By Sylvester Thompson

Dr Olushola Odusanya, Director General of National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), says the centre is facilitating a process where Nigeria will start building fibreglass boats.

Odusanya disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a Global Science, Technology and Innovation Conference orgainsed by NACTEM on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference was, “Unlocking the Potential of Market Ready Technological Solutions for Blue Economy in Nigeria.”

He said that wooden boats were nice but the world had migrated to the use of fiberglass boats.

“It is not a technological problem but a problem of us coming together.

“That is the reason why we have put people in this room; to discuss how we can start using fibreglass boats.’’

The NACETEM director-general said the conference was also to discuss how the knowledge of welding and foundry among others could help achieve the goal.

According to him, on the long run, the endeavor will metamorphose into carriage for trains and other vessels.

“Let’s get this one right first related to blue economy.

“It is crystal clear in my mind that this is one area that we can actually build wealth, and we have highly trainable people.”

He explained that the conference was about “setting up the nuts and bolts of blue economy.”

The director-general pointed out that though the national policy on the development of blue economy and the pathway to follow was clear, operators of the blue economy still needed to come together for corporate knowledge.

He said the conference also afforded the opportunity for participants to learn from what other countries were doing, which would provide a clear vision for Nigeria’s blue economy

NAN reports that blue economy is an economic system or sector that seeks to conserve marine and freshwater environments, while using them in a sustainable way to develop economic growth.

Odusanya hinted that the relationship between agriculture and environmental husbandry would also be brought forward.

“The relationship between the customs and the Nigerian navy in ensuring that this economy becomes localised will also be discussed,” he said.

He argued that starting the blue economy by opening it up as a new way of generating income, required new set of skills and a system of training.

Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Secretary General, cademic Staff Union of Research Institutions(ASURI), told NAN that Nigeria was one of the most naturally endowed nations in the world.

He said one of the endowments was blue economy and the capacity to harness it.

“Anytime you are flying, just look through the window, you will wonder whether this country was specially designed with waterways.

“You can see rivers crisscrossing the whole length and breadth of Nigeria,” Ndubuaku said.

He said Nigeria had big rivers and coastal region and didn’t depend on rain-fed agriculture, and the waters could be used to produce enough fish to feed the world.

Ndubuaku said it could be used as a means of transportation, adding that Nigeria had no business importing fish.

He urged the government to allocate funds to research in order to drive the blue economy and other researches which would fast-track national progress.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Funmilola Gboteku

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has tasked Nigerian scientists, engineers and technicians on developing useful local technologies to stem challenges ravaging Nigeria.

The Director-General of FIIRO, Dr Jummai Tutuwa, said this during a courtesy by executives of the Nigerian Association of Technologist in Engineering (NATE) to her office in Oshodi, Lagos, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the courtesy visit was to appreciate FIIRO for its continuous partnership with NATE on several projects.

Tutuwa said that it was imperative to adopt local technology for the growth of the industry in Nigeria.

She added that this involved critical thinking, problem solving, creative and collaborative skills of associations like NATE.

According to her, critical analysis over the years has shown that a nation that depends on importation for every need is bound to be in slavery economically.

Tutuwa said this was why the present government was more focused on local content than importation and keen on ensuring food security through local technologies.

She noted that this would help develop, grow, and sustain the economy of Nigeria.

“Nigeria cannot achieve much if it relies on other countries for its needs.

“I, therefore, challenge Nigerian scientists, engineers, technicians to rise to the call by developing appropriate and useful local technologies to stem challenges ravaging Nigeria and other African countries.

“I also enjoin NATE to continue its good work, because of its importance to national development,” she said.

Speaking on FIIRO’s partnership with NATE, Tutuwa said it was in line with the framework on local content policy of the Federal Government.

In his remarks, Mr Kayode Ibidapo, Chairman, NATE, Lagos branch, commended FIIRO for its unwavering support to the association, at the national and state level.

Ibidapo said that the association had been getting support from FIIRO as far back as 2010.

He noted that since the core mandate of FIIRO had to do with utilising local materials to produce machines, NATE had collaborated with the institute to make several indigenous innovations.

“We have collaborated with FIIRO to make rice destoning machines, incubators, castor oil dehusking machines, coconut deshelling machines, and of recent, we made a tigernut processing machine.

“The latest innovation by NATE is the butter making machine. At the moment we are also working on President Tinubu’s project, which is the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), in collaboration with FIIRO,” Ibidapo said.

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Sylvester Thompson

Dr Olushola Odusanya, Director-General of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), says Nigeria needs data- driven decision-making to drive sustainable economic growth.

Odusanya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that this was particularly relevant when it related to Science, Technology and Innovation, job creation, technology infusion, and employment generation, among others.

He spoke with NAN in Abuja on Thursday on the side-line of a workshop on: “Measuring national development.’’

He said the workshop was part of efforts to ensure that Nigeria began to groom knowledgeable leaders who would take major decisions based on available data.

The director-general said NACETEM hosted the workshop in collaboration with the AU Development Agency’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s request that African nations should collect data on science and technology indicators.

He said Nigeria was at the forefront of the idea to marshal information that development planners could use to assist in national development.

Odusanya added that NACETEM would support government to introduce new knowledge into the economy that would drive development and offer new opportunities for Nigerians.

“This is about growing the economy; it is not an extractive ideology, but one of growth and development based on information.

Also speaking with NAN, Mr Bishop Ohioma, Assistant Director at the National Bureau of Statistics said Nigeria would not achieve much in the global community without data.

“Data is at the core of national planning and development. We are collaborating with NACETEM because as custodian of data, we cannot drive development alone,’’ Ohioma said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Ige Adekunle

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, says the Federal Government is committed to tackling the menace of building collapse in the country.

Nnaji stated this during the 45th Anniversary of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) on Thursday in Ota, Ogun.

The minister commended NBRRI for making the country proud by providing solutions to the menace of building collapse, bridge and road failures, housing deficit, engineering materials, among others, since its establishment in 1978.

Nnaji assured the NBRRI that the federal government would continue to support the Institute through more funding as it was one of the agencies showing commitment toward actualising the objectives of President Bola Tinubu.

“The institute has consistently organised highly educative and informative fora, which have become rallying points for stakeholders in the road and built-environment construction sector, especially the academia, research and professional bodies,” he said.

Nnaji noted that all research institutes were problem solvers, but NBRRI was not just a problem solver but goal getter, solution provider, economic builder, life saver and the country’s image maker.

The minister described the NBRRI as, “a successful agency and pride of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.”

He also applauded the agency for its remarkable and great achievements for the past 45 years of its existence.

In his welcome address, Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General of NBRRI, said the occasion served as a testament to the institute’s unwavering commitment to pioneering groundbreaking innovations in the field of building and road infrastructure.

“This, no doubt, would bolster and energise our resolve to revolutiionise the building and roads infrastructure sub-sector of our national development,” he said.

Duna said the institute had not only shaped the past of the nation in the past 45 years of its existence but was poised to lead the way into a future where NBRRI continued to be a beacon of innovation and driving force in the advancement of the building and road construction landscape.

The DG commended the minister for increasing the budget of the agency, which was far better that what it was before.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister also commissioned four projects of the NBRRI.

The projects included: ICT multi-purpose building, well-equipped for Unified Tertiary Matriculation; the prototype NBRRI Bamboo Reinforcement Storey Building, NBRRI Workshop Bay and NBRRI Technical Village. (NAN)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched the Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (NDP-SRAP 2023-2027) in Abuja.

The action plan is expected to create about 500,000 jobs and generate more than N125 billion in revenues.

The launch of the five-pillar NDP-SRAP held concurrently on Wednesday with a capacity-building workshop on Data Privacy and Protection for Data Protection Officers.

The five pillars are governance, ecosystem and technology, human capital development, cooperation and collaboration as well as funding and sustainability.

NDPC’s National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said at the launch that the NDP-SRAP and the training were important to enable the commission to achieve its mandate of having a robust data protection sector.

He recalled that part of the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration was to create about two million jobs in the digital economy sector.

The data protection sector alone could create more than 500,000 jobs, he said.

“The NDP-SRAP comprises interlinked initiatives and activities like job, wealth creation, human capital development, revenue generation, foundational initiatives for the digital economy and enhancing Nigeria’s global reputation.

“These activities are expected to create about 500,000 jobs, generate revenue of more than N125 billion and expand the sector within the lifespan of this roadmap.

“The roadmap will contribute to the growth of the country’s international businesses and its global competitiveness in human capital.

“In security, it is one area that will check malicious use of identity; unauthorised access to people’s data and information used for various things; build trust and improve the global perception of Nigerians,” Olatunji said.

He added that jobs in the data protection sector were not limited to any profession because the NDP-SRAP has more than 69 activities embedded in the five pillars.

According to him, public institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, and the media have roles to play to ensure an effective action plan.

He said the commission was considering endorsing a Data Protection and Certification body where certified professionals worked as obtainable in global practice.

Olatunji lamented that certified professionals in Nigeria had foreign certifications, which were expensive to obtain through examinations and the annual renewal of the certifications.

“We have the competence to have our own home-grown solutions and certifications that compare favourably with those around the globe,” he said.

Olatunji explained that the roadmap took one year to prepare and was recognised in the “Renewed Hope’’ agenda mandates and the blueprints of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

In his submission, Mr Ivan Anya, Chairman Board of Trustees, Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations (LDPCOs), said a lot of engagements were on-going to ensure the implementation of the roadmap.

Anya said there were currently about 150 LDPCOs and more were expected to register to create opportunities for the development of the country’s data protection ecosystem.

According to him, increased activities are expected since the NDP-SRAP is a working document.

In his remarks, Dr Ayodeji Oyewole, President, Institute of Information Management, (IM-Africa), commended the initiatives of the NDPC to improve Nigeria’s data and information management landscape.

He noted that the commission was identifying opportunities that would help to strengthen the economy and provide platforms for professionals to develop their careers and help others to find career paths.

He added that from the content of the roadmap, it would have a futuristic impact on the country and ensure sustainability.

One hundred-and-fifty data protection officers participated at the workshop. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Angela Atabo

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and the French Institute for Research in Nigeria (IFRA-Nigeria), have entered a partnership to preserve the intellectual legacies of prominent Nigerian pro-democracy activists.

Dr Sa’eed Hussaini, Research Fellow at CDD, said this at a conference with the theme “Archiving the Legacy of Nigerian Pro-Democracy Activism’’, organised by CDD on Monday in Abuja.

Hussaini said that archiving and digitising the intellectual legacies of pro-democracy activism was imperative in order not to lose the materials.

“There are two major ways in which this project will help Nigeria in terms of improving our democracy. One is in terms of citizens learning the history of how democracy was achieved.

“This will help us gain a better appreciation for democracy; remembering the struggles that it took will give us a new value for our democracy,’’ he said.

The official said they also plan to open some websites, so that citizens would be able to look at activities of pro-democracy activists, look at the intellectual production, listen to their interviews to learn about what inspired them to do what they did and achieved.

Hussaini said that CDD had also partnered with the Socialist Library and Archives Nigeria, an institution that had collected a lot of materials, books, letters, minutes of meetings and organisational materials.

He said the collated materials pertained to the struggle for democracy and the socialist movement more generally in Nigeria.

He said that one major benefit of the project was the fact that it would not only serve Nigerians currently alive but future generations.

Dr Barbara Morovich, the Director of the French Institute for Research in Africa, based in the University of Ibadan, said that the archiving initiative was a crucial element toward the Nigerian democratic state.

Morovich said that IFRA intended to use the project to show the complexity of the histories of the pro-democracy and freedom fighters for the younger generation to understand.

“The suggestions for CDD, SOLA, IFRA and all our partners are that we have to make it accessible for citizens to read and also its dissemination to the younger generation.

“Democracy is a matter of citizenship, unfortunately, in many countries, their democracy is just by name because in reality, people are kept in ignorance and people are not heard.

“So, for me, this initiative is to bring the history of democracy to the people and to let them express themselves about democracy,’’ she said.

Also speaking, Mr Joseph Ayodokun, the General Project Manager, IFRA-Nigeria, said that the project was being funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Institute for French Research in Africa based in Ibadan.

“The project to archive the legacies of Nigerian pro-democracy activism is aimed at conserving the history to be in the hands of many.

“The concept of the project is to empower more people with the knowledge they need,’’ he said.

He said the project included digitisation and archiving the histories of Nigerian to rewrite another history and the digitization of records of ethnographic studies that has been done since 1901and recently.

He said others included the digitisation of religious architecture like mosques, churches, and shrines that are as old as 60 to 100 years old to create an image of it.

He added that there was also the digitisation of urban archaeology projects of the people of Ife aimed at preserving the remains of the mediaeval era dating to 10 to 11 centuries ago.

Ayodokun said that the fifth was a project aimed at digitising the intangible heritage of the Benin people which included their rituals, folklore stories, songs among others. (NAN)

By Sylvester Thompson

The African Union Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation under the aegis of African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) is promoting the inclusion of genome editing into the curriculum of Nigerian universities.

AUDA-NEPAD, in collaboration with the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), made submissions at a two-day workshop on Genome Editing in Abuja.

Genome is all the genetic information of an organism; genome editing is a method for making specific changes to the DNA of a cell or organism; it can be used to add, remove or alter DNA in the genome.

The workshop was organised to strengthen institutional capacity in genome editing and biotechnology through strategic alliances with Nigerian universities and agricultural research institutions.

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the NADBA, said the workshop marked a pivotal moment in the collective efforts to propel Nigeria’s agricultural sector towards sustainable growth and innovation.

He said genome editing and biotechnology were at the forefront 0f scientific advancements, offering unprecedented opportunities to revolutionalise agriculture.

Mustapha said bringing together the brightest minds from the academia, research institutions and key stakeholders was a pointer that was being positioned to harness the full potential of the technology in the agricultural sector.

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Supervisor at the Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), explained that genome editing was one of the projects under the Centre.

Akinbo said that despite its huge benefits in the agriculture sector, students knew little or nothing about the technology of genome editing.

He said having genome editing as a course of study would greatly impact students to have a first-hand scientific knowledge as a course, which would equip them practically to become gainfully employed in that area of discipline.

The Supervisor said that when students are taught the genome editing as a course in schools, they would be fully equipped and fortified with a certificate to back up their learning and training.

He said rather than learning on the job, it was important for students to be trained in order to stimulate their interest to understand that the course was relevant for a smart evolving environment.

Akinbo argued that such learning and training would help them acquire the skills before venturing into the job market, that would automatically be ready for them.

He said sustaining an important, emerging technology such as genome editing, required an enhanced knowledge base.

According to him, many students are not aware of such technology because it is not in the curriculum of Nigerian universities.

“So, we brought these Vice Chancellors, these deans and heads of departments in agriculture, to discuss on the need to bring the science of genome editing into classrooms.

“This means that they would have a curriculum that specifies the use of the technology, and it is being offered as one of their courses, which is a conventional way of teaching.

“It is important for them to hear from us; so that the process can begin, that would enable students to become proficient in the science, with certificates to back up their knowledge.’’

He said though universities were under the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), being autonomous, the Vice Chancellors and others, formed the core group with the power to change the curriculum, and make recommendations to the NUC.

Akinbo said the meeting was also to strengthen collaborations between research institutions and universities, which would enable researchers working in research institutions, to upgrade their qualifications and rise.

“That is the overarching goal–to improve on collaboration within the country; to strengthen capacity within universities and research institutions.

“Also, to align the curriculum for them to have a programme that teaches genome editing as a course in their universities and get the approval process.

“`You can see among the participants is NUC; so that it will be part of accreditation at the universities,’’ he said.

Dr Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, acting Director, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Department of the NABDA, and the focal person for the AUDA-NEPAD Genome Editing initiative in Nigeria, told NAN that the technology was innovative and apt.

“The technology is so precise that it can actually speed up the rate at which products can come out from research and teaching.

“The reason why we are bringing this together is because we know that with the system we operate; the knowledge comes from the universities and the applications are done at the research level.

“But as it is now, the research seems to be running faster than the education because some of these things are new, but in other climes, the technology is already being practiced and bringing out products.

“So, we really need to catch up quickly and ensure that Nigeria does not miss out of this technology,’’ Solebo said.

She added that the meeting was also to foster collaboration between universities and research institutions, as genome editing was connected to biotechnology.

Prof. Lawal Bilbis, Vice Chancellor, Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, and Prof. Julian Osuji, Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research, among other scholars,also spoke at the event.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Lawmakers on Friday said that if Nigeria’s data protection sector is rightfully harnessed, it will foster national security and enhance economic growth.

They said this at a one-day capacity building workshop on Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, for members of the ICT and Cyber Security committees of the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives in Abuja.

Organised by the NDPC, the lawmakers observed that data privacy and security is crucial for stimulating trust in digital services and e-commerce, guarantee economic competitiveness and boost foreign direct investment.

Sen. Shuaibu Salisu, the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT & Cyber Security, emphasised that data is a critical national resource.

“The more technology we use, the more data you gather and data is also important as a national critical resource.

“You cannot talk about national security without talking about cyber security; cyber security is premised on data privacy and data protection.

“This is a sector that affects the lives of Nigerians and even our national security,” he said.

He pledged the support of the National Assembly in the area of legislation, awareness and partnership.

According to the chairman, it is important to remind members of the provisions of the law and the need to ensure that we provide oversight functions starting with government agencies.

He said that government agencies take the most data from citizens and citizens must trust government of their data security, protection and confidentiality.

He, however, called on the commission to engage in more awareness through media engagement and enlightenment programmes.

He also called for the establishment of Data Privacy Club in schools to create awareness among young Nigerians.

Rep. Stanley Adedeji, the Chairman, House  Committee on ICT & Cyber Security, stressed the importance of treating data as a valuable asset in Nigeria.

Adedeji said “there is a need to normalise the culture of transparency among citizens so that everyone is fully aware of how their data is being processed”.

He cautioned financial institutions and data processing institutions on the need for compliance with the law, while emphasising legislative authorities to hold them accountable.

He advised NDPC to expose non-compliant agencies and urged all Data Controllers and committee members to collaborate with NDPC for the country’s benefit.

Earlier, Dr Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of NDPC, urged the public sector to reinforce data privacy and protection practices in the country.

“We are expecting the level of compliance by MDAs to increase from now.

“We are also creating awareness to ensure that all MDAs comply with the provisions of the law,” he said.

According to Olatunji, by January 2024, we will release the data compliance statistics for the year 2023.

The NDPC boss noted that global bodies and international investors now consider data protection legislation and level of data compliance as standard requirements for investments.

According to him, the commission is committed to promoting a culture of data privacy and data protection as well ensure that private and public organisations align with national laws and acts concerning data protection.

On the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Olatunji said the new law is a significant shift to regaining global confidence both locally and internationally in Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.

He said it would also boost new efforts of the current administration to drive development and the economy with investments and new jobs.

According to Olatunji, they promote the advancement of technologies that protect personal data, following established international standards and to ensure that data protection obligations are met.

To this effect, he said the commission would be working to boost the implementation of a standardised framework allowing every part and section of the law to be broken down into specific activities for people to fully understand. (NAN) www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola