “Gender Equality in Digital Transformation”.

Tijani, represented by the ministry’s Director of National Frequency, Adeyemo Olugbenga, said that the private sector players should adopt gender-responsive practices.

“We must ensure that no one, especially women and girls, is left behind. The digital economy is not just about infrastructure and innovation but about people.

“When half of our population faces barriers to access, skills and leadership in tech, we are not just failing women, we are limiting Nigeria’s potential

“This year’s theme is not just timely, it is imperative,” he said.

The Minister urged educational institutions to break stereotypes by encouraging girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) from primary school to University.

According to him, while Nigeria has achieved 46.2 per cent broadband penetration, a large percentage of Nigerian women do not own a smartphone, hindering their ability to access online services and economic opportunities.

“Civil Society and media should amplify the stories of women breaking barriers in tech and hold stakeholders accountable for inclusive policies

“Men and boys should be allies in challenging biases and creating a culture of equality in tech spaces,” he said.

He called on stakeholders to come together and build a future where gender equality is not just a goal, but a reality, adding that digital revolution will only be transformative when it is inclusive.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

MDAs to submit procurement activities report on website – BPP

MDAs to submit procurement activities report on website – BPP

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) says it requires Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit reports of their procurement activities on both their websites and that of the bureau.

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, BPP said this in a statement by Zira Nagga, Head, Public Relations, on Thursday in Abuja.

The statement followed the release of the newly revised procurement threshold for MDAs by the BPP in Abuja on Thursday

Adedokun said that MDAs were now under an obligation to also submit contracts awarded during the month on their website and the bureaus’.

He said that the data would be made available to the highest approving authorities in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms for their consideration.

According to him, BPP will be working closely with the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) to drive this policy.

The Director-General said that these revised thresholds placed a higher degree of responsibility on MDAs to be more accountable and transparent in their procurement processes.

Adedokun said that those who flout, abuse or frustrate the implementation of these revised thresholds would be recommended to President Bola Tinubu for administrative sanctions, as it will no longer be business as usual.

“To this end, MDAs are expected to immediately allocate funds for the training of procurement officers and other professionals involved in the procurement value chain.

“This will help them to build their capacities and equip them to implement the 2025 budget based on the new revised thresholds,” he said.

He said that going forward, only BPP-approved individuals, firms, professional associations and centres of excellence would be allowed to conduct training on public procurement.

“Further to the above, MDAs should familiarise themselves with the BPP’s revised Standard Bidding Documents.

“They should draft Conditions of Contract,

“All procurements under the 2025 budget and subsequent budgets are to be executed strictly with these documents following extant regulations on Use of BPP approved Standard Bidding Documents and Conditions of Contract,” he said.

The Director-General said that the bureau was also set to invoke its power under Section 6 to debar contractors who participate in corrupt or fraudulent acts.

He said that the bureau would work with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) to ensure that procurement officers follow the revised thresholds and enforce sanctions for delays in implementation.

“In addition, the OSGF shall issue the appropriate Service-Wide Procurement Circular in accordance with standard protocol of circulating information in the Service.

“The circular shall include the modalities to facilitate the implementation of the newly revised thresholds.

“The Presidency urges all MDAs, procurement officers, contractors, and stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the revised thresholds,” he said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

BPP announces revised public procurement threshold to reflect current realities

BPP announces revised public procurement threshold to reflect current realities

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has announced the newly revised public procurement threshold for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to reflect current economic realities.

This is contained in a statement issued by Zira Nagga, Head, Public Relations, BPP, in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement said the approval followed the recommendations of the BPP under the leadership of the Director-General(D-G), Dr Adebowale Adedokun.

It said the development marked a significant stride towards improving budget implementation, streamlining procurement processes, and enhancing public service delivery efficiency in Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape.

The statement said the revised thresholds directly responded to rising inflation, shifting market dynamics, and the pressing need to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that impede timely contract awards and budget execution.

“With these adjustments, more procurement responsibilities will now be delegated to Ministerial and Parastatal Tenders Boards and Accounting Officers. thus decongesting the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of routine procurement matters and allowing it to focus on broader national policy issues.

“Under the new structure, only contracts valued at N5 billion and above for Goods and Consultancy Services and N10 billion and above for Works will require FEC approval.

“Projects below these thresholds will be processed at the Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB), Parastatal Tenders Board (PTB), and by the accounting officers based on their respective costs.

“ These thresholds will, however, be subject to periodic reviews, either upward or downward, depending on prevailing economic realities to ensure the stability of procurement processes.”

It said President Bola Tinubu also approved new thresholds for procurement methods aimed at streamlining and enhancing the efficiency of the procurement process.

The statement said under the revised guidelines, International or National Competitive Bidding must procure goods valued at N1 billion and above and works valued at N5 billion and above.

It said for smaller procurements, Requests for Quotations are permitted for goods and non-consultant services valued below N30 million and works valued below N50 million.

“In addition, the threshold for prequalification has been set at N500 million and above for goods and non-consultant services, and N1 billion and above for works.

The statement said these reforms directly responded to the urgent need to facilitate the ease of doing business, promote economic growth, and foster employment through efficient and timely procurement practices.

“They also reflect Mr President’s commitment to strengthening institutions, reducing wastage, and ensuring value for money in public expenditure.”

The statement quoted Adedokun as reiterating the bureau’s readiness to provide continuous clarification and technical guidance to all MDAS and stakeholders involved in procurement activities.

“The BPP remains open and accessible to all stakeholders seeking interpretation, clarification, or assistance in implementing these new thresholds.

“ We aim to ensure that all public procurement is carried out per the principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money.”

The D-G further clarified that the scope of application of the new revised thresholds shall apply to the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary Arms of Government, and the Defence and Intelligence Communities, as stipulated in the Finance Act, 2020.

“Also in line with the objective of the Bureau to harmonise existing government policies and practices on public procurement, these new revised thresholds shall supersede any other subsisting threshold issued by the Federal Government.

“Also, the thresholds apply to other sources of funding, including Internally Generated Revenues (IGR), donations and gifts.”

Adedokun said the bureau would soon issue guidelines for community-based and preferential procurements to support micro, small, and medium enterprises, women, and persons with disabilities in line with the new thresholds.

“ The bureau will also issue guidelines to address timelines for completion of procurement processes to ensure implementation of these new thresholds is not impeded by dilatory conduct and bureaucratic red tape.

“Furthermore, with these revised thresholds, the bureau shall issue modalities to expedite the implementation of Nigeria First/Local Content Policy of this administration.

“This is designed to prioritise locally manufactured goods and services in all government procurements to promote domestic production, support indigenous industries, and reduce dependence on foreign products.

According to the D-G, the revision of these procurement thresholds, as approved by President Tinubu, takes immediate effect and is expected to bolster the overall performance of Nigeria’s procurement ecosystem.

Adedokun said this would also enhance the regulatory oversight of the BPP without unnecessary involvement in implementation processes.

“With the approval of these revised thresholds, the bureau is now positioned to focus on other critical regulatory functions such as post-review, procurement audit, procurement surveillance, monitoring and evaluation and professionalisation of the procurement cadre.

“ Some of these activities will be done in collaboration with sister Anti-Corruption Agencies that have a presence in all the Geo-Political Zones to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

FG to strengthen open, distance learning in national policy framework – Alausa

FG to strengthen open, distance learning in national policy framework – Alausa

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By Emmanuel Afonne

The Federal Government has pledged to strengthen open and distance learning in the country’s national policy framework for the advancement of education.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, made the pledge at the third Open, Distance and eLearning Association of Nigeria (ODeLAN), International Conference 2025 on Thursday in Abuja.

The conference had the theme: “Adaptive Pedagogies for the Future of Education: Connecting Learners, Technologies and Communities.”

The three-day conference was hosted by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in collaboration with ODeLAN.

Alausa, who was represented by Dr Kareem Olawale, from the office of the minister, said open and distance learning had become an asset to the quality of education in the country, especially in rural communities.

“Nigeria, like many nations, since the disruption of education calendar during COVID-19, faced the challenge which led to the embrace of open and distance learning, and this led us to re-imagined, the traditional models of education.

“This conference provides the opportunity to take those lessons further, moving from emergency remote teaching to sustainable, adaptive and inclusive model.

“I commend ODeLAN for the efforts in building a community of practice that tackles innovations, research and collaboration in the ODeLAN space.

“Your work is essential in shaping policies, training educators and developing tools that will drive Nigeria’s educational transformation.

“The theme of this year’s event will not have been more timely than now in an age defined by technology.

“Today, we have gathered, not just to share ideas but to chart a course for a more resilient and reputable future that leverages the full potential of open, distance and e-learning,” Alausa said.

The President of ODeLAN, Prof. Francis Egbokhare, lamented the great injustice facing ODL students.

“One still wonders why professional organisation insist that certain courses should not be run through the ODL mode, whereas many of these persons take diverse professional development training through the same mode.

“The denial of ODL students access to government subsidy on tuition and student loans, undermines their rights as citizens.

“This is a grave injustice on Nigerians whose only crime is the mode of learning that they chose or which circumstances have foisted on them.”

Egbokhare, therefore, called on the authorities to ensure that these discriminatory tendencies were dealt with in the sector.

Prof. Olufemi Peters, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, said ODL had some fundamental social egalitarian philosophy behind its operations and growth.

Peters said that it was the philosophical context that actually drew him into the field of ODL and indeed into NOUN.

“Those who listened to my inaugural lecture will recall my brief foray into egalitarianism in that lecture. It is still the raison d’etre I seem to be passionate about ODL and my university.

“Therefore, when I was asked again whether I could give an address at the upcoming conference, I accepted and even provided a topic for discussion on one of the two issues that was bothering my mind.

“My topic for presentation was, ‘Is ODL all about Technology’? For this reason, I reasoned that I could provide a keynote address where I would have the opportunity to provide the philosophical context underpinning ODL.

“Just to mention, the other issue I felt concerned about was ODL being used as a source of Internal Generated Revenue,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to be professional in their academic activities, noting that their desire must be noble.

Peters also urged ODeLAN to work towards establishing a secretariat which he assured that his institution would furnish, as part of their support.

One of the keynote speakers, Prof. Peter Scott, President, Commonwealth of Learning, said the world had reached a crossroad where education must evolve to meet the needs of learners, societies and the economy.

“The world is witnessing unprecedented change, precipitated by economic shifts, technological disruptions, climate change and global crises. This requires educated systems that are agile, responsive and learner-centred.

“As the open players in this sphere, our resolve is that education should be inclusive, flexible and resilient, and equivalent with the skills required for an uncertain future.

“We should ensure that learning is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but personalised, driven by data and inclusive. These and more underscore Adaptive Pedagogies for Education.

“We leverage technology for adaptive learning through our AMP Actus scheme, also referred to as a Cold Classroom Without Walls. Actus is a low-cost, offline learning solution developed to deliver personalised learning in areas with limited internet access.

“It allows learners to access digital education as content from wherever they are, through mobile devices and laptops, without needing an internet connection.

“The project is ongoing in many Commonwealth countries, including Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

NBS commits to effective mgt. of administrative data

NBS commits to effective mgt. of administrative data

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says it is committed to strengthening service delivery among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through effective management of administrative data.

The Statistician-General (S-G) of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, stated this during a two-day In-Boarding Training of Integrated Systems of Administrative Statistics (ISAS) and Equipment Distribution to MDAs in Abuja on Thursday.

Adeniran said the event was a strategic turning point in the nation’s journey towards a more integrated, efficient and responsive national statistics system in the country.

He noted that the administrative data system had been forgotten in silos, destroyed, incorporated and underutilised.

Adeniran, however, said with the ISAS in place now, the story would change for the better.

“The ISAS initiative represents our bold response to this long-standing challenge.

“ It is a comprehensive, historic approach to transforming how administrative data is collected, managed, shared and used across all tiers of government.

“With ISAS, we are laying the foundation for an integrated and interoperable data system where we can operationalise our data and exchange them seamlessly with our MDAs.”

The S-G said the ISAS would serve as a centralised data repository that would be accessible to policy makers, researchers and citizens at large.

He said the transformation was not merely technical but very crucial, cultural, institutional and above all, collaborative.

Adeniran said the training would equip the participants with the knowledge and tools required to engage with ISAS confidently and productively.

As part of the ISAS implementation, the S-G distributed essential equipment, both hardware and software, to support seamless integration and communication between the NBS and the MDAs

“ These tools are not just pieces of technology, they are the enablers of a new era of collaboration, data quality and institutional synergy.

“Today, we gather as co-builders of a new data ecosystem for Nigeria, one that is robust, harmonised and capable of underpinning the aspiration of good governance and sustainable development.”

Azeez Mustapha, the Project Coordinator, explained that ISAS offered the solution, which was a harmonised technology-enabled platform that integrated statistical processes and brought all the MDAs into one coordinated framework.

“Over the next two days, we will explore our ISAS works, what is expected from each of us and most importantly, how we can institutionalise this system for the long term.”

Mustapha said the participating MDAs would also sign the Data Supply Pledge, thereby committing to the regular and timely sharing of administrative data.

Victor Okafor, the World Bank Representative, said that the programme was proof of the technical and statistical advancement of MDAs as well as the country.

According to her, this is because the technology incorporated to set this up has taken us, the statistical system in Nigeria, to the next level.

Okafor said the World Bank was happy to support the project and would continue to support the development of Nigeria’s national statistics ecosystem.

Victoria Ojogbane, from the Ministry of Justice, who spoke on behalf of the participants, gave the assurance that the equipment would be used for the purpose they were given, as she thanked the NBS for their collaboration.

The News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) reports that 15 MDAs would be onboarded in the pilot phase, and they include Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Water Resources, Justice, Education, Health, and Women Affairs, and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

Others are the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Identity Management Commission, National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria Immigration Services, and the Nigeria Police Force. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

NSF: FCT FA boss urges football team to go for gold

NSF: FCT FA boss urges football team to go for gold

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Chairman of the FCT Football Association (FCT FA), Mouktar Mohammed has charged the FCT Football team to go all out and win the football gold at the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun.

Mohammed, who was represented by Patrick Bassey, head of the technical committee and a board member of the FA, said this while speaking to the team ahead of their departure for the Games.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 22nd NSF tagged “Gateway Games” is scheduled for May 16 to May 30.

‘The Chairman is excited that you qualified for the football category and has assured of his continued support for team FCT who have always done well at the festival over the years.

‘We thank you for all the work you put in,we see your commitment and it will never go unnoticed.

“As you travel, be good ambassadors of FCT and make us proud by winning gold as your hard work during the preparation will not go unrewarded, ” he said.

The chairman also uses the occasion to donate jerseys, balls, hose and officials wear for the team to encourage them.

The captain of the team, Aliyu Abubakar assured the FA that they will give it their all in Ogun when they compete.

‘We thank the FCT FA chairman who has always supported and encouraged us, we will do our best like always and bring back gold for the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Team FCT won the silver medal at the last festival hosted by Delta state in 2022.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Aiyedatiwa backs Aiyenuro’s 7-day Guinness barbing marathon record bid

Aiyedatiwa backs Aiyenuro’s 7-day Guinness barbing marathon record bid

259 total views today

By Sarafina Christopher

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has pledged his support for Joshua Aiyenuro, Chief Executive Officer, T-Jos Signature, as he embarks on a Guinness World Record attempt for the Longest Haircut Marathon.

The governor, who made the pledge on Thursday at a meeting in his Abuja Lodge, expressed enthusiasm for the project and promised to back Aiyenuro’s efforts to bring the title back to Ondo State.

Aiyenuro, the Official Barber of the Super Eagles, was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja by the leadership of the African Civil Society Forum (AFRICSOF) in collaboration with T-Jos Signature.

“Beyond the record attempt, Aiyenuro’s vision is to empower thousands of Nigerians with cutting-edge barbering skills, providing them with a valuable trade and gainful employment opportunities.

“His ambitious project aims to establish over 10,000 barbing points across the country, creating a vast network of jobs for young people.

“This initiative promises to have a profound impact on the nation, not only by creating jobs but also by combating social vices and steering young people towards a brighter future.

“By engaging youth in meaningful activities, T-Jos’s project seeks to foster a more productive and positive society.

“This phenomenal feat is set to showcase Joshua’s exceptional barbering skills and unwavering endurance.”

AFRICSOF said that with the attempt, Joshua aimed to make history and inspire a nation and Africa at large.

“His dedication to his craft and his passion for excellence make him the perfect candidate for this record-breaking endeavour,” the forum said.

The barbing marathon has been scheduled to hold between June 10 and June 17 at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited Chijoke Okoronkwo

Stakeholders urge climate action for rural women farmers

Stakeholders urge climate action for rural women farmers

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By Victor Adeoti

Stakeholders have called for the inclusion of rural small scale women farmers in climate change action plan.

They said that amplifying the voices of rural women farmers, who stand at the frontline of climate impacts, was not only timely but essential for equitable and sustainable development.

The stakeholders made the remarks at a one-day workshop on Drafting and Validation of Rural Agricultural Women’s Perspective On State’s Climate Action Plan on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Advocate For Sustainable and Inclusive Community Development, with the support of Urgent Action Fund Africa, for rural women farmers in Osun.

The state Commissioner For Environment and Sanitation, Mr Mayowa Adejoorin, said the crucial perspectives and experiences of rural women farmers, who were mostly affected by climate change, had been neglected for too long.

Adejoorin, represented by Mr Samuel Ogunleye, Director of Climate Change and Renewable Energy in the ministry, said the state government recognised that a truly effective and sustainable climate action plan could not be formulated in isolation.

“You (women) are the custodians of our land, the backbone of our food security, and the first to witness and adapt to the shifting patterns of our climate.

“Your deep understanding of local ecosystems, traditional farming practices, and the subtle changes in weather patterns is not just scientific enough; it is critical data that must inform our strategies and actions.

“This is why your participation in this process is not merely symbolic, it is fundamental to the success of this endeavor.

“Climate change presents unique challenges to our rural women farmers”, he said.

Also, Prof. Opeyemi Ekundayo, the Director of Centre For Gender and Social Policy Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said that climate change was not gender-neutral.

Ekundayo said that women farmers were already contending with systemic barriers, such as limited access to resources, decision-making exclusion, gender-based violence, among others.

She, however, said that a climate policy that failed to integrate the views and experiences of women farmers risked perpetrating the aforementioned barriers.
Ekundayo said that the initiative of the NGO to mobilise women’s groups and demand gender sensitive policies was a powerful step towards ensuring women farmers inclusion in climate change policy.

In her remarks, the NGO’s Executive Director, Chioma Otugo, said that the organisation was galvanising movement of women’s group to demand inclusion of gender issues in the proposed climate plan actions by the state government.

Otugo noted that the organisation was currently implementing a project on a gender reflective policy for the state climate change policy.

She said the policy was a critical document that would impact women farmers, businesses and environmentalist in the state.

“Women farmers already facing severe economic barriers, decision-making power and climate change challenges exacerbates these inequalities
“Our mission is to enhance the lives of women, girls, and youth by promoting gender equality, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth.

“Our goal is to foster sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to advocate for their rights and contribute to social and economic progress”, she said.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Abimbola Babatunde, said the workshop was timely, as it reflected a deep understanding that climate action must be inclusive to be effective.

Babatunde, represented by Mrs Olufunmilola Adewale, Director of Gender Affair in the ministry, said that rural women farmers were among the most vulnerable yet most resilient in the face of climate challenges.
She said the farmers desired a prominent voice in shaping policies that affect their livelihood.

“As a ministry, we are steadfast in our commitment to promoting gender-responsive climate action”, she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi

Digitisation crucial to combating corruption —–BPP

Digitisation crucial to combating corruption —–BPP

257 total views today

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), says digitalisation across all economic sectors is essential, as IT plays a crucial role in combating corruption and driving the country’s advancement and transformation.

This is contained in a statement issued by Zira Nagga, Head, Public Relations, BPP, in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement said Dr Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General (D-G), BPP, made this known while receiving a delegation from the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in his office in Abuja.

It said the visit was aimed at deepening the relationship between the two agencies.

Adedokun, who described the NITDA visit as a welcome development, said it would pave the way for ensuring standards and compliance were met in the procurement of IT-related projects.

The D-G emphasised the importance of digitising procurement processes and IT-related projects, which helped reduce turnaround time, curb corruption, and prevent the duplication of IT-related projects.

He said the BPP and NITDA have to take ownership of the process, as both agencies have a responsibility under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reduce wastage for the country’s progress.

Adebowale reiterated the need to bring on board the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, and anti-corruption agencies to monitor the implementation of procurement activities and investigate any fraudulent activity.

He called for a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BPP and NITDA to strengthen their long standing relationship in the areas of professionalisation through capacity building.

Other areas he said include having a competent ICT and procurement sector; standardisation of procurement documents and IT price Intelligence, for benchmarking in all IT-related projects.

Adebowale suggested that NITDA should automate procurement processes by extending the portal to BPP for information and feedback.

“BPP should also be part of the project design for certification purposes, and the process of including lawyers from the ministries to be groomed on IT-related activities for legal purposes,” he said.

Dr Kasinfu Abdullahi, the D-G/CEO, NITDA, stated that his visit aimed to explore ways to enhance collaboration with BPP, particularly regarding digitalisation, due to the crucial role of IT in all aspects of the nation.

Abdulahi reiterated the need for transformation, reforms and improving governance for effective service delivery, which he said was paramount in the Tinubu-led administration.

He said that NITDA had decided to review the IT Clearance Guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability of MDAs-designed projects.

“ To address the implementation of the guideline, there is a need to build the National E-Government Master Plan and the Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture, an IT system to deliver seamless services to citizens.

“It will be a digitised government service for integration. “

Abdulahi said that NITDA was proposing three stages for IT guidelines, which include Solution Design for certification purposes and Implementation, by building cyber security certification and network security.

“Also, Quality Assurance, whereby the expectation of the desired project should be met before payment,” he said.

The statement said both agencies agreed to set up a team to work together towards the signing of the MoU, as the visit underscored shared commitment to curb corruption and reduce wastage. (NAN)(www.nanneww.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

12th CNS Swimming championship kicks off July in Asaba

12th CNS Swimming championship kicks off July in Asaba

229 total views today

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), says preparations are in top gear for the 12th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Swimming Championship slated for the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, from July 15 to July 19.

Chinoye Aliyu, president of the federation, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja adding that the tournament will discover talents to represent the country.

“This championship is a cornerstone of our strategic plan to identify, nurture and prepare elite athletes who will represent Nigeria at international events.

“Recently, Nigeria made history by breaking two African records in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events at the Africa Junior Swimming Championships earlier this month (May).

“It is on the backdrop of these that we encourage swimmers below 18 years of age to register as the CNS tournament has both junior and senior or elite categories.

“We are also expecting a wide range of swimmers; from tertiary institutions, the para-military, states and clubs to register and participate in the tournament.

“The federation’s technical committee and national scouts will be on ground to evaluate performances and select exceptional swimmers for advanced training,’’ Aliyu said.

The President also lauded efforts of the Nigerian Navy and the CNS Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla for his continued support and collaboration towards discovering young talents in the sport.

“I want to particularly thank the Nigerian Navy for restoring the lost glory of swimming in Nigeria.

“Like I said earlier, we broke two records in Egypt, eventually clinching three golds and one bronze medal—an unprecedented feat in the nation’s swimming history.

“This was also due to the support from the CNS who released to us Lt.-Cdr. Labake Oriretan, a former champion and seasoned coach to guide the national team during the competition,” she said.

On his part, Rear Adm. Patrick Nwatu, the chairman, Nigerian Navy Swimming Association, said the partnership has been worthwhile, stressing their continued support for the sport.

“We see supporting NAqF as one of our corporate social responsibility to the nation.

“For almost 14 years now, the Nigerian Navy has been part of this endeavour and we are constantly looking for ways to see how we can improve and contribute our quota.

“We will see how we can identify athletes to be able to participate in international events and also encourage open water swimming.

“Over the years, the collaboration has been worthwhile and we look forward to other areas we can support and partner in the future.

“The last edition was well attended and we look forward to a greater participation this year where we can have our youths express themselves,” Nwatu added.

Also in attendance at the event are Rear Adm. Yusuf Idris, the director of sports Nigerian Navy, Taiwo Oriss, the secretary general of NAqF, Dauda Usman, the vice president of NAqF, amongst others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh

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