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JAMB CBT Exam Not Technical – Official

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An Assistant Director of
the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB),  Mrs Ebere Okeke,  has said that the  Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Computer-based Test (CBT) is not technical for candidates.
Okeke told The Tide  source  at the Yaba College of Technology centre in Lagos recently that the CBT process was as simple as using a telephone handset.  She described the CBT mode as the solution to examination malpractices for JAMB.
Okeke said the process had been simplified and devoid of  technicalities for the candidates.
“The CBT is just as simple as the way your handset is operated. It is all about read, press and click and that is all.
“No matter where you are coming from; even if you are coming from the moon or the remote village, you can write the examination,” she said.
Okeke said candidates and parents should not be bothered about the process which would improve ICT skill of  candidates.
“The board has the capacity to go full blown CBT by 2015 and with the support of the public, it will be a success.
“Our message is  that with CBT, all forms of examination malpractices, impersonation, and cheating are removed.
“Once you can operate your handset, receive and make call, then you can write the CBT examination.
“It is not a highly technical process that needs any technicality, it is about pressing and clicking just as you press your handset,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to embrace the process as it was in line with international standards. Another official of JAMB, Mr Adetunmobi Olalekan, advised Nigerians to embrace the CBT.
Olalekan gave the advice at another centre of the examination in Lagos.
He said that CBT was a better examination mode as it was good for checking examination malpractice and promoting excellence among students. Olalekan said that the mode was also flexible and would prevent problem of missing scripts.
He said that the CBT was also less expensive than the Paper Pencil Test (PPT), which he said, attracted  outrageous costs.
“The cost of conducting the CBT exam is cheaper than the PPT as it does not involve printing of questions and answer sheets and paying banks for the custody of the materials.
“There is no need to hire drivers and vans to distribute the materials from one state or centre to another.
“It also reduces manpower for supervision as JAMB usually pays the invigilators used in the centres.
“The CBT eliminates printing and transporting of material because the questions are already uploaded in the system and come up immediately the candidate logs in,” he said.
Olalekan said that the CBT could be easily be rescheduled for any candidate who genuinely missed the examination before the end of the period scheduled.
According to him, facilities at the centres designated for the conduct of the CBT have been improved, while more centres have emerged.
“This shows the board is prepared to conduct only CBT exam in 2015. It may only take more weeks than usual since it would accommodate more candidates, but it would be successful,” he said.
Olalekan urged the federal, state governments and schools to support JAMB in the realisation of its goal in 2015 by providing computers in more centres, while JAMB would provide the application soft ware.
“The minimum computer needed for a centre to conduct CBT is 50. If local and state governments could provide such, it would go a long way to helping the board,” he said.
Some candidates said that the CBT was a better  mode of conducting examination.
They commended JAMB for introducing the mode of examination describing it as very easy and not technical.
A candidate, Samuel Somoyede, said that the mode was about reading and clicking.
“It is not a difficult process as people assume; I like it and I think it is the best for our education system,” Somoyede said.
Another candidate, Joy Binitie, said the process was faster than other mode of examination.
“I was afraid when I sat in front of the computer because I do not have the experience.
“Now, that I have experienced it, is it easy and straight forward,  all I do is read the question, click my answer and go to the next page,” she said.
A candidate, Daniel Badru, also noted that the CBT examination was more friendly and flexible.
“If internet facilities are provided in the rural areas and people there can have access to computers, then it is recommendable that JAMB scraps the PPT and adopt only the CBT,” he said.
Investigation have revealed that the ongoing CBT of the UTME was hitch- free at the FCE(T), Akoka in Lagos, as there were no problems with biometric verification .
The centre relied solely on a standby generator to avoid power failure and computers functioned properly with backups.
Olalekan, the supervisor of the centre, had said that the centre accommodated 403 candidates for the examination.
While 203 candidates sat for the morning session, 200 candidates sat for the afternoon session.
The morning session started by 8.00 am and ended by 11.30am, while the afternoon session started by 12.30 pm and ended by 4.00pm.
Our source  also reports that the CBT examination for the UTME which began on May 17, would run till May 31.

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NCC Assures Safe, Accessible Digital Space

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians of accessible, resilient and safe digital space in the nation’s digital economy.
The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, NCC, Rimini Makama, gave the assurance at the NCC’s Digital Economy Sensitisation Forum, with the theme, “Leaving No One Behind: Digital Access, Equity and Empowerment” in Abuja.
Makama said that the commission remained committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s national telecommunications infrastructure remained resilient, accessible and secure.
“Digital empoScientists Advocate Shared Responsibility To Boost Food Securitywerment must be inclusive. Without inclusion and equity, the benefits of the digital economy will remain unevenly distributed.
“The commission, through its Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and other initiatives, is actively extending digital opportunities to the unserved, underserved, physically challenged and vulnerable groups through several impactful programmes,” he said.
The Publicity Expert for the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr Nihinlola Fefa, said that the association had been an advocate of cyber security awareness and sensitisation over the years.
“ATCON has been a very key stakeholder in the ICT and telecom industry. We have always advocated for cybersecurity awareness and sensitisation.
“We have been giving our own input over the years. We interface with all the telecom companies. We do a lot of studies, and we also give our contributions in so many ways,” she said.
She commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for deploying technology into rural communities.
According to her, though Nigeria is doing well in the area of cybersecurity, there is room for improvement.
“We are in a good position right now and we can do better from the government side,” she said.
Also speaking, the Head, IT and Cybersecurity, National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Olorunisomo Isola, said that the commission had rolled out the necessary framework.

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Expert Tasks Nigerians On AI

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An economist, Dr Chinedu Amadi, has urged Nigerians to leverage the opportunities inherent in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to become competitive in the global business and social spaces.
Amadi, who is also the President, Organisation of Youth in International Trade and Commerce (OY-ITC), gave the urge during an interview with newsmen , in Abuja, Monday.
Amadi noted that humanity has always advanced by expanding its intelligence and capabilities through technology across different eras pointing out that AI now drives economic systems, social interactions and competitive advantage among nations globally.
“The world is entering a phase where humans and intelligent machines will share cognitive functions, so Nigeria should innovate or risk being sidelined in the emerging global digital order.
“The next frontier extends beyond AI tools to a deeper relationship between human consciousness and machine intelligence. This phase has the dawn of shared human machine cognition shaping future innovation and development worldwide,” he said.
Amadi noted that countries like the U.S., Japan and China already integrated AI into national planning, logistics and defence operations.
He warned that a deeper wave of collaboration between humans and intelligent systems is rapidly emerging
urging Nigeria and other African nations not to remain passive observers in this technological transition.
“Nigeria must innovate urgently or risk missing another major industrial revolution. Future global leadership will favour nations that create, regulate and ethically manage advanced technologies,” he added.
He said that the youthful population is viewed as a potential cognitive economy capable of driving digital creativity.
He advised policymakers and institutions to develop indigenous technologies, reflecting national priorities and moral values.
The president, however, noted that energy and agricultural sector can gain efficiency through predictive AI and advanced computation, adding that governance can also benefit from digital systems that strengthen transparency and curb corruption.
While noting that neural interfaces and quantum processing would soon merge human thought with computationAmadi said that the evolution demands ethical guidance, empathy and deeper human conscience in education system.
According to him, nations worldwide are racing to regulate AI and Nigeria also needs to define its strategic position.
“The future beyond AI will favour societies that balance innovation with wisdom and uphold human dignity,” he said.

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NIGCOMSAT Expands Nigeria’s Digital Broadcast Subsector By 35%

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The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited says the country’s digital broadcast subsector  has expanded by 35 per cent to 75 per cent utilisation in two years.
This, it said, represented a milestone in the country’s digital transformation drive.
The Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT, Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, made the remark  at a retreat with the theme: ‘Aligning for the Future: Innovation, Collaboration, and Sustainable Growth”, in Abuja, Monday.
According to her the theme reflects NIGCOMSAT’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and positioning itself as a global satellite industry leader.
She said one of the notable achievements in its broadcast segment was the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project, describing it as not just a technical milestone but also a national service.
“This growth is a testament to the organization’s improved service delivery and stronger engagement with partners and clients.
“The DSO project, a collaborative effort with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), is a key milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“NIGCOMSAT’s contribution to the project is enabling digital broadcasting penetration across the federation, cementing the organisation’s position at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation,” she said.
Egerton-Idehen said the achievements were expected to drive revenue growth, with target of three billion naira in annual revenue and eight billion naira in revenue within three years adding that the organisation’s expansion of broadband services and private sector partnership was key to achieving the goals.
“We cannot move boldly into the future without addressing the weight of the past. Our debt profile — both financial and operational — is a reality we must confront with strategy, discipline, and creativity.
“These are our headwinds. We acknowledge them openly because honesty is the first step toward transformation.,” Egerton-Idehen said.
She said in spite of challenges such as economic barriers and competition, the organisation remained optimistic about the future.
“We must out-innovate the market, deepen partnerships, and build a culture of solution-focused, profit-driven, and people-centered excellence.”
“The key initiatives include transitioning to software-defined satellites, expanding broadband services, and the NIGCOMSAT Accelerator for the Space Ecosystem.
“The organisation is prioritising public-private partnerships, branding, and communication, as well as investing in its people,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer, Data Science Nigeria, Olubayo Adekanbi, said satellite-based economy could revolutionise key sectors such as agriculture, health, and education, creating new job opportunities and increasing productivity.
“By providing internet access to remote areas, satellite technology can bridge the digital divide and ensure no one is left behind.

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