Nation
‘Less than 50% Nigerians, Computer Literate’
Less than 50 per cent of Nigerians are computer literate, Dr Emmanuel Okonta, Chairman of the Delta Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said in Asaba on Thursday.
Okonta told newsmen that the situation was due to the lack of sufficient awareness of the essence of Information Communication Technology (ICT) among Nigerians.
He said that the condition was worse in sub-urban and rural areas in the country, where little or nothing was known about ICT.
The chairman said that the situation was unlikely to improve unless efforts were made to enlighten the populace on the imperative of computer literacy.
He also said that there was the need to deploy more ICT materials in the country.
Okonta said, “ICT materials available in the country and, indeed Africa, are so insufficient that they are less than 50 per cent of the materials deployed in New York alone.’’
He pointed out that majority of Nigerians were unaware of the impact of ICT on the country’s economic and political development.
He described information as a resource and said that the major problem facing ICT development in the country was that there were lots of “analogue” information technology managers in a digital age.
Okonta regretted that the people, who should make ICT work in the country had been displaced by those “who know nothing about ICT’’.
He said that the conference would expose participants to the merits of e-payment being introduced by the Federal Government, noting that it would help to decongest offices and safe guard revenue.
On Internet fraud, Okonta said that greed was central to it, as majority of the victims were people who wanted to cut corners and were not contented with what they had. He, however, said that Internet fraud could be checked if the level of security in the country was enhanced and ICT professionals were alive to their responsibilities.
The NSC chairman advocated the establishment of a regulatory body for ICT service providers, adding that the body would monitor and control their operations.
The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi, has granted bail to 91 inmates.
He also completely discharged four others during the first-quarter jail delivery exercise for 2025 at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Katsina.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Justice Danladi explained that the Sub-Committee on Decongestion of Correctional Centres carefully assessed the cases before recommending the inmates for release.
Factors considered included age, length of time spent in custody, and medical conditions.
He further announced that going forward, the personal details and photographs of released inmates would be officially recorded to ensure proper documentation and accountability.
Addressing the freed individuals, he urged them to stay on the right side of the law, emphasising that another chance at clemency might not be available if they reoffend.
The Katsina State Controller of Corrections, CC Umar Baba, praised the initiative, stating that such interventions ease congestion, improve prison conditions, and support rehabilitation efforts.
He also called on judges and magistrates to consider alternative sentencing options to prevent unnecessary detentions and allow correctional facilities to focus on reforming and reintegrating offenders into society.
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out murder charges against Ooni of Ife’s ex-wife, Queen Naomi Silekunola; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and principal of Islamic High School, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The Tide’s source recalls that the trio have been facing murder charges following the December 2024 children’s event stampede that led to the death of 35 children.
Justice B. K. Olawoyin delivering judgment yesterday, ruled that holding the defendants liable could discourage the public from engaging in humanitarian activities.
The court dismissed the four count charge, which included acceleration of death, conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm and failure to provide adequate medical facilities and security.
The Nigerian Military high command has stated that it is unaware of any community in the Northwest negotiating or entering peace agreements with bandits and terrorists for protection.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, dismissed reports suggesting such peace deals.
He questioned why any community would resort to negotiations, given the sustained military offensives against terrorist groups.
“The military is carrying out its operations in line with established protocols for internal security. If any community claims to be seeking peace with bandits, the military does not support that,” Kangye asserted.
He further emphasised that joint military operations, in collaboration with hybrid forces and other security agencies, have remained relentless in tackling terrorism and organised crime.
Throughout the past week, troops conducted a series of combat patrols, raids, ambushes, clearance operations, and search-and-rescue missions, resulting in significant successes.
According to Kangye, several terrorists were neutralised, their collaborators were captured, and kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.