Ict/Telecom
Umahi Charges Engineers, Investors On Harnessing Resources
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has challenged engineers and investors to harness abundant human and material resources to achieve the needed Industrial revolution in the country.
He gave the challenge at Adada House Nsukka, weekend, at the 18th Herbert Macaulay memorial lecture.
The lecture, entitled “Potentials prospects, and drawbacks of steel and petroleum industries development in Nigeria”, was organised by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
The Tide’s source reports that the venue of the event was moved outside UNN to Nsukka town because of the ongoing nationwide warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Eric Igwe, said the theme of the lecture was apt as steel and petroleum resources were very vital for the development of any nation’s economy.
“Development of infrastructure in any nation without these two resources remain an uphill task.
“Our nation is abundantly endowed with steel and petroleum but we have not developed capacity to harness them to serve our nation population,” he said.
Umahi urged engineers in universities to find out what prevented the country from full and proper exploiting of these key resources to national development.
“No country has ever developed by just selling raw materials without refining them to finished products.
“Refining of these products, more value is addressed, jobs created, bye-products developed to new products,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the faculty of engineering for the recognition and honour given to him to chair the 18th Herbert Macaulay memorial lecture.
Speaking on theme of the lecture, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said contributions of late Macaulay to engineering profession in the country, being the first engineer were numerous.
According to him, Macaulay who was the first licensed engineer in the country in 1893, contributed immensely through research, training as well as practicing of the profession.
”Macaulay trained and practiced as engineer, architect and surveyor in those days when there was little distinction between these disciplines.
“There is no doubt that this training equipped him for his pioneering role as nationalist in the fight for Nigeria political emancipation.
“Macaulay’s legacies should serve as an inspiration to all engineers in the country,” he said.
Sule, who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said that engineers in Nigerian universities should go into a serious research on how the country could drive maximum benefits from steel and petroleum resources.
“Engineers in tertiary institutions especially those in UNN as the foremost university in the country, should lead others to advise government properly on the best way to solve the problems in steel and petroleum industries.
“This is important as no government will reject professional
advice from the ivory tower,” he said.
The Governor noted that getting the problem of steel and petroleum industries solved would help boost the economy as well as reduce the number of unemployed youths in the country.
He expressed his gratitude to the faculty of engineering for finding him worthy to come and deliver the all-important Herbert Macaulay memorial lecture.
In his remark, Prof Emeka Obe, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UNN said that in 1978, the faculty Board of Engineering, recognizing the pivotal role played by the person recognized as the founder of Nigeria nationalism, Herbert Macaulay towards Nigeria independent resolved to establish a biennial lecture in his honour.
“The theme for this 18th lecture is important because steels and petroleum are drivers of modern economy, thus they are very strategic for Nigerian’s industrial development.,” he said.
The Dean, however appealed for help to enable the faculty to have a 1000 capacity lecture theater, new and separate building for seven departments, among others.
Earlier, Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice-chancellor of UNN, said that the university had always recognized the great contributions of Macaulay in engineering as well as Nigeria in general.
“Engineers, surveyors architects and other professionals should learn from the professional lifestyle of Macaulay and make every effort to leave good footprints on the sand of time,’ he said.
The VC, represented by UNN’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof Johnson Urama, expressed optimism that the 18th lecture would provide solutions to many challenges facing steel and petroleum industries in the country.
Ict/Telecom
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.
Ict/Telecom
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.
Ict/Telecom
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.
-
Featured3 days agoOil & Gas: Rivers Remains The Best Investment Destination – Fubara
-
Nation4 days ago
Hausa Community Lauds Council Boss Over Free Medical Outreach
-
Nation4 days agoOgoni Power Project: HYPREP Moves To Boost Capacity Of Personnel
-
Nation4 days ago
MOSIEND Calls For RSG, NDDC, Stakeholders’ Intervention In Obolo Nation
-
Nation4 days ago
Association Hails Rivers LG Chairmen, Urges Expansion Of Dev Projects
-
Nation4 days ago
Film Festival: Don, Others Urge Govt To Partner RIFF
-
News4 days agoNDLEA Arrests Two, Intercepts Illicit Drugs Packaged As Christmas Cookies
-
Rivers4 days ago
UNIPORT Moves To Tackle Insecurity … Inducts Security Experts
