News Agency of Nigeria
Industrialisation: Don advocates sustained investment in tech, education
Economy/Business

Industrialisation: Don advocates sustained investment in tech, education

By Tiamiyu Arobani

Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Advisor to the President of African Development Bank on Industrialisation has advocated for sustained investment in education and technology for Nigeria’s industrialisation.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka stated this at a lecture titled: “Divergent Outcomes: Asia and Africa Development Strategy” at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) as part of the unveiling of his latest book.

The book co-authored with Dr Oyebanke Abejirin was titled: “From Reversal of Fortune to Economic Resurgence: Industrialisation and Leadership in Asian Prosperity and Nigeria’s Regress”.

In his presentation, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka identified deliberate actions and visionary leadership as key requirements for the industralisation of Nigeria.

The book investigated the stark divergence in development outcomes between Nigeria and a group of Asian economies that began from similar starting points in the post-colonial period.

He explored the factors behind the rapid industrial growth of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, countries that began their post-colonial journey at similar levels of development as Nigeria.

Sharing his insights from the book, the author examined how four countries were able to transform key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and textiles, into competitive, export-oriented industries.

He noted that in contrast, in spite of possessing similar resources and initial conditions, Nigeria’s economy had faced slow development due to its over-reliance on oil exports and lack of diversification.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka articulated what he termed Nigeria’s ‘reversal of fortune’, a situation in which a country once held an economic advantage over several Asian nations in income per capita and industrial potential now lagged behind.

He outlined three major causes for Nigeria’s underperformance, including the failure to transition from resource dependence to diversified industrial production.

Others, according to him, were resource-dependence resulting in shocks from volatility of oil-based revenues and persistent gaps in political leadership and institutional capacity.

“Industrialisation does not occur by accident. It requires deliberate action, visionary leadership and sustained investment in education, technology, and long-term policy planning.

“Countries that made early investments in these areas were able to build competitive economies that navigated external shocks and maintained steady growth.

“Nigeria, however, has struggled due to its continued dependence on commodity exports and the importation of finished goods, which has hindered the development of a robust industrial base.’’

The author expressed his unwavering faith in Nigeria’s manifest destiny of greatness, saying most nations that suffered “reversals” eventually overcame through persistence and leadership.

“I still believe in Nigeria’s manifest destiny of greatness,” he expressed optimism.

The event which generated frank discussions among academics, students and policymakers, sparked important dialogue about the challenges facing resource-rich countries and the need for visionary leadership to ensure sustainable development.

The LSE launch marked the second major stop on the book’s launch tour, following a lecture at Harvard University in Boston earlier this year while the next stop on the book tour would be at the University of Cambridge.

During the event, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka would continue his conversation on leadership in development, and the lessons African nations can learn from successful economies in Asia. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Halima Sheji

Scaling-up Nigeria/Pakistan bilateral relations
Features , Foreign

Scaling-up Nigeria/Pakistan bilateral relations

By Maureen Okon

Nigeria and Pakistan, both members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Developing-8, have enjoyed blossoming diplomatic and bilateral relations over the years.

The relations established on March 22, 1961, spans from trade to defence and cultural exchanges; it is growing deeper, with both countries building strong ties.

In 2023, Pakistani exports to Nigeria was approximated at 39.8 million dollars, consisting mainly of packaged medicaments, synthetic fabrics, and vinyl chloride polymers.

Pakistani imports from Nigeria are worth 565.09 million dollars in 2024, according to the UN COMTRADE database on international trade.

Some Pakistani imports from Nigeria are mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, oil seed, oleagic fruits, grain, seed, fruits, wastes of food industry, animal fodder, cotton, raw hides and skins, among others.

Both countries have benefited through the trade relationship and are working to strengthen their ties through trade delegations and business liaison.

In 2021, Pakistan energised its relations with Nigeria and Africa through the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), using the ‘’Engage Africa Policy’’ platform.

The policy, which was implemented to strengthen trade and economic ties with Nigeria, then went further to extend the relationship to other Africa countries by opening five new diplomatic missions in; Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Djibouti, and Ghana.

Weighing in on the relations, Retired Maj.-Gen. Sohail Khan, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, said that his country’s historical relationship with Nigeria continued to deepen with engagement in trade, cultural and military exchanges.

Khan said that both countries would continue to strive harder to further improve their bilateral ties.

In 2024, Pakistan collaborated with Beauty West Africa (BWA) exhibition held in Lagos, where the Pakistani ambassador said that the collaboration between his country and Nigeria on raw material for beauty products should be strengthened to enhance investments both countries.

The BWA seventh edition was termed as the biggest beauty exhibition of its kind in recent times which had in attendance more than 300 exhibitors from 52 countries.

Khan said the collaboration between his country and Nigeria on raw material for beauty products should be strengthened to enhance investments in the country.

The 7th edition of the beauty show was termed as the biggest of its kind in recent times, and it had more than 300 exhibitors from 52 countries in attendance.

The countries included Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Korea, Egypt, China, India, Europe, the Middle East, and South America, among others.

According to Khan, the collaboration is a win-win situation where the exchange of goods and services is the bedrock of the relationship of Nigeria and Pakistan.

“Nigeria has got a lot of stuff available in terms of raw materials for the beauty products, hence the need for collaboration; Pakistani investors can come and make investments over here.

“They can establish some small manufacturing units, which in turn both countries can benefit from this kind of joint ventures and joint collaboration, so it has to be a win-win situation for both sides,” Khan said.

The envoy said that the existing cultural similarities between both countries for ages had created the platform for the exchange at the BWA show.

Some Pakistani exhibitors lauded the organisers of the exhibition for creating a platform for more than 52 countries to showcase their beauty products in Nigeria.

They said that the platform provided opportunities to connect and network with one another.

Worthy of mention, Nigeria and Pakistan have forged strategic bonds in counter-terrorism, and border security to reinforce bilateral military relations.

Recently, Gen. Shahir Mirza, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan, paid a strategic visit to Gen. Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff.

The strategic meeting marked a significant step toward reinforcing military cooperation, specifically in the areas of training, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism.

The collaboration saw both countries training over 2,000 Nigerian military officers who received training from various Pakistani military institutions, as part of the collaboration to boost defence capabilities of both countries.

The training initiative aims to enhance Nigeria’s military operations against insurgency and terrorism.

Mirza said that Nigeria was a continental powerhouse with geo-strategic importance to Pakistan.

He expressed his country’s readiness to further collaborate with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

On his part, Musa said that the Nigerian Military would continue to build its capacity in collaboration with the Pakistani Armed Forces.

The chief of defence staff empahsised the importance of having a strategic collaboration between both countries in the area of training, particularly, Special Forces training; management of veteran affairs, border security and intelligence.

He added that these collaborative efforts had birthed the training of over two thousand officers in various Pakistani military institutions.

The Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that Mirza met with Nigeria’s defense minister as well as the chiefs of the army, navy and air force.

“The meetings focused on challenges faced by both countries, especially in the domain of counterterrorism, as well as broader defense cooperation and regional security.

“During the separately-held meetings, both sides engaged in discussions on challenges faced by both countries especially in the domain of Counter Terrorism (CT) and areas of mutual interest, including security, defense cooperation, and the evolving international / regional landscape.

“Both sides reaffirmed the resolve to further enhance defense and military collaboration between both militaries,” ISPR said.

The two countries enjoy excellent relations in defence and military domains. Nigerian Air Force has inducted 3 JF-17 thunder jets and 10 Super Mushak aircrafts in their fleet procured from Pakistan.

Under Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme, Pakistan offers scholarships to Nigerian students; there are approximately 2500 Pakistanis living in Nigeria.

In the light of similar security and economic challenges faced by Nigeria and Pakistan, analysts say deepening bilateral relations between the two countries will be mutually beneficial.

They say enhancing counter-terrorism and defence cooperation has become imperative as both nations battle onslaughts from insurgents.(NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

UTME glitch: Faith-based organisations demand investigation, laud Oloyede
Education

UTME glitch: Faith-based organisations demand investigation, laud Oloyede

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The leadership of some faith-based organisations have called for a transparent investigation into the technical glitch that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The call, led by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS) and Dominion Chapel International Church (DCIC), followed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) admission that a technical error had affected some candidates’ results.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that JAMB confirmed that a technical fault had impacted the results of over 370,000 candidates across 157 centres in Lagos and the South-East.

This admission came after a review of the results by stakeholders invited by the Board, following widespread concerns about unusually low scores.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, apologised for the unfortunate incident and announced that affected candidates would be given the opportunity to retake the examination starting from Friday.

NAN reports that over 1.9 million candidates sat the 2025 UTME, of which 1.5 million, representing 78 per cent scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.

Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, National Chief Imam, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society with Archbishop John Praise Daniel of Dominion Chapel Intl Church at a news conference

Speaking at an interfaith press conference on Friday in Abuja, Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, National Chief Imam of AIS, and Archbishop John Praise Daniel, Presiding Bishop of DCIC, commended Oloyede for his transparency and leadership.

Adeyemi emphasised the need for an urgent and open investigation into the system failure.

“While we unequivocally stand with the JAMB Registrar at this moment, we respectfully urge that the entire process leading to the system glitch be subjected to a thorough and transparent investigation.

“Any individual or group found culpable should be appropriately sanctioned.

“We believe this crucial step will not only restore public confidence in JAMB’s processes but also serve as a deterrent against future negligence or sabotage,” he said.

In his remarks, Archbishop Daniel appealed for calm among affected candidates and their parents, urging them to approach the resit with renewed determination.

He also noted the need to take candidates’ mental health more seriously, calling on parents to be more closely involved in supporting their wards.

“Our hearts go out to all the parents and candidates affected by the recent JAMB system glitch.

“We understand how distressing this must have been after months of preparation and anticipation.

“Please know that you are not alone in this moment. Your resilience is deeply admired. Thankfully, JAMB has provided a second opportunity to retake the exam,” he said.

Both leaders praised Oloyede for his visionary leadership and the transformative reforms implemented since his appointment in 2016.

They noted that his decision to acknowledge the error, apologise, and offer remedial measures demonstrated commendable accountability.

“We call on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to publicise the actions of the JAMB Registrar as a model for other public officials to emulate,” they stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Experts task women, youth entrepreneurs on skills devt
Economy/Business

Experts task women, youth entrepreneurs on skills devt

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Experts have charged women and youth entrepreneurs to embrace skills development and collaboration to increase their contributions to the country’s economic growth and development.

They gave the advice at the Nigerian- British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) graduation/induction of NBCC Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (WYEDI) on Thursday in Lagos.

The Chief Executive Officer, Sterling One Foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, advised entrepreneurs on the importance of positive possibilities and the need to be audacious.

According to her, entrepreneurs must be armed with clear business goal plans and advance audaciously to achieve them.

“While the sky is only the beginning, being audacious helps entrepreneurs to push boundaries, encourage innovations and set the stage for the significant edge success,” she said.

Also, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Wakanow Nigeria, Mrs Shola Ipinmoroti, urged the outgoing and incoming cohorts to remain teachable and agile in their entrepreneurial endeavours.

Ipinmoroti stressed that collaboration was very critical to scaling a business as it combined resources, expertise and networks to grow more efficiently.

She added that collaboration enhances access to new markets, provided an umbrella body coverage, mitigated risks and created alliance for quicker decision making.

“Collaboration is key in understanding how to scale a business and it is important to be humble and get into an industry or an association that advanced your business cause and goals,” she said.

The Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Yetunde Oni, represented by the company’s Head of Retail and Small and Medium Enterprises, Vivian Imoh, urged the cohorts to be more open minded in business.

Oni advocated the importance of investing in women and investments by women.

She also charged the entrepreneurs to continually develop their skills in line with emerging and evolving global realities.

The President, NBCC, Mr Ray Atelly, said the WYEDI was his personal commitment to ensure NBCC impact extended beyond boardrooms and policy forums, reaching into communities and directly touching lives.

Atelly, who noted that economic transformation cannot happen in isolation, said it must be rooted in inclusion, building up traditionally excluded from formal economic systems, particularly women and youth.

He added that the event marked the launch of the NBCC Tech Programme and the formal inauguration of the WYEDI Alumni Network, a true celebration of purpose, progress, and promise.

He stated that the event’s theme: “Beyond Limits: Nurturing Entrepreneurs, Building Legacies,” aimed to invest in changemakers to influence families, communities, and the broader economy.

“This programme is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills, mentorship, exposure, and opportunities to create sustainable businesses and, in doing so, uplift others.

“NBCC has, for nearly five decades, fostered trade and investment between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and WYEDI is an extension of that legacy, because sustainable economic growth starts with empowered people.

“Let us continue to build together, not just businesses, but legacies that transcend generations,” he said.

The Director-General, NBCC, Dr Ebere Njoku, noted that for over 45 years, the NBCC had served as a bridge between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, promoting bilateral trade, investment, and enterprise.

Njoku said the chamber through the WYEDI was investing in the future of Nigeria by providing access to practical skills, mentorship, and economic opportunities.

She said the NBCC in just two cohorts had trained over 300 young entrepreneurs across various vocational fields, with a strong focus on creativity, sustainability, and business development.

Njoku lauded the 125 cohorts and two graduates for completing their 16 weeks hands-on training and two weeks of industry immersion.

She urged the Cohort 3 inductees to step into the transformative experience.

“Over the coming weeks, you will gain skills in trades such as fashion, hairdressing, photography, arts and crafts, confectionery, makeup artistry, and more.

“Alongside would be workshops in financial literacy, digital marketing, legal structures and business development and this is more than a training; it is a launchpad.

“We are also proud to introduce a tech training track, responding to the growing demand for digital and technology enabled skills across sectors,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Editted by Abdulfatai Beki/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

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

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

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
Economy/Business

MDAs to submit procurement activities report on website – BPP

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
Economy/Business

BPP announces revised public procurement threshold to reflect current realities

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
Education

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

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
General News

NBS commits to effective mgt. of administrative data

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
Sports

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

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

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email