News Agency of Nigeria
Nollywood Guilds pledge support for smoke-free films campaign
Entertainment

Nollywood Guilds pledge support for smoke-free films campaign

265 total views today

By Joshua Olomu

Leaders and representatives of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry have pledged their support for the campaign against smoking and consumption of harmful substances in Nollywood films.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the thespians made the commitment during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Tuesday.

The event was organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Representatives of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Directors, Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), were among those who attended the event.

Others included foremost Nollywood filmmakers Fred Amata, Teco Benson, Zeb Ejiro and representatives of the Nigerian Film Corporation(NFC), among other stakeholders.

In his opening address, Dr Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of NFVCB, said the sensitisation programme was to educate stakeholders on the danger inherent in smoking in Nigerian movies.

According to him, besides the health implications, glamourisation of smoking in films poses negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigeria movie viewers.

“As you all know, the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector and it is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.

“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we, therefore, seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.

“In spite of the obvious fact that our culture and heritage are part of our existence, we tend to pay less than optimal attention to the movies that are produced.

“This continued until recently when CAPPA decided to reach out to the developers and regulators of the film industry to put an end to the menace of smoking in movies.

“The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and began implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate.

“The measure is particularly important at this crucial time when the National Assembly is insisting that there is ‘Need to Curb the rising spate of cultism, trafficking, consumption of Illicit drugs and other substances among youths in Nigeria,” he said.

At the end of proceedings in the sensitisation workshop, participants, including delegates of the various guilds present, unanimously pledged their support for a smoke-free Nollywood.

They assured members of the public that moving forward, they would ensure that smoking and other vices are not glamourised, especially in films meant for children and young adults.

Blessing Ebigieson, AMP National President said: “Filmmaking starts as an idea and story writing before you can assemble cast and crew, and that is our work as producers.

“So, our members shall ensure that stories, especially the ones for films for children, do not have smoking scenes.”

Mr Victor Okhai, National President of DGN said: “It is our children we are talking about here; we shall ensure that they are protected from smoking by ensuring they are not exposed to such films.”

However, Salisu Muazu, Secretary General of MOPPAN, emphasised the need for intensive education on the menace of smoking in films and offered to produce a Public Service Announcement (PSA).

Mr Patrick Lee, who represented the Cinemas Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), said members would ensure that PSAs against smoking in films are exhibited.

Earlier in his presentation, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, said there was need to reverse how movies and music videos presented smoking and tobacco use as a ‘cool way of life’.

“Tobacco is a killer and it currently kills over eight million people annually, with over 75 per cent of this from developing countries, where unfortunately Nigeria belongs.

“Today, smoking still remains very prevalent in our movies, in contravention of the NTC Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, which explicitly prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships in movies and entertainment.

“As we tell the Nigerian story, shape our future and build a society that is genuinely productive, we strongly believe that Nollywood has a role to play in stopping non-communicable diseases in Nigeria,” he said.(NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Corruption: Foundation unveils 48 models of integrity in Nigeria
General News

Corruption: Foundation unveils 48 models of integrity in Nigeria

445 total views today
By Martha Agas
An NGO, the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, has unveiled 48 models of integrity in Nigeria, as part of its activities to curb corruption in the society.
The foundation identified and profiled 48 persons from both the formal and informal sector across Nigeria, who have demonstrated the virtue of integrity in their private and public conduct.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation, in partnership with the MacArthur foundation, since 2018 has been undertaking a wide-range of programmes.
The programmes targeted the training of religious and community leaders and youths, aimed at promoting integrity and fighting the menace of corruption in the Nigerian society.
The models were unveiled and presented awards on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of foundation, Fr George Ehusani said that the move was necessary to encourage the inculcation of good values to members of the society especially the younger generation.
Ehusani said that it was gratifying to know that there were many men and women, who remain committed to upholding the principles of integrity in a society where corrupt practices have become the norm.
He said that to live such a lifestyle required enormous sacrifices and self control as such persons faced constant persecution.
He said that the event was aimed at celebrating the models for their outstanding qualities in the society, who he described as a beacon of hope in the country.
According to him, the models who are within the ages of 30 to 70, are a source of hope that Nigeria will be liberated from the shackles of corruption.
“Many of them do not attract public attention, but in their diverse callings and engagements, they command admiration as men and women of positive influence,” he said.
Ehusani described corruption as a social pandemic which has eaten deep into the fabric of the society, and has made Nigeria regarded as one of the corrupt nations in the world.
He said that every nation must strive to sustain its corporate existence, through inculcating good values to prevent it from being dysfunctional.
In her remarks, Dr Amina Salihu, the Deputy Director of the MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria, thanked the leadership foundation for partnering with them in advocating for accountability in society through integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.
She said that MacArthur supports Nigeria -led efforts efforts in combating corruption.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development (CODE), thanked the foundation for honouring them and acknowledging their resolve not to be involved in corrupt practices.
He assured them that they would remain models of integrity and urged Nigerians, particularly the younger generation, not to be influenced to deviate from good moral values.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
Poverty not root cause of illegal migration – German envoy
General News

Poverty not root cause of illegal migration – German envoy

206 total views today

By Chinenye Offor

The German government has said that poverty is not responsible for illegal migration to Europe.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Gunther, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to her, poverty cannot be the root cause of irregular migration because people who migrate to Europe are not the poorest citing the North East as an example.

“The people who migrate to Europe are not the poorest.

“You have a situation where people from the very poor like in North East Nigeria where there is conflict and poverty, amongst others.

“What happens there is displacement; regional migration.

“They go to neighbouring countries because they cannot afford to go to Europe.

“They do not have the money for the agents who smuggle them through illegal routes.

“The people who have the money and decide to go to Europe are usually kind of educated and have some money. They’re not the poorest.

“I will not say poverty is the root cause of migration either legal or illegal.

“Many people who migrate – even if they are not the poorest – are still looking for a better life – better life for their children, better education and others,” she said

She stressed the need for the government to address the shortage or lack of basic amenities such as health, education, security, and jobs, to tackle illegal migration to Europe.

She said that the provision of basic social amenities would reduce the desire by young people to risk their lives going through the wrong and dangerous routes to get to Europe in search of greener pastures.

“I think we have to work on that – what we can call the root causes of illegal migration. The government should try to give them what they are looking for.

“And I think the current government is very much aware of these problems and is working on them.

“These are the areas we have to work on, to provide the services that these people are looking for in their country, to develop the Nigerian economy and also provide those jobs that the young people are looking for in Europe,” she said.

Speaking further, the envoy stated that Germany is exploring legal ways by which migrants can come to the country.

“Legal migration is perfectly okay because Germany is also looking to boost its workforce.

“That is why we want to open up more legal ways to prevent people from taking the risk and following those potentially deadly routes through the Mediterranean Sea and others. ( NAN) (www.nan.ng )

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

FCTA, others adopt minimum standard conduct for schools
Education , General News

FCTA, others adopt minimum standard conduct for schools

357 total views today

By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has adopted the “Code of Conduct, Rules, Regulations for Primary and Secondary Schools in Nigeria”.

Presented to stakeholders in Abuja on Monday, it is a comprehensive document that provides an all-inclusive and uniform guideline for both private and public primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.

The project was funded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and implemented by Society for Family Health (SFH).

Mr Danlami Hayyo, Secretary for Education, FCT Educational Secretariat, at the presentation of the document, said that school rules and regulations were veritable tools for the smooth running of schools and the overall interest and benefit of the learners.

“There is no denying the fact that, what makes for quality education anywhere in the world is not just the presence of grandiose structures and facilities.

“More importantly, it is the quality of teaching and learning within a safe, secured and friendly environment devoid of any school related gender-based violence.

“Basically, within and outside the school environment, the child learner deserves the right to be protected from any form of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.”

According to him, the document resulted from collaborative work with major stakeholders in FCT, with the hope that discipline is instilled and nurtured in schools and learners at all levels.

The Deputy Director, Health and HIV at the Secretariat, Mr Solomon Johnson, said that the document was developed to have a unified set of rules or regulation in Nigeria to guide the conduct of both learners and teachers in the school system.

“This one is for FCT and is domesticated for FCT, it was done in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, UNESCO, SFH and the purpose is to have unified rules and regulation and code of conduct.

“So that what is obtainable in FCT is obtainable everywhere in Nigeria and where there is a violation, we have a set of punishment meant for every offence that is committed.

“With the unveiling and adoption of the document, it has become something that needs to be used in all schools from now onwards.”

Speaking about the reason why such document was developed, the Programme Coordinator, SFH, Peace Ikani, said that it was in response to Family Life Health Education in schools.

She said that one of the organisation’s goals was HIV intervention and one of the ways to prevent HIV in schools is to have safe schools.

“In 2019, SFH was contracted by UNESCO to develop and carry out an assessment to determine the level of inclusion of school rules and regulations/guidelines in Nigerian schools.

“This was to reduce Gender-Based Violence directed at school learners and to create a safe space for learners at all levels.

“The assessment was geared towards implementing the ‘Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future’ (O3) Project in Nigeria.”

According to her, a research was carried out in Kaduna, Cross Rivers and FCT to analyse the existing gaps in the regulations.

She added that the research also proposed recommendations that would improve the quality of life and learning among learners in and around school environment.

Stakeholders present advocated that the document be distributed to all students and teachers so they could be aware of the provisions in it.

It would also help them conduct themselves properly in line with the provisions of the document and also know their rights as students or teachers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development, adoption and dissemination of the document will be done through a co-creation process by the technical stakeholders in the first selected five states.

NAN also reports that the five states are Ebonyi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River and FCT.

It will then be adopted by the Ministry of Education as the minimum standard for schools in their respective states. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

NFVCB, CAPPA launch campaign against smoking, harmful substances in Nollywood films
Entertainment

NFVCB, CAPPA launch campaign against smoking, harmful substances in Nollywood films

323 total views today

NFVCB, CAPPA   launch  campaign   against smoking, harmful substances in Nollywood films

 

By Joshua Olomu

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA,) has launched campaign against smoking and consumption of other harmful substances in Nollywood films.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both organisations held a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood to sensitise filmmakers on Tuesday in Enugu.

Movie producers, directors and actors drawn from different parts of the country, as well as leader of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry were present at event.

In his speech , Dr Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of NFVCB, said the sensitisation programme was to educate stakeholders on the danger inherent in consumption of smoking in Nigerian movies.

According to him, besides the health implications, glamourisation of smoking in films poses negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigeria movie viewers.

“As you all know, the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector and it is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.

“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we therefore seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.

“In spite the obvious fact that our culture and heritage are part of our existence, we tend to pay less than optimal attention to the movies that are produced.
“This continued until recently when this group, CAPPA decided to reach out to the developers and regulators of the film industry to put an end to the menace of smoking in movies.

“Therefore, after series of engagements, the NFVCB in collaboration with the CAPPA decided to do a ‘subsidiary regulations’ to cater for smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.

“The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and began implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate.

“Most especially at this crucial time when the National Assembly is insisting that there is “Need to Curb the rising spate of cultism, trafficking, consumption of Illicit drugs and other substances among youths in Nigeria”, he said.

The NFVCB helmsman added that the board was set to undertake detailed enlightenment programmes in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions.

Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA , said Nollywood has a role to play in ensuring that the growing concerns of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria is addressed.

According to him, there is need to reverse the role movies and music videos play in “the painting of smoking and tobacco use as a cool way of life.”

“Tobacco is a killer and it currently kills over eight million people annually, with over 75 percent of this from developing countries, where unfortunately Nigeria belongs.

“Today smoking still remains very prevalent in our movies, in contravention of the NTC Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, which explicitly prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships in movies and entertainment.

“As we tell the Nigerian story, shape our future and build a society that is genuinely productive, we strongly believe that Nollywood has a role to play in stopping non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

“With more than five million young Nigerians .aged 15 years addicted to smoking cigarettes, our jobs as movie practitioners and parents should include preparing our children for a smoke-free future.

“I want to specially thank the Executive Director of the NFVCB . for welcoming us with open arms in support and collaboration for this very important initiative,” he said

He explained that CAPPA) is a Pan-African organisation with robust interest in working with African communities to build partnerships towards the promotion and defense human rights through corporate and strategic policies and practices.

Earlier, Ali Nuhu, veteran actor and Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), commended NFVCB and CAPPA for the initiative.

Nuhu, who was represented by Mr Brian Etuk,Director Public Affairs of NFC, said the corporation was willing to engage stakeholders across the country on issues that will engender growth of the film industry.

“The NFC believes in partnerships that works, collaborations that pull efforts towards the same direction and in this dispensation, the joint efforts by the NFC and NFVCB shall be felt within the film industry.

“This workshop is apt and it takes its ample place in our collective quest of using film/movies to address societal moral issues, which has become prevalent, especially among our youthful population.”he said.(NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

ACReSAL project: FG says ecosystem management plan will reduce poverty
Environment , Agriculture

ACReSAL project: FG says ecosystem management plan will reduce poverty

332 total views today

By Abigael Joshua

The Federal Government has expressed determination to reduce poverty through the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project, by managing the ecosystem through a catchment plan.

Malam Balarabe Lawal Minister of Environment said this in Abuja at the contract signing ceremony for the delivery of 20 strategic catchment management plans for ACReSAL project.

The minister reiterated that catchments are vital ecosystems that support livelihoods, provide high-quality water, and sustain biodiversity.

“This catchment plan will help reduce poverty, promote sustainable agriculture, protect the environment, supporting livelihoods for generations to come.

“The Ministry of Environment under my watch has promised Nigerians of improvement in environmental sustainability interventions and initiatives.

“The Strategic Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) is a vital component of the ACReSAL project, aimed at ensuring sustainable management and utilisation of our water resources,” he said.

Lawal said that the agreement signing ceremony for the Development of Strategic Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) for ACReSAL is a crucial step towards responsible management of Nigeria’s natural resources.

“The SCMP is designed to address these issues through efficient, effective, and sustainable management practice to ensure that land, water, and related resources are developed and managed in a coordinated manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.

“Indeed, what we are witnessing today is one of the hallmarks of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s love for the restoration of nature and its attendant protected ecosystems.

“By implementing the SCMP, the ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources, will not only ensure sustainable agro-climatic and land management but also improve the living standards of communities in northern Nigeria,” the minister said.

Chuka Offodile, consultant and Managing Director of Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd. said the strategic catchment management plan study of the northern parts of Nigeria begins by scientific delineation of northern Nigeria into 20 mega-catchments.

“Then the scientific assemblage and analysis of data in that framework as a planning tool with its component natural and environmental resources in an integrated manner in line with the various interacting characteristics of each notable element, ”
Offodile said.

He said that the notable element should lead to the recommendation of knowledge-based infrastructure and investment implementation guided by a community-based sustainable, climate-resilient solution to environmental challenges in the northern parts of Nigeria.

Mr Abdulhamid Umar National Coordinator for the ACReSAL project said that the catchment plan would enhance livelihood for communities.

“The plan’s implementation will help us balance human needs with environmental protection, ensuring a resilient and thriving catchment area for future generations,” Umar said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Germany partners Nigeria to tackle climate change
Foreign , Environment

Germany partners Nigeria to tackle climate change

279 total views today

By Chinenye Offor

The German Government is into partnership with Nigeria to combat climate change and related issues in the country, the Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Gunther, says.

Gunther made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

She added that the perennial floods in parts of Nigeria is a global challenge, aggravated by the climate change phenomenon.

She noted that all hands must be on deck to tackle the root causes of climate issues, adding that decarbonisation, and zero emissions would help to solve the problem not only in Nigeria but globally.

The ambassador added that Nigeria has an ambitious goal in its energy transition plan, developed under the previous administration to ensure zero emission until 2060, adding that if properly implemented, it can be impactful.

She said that “in our cooperation talks, we are interested in how to help
Nigeria to achieve that goal.

“We therefore have opened a hydrogen diplomacy office called German-Nigerian hydrogen diplomacy office where experts organise meetings, conferences, discussions and bring together stakeholders in the area of renewable energies and particularly on hydrogen.

“Even though gas is currently the primary source of energy and power, we have to chart the way forward. We need to have these discussions to reach our climate goals earlier or as soon as possible.’’

The envoy explained that weather had become unpredictable and difficult for agriculture to thrive.

“In our development cooperation, we have programmes to support farmers in developing drought resilient crops.

“We are also aware that the effect of climate change reduces the sources of income for people, as well as durable land for farming.’’

Gunther further disclosed that plans were underway to address the issue of shrinking resources, as the German Government work toward mediating conflicts between communities (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Halima Sheji

State police will deepen internal security – Senate leader
General News

State police will deepen internal security – Senate leader

239 total views today

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, on Monday said creating state police would deepen internal security if approved.

Opeyemi said this in a statement in Abuja released by the Directorate of Media and Publicity, office of the Senate Leader.

He said with the present police system, which was “ailing and dysfunctional,” there was the need for state police.

“We must admit that the system can no longer guarantee the dignity of human lives and the security of collective assets considering our security dynamics in the Fourth Republic.

“The proposal for the creation of state police has been a subject of intense debate in the last decade or more.

“This, in part, can be attributed to the rise of armed attacks orchestrated by diverse interests either pursuing divisive agenda or seeking predatory ends in virtually all geo-political zones,” he said.

He said Nigeria, as one of the world’s fastest growing nations in terms of population, could not continue operating a unitarist security architecture in spite of its strong federal tendencies.

“Such a policing model cannot meaningfully address existential threats to our internal cohesion and stability.

“Unlike in 1979 when we had a population of 70.75 million, Nigeria is now a federation of about 229 million people, currently the world’s sixth biggest country.

“This is as shown in the demographic data of the United Nations. Contrarily, as revealed in the recent presentation of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, Nigeria has a police-citizen ratio of one to 650.

“This ratio is a far cry from a ratio of one to 460, which according to the United Nations, is a minimum requirement for every sovereign state or territory worldwide,” said Bamidele.

He added that the shortfall further reinforced the dysfunctionality of the centrally-controlled model the country was currently operating.

He said the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution would avail stakeholders the opportunity to redefine governance structure and recalibrate the security architecture.

“But we must go about it with a clear sense of self-realisation. We must, first and foremost, realise that the present police system is ailing and dysfunctional.

“We must also admit that the system can no longer guarantee the dignity of human lives and the security of collective assets.

“With this admission, it is evident that the option of adopting state police is no doubt inevitable as an antidote to diverse security challenges that threaten us as a federation,” he said.

The senate leader further said as the debate for a more efficient police model persisted, the National Assembly was under obligation to provide a legal framework that provided clearly defined preconditions.

“Sub-national governments must conform with the preconditions before they can establish their own police formation.

“The role of all 36 State Houses of Assembly is equally indispensable in the quest to adopt the decentralised police system,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

Al-Habibiyyah tasks Islamic scholars on sustained sensitisation against corruption
General News

Al-Habibiyyah tasks Islamic scholars on sustained sensitisation against corruption

294 total views today
By Muhyideen Jimoh
The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS), an Islamic NGO, has tasked Islamic scholars and Imams to champion the fight against corruption in Nigeria through sustained sensitisation and sermons to their congregation. 
 
The executive director and national Chief Imam of AIS, Sheik Fuad Adeyemi gave the admonition on Sunday in Abuja, at the end of 2-day sustainability workshop on anti-corruption organised by the AIS in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation.
 
Adeyemi, who decried the endemic nature of corruption in the country stressed the need for a holistic solution to the problem.
 
He said the anti-corruption training for Islamic scholars which started in 2018 is aimed at changing the narrative in the corruption fight, with the scholars as vanguards because of their revered position in the society.
 
“The sponsorship of this programme started six years ago and will be coming to an end soon, but that does not mean the laudable programme should end by itself.
 
“Alhamdulilah, we have made a very big landmark, but also we want to come together and continue the training almost on zero budget, expand it and come come up with new strategies to make it more effective, ” he said.
 
The Imam emphasised that government alone cannot fight corruption while highlighting that the concept of the training was to focus on behavioral change of Nigerians against the vice.
 
“What the government is doing is fighting the after-effect of corruption, that’s what almost all government agencies are doing, but we are fighting corruption before it’s committed, so that it’s effective.
 
“So we are trying to preach against it (corruption), we are saying don’t be involved in corruption, if you do these are the repercussions from Allah.
 
“We appeal to their conscience through sermons, religious books, we use behavioral change to sensitive them not to indulge in it at all, and if some go ahead, then government agencies like the EFCC can take it from there,” he said.
 
Adeyemi said that the Abuja training had about 40 Islamic clerics from Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory. (FCT).
 
He said that the workshop will also take place across the six geo-political zones of the country, starting next week with the south-west and then the North-west of the country.
 
Adeyemi expressed optimism that with all hands on deck, the anti -corruption message will begin to yield positive impact across the country, which will in turn galvanise the development of the nation.
 
Earlier, Dr Rekiya Momoh Abaji, Project Coordinator, Project said the all-encompassing training has gone a long way in sensitising Islamic scholars and the youths on the dangers of corruption.
 
“With the training, the Imams are  now more emboldened to talk about issues of corruption and preaching against it.
 
“Along the line, we also educated our youths on the dangers of corruption and how to be good citizens, maximize their digital skills and so on,” she said.
 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop had as its theme ”Creating Resilient Faith-Based Community for Sustained Accountability”. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza 
Expert highlights importance of big data in statistics, communication
General News

Expert highlights importance of big data in statistics, communication

247 total views today

By Okeoghene Akubuike

Dr Monday Adenomon, an expert in data science and machine learning, says big data has the potential to produce more relevant and timely statistics than traditional sources of official statistics.

Adenomon, Associate Professor of Econometrics and Financial Time Series, Nasarawa State University, said this in his presentation at the ongoing 1st Bi-Annual Meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) 2024, on Wednesday in Keffi.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the meeting, organised by the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS), has the theme “Understanding Big Data and Data Science: A New Perspective to Data Analysis and Dissemination.”

He said that big data referred to larger, more complex data sets, especially from new data sources.

“This data is characterised by the fact that it contains greater variety (texts, images, audios, videos etc), arriving in increasing volumes and with more velocity.

“These data sets are so voluminous that traditional data processing software just can not manage them.”

He said the NBS and other agencies could explore the potential of big data by combining big data with official statistics and replacing official statistics with big data.

“Also by filling new data gaps, that is by developing new ‘big data – based’ measurements to address emerging phenomena (not known in advance or for which traditional approaches are not feasible).

“ One big advantage that NBS has is the existence of infrastructures to address the accuracy, consistency and interpretability of the statistics produced.

“By incorporating relevant big data sources into their official statistics process, NBS is best positioned to measure accuracy and ensure the consistency of the whole systems of official statistics.

“Also, interpretation while constantly working on relevance and timeliness.”

Adenomon said big data could be used by the NBS and other agencies in traffic and transport statistics, economic activity statistics, and social media statistics.

He said big data could also be used by the NBS for price statistics to assist in Consumer Price Index(CPI) computation, tourism statistics, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage statistics.

The expert said data science on the other hand was the study of data to extract meaningful insight for business and society.

“It is a multidisciplinary approach that combines principles and practices from the fields of mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence and computer science/engineering to analyse large amounts of data.”

He said building new skills, developing/embracing new methodologies, appropriate ICT infrastructure and examining legal and ethical issues were required to embrace data science.

Adenomon also said identifying, accessing, evaluating, and using new data sources were also required.

He said some of the benefits of data science for NBS and other agencies included fresh insights from new data sources, frequency and timeliness of data, cost savings, and utilising the potential of improved computing power.

“Big data and data science present ample opportunities to foster data analytics and dissemination by the NBS and other agencies.

He said to overcome the challenges of big data, the NBS with other agencies should ensure strategic coordination, legal framework, IT Infrastructures and human resources. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

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