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NITDA Champions Innovation at 2024 TETFund National Research Fair

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) made a strong case for innovation-driven economic growth at the recently concluded 2024 TETFund National Research Fair and Pitching Contest, held in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, aimed at commercialising research outcomes, underscored the transformative role of technology and innovation in fostering sustainable economic development.

Driving Innovation Through Collaboration
Representing NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director of Research and Development, Dr. Mohammed Kumo, highlighted the agency’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Dr. Kumo underscored NITDA’s focus on collaboration as a core strategy for advancing IT development, enhancing digital literacy, and fostering talent across Nigeria.

“NITDA’s vision aligns with the federal government’s goals of leveraging innovation to solve societal challenges while driving economic growth. This is why we are doubling efforts on research co-regulation and creating an enabling environment for innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive,” he stated.

Supporting Research Through SRAP 2.0
The event aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which emphasises digital literacy, skills development, and building a robust technology research ecosystem. Through SRAP 2.0, the agency is fostering partnerships to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that innovative ideas move from research labs to practical, commercial solutions.

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Middle Belt demands halt to relocation of Kaduna Polytechnic, Television campus 

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By Amos Tauna, Kaduna

The Middle Belt Forum, Kaduna state chapter, has called on the federal Ministry of education, Kaduna state government, and the presidency to reverse the planned decision of relocating  Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television campus.

The forum stated that it publicly declared it’s solidarity with the Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization and the host communities of Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television Campus in opposing its planned relocation.

Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kaduna State Middle Belt Chapter, in a statement on Saturday said that the relocation of the Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television campus threatens to undermine education, economic stability, and social equity in Chikun Local Government Area.

According to him, “The Television Campus sustains thousands of livelihoods through businesses such as food vendors, transporters, rental services, and SMEs. Relocation would cripple these enterprises, plunging families into poverty and destabilizing the local economy.

He noted that the campus has been a beacon of hope for low-income students, rural youth, women, and first-generation learners, stressing that moving it to a distant location would exclude vulnerable groups from affordable education, exacerbating inequality.

 

“As the only federal institution in Chikun LGA, the campus symbolizes inclusion and development. Its removal would further marginalize the Middle Belt region and violate the rights of host communities,” the forum explained.

The spokesman explained that the relocation disregards the campus’s foundational purpose, destabilizing the socio-economic and cultural fabric of neighborhoods like Unguwan Yelwa, Gbagyi-Villa, and Sabon Tasha.

Danbaki stated, “This relocation is not just an administrative decision, it is an assault on the aspirations of our people. The Television Campus is a lifeline for education and economic dignity. We stand with Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization and the affected communities to resist this injustice. Should the authorities fail to act, we will mobilize all lawful means, including litigation and peaceful mass action, to defend our collective future.”

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He urged Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to urgently do something to halt the relocation and engage stakeholders in transparent dialogue and also called on the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman to uphold the campus’s federal mandate and ensure equitable access to education.

The spokesman appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene to protect the interests of Chikun LGA’s marginalized communities.

 

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NBA Trains Sokoto Judges, Khadis Of Shariah Courts On ICT Compliance

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BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Sokoto State branch also known as Caliphate Bar, Saturday began Information Communication Technology (ICT) training for Judges of High Court Justice and Khadis of the Shariah Court of Appeal.

Addressing participating Judges and Khadis in her opening remarks, the Sokoto State NBA chairman, Barrister Rashidat Muhammad said the NBA will continue to partner Sokoto judiciary to ensure that it get peoples commendation and appreciation.

On why the knowledge and application of ICT has become very imperative in the 21st century, Barrister Rashidat said adoption of ICT in the dispensation of legal proceedings will safe cost, reduce insecurity, waste of time, and other precious resources.

“”Judges and Khadis in Sokoto State are computer literate, but there is the need to improve on what was known before. And the NBA under my leadership will give the necessary support to the judiciary to ensure that they sustain  their successes””, the NBA chairman reiterated.

Giving his support to the ICT compliance  stand for Judges and Khadis, a law Professor from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Ibrahim Abdullahi who is also the state chairman Continues Legal Education Committee, commended the foresight of NBA Sokoto chapter saying the training was very apt considering the security, social, political and economic problems facing the nation.

Professor Ibrahim also noted that the application of ICT in proceedings will further help to improve job performance, protect  data and share knowledge.

On his part, another Professor of Commercial Law and ICT, from  Ibrahim Shehu Bakori who is the sponsor of the  training said they have to move wit the pace of time to remain relevant in the ever changing world.

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Before declaring the ICT training for Judges and Khadis open, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Muhammad Saidu Sifawa represented by
Justice Abubakar Adamu said, the ICT training ought to be for all judges and Khadis not only the newly appointed ones.

“”ICT has become necessary for every Judges and Khadis to embrace as it help fasten legal proceedings. This was why in 2020 the State Chief Judge  ordered a state practice direction allowing judges and Khadis to conduct proceedings virtually  and no any other order has been given to the contrary hence it still stands.

“”We have now moved from the analogue era hence the need to either embrace the ICT or in no distance time you become obsolete, adding the only way to distinguish yourself from the 15th century judges to the 21st century one is to constantly upgrade yourselves”””.

PICTURE CAPTION: Cross section of Judges and Khadis in Sokoto at the one day ICT compliance training organized by the NBA, Sokoto State branch.

PHOTO BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

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160 communities face gully erosion threat in Anambra– Official

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The Managing Director of Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSEWCCA), Prof. Philip Phil-Eze, has said no fewer than 160 communities in the state were at the risk of gully erosion menace.

Phil-Eze said this at a one day sensitisation workshop on the use of “Local Knowledge to Combat Erosion” in Awka on Friday.

The workshop was organised by Environment Development Initiative for Africa (EDIA), a non-governmental organization on environmental sustainability in collaboration with ANSEWCCA

Phil-Ez who presented a paper titled “Expanding Interventions in the Control of Soil Erosion in Anambra State Through Local Action” said the state was one of the most degraded and erosion-ravaged landscapes in Africa.

He said soil erosion was as a result of a number of factors including natural and man made, and called for pragmatic local remedial measures and approaches towards preventing the menace by nipping it in the bud.

According to him, 160 communities out of the 179 communities in the state are facing erosion hazards.

“Natural causes of erosion menace include intensity of rainfall, flood/runoff, lithology (loose soil type), topography and scarce vegetation cover.

“Man-made causes include the culture of negligence, cutting down trees, indiscriminate waste disposal, lack of harvesting rainwater, sand mining, modern roofing styles and interlock tiles, inadequate knowledge of the environment, lack of involvement of the local communities in erosion control.

“Others are poor termination of drainage channels, wrongly terminated or diverted channels by contractors during construction, land use patterns in buildings and developments without plans to accommodate erosion and unhealthy farming practice,” he said.

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Phil-Eze warned residents to desist from unhealthy environmental practices which had the potential to exacerbate the menace.

The Director of Research and Publication for EDIA, Prof. Emma Ezenwaji, said the objective of the exercise was to encourage positive behavioral attitude towards environmental sustainability.

He said the capacity building workshop was timely and critical considering the fact that Anambra was a serious concern in terms of erosion, flooding and other environmental hazards.

According to him, this event is engaging, interactive and participatory to ensure effective transfer of needed knowledge and skills.

Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, commended the organisers of the programme which he described as ‘a timely intervention’.

Odimegwu who was represented by Mr Tochukwu Obodogha, the Permanent Secretary, said prevention was the best approach in erosion control.

According to him, the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo prioritises environmental sustainability, and the ministry would continue to encourage environmental best practices in the state. (NAN)

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