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Nigeria, Korea Inaugurate N1.5bn Technology Institute
The Nigeria-Korea Insti
tute of Vocational and Advanced Technology built at a cost of N1.5 billion ( $3,5 mln) has been inaugurated in Lokoja.
The Vocational Training Institute was funded by the Republic of Korea in partnership with the Kogi State Government.
The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Noh Kyu-Duk, speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday said that the institute was a reflection of the existing true collaboration and friendly relations between his country and Nigeria.
He said that the project was the outcome of a bilateral agreement between the Korea International Cooperation Agency ( KOICA) and the state government.
He said that its completion was made possible by sincere participation of the two partners.
Citing the experience of his country, Kyu-Duk said that vocational education remained the best option out of unemployment, poverty and social vices.
The Ambassador said that the establishment of the institute was sure to boost the economic growth of Nigeria.
“ When the youths are equipped with updated skills and technologies, their jobs shall be secured , income will be generated , poverty will be reduced to a great extent,” the ambassador said.
He urged the state government to make the best use of the facility to produce an excellent human resource for the socio- economic development of the country.
Kyu-Duk also disclosed that KOICA, apart from the contributing to the funding of the institute, had also provided five AIDS/HIV diagnostic equipments and five rice millers.
It had constructed 16 blocks of classrooms in the state in the past three years, while he said that the organization was willing to do more.
Also, the country Director of KOICA, Mr Jung Sang-Hoon, said that the institute had been fully enabled to provide students with quality technical and vocational training.
He said this would be in automobile engineering, welding and fabrication, electric technology and information technology.
He said that the institute had been equipped with modern technology and high quality equipment and curriculum to facilitate the learning process of students.
Sang-Hoon said that KOICA would continue to make steady endeavours to enhance the project sustainability; so that it could effectively serve the people of the state and Nigeria.
“ Through this project, I wish to see dreams of the youths come true, the value of technical and vocational education with skills more acknowledged , jobs and incomes more generated , poverty more reduced , quality of life and sense of happiness more enhanced,’’ he said.
Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi described the completion of the projects as a demonstration of a partnership that works; saying that the state government contributed N410 million ( $2.6 mln ) to the project.
He said that the project was conceived to arrest youth unemployment and restiveness and create wealth among the people of the state.
Wada promised that the institute would produce quality technicians for the manpower needs of the country.
He commended KOICA for training of some staffers of the institute in the Republic of Korea.
He charged the management and workers of the institute to ensure its proper management and utilization of the facilities there.
Wada said that the state government would not fold its arms to allow incompetence , corruption and mundane issues cripple its operation
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NCC Assures Safe, Accessible Digital Space
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
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%
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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