By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has reiterated the FCT Administration’s commitment to nurturing and supporting talents for sustainable economic growth and development in the FCT.

Wike stated this at the opening of the 13th edition of Zuma Film Festival (ZUFF), in Abuja on Friday.

The festival, which would hold from Dec. 1 to Dec. 8, was organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation in partnership with the FCT Administration and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Adesola Olusade, said that the collaboration with the film corporation was significantly contributing to the local economy of the city.

He acknowledged the pivotal role of the film industry in shaping collective identity and promoting cultural exchange through the convergence of culture.

According to him, the benefit of the partnership extends far beyond the realm of entertainment.

Wike said, “Through this festival, our residents are being exposed to a plethora of artistic expression, cultural diversity and thought-provoking narratives that challenge perspective and enable dialogue.

“The collaboration is also facilitating the development of our local film industry, not only home-grown talent, but also providing a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their creativity.

“As a result, the FCT creative industry stands to gain, not only culturally, but also economically with increased employment opportunities and the potential growth in related industries.

“As we embark on this year’s festival, let us celebrate the power of cinema to transcend boundaries, celebrate diversities and ignite conversations that inspire positive change.”

He urged the relevant stakeholders to embrace the potential of the partnership to elevate Abuja city to cultural richness and creativity.

Wike added that the festival served as a platform, not only in showcasing Abuja talents but also fostering meaningful connection within the industry.

This, he said, could be done through networking with fellow film makers, producers, and enthusiasts, collaborating and exchanging ideas that could spark new and innovative projects.

“This festival holds a special place in the heart of the FCT. It embellishes not only the spirit of artistic expression, but also the economy and cultural significance that illuminate throughout the nation’s capital.

“The theme of this year’s festival, which is “Cultural Convergence” is appropriate in today’s interconnected world.

“It underscores the power of film to transcend boundaries, unified diverse cultures and foster a sense of shared understanding and appreciation,” the minister said.

Earlier, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musawa, said that the festival provided the needed platform to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity.

Represented by her Senior Assistant on Film and Music, Mr Baba Agba, the minister urged Nigerian film makers to use the opportunity to celebrate the country’s form of arts and exploit its potential.

The Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Juan Sell, said that his country had been part of ZUFF on several occasions and pledged to continue to support the Nigerian film industry.

Sell said that Spain would continue to stand with Nigeria’s strength in cultural diversity and creativity.

Dr Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Film Corporation, said that the festival would be sustained as an annual national event.

Maduekwe, who is the Chairman, Planning Committee, said that 13^th edition of ZUFF would showcase some of Nigeria’s greatest audio-visual, cultural products, projects, and exhibitions in the creative sector.

“The activities and events of ZUFF 2023 have been curated to offer the best of opportunities for film enthusiasts, policy makers, investment experts, film makers, exhibitors, and value chain operators.

“This will challenge our inner creative minds, innovative skills, excite, inspire and further propel our collective efforts in creating the economy out of the industry,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is repositioning its workforce in line with global trend through digitisation of governance and service delivery.

Dr Jummai Ahmadu, acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, FCTA, stated this in Abuja on Thursday during a one-day Innovation Expo and Workshop, organised by the FCTA.

Ahmadu said that the goal was to make service processes in the FCTA easier and leave no one behind in the technologically driven world.

“To this end, we sent out a call circular for management approval for staff to come up with innovative ideas on how we can carry out our functions effectively and efficiently in a very cost-effective manner.

“The entries are here this morning, and we are here to analyse what the staff have done.

“The evaluation team will take a few days to go through the entries and fish out those that are workable for the FCT Administration to adopt at a minimal cost but have efficient and effective outcomes.

“The Innovation Expo was, therefore, organised to evaluate the entries from the staff who are the drivers of innovations,” she said.

Mr Austin Okafor, Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), FCTA, said that the administration was building the ICT infrastructure from the ground up.

Okafor said that FCTA was currently building internet connectivity to connect all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) in collaboration with Galaxy Backbone with a base in Area II, Garki, Abuja.

“This is to make sure that every department is connected. That is the baseline technology we want to bring. After that, we will roll out the digitisation programme such that every SDA will be connected.

“Right now, we are moving with paper, files, and documents, but by the time we finish, we will move from that level to paperless.

“We are training our staff on basic ICT skills and so far, more than 3,000 staff have been training and it is going to be a continuous exercise.

The director said that the FCTA would go paperless by December 2025, and advised any staff that is not ICT compliant to either shape in or you shape out.

On his part, the acting Director, Human Resource Management, FCTA, Mr Akinkunmi Ogunniran, assured that the administration was working to ensure that those managing the federal capital were ICT ready.

Ogunniran added that FCTA was doing so much to ensure that all the platforms and resources that would be needed for the new culture of ICT were put in place.

“The city management, infrastructure, and development processes are all going to be automated and we are getting set for it and those who felt they have nothing to do with ICT will fall by the wayside,” he said.

Mr Chris Ojenmu, Assistant Director, Administration, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, who submitted an entry, described the initiative as “very apt” in solving a lot of problems in the FCT.

Ojenmu explained that his entry was on how the FCTA could deploy smart streetlight to address lots of challenges affecting the city,

“Take for instance, the one chance problem, darkness at night and the issue of stolen manhole cover, gully inlet cover and several other issues.

“When there is an accident, it takes a long time to evacuate the vehicle or to even know the location where the accident happened or a report to get to the person in charge to solve the problem.

“My innovation is to put a smart streetlight in our streets. Right now, we have street lights, but they only provide light at night; they don’t do anything more than light.

“But we can put a smart streetlight that will have a sensor, a camera, a loudspeaker, an alarm system, and a reporting system,” he said.

He said that if installed, the streetlight would report and sound an alarm when someone is stealing a manhole cover and help facilitate the arrest of the operator by providing visual data.

He added that the smart device would also monitor flood and redirect traffic and provide GPS position to direct emergency officials to an accident scene.

“The smart streetlight can solve virtually all the problems of the city and generate revenue for FCT because many businesses will cash in on the innovation,” he added.

Also, Mr Abor Abor, Head of Operational Safety and Health, said his entry was on innovative concept on how to move operational safety and health delivery in the FCT.

Abor explained that operational safety and health deals had the identification, prevention, and control of injury related diseases in the workplaces.

“Workplaces are springing up in the FCT daily, leading to high incidence of operational accidents, incidents, deaths, and disabilities.

“So, I came up with a concept which if well implemented, will go a long way in not only improving service delivery but also increase revenues for the government,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished a mini market allegedly being used in publishing forged vehicle papers and other documents.

The market, located in Mabushi, opposite the headquarters of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), FCTA, was demolished on Wednesday, by the Department of Development Control, FCTA.

The Director, Dr Abdulatef Bello, told journalists after the exercise, that the market had been infiltrated by fraudulent merchants who collaborated with dubious government officials to produce fake vehicle papers and number plates.

Bello said that several intelligent reports have exposed the illegal activities being perpetrated in the market.

Displaying some of the vehicle’s papers and number plates impounded by DRTS officials, Bello described the development as a “serious leakage” to FCT’s revenue.

He added that the illegal activities in the area were threatening the safety of motorists and residents in the area.

The director warned motorists against patronising roadside officials for vehicle registration.

“We have observed over a long period of time, this particular building harbours illegal activities like piracy and other criminal activities.

“We have been making efforts to bust their activities and today, fate has caught up with them and the buildings are brought down.

“The demolition team has been able to uncover so many of our documents that have been pirated by the criminals,” he said.

Bello said that some of the vehicles that were registered with fake documents would be very difficult for the DRTS officials to track.

“The camera will pick them, but because they are not registered, it will be difficult for us to track, and these are the kind of vehicles they use for criminal activities in territory,” he added.

Mr Alexander Owobi, who claimed to be the manager of the open space property where business centres operate in the market complained that the business owners were given enough time to evacuate their valuables.

Owobi, a legal practitioner, also said that he was not aware that criminal elements had invaded the place, noting that no security agency had shared such information with him. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi