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IT: Group Urges Synergy Between Academia, Industry

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A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Young Innovators of Nigeria (YIN) has called for synergy between the academia and Information Technology (IT) industry to bridge the gap in IT skills ecosystem.
President of the group, Mr Andrew Abu, made the call at the presentation of its Connect to Change IT Skill Gap Research at the ongoing conference of Academia in Information Technology Profession (AITP) in Abuja, Wednesday.
The theme of the conference was: `Information Technology for Promotion of Quality Education, Research and Local Content Development.’
According to Abu, tertiary institutions form the basis for the development of skills in IT, but the fundamental knowledge required for the IT graduates to thrive in the industry is lacking.
“IT is an enabler to solve problems in all areas and the university is the basis to develop skills.
“There is need for the reform of IT education which has the potential to grow the country’s economy and create jobs for the young population,” he said.
He called for the teaching module in tertiary institutions needed to involve more practicals to meet up with skill needed in the industry.
He said that lack of sufficient practical in IT courses had resulted in the poor turnout of graduates in the area.
Abu stressed that poor graduates in IT had contributed to unemployment and underemployment of individuals who desire jobs in IT.
On his part, Prof Afolayan Olaniyi, President, Academia in Information Technology Profession (AITP) said that the poor quality of graduates in IT area of study had made them unemployable.
Olaniyi observed that poor funding had contributed to the quality of education in IT graduates.
However, the AITP chief said it was important that the academia and the industry utilise what is available in the country to develop local IT products.
According to him, the best way to solve challenges in the country is the application of IT.
He, however, said it was necessary for experts in the IT industry to mentor students in tertiary institutions for better skilled individuals.
The chairman of the conference, Prof. Ishaya Tanko, Director ICT, University of Jos, said that IT curriculum in tertiary institutions were obsolete.
Tanko added that the curriculum required upgrade to measure up to the demands of the industry and as well be in line with global curriculum.
He also said that the industry and the academia need synergy to function better, adding that no organisation could exist in isolation.
Mr Samson Osagie, Executive Director Marketing and Business Development Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd, said with the collaboration of partners like YIN the organisation could use locally made applications to consolidate national security.
Osagie added that the organisation was working assiduously to launch the country’s satellite to ensure the furtherance of IT development in the country.
Prof Isa Pantami, Director General National Information Technology development Agency (NITDA) said the agency was putting measures in place to intervene in IT skill gaps.
Represented by Dr Christopher Okeke, Director Cyber Security, the D-G said that they were encouraging local application development to reduce importation of apps that could be locally made.
He, however, said NITDA would only encourage importation of applications where it could not be locally produced.
According to him, encouraging local content will reduce capital flight of IT products and services.
Pantami said that gaps in IT skills were not to be blamed on either the academia or the industry, adding that Nigerians were skillful and the enabling environment would make the sector thrive.
Mr Anthony Oni, Principal Partner YIN, during the presentation of the research said that IT practitioners in the industry were consulted on the needs in the industry.
Oni stated that all the practitioners made reference to the fact that IT graduates could not marry the experience in school with the industry requirements.
The Tide soruce reports that 169 Nigerian IT companies with a workforce of 10 employees were used as a case study for the research.
Goodwill messages also came from Nigerian Communication Commission, Baze University, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and Nigeria Computer Society.

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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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