technology
Nigeria ratifies membership of AfCFTA
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday ratified Nigeria’s membership of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, as the implementation of the agreement formally takes-off on January 1, 2021. This is as the Council has approved N62.7 billion for the construction of Kano-Dawakin-Tofa-Gwarzo-Dariyo road in Kano. Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the 23rd virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said whereas the implementation of the agreement was initially scheduled to commence in July, this year, the plan was stalled by the spread of COVID-19. Alhaji Mohammed, who briefed on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Inves...
INEC admits challenges in deployment of technology in 2019 elections
File Photo The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confessed that the deployment of technology in the electoral process especially during the 2019 general elections came with challenges. The Commission made the disclosure in the review of the 2019 general elections, a report of the Commission’s retreats and stakeholder engagement, presented during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. INEC also claimed in the review that the delay in investigation and transmission of case files to the Commission for further action by the police has hindered the successful prosecution of electoral offenders. Making recommendation on ICT, SCRs, DDCMs, CVR and Internet services, the Commission noted: “The growing use of technology in the planning of elections became a feature in our elections ...
Tech is the new ‘oil’ – NITDA chief
The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, has said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the new ‘oil’, because of its increasing contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). The DG who said this while delivering a remark at a virtual conference also said his agency is actively accelerating digital inclusion in Nigeria by taking advantage of the speed of existing infrastructure across the country. “Technology is the way forward in communications and other activities like meetings, prescriptions by doctors, conferences and other related activities which has aid the implementations of policies and strategies for the growth and development of our country. “It is the next oil, simply because of...
Polygraph lie detector will help curb crime in Nigeria – expert
Nigeria’s judicial panel, especially the ongoing process set up by the Federal and some states governments to look into the recent police brutality and Lekki shooting, will receive a major boost if the government would embrace the Polygraph Lie Detector Device System. A security expert, Paul Ibirogba, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Hogan Guards Security Limited, stated this in Lagos at the inauguration of the Hogan Polygraph and Investigations Limited. He said polygraph lie detector has become an entrenched tool in advanced countries to enhance criminal investigations procedures and for recruitment into armed forces. According to him, the device is also used to measure and record several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration and skin conductivity. ...
NCC contributes N2.272 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP – chief
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the contribution of the Telecommunication sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from 8.5 per cent in 2015 to 14.3 per cent as at September this year amounting to N2.272 trillion. Danbata disclosed this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunication led by its Chairman, Rep. Akeem Adeyemi visited the Commission on an oversight The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission also disclosed that Investments in the sector had risen from 38 billion dollars in 2015 to over 70 billion dollars now while the Commission had also paid over N344 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation within the period under review, an a...
This Scorpion Gaming Chair and Workstation Will Make You Feel Like a Supervillain
Cue Aphex Twin‘s “Window Licker” and perk up those robot ears, because Cluvens has revealed its Scorpion—and it’s straight out of the office of JP from Grandma’s Boy. The aptly named Scorpion (or, more formally, the IW-SK zero-gravity esports gaming chair and workstation) literally resembles the body of one of the poisonous little arachnids. Six legs support the 265lb chair, and the “claws” serve as arm rests and a keyboard support. To round out the design, an overhanging tail piece wraps over the user to act as a screen mount and completely enclose the user within its grasp. Cute! Boasting a sleek frame and teeming with LED lights, the Scorpion looks rather intimidating, but also extremely comfortable. With a reclining radius ...
Nigeria to begin business sample census October 12
File Photo The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, is to commence National Business Survey after 22 years. The statistician General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, announced this on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the Training of Trainers for the National Business Sample Census (NBSC) 2020 in Abuja. Kale said the information emanating from the census activity would be primarily useful in understanding the nature and structure of the economy, as well as providing a sound business frame for the conduct of economic surveys in the country. The Business Census also known as an Economic Census is a statistical exercise that involves the enumeration of formal and informal business establishments across the country. During this process, commercial and industrial business operations ...
Google, UNWTO partner to boost tourism in Nigeria, others
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Google on Wednesday hosted the first UNWTO & Google Tourism Acceleration Program which focused on insights from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. The programme was put together ahead of World Tourism Day, Google said in a statement. The organisations said they partnered to create and host an online Acceleration Program for UNWTO member states’ tourism ministers, top travel associations and tourism boards. The initiative is put together to further develop innovation and digital transformation skills across the Africa and beyond. The COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected tourism, a sector that accounts for millions of jobs around the globe, a statement by Google said Wednesday. “While no one can say with certainty when th...
Governor Fayemi: Traditional institution agent of grassroots development
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has promised to always accord the traditional institution with respect, describing it as agents of grassroots development, hence the desire of his administration to always fill vacant stools promptly Fayemi’s said this on Tuesday, at the presentation of the staff of office and instrument of appointment to the new Olorin of Orin Ekiti, Oba Olufemi Adeniran Ajibewa. The ceremony was held at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti in line with COVID-19 protocols. Fayemi urged Oba Ajibewa to see his new position as a call to duty to serve his people and move the town forward. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, the Governor described the throne as a sensitive position that calls for considerable wisdom, diligenc...
NCC mulls new pricing regime for mobile international termination rate
Fix Africa News Magazine The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has embarked on a cost-based study to set the new pricing regime for mobile international termination rate (ITR) for inbound international voice calls in the country. The ITR is the rate paid to local operators by international operators to terminate calls in Nigeria. As part of the process for the rate determination, the Commission has organised a virtual stakeholder engagement forum with relevant industry stakeholders to intimate them with the ongoing cost-based study and the need to cooperate with Messrs Payday Advance and Support Services Limited, the consultants engaged to carry out the study. Addressing the stakeholders in Abuja recently, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the study has b...
Youths should be drivers of innovation, creativity for a better Nigeria – don
Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, the former Vice Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ogun, has charged Nigerian youths to harnessy their knowledge via the internet to be drivers of innovation and creativity for a better Nigeria. Adeyemi gave the charge at the Mentoring and Capacity Building Summit of Shining Star Initiative International (SSII), an NGO, in Ibadan on Sunday. According to him, the outbreak of COVID-19 is a game changer; it has changed everything and as such one should think of post COVID-19 activities and actions that will enable one to stay afloat. “The youths are the most vulnerable to the post COVID-19 events, including the educational system. “To position themselves for a successful career, the youths being exposed to technology should take the initiative to see to it that t...
NCC: Telcos to roll over subscriber’s unused data
Fix Africa News Magazine The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has instructed telecommunication companies to henceforth roll over subscriber’s unused data to subsequent data subscription. In a statement on Thursday by the NCC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Adinde, said the agency reached the conclusion during its bi-annual meeting with Senior Executives of telecommunication companies on complaints management. The meeting which held virtually focused on consumer relations and complaint management processes. Adinde disclosed that the NCC and the telecom service providers agreed that the compensation policy should be revisited and complied with always to ensure full compliance with the new Complaint Categories and Service Level Agreement (CC/SLA) consented to by the NCC and the service provide...
