E-Business
Edo Organises 1st W/Africa Government Open Data Scheme Hackathon
Edo ICT Agency collaborated with the state’s ministry of Agriculture, SabiHub, the only technology hub in Edo state and Open Knowledge Foundation to organise the first Heckathon (Technology Competition) on government Opendata scheme in West African region.
Tagged, “Agric Data Hackaton 2015”, the participants who were drawn from various universities and tech hubs across the country were asked to focused on the Ministry of Agriculture, Edo State, analyzing the challenges in the sector and therefore proffer technology solutions, using the available agriculture datasets on Edo State opendata portal for the competition.
Mrs Yemi Keri, managing director of the ICT Agency explained that Edo Opendata provides a platform for citizen engagement and participation in governance, noting that, “ Our achievements are not just for the government but for all to tap into freely hence our data is licensed under the creative common license that enables the free use and reuse of datasets on the portal , providing innovative flexibility of the use of data.”
Abdul Oroh, the state commissioner of Agriculture in his remarks challenged the participants to leveraged the available dataset on agriculture to find simple solutions to some of the challenges facing agricultural sector in the state.
According to him, some of the challenges he expected the participants to provide solutions to include, obsolete skills and out-dated technology; inadequate and inaccurate baseline data coupled with poor record keeping as well as lack of qualified personnel collect data from the field; inadequate agro-services to meet the needs of farmers; poor accessibility to credits by farmers; inadequate land; low income and exploitation of farmers by middlemen; non availability of structured market for agricultural products and inadequate storage infrastructure.
Other challenges he mentioned include, low range of enlightenment campaign, inability to prioritize areas of comparative advantage, absence of access roads and lack of processing plants for most of the farm produce.
Emeka Okoye, Africa’s leading technoprenuer and opendata consultant took the participant through some technicalities in data wrangling and data hack.
He harped on the importance of using data wrangling to acquire better visualizations and interactive Apps which could improves decision making in governance.
Also, Ayo Rotibi a former World Bank consultant and opendata expert motivated the young minds present on the use of latest technologies like Rasberry to achieving more work professionally with less stress.
In his remarks, Mr Seun Onigbinde the co-ordinator of BudgIT, the most successful privately held open data scheme in Africa spoke on pitching and presentation of Ideas.
He enlightened the participants on how to use available data to solve common problems, using BudgIT as a case study.
He also highlighted some challenges and how they can be surmounted.
Participants were grouped in fives, and the hack spanned for two hours after a presentation was done by representatives from each team for five minutes each after which winners emerged.
Prices and certificates were awarded to the winners and they expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agric, sabi Hub, Edo State ICT Agency and Open Knowledge foundation for making the event a success with a promise to develop the apps into a working solution for the sector and hoped likes of this will continue in the state.
E-Business
NITDA, NIMC Partner for Seamless Data Exchange Capabilities
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of public-key infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up.
This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
E-Business
Expert Urges FG to Harmonise NIN, BVN to Tackle Crimes
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
E-Business
Konga launches Infinix Brand Week with Incredible Deals
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce group, is thrilled to announce the launch of amazing deals at its Infinix Brand Week. Infinix, a leading global smartphone brand known for its innovative products and cutting-edge technology promises exclusive discounts and special offers on select smartphones, marking an exciting milestone in the realm of online shopping.
Shoppers can expect nothing short of extraordinary deals on a wide range of Infinix products, all available exclusively on the Konga online platform. With discounts of up to 30% off, this partnership between Konga and Infinix aims to redefine the shopping experience for tech enthusiasts across Nigeria.
Konga Brand Week has become synonymous with excitement and unbeatable deals, and this year’s edition is no exception. In addition to exclusive discounts on Infinix smartphones, shoppers can explore a diverse array of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more.
“At Konga, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible,” said Rita Ohaedoghasi, VP Marketing at Konga. “The Infinix Week during Konga Brand Week allows us to continue delivering on that promise by offering incredible discounts and special offers on some of the most sought-after smartphones in the market.”
To stay updated on the latest developments and exclusive deals during Konga Brand Week, shoppers are encouraged to connect with Konga across all platforms, including social media and the Konga website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to score big savings and elevate your tech game with Infinix and Konga.
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