Connect with us
Advertisment

Business

Fg, Microsoft to train 5 Million Nigerian Youths on ICT

Published

on

Fg, Microsoft to train 5 Million Nigerian Youths on ICT,

By Ifeoma Ikem

 

Advertisment

The Federal Government, Lagos State Government and a leading digital company, Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train five million Nigerian youths on ICT.

The country Manager of Microsoft in Nigeria, and Ghana, Mrs. Ola Williams disclosed this at a dinner hosted by Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos 4.0 with a Theme: “Talent Acceleration and a Smarter Lagos” on Wednesday in Lagos.

Advertisment

At the event, stakeholders were honoured for their contributions to technology and ecosystem and others rewarded with cash gift.

She said that Microsoft as a company, signed the MoU to train and empower youths with digital skills that will help them to participate in digital economy.

“Due to the number of population of Lagos State, the bulk of the youths to be trained would be coming from Lagos, and other parts of the Nigerian.

Advertisement

“No part of the country would be left out of the training because we have trainers in every part of the country”.

She said that apart from the training, Microsoft is also in partnership with the federal government to provide airbag technology, and provide people with Internet connectivity ,so that those who live in the rural areas would have access to Internet and would be able to participate in the training.

“We are working with federal government to ensure that every youth takes part in the training. We are going to the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

“Our MoU with (AOT), is basically to work with the Lagos State Government to digitalize the state and provide access to different technologies, artificial intelligence and empower Lagos State government employees with the right to modernize their working environment.

“It’s also to secure all their digital technology in the state, in line with the state Government’s aspiration to make it a digital state”.

In his welcome address, The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Science and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake ,said the meeting was all about AOT 4.0, one of the ecosystem bridge between policy makers and the ecosystem talents.

“In 2019 when our administration came into being, we knew it was important to lay focus on science and technology, hence my office was created and named Innovation and Technology, since then,we have been trying to build bridges with ecosystems and cooperate with so many dimension solutions across all sectors.

“From AOT 4.0, we have Lagos State Science and Technology Masterplan that had seven pillars which includes; Infrastructures, Talents, Funding, Advocacy and Communication, Policy, Data Access and many more ideas.

‘And over the past two days, we have been debating on specific pillar called Talents which is the bedrocks on other pillars, because without talents the ecosystem will not produce values.

“My focus is on what areas to explore on the ecosystem talents and how to reverse the ‘Japa’ syndrome and sadly three out of five ICT experts in Nigeria are either planning to leave or had left already.

“We want to reverse the trend of ‘Japa’ and how do we regain our ecosystem to encourage talents from leaving that was why we are giving Awards to those who leverage on the Talents we have in Lagos and those entities creating values in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.”

“One of the winners in the competition by Eko Innovation Centre, Jane Ekeh, said she was happy with what the Lagos State Government and the founder of the organization were doing to assist students with the startups programme and also bringing talented youths out of joblessness ,” Lagos and Eko Innovation Centre,are doing great job.

“With the MoU signed today by the state and Microsoft, many youths are going to be out of street .

”Lagos is a pacesetter and I know that other states will soon key into the programme. I will like the FG and other states to emulate the Lagos State Government and begin to take people out of ignorance, poverty and begin to embrace digital trainings.

“I want to advise the youths to keep trying and put in for competition, they may not know what will come out of it. Today, my team is happy with the Award given to us .

“I want to sincerely thank Eko Innovation Centre for bringing us out to limelight”.

Another winner, Adedeni, whose team went home with N5 million reward, also praised the Lagos State Government and Eko Innovation Centre for their contributions to the society.

“Our Company is interested in training teachers. We want to change the narrative. We want to discourage students from cramming, but encourage them to be more critical and technical in handling issues.

“We organize programmes for students after school and during holidays. It will take time to get it right in Nigeria,but we have to start from somewhere.

“We use different concepts, including music to train our students. We discovered that the best solution to impact knowledge on the students, is to train 500 teachers who in turn will also transfer knowledge to other teachers and students.

“We are going from school to school. This will go a long way to train thousands of people.

” If you are observant, you will understand that employers are complaining about graduates who come for employment. They have certificate, but no skills. You can’t blame the students,but their teachers who believe much of teaching students who will download everything the teachers gave them as notes. The teachers prefer the students to write exactly what they gave to them as notes.

“We want to discourage it, by teaching students and teachers about doing things practically and stop cramming things. You will be more productive if you don’t just cram, but do it practically”

Advertisment

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Business

Dangote Group is the elixir of Gateway int’l Trade Fair – OGUNCCIMA

Published

on

Dangote: NANS Write President Tinubu Over mismanagement Of CTIN Funds (Video)

Dangote Group is the elixir of Gateway int’l Trade Fair – OGUNCCIMA

…Subsidiaries hit Ogun trade fair

 

Advertisment

 

Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) has described the Dangote Group as the driving force of the Gateway International Trade Fair.

Advertisment

This is just as companies under the leading African Indigenous Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited, hit the trade fair with their various products as part of strategies to increase market share and deepen customers’ affection.

 

 

Advertisement

The President of the chamber, Engr. Mike Akingbade, stated this when Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun officially opened the 13th edition of the Trade Fair at the M.K.O Abiola Trade Fair Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta

Akingbade lauded the support of Dangote Group in sustaining the Trade Fair, which he noted has led to the prosperity of the state and economic freedom for the people.

“A special commendation must be given to Dangote Industries Limited which has remained the major sponsor of the Gateway International Trade Fair for many years. The committed support of the Dangote Group is the elixir with which the trade fair is activated and OGUNCCINA is eternally grateful for the wonderful gesture of the company,” he said.

He said the 13th Gateway International Trade Fair with the theme: “Achieving Economic Prosperity through Business Connection, Trade and Investment, “is aimed among others, to allow businesses to expand their reach, access new markets, and diversify their customer base. He emphasized that forging robust business connections, participating in trade activities, and making strategic investments will unlock new markets, stimulate economic growth, and enhance overall prosperity.

The Regional Sales Director, Dangote Cement PLC, Lagos/Ogun, Mr Tunde Mabogunje in his goodwill address, assured Ogun state government and OGUNCIMMA of the continuous support of the company, noting that the Group is dedicated to enhancing the prosperity of Nigeria by creating opportunities for Nigerians and businesses in the country.

Mabogunje said visitors to the Dangote Group’s pavilion at the fair will have the opportunity of buying products of these companies at reasonably reduced prices as the Dangote businesses will be selling at discounted prices.

He also hinted that the Dangote Refinery will be part of the next edition of the Trade Fair.

“We want to appreciate Ogun state for bringing us as a partner. We want to assure you that we will be here next year bigger. By next year, our refinery will be part of the Trade Fair,” he said.

Governor Dapo Abiodun who visited the Dangote pavilion immediately after performing the ribbon-cutting ceremony, commended the company and others for supporting the Trade Fair which he noted is aimed at stimulating economic growth.

Advertisment
Continue Reading

Business

Nigeria Launches New Fiscal Incentives to Revitalise Oil & Gas Sector, Aiming to Attract $10 Billion Investment

Published

on

Nigeria Launches New Fiscal Incentives to Revitalise Oil & Gas Sector, Aiming to Attract $10 Billion Investment

Nigeria Launches New Fiscal Incentives to Revitalise Oil & Gas Sector, Aiming to Attract $10 Billion Investment

 

Advertisment

 

 

Advertisment

 

 

 

Advertisement

 

 

… as FG endorses consolidated guidelines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sahara Weekly Reports That Today, in a move to further revitalise the oil and gas industry’s contribution to the Nigerian Economy, Wale Edun, OFR, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, presided over a signing ceremony at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja endorsing the Consolidated Guidelines for the implementation of Fiscal Incentives for the Oil & Gas Sector – a cornerstone of the Presidential Directive aimed at enhancing the Nigerian oil & gas sector’s global competitiveness whilst stimulating economic growth.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria Launches New Fiscal Incentives to Revitalise Oil & Gas Sector, Aiming to Attract $10 Billion Investment

 

 

 

 

 

As disclosed during the signing, the Presidential Directives were developed and coordinated by the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen to ensure a competitive framework for the Nigerian oil & gas industry. These Consolidated guidelines for the fiscal incentives are based on extensive collaboration across Finance and Petroleum Ministries and involved several key regulatory bodies including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

 

According to Mrs. Verheijen, these new measures have been designed to deliver a competitive Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for Oil & Gas Projects and attract over $10 billion in new investments within the next 12-18 months. They also underscore Nigeria’s commitment to reaching its long term oil production target of 4 million barrels per day whilst enhancing the reliability of gas supply for to boost export earnings and fuel Nigeria’s industrialization.

 

Mrs. Verheijen disclosed that among the guidelines signed were the NUPRC Guideline on Hydrocarbon Liquids Content in a Non-Associated Gas (NAG) Field, essential for accurately categorising and quantifying the hydrocarbon liquid content in these fields. Additional guidelines focused on the applicability of tax credits and allowances for Non-Associated Gas Greenfield Development and the Midstream Capital and Gas Utilization Allowance, providing taxpayers with clarity on the computation of these benefits.

 

HM Edun, in his remarks, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the directive in February 2024 to engender growth in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, which had stagnated for over the last decade. He also emphasised the potential of the guidelines, saying, “The idea is to create an atmosphere conducive to international competitiveness such that investment comes in. And in this case, we know it’s foreign direct investment”.

 

The signing ceremony was attended by various stakeholders, including NNPC Limited, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), further highlighting Nigeria’s unified approach toward reinvigorating its oil and gas sector.

Advertisment
Continue Reading

Business

ASR AFRICA KICKS OFF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A N250 MILLION ABDUL SAMAD RABIU SPORT COMPLEX FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF JOS

Published

on

ASR AFRICA KICKS OFF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A N250 MILLION ABDUL SAMAD RABIU SPORT COMPLEX FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF JOS

 

Advertisment

 

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), the philanthropic initiative of the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON), has kicked off the construction of the N250 million sport complex for the University of Jos. The sporting facility which is sited at the Naraguta Campus of the university, is set to consolidate the preparedness of the university in hosting the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).

Advertisment

 

 

 

Advertisement

The facility will feature a 300-seater spectator stand, changing rooms, a lawn tennis court, and a basketball court.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, praised the Chairman of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu for the critical facility intervention. He mentioned that at the time of the institution’s nomination by ASR Africa for this laudable project, the university management was concerned about sourcing for funds to meet up with its nomination as the host university for the NUGA games. He added that with the ASR Africa TEGS grant, the university is positioned to host more games during the tournament.

 

 

 

 

The Vice Chancellor noted that the university signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Sports University in South Korea to develop a comprehensive sports programme to harness the talents that abound across the country in the various fields of sports and this complex would be a business boost to implement the agreement.

 

 

 

The Managing Director of ASR Africa, Dr. Ubon Udoh, applauded the management of the University of Jos for being an outstanding institution. He added that all of the universities who are beneficiaries of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme, were selected based on some stringent criteria which include the quality of leadership, the academic excellence at the University, amongst others. Dr Udoh assured the university of the speedy completion of the project ahead of NUGA games and reiterated the commitment of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, in supporting the education sector in Nigeria and Africa as a whole by providing indigenous solutions.

 

ASR AFRICA KICKS OFF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A N250 MILLION ABDUL SAMAD RABIU SPORT COMPLEX FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF JOS

About ASR Africa
ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

Advertisment
Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending