By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Minister of Youths Development, Dr Jamila Ibrahim says artificial intelligence is pivotal to electoral development of youths.

Ibrahim said this at the unveiling of Naija Elections, a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, developed by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Abuja on Thursday.

According to her, the naija electoral AI tool herald a new era in which every Nigerians can participate meaningfully in our electoral process.

“In an era where technology and information are pivotal to ensuring our young people have the tools and knowledge to engage in the democratic process actively is essential.

“This platform will empower our youths by giving them easy access to accurate real time electoral information enabling them to make informed decisions and participate actively in electoral processes.

“This could not have come at a more appropriate time than when we are celebrating 25 years uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.

”As we inaugurate this platform today, I wish to emphasis the government’s determination to deploy technology that will enhance our democratic processes,” Ibrahim said.

Speaking also at the launch, Mr Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, KDI, said the tool would facilitate easy access to the Nigerian election ecosystem by youths.

“The tool is going to combat misinformation and disinformation, enhance voter education and electoral knowledge.

“Every information on Niaja elections is from the official sources that is, the Constitution and INEC.

“What we have done is that we give you information that you can rely on and you can actually use the platform without signing in you just log on to the address and it does not store an individual’s data.”

Speaking more on the features he said it had the three major Nigerian languages- Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

He was optimistic that it would have up to 150 languages before the next election in 2027.

In her remarks, Cynthia Rowe, Development Director, FCDO said ”for a country that is as large and diverse as Nigeria a well informed electorate is pivotal.”

According to her, an educated voter is better equipped to make informed political choices and engage in the democratic process in a way that is meaningful.

According to her, technology is bridging digital gaps in business, education , security that ensures much better efficiency.

“As we celebrate this launch it’s important that we look at the broader context, democracy around the world is all facing exceptional challenges of misinformation and disinformation, which encourages scepticism.

“And, it is important we know that our collective efforts in putting forward correct information using platforms like this, we are also strengthening democracy in Nigeria and contributing to global efforts on democratic values.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the App is developed by Nigerians and built to supply any kind of electoral information that concerns Nigeria and can be accessed by logging on to www.naijaelections.ng.

KDI is an independent non-profit and Non-governmental Organisation that inspires citizens-led-democratic development anchored on principles of participation, data -driven, advocacy, strong institutions, gender equality and public policies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called on Nigerians to trust the data collection and digital identification systems by the government.

The commission said that the call became necessary as the national identification systems served as foundational identification means to protect their information.

Its National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said this on Tuesday at a news conference to mark the one year implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NDPA bill was signed as an Act of parliament by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023.

Olatunji said this was a major achievement and requirement for the country to participate in the comity of nations in the area of digital identification.

He said that issue of privacy was still vague to a lot of citizens which was not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that people needed to repose confidence in the process of digital identification.

“On June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the bill as an act of Parliament and that was a testament that this ecosystem is beyond anybody. It is a global phenomenon that no forward looking country can afford to neglect.

“We are grateful that President Tinubu understands the power of technology which is at the bedrock of anything you do, digital technology is the foundational identity.

“An average transitional Nigerian needs the National Identification Number which is the foundational identity.

“It is that foundational identity that institutions that collect data reference when the need arises and which is why we need to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for it to work.

“If people don’t believe in digital identity, there is no way they will understand your message on data privacy,” he said.
He said the government was working on having a proper data interface for easy interoperability.

Olatunji said that the rights of Nigerians was important to the government, hence signing of the Act which had brought positive impacts.

“Signing the law gave us more credibility in the new administration and that is why we have attracted lots of attention within Nigeria and across the globe.

“The remarkable thing about the law is that we applied for the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) in 2022 as a bureau and our application was rejected because we did not have a National legislation on data protection.

“Having been accredited less than one year now, Nigeria is on the front page of the GPA’s news letter for this quarter which is a big deal for us.

“The law legitimised the NDPC and we have gained global recognition, and in terms of economic value, we have an ecosystem that is worth over N10 billion now. The law has positioned Nigeria for digital presence,” he said.

Speaking on the benefits of the law to Nigeria, he said the commission gained the opportunity to host Data Protection Officers (DPOs) across Africa on a conference in May 2025.

Olatunji said the conference would impact the economic value of the country in the areas of tourism and culture, perception of the country at the global level and foreign direct investment.

“In terms of job creation and training, we have done a lot to ensure we deepen data protection in Nigeria.

“Part of what we are doing in the ministry is to train 10,000 public servants on responsible data management which the portal is already open.

“We have also licensed a national certification body that has been designed in a way that there is something for everyone no matter your career.

“We are going to launch the free training of 1000 DPOs that will be certified trainers which the process is ongoing and the portal will soon be open and that is part of the job creation initiative of the President,” Olatunji said.

According to him, there are so many things coming to this ecosystem and this is one good thing coming out of Nigeria and we all should support the process.

Mr Solomon Odole, Project Coordinator for Nigerian Digital Identification for Development (ID4D), said the news conference was an opportunity to create more awareness on data privacy.

“There are a lot of people that hear about this but they don’t understand the content of the law and its provisions.

“This is an opportunity to pass the message that we are interested in their personal information as citizens of Nigeria,” he said.

Odole said that the ID4D project was ready to support the commission to discharge its mandate and ensure that citizens’ personal information were safeguarded. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has called on stakeholders to be proactive in preventing cybersecurity threats in the country.

Ribadu made this statement on Tuesday at the Cybersecurity Forum organised by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in Abuja.

The forum’s theme was “Intelligence Initiatives and Strategies for National Cyber Security Management.”

Ribadu, was represented by Maj.-Gen. Samad Akinsode, Director of Communications, Office of the National Security Officer (ONSA).

“Effective cybersecurity management hinges on robust intelligence. Advanced intelligence platforms enable us to gather, analyse, and share critical threat intelligence with relevant stakeholders.

“By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, these platforms can predict potential cyber attacks and provide actionable insights.

“Cybersecurity is a collective responsibility that requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. It is not one man’s business.”

He noted the need for continued sensitisation and awareness programs to educate citizens and businesses on cybersecurity hygiene, while also encouraging public-private sector collaboration.

Ribadu highlighted that the NCS emergency response team, known as the Engine Search, is the foundational component of the national cybersecurity coordination center and the focal point for managing national cyber incidents.

“The Engine Search facilitates real-time exchange of threat intelligence and best practices on cybersecurity incidents with various stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

“It operates the national cyber emergency monitoring system for effective detection, identification, and interception of cyber threats.

“It shares cyber threat intelligence with sectoral computer security incident response teams and relevant private sector players for comprehensive responses.”

The Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Alhaji Yusuf Bichi, stressed the importance of cybersecurity, noting that the world continues to face various cyber threats.

Represented by Mr Peter Afunanya, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communication of DSS, Bichi stated that while cybersecurity is intended for good purposes, it has been exploited by criminally minded individuals.

He called on the NCS to conduct research to find solutions to criminal activities, emphasising the need to address challenges in national security management, financial crime, fake news, and other manipulations.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DSP Usman Iman, noted that the prevalence of cybercrimes necessitates collaboration among countries, agencies, and organisations to deliberate on safety and security in cyberspace.

The Director-General of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, advocated for process improvement and automation.

“Automation is a double-edged sword, presenting opportunities for service excellence and process improvement. The only mitigation is capacity training and building for both end users and professionals.

“This forum is of utmost importance because of the human resources involved. Investing in cybersecurity tools without building the capacity of the people will be a wasted investment.”

Adedeji, represented by Mr Kola Okunola, Director of Intelligence Strategic Data Mining and Analysis Development at FIRS, added that the forum would provide stakeholders with the opportunity to brainstorm on strategies for insider control and the tools and techniques used in cyberspace.

The President of NCS, Mr Muhammad Aliyu, stated that the purpose of the forum is to discuss national issues related to cybersecurity.

He noted that the NCS, an umbrella organization for all ICT professionals, has thrived for decades in promoting ICT advancements.

According to Aliyu, the cybersecurity forum and other programs are key flagship initiatives of NCS. (NAN)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

A website hosting company, TFHost, has called for protection of data and cybersecurity to ensure safety online.

Head of Sales, TFhost, Mr Victor Matthias, made the call on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Matthias cautioned Nigerians that while using the internet, there was need to ensure cybersecurity, which attacks were inevitable but could be avoided.

He said there was need to engage the internet wisely, while having a personal internet experience and data protection.

Matthias said that social media platforms had great impact on digital marketing, created visibility for online businesses, but had its limitations.

According to him, most social media platforms accessible to Nigerians are internet spaces owned by other individuals who they cannot guarantee the safety of their data.

“Nigeria is an evolving country in terms of internet penetration, especially with hand-held devices, people are coming into social media and then to websites and blogs.

“If you want to do online business, engage in online activities to an extent, you need a blog or a website for people to take you seriously.

“You can’t do business and leave it on social media, social media is essentially not your space, it is somebody’s space, the person is just giving you access,’’ he said.

The TFHost official said that while hosting the website of its clients, the company kept evolving to meet global best practices on data protection.

He said the company was accredited by Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA).

“TFhost mandate is to register different types of domain names for individuals, Small Medium Enterprises, Corporations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, others.”

He added that its services included email hosting, shared hosting, cloud hosting, virtual private server hosting, dedicated hosting, wordpress and reseller hosting.

According to him, the reseller hosting will give opportunity to refer others for people to earn money.

Matthias said that TFhost was committed to reducing carbon footprint through sustainable data centres and renewable energy sources.

“We support digital literacy programmes and online education initiatives plus partnerships to ensure better ICT penetration for Nigeria and Africa in general.

Mr Joshua Itebu, Technical Head of the company, said that any individual found active online was susceptible to attacks.

“If you put out anything online, you need to have an open mind of being prone to attack, whereas emails and websites are also usually prone to attacks.

“For emails, people need to do a regular change of password, avoid using common passwords that can be easily guessed and change it within three to six months.

“For the website, always install XXL certificate on your website. This can keep your files and data encrypted and engage in constant maintenance of the website,’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Jessica Dogo

The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, says the agency will train 10,000 civil servants on data management.

Tijani made this known at the DevsinGovernment programme organised for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is tagged “Responsible Data Management in the Public Sector.”

NAN also reports that the ministry recently inaugurated a free online data management course for public servants.

Tijani said the course was to equip them with the fundamentals of ethical data management that bridged the theoretical aspects of the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2003.

“We launched a new data management course; the idea is not to enforce or ask people to do what they have no idea of.

“The free course will start with 10,000 civil servants to equip them on effective data management.

“We live in a time when digital technology means that we are constantly collecting data and information on people; if we are careless with the data collected, we are going to put our people at risk.

“We have to enlighten people and as we continue there will be improvement on how people handle data within the country,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), said data benefits the public through several key principles that sets the primary legal framework for its protection and privacy in Nigeria.

Olatunji was represented by Dr Tolulope Pius-Fadipe, Head, Research and Development of the NDPC. (NAN)

Edited by Chidi Opa and Abiemwense Moru

By Sylvester Thompson

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) says arrangements have been concluded for the inauguration of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering and Training Centre in Abuja.

The Executive Vice Chairman of  NASENI, Mr Khalil Halilu, disclosed this while addressing a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu is expected to perform the inauguration on Friday.

He said that NASENI was committed to supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on sustainable energy alternatives and a clean energy ecosystem.

Halilu said that NASENI-Portland CNG conversion and training centre was a partnership between NASENI and Portland Gas Limited.

“It is a state-of-the-art facility for the conversion of fossil fuel vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative.’’

According to him, the centre which is equipped with the latest technology and staffed by highly trained professionals will ensure efficient and safe conversions that will build local capacity in CNG technology.

Halilu assured that the facility would also offer comprehensive training programmes for technicians, engineers and other stakeholders, fostering domestication of expertise in CNG systems and promoting the adoption of green energy solutions across the nation.

The executive vice chairman said the establishment of the NASENI-Portland Gas Reverse Engineering Centre would mark a transformative moment for Nigeria’s energy sector.

He said that the CNG Centre underscored NASENI’s unwavering commitment to sustainable innovation and the development of home-grown technological and manufacturing capabilities.

“At NASENI, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and providing affordable, eco-friendly fuel alternatives to Nigerians.

“The initiative is expected to significantly reduce vehicular emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment,” he said

He said that the adoption of CNG would offer economic benefits by reducing fuel costs for consumers and creating new job opportunities in the Nigeria’s green energy sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso and Chijioke OKoronkwo

By Sylvester Thompson

The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) says it plans to train one million workforce on various skills relevant to the nation’s socio-economic development through its academy.

The Director-General of NACETEM, Dr Olushola Odusanya, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Odusanya said that the skills training and certification for middle and high level manpower would be held for five years.

NAN reports that NACETEM Academy was created within the first year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide an online training through collaborations with private sector firms.

The director-general said that the skills training and certification would be qualitative and relevant to the socio-economic development of the country.

“NACETEM Academy is a body created for training. It is a massive online training opportunity made possible through collaborations with private sector firms.

“It is a potential global training and certification programme as we expect people to join from all over the world,” he said.

Odusanya said that Nigeria with a thriving youthful population has a massive workforce.

“Our aim is to ensure that this massive workforce is connected with skills.”

The director-general said that since he came on board, he ensured that the beneficiaries have a global certification backed by skills training.

He said that there was a huge global demand for ICT knowledge as well as ICT jobs, but regrettably, Nigeria has a huge deficit of ICT skilled workforce.

“To bridge this deficit, NACETEM, in collaboration with Comits Nig Ltd., applied and became a Certiport training Centre. Certiport Authorised Testing Centre is a global Certification Institution.”

“We entered an MoU with Comits to carry out the training of one million people within five years.

“The training is not free. There are basic minimum qualifications required from trainees in more than 162 countries of the world.

“Three certificates are involved in digital literacy, communication skills of business communications collaborations and competitiveness and entrepreneurship for small business,” Ogunsanya said.

The NACETEM boss identified relevant ICT skills such as computing and software development, artificial intelligence, data-base management and analytics as some of the basic project management critical to Nigeria.

“There were also ICT certification for businesses and lawyers, software for accountants and skills such as entrepreneurship, digital marketing, associate microsoft office specialist and educator, among others.

“At the end of the day, the NACETEM academy turns out to be a finishing school for those who already had degrees but needed this global certification to move across the world,” he said.

He noted that MoUs were signed with the Federal University of Technology, Minna in the presence of Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.

“This is to ensure that all the certificates that we issue are from a recognised university.”(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidi Opara/Deji Abdulwahab

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) has urged stakeholders in the power sector to address the issue of unreliable power supply to enhance research and development in Nigeria.

Prof. Paul Onyenekwe, Director-General of SHESTCO, made this call on Thursday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Onyenekwe emphasised the critical need for consistent electricity to support research institutes and manufacturing industries, which rely heavily on stable power to operate their equipment effectively.

He pointed out that the current erratic power supply severely hampers the activities of these institutions, forcing them to depend on generators, which are unsuitable for sensitive equipment.

He also noted that solar power, while an alternative, is not viable for long-term research activities, especially during the rainy season.

“Power supply is the central point of all activities whether in research institutes or industries.
Without power, one will have to use generator but we cannot be using generator as there are some sensitive equipment that you are not supposed to switch off.
“The solar source of power as an alternative energy cannot be used effectively for research activities as it cannot go for longer hours especially during rainy season,” he said

Onyenekwe commended the Federal Government for appointing Chief Uche Nnaji as the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, acknowledging his efforts to drive growth in the sector.

He highlighted SHESTCO’s recent advancements in innovative technology, particularly in the areas of agro machinery and the production of a diagnostic machine for detecting malaria parasites.

Onyenekwe also called on the National Assembly to revisit the National Research and Innovation Fund Bill, arguing that its passage into law would significantly address funding challenges within the science, technology, and innovation sectors.

“The major problem in the Science, Technology and Innovation sector is the funding. The National Research and Innovation Fund which had been passed by the National Assembly severally was never assented to.
“The bill, when passed into law, would go a long way to address problems of the research institutes in the country.

“As TETFUND is presently addressing funding challenges in the universities, National Research and Innovation Fund will address funding and also take care of innovators,” Onyenekwe said.

He compared its potential impact to that of TETFUND for universities, emphasising that the fund would support research institutes and innovators across the country. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab