Telecom
FG’s Intervention on Digital Literacy Covers Almajiris
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says that the Federal Government efforts toward promoting digital literacy has started yielding results, indicating its 95 per cent digital literacy target by 2030 achievable.
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Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, made this known on Sunday at the graduation ceremony of 50 children, including 10 Almajiris at the Engausa Global Tech Hub in Kano State.
The young children were subjected to extensive training for two-weeks on innovative digital skills on Computer Networking, Installation of CCTV camera, Graphic Design, innovative creativity, among others.
Engausa Global Tech Hub is an Incubation centre, currently working in collaboration with NITDA in Kano, where young boys are being subjected to entensive training at their early stage, using Hausa language in building their skills on digital technology.
Inuwa said that the centre had in 2021 trained over 700 young boys who were selected from various rural communities in the state, adding that he was very happy that the centre has cooped young Almajiris into the system.
“We have been collaborating with Engausa like the founder said. As a result of intervention we have done for the centre last year, they had multiplied the number of people they trained. In 2021 they trained more than 700 people in this centre as a result of this collaboration,” he said.
Kashifu added that the agency have been expanding the collaboration and we are going to do more with them this year to see how we can help the less privileged children to have access to digital technology.
“One of our mandate is to implement the policy under the National Digital Economy Policy for digital Nigeria to logical conclusion in achieving the 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030.
“You know government cannot do it alone, we need to partner with centres like Engausa to achieve this. So, we are working with them to even expand this centre beyond Kano to other States and also to see how we can equip them more,” DG added.
Explaining further, Kashifu said; “we are also looking at how we can assist the children who have participated in this programme to start their own businesses.”
Earlier, the founder of the centre, Mr Mustapha Ringim, said the centre was out to bridge the productivity gap among the young people, especially those who cannot make it in formal school.
“I realised that there are a lot of things that I can offer to the community concerning breaking some barriers and bridging some gaps which are limiting the productivity of our youth, especially the downtrodden ones at the grassroot, the Almajiris, and school-drop-outs who cannot continue their studies due to lack of proficiency in English Language, among other things,” he said.
Ringing said he realised that Language should not be a barrier to achieving one’s dream, especially when it comes to global world. He argued that there are lot of developments in countries which are not using English Language as medium of learning skills, like European countries where English is not well spoken but still technology, innovation and creativity is flourishing in those countries.
“So, I realised that English Language is not the only medium of learning skills, it is not the only medium of prosperity when it comes to knowledge and when it comes to practicing what you know.
That is why I break the language barrier of English and domesticated the technology and the skills I have in me so that the people will easily tap from my knowledge through the use of Hausa language for better understanding of the subject matter, ” he explained.
Osa Director, Lagos-based lawyer and veteran journalist, has asked a federal high court to dissolve the board of MTN Nigeria, accusing the telecom giant of industry capture, undue dominance and influence peddling.
Osa Director, Lagos-based lawyer and veteran journalist,
In suit No. FHC/L/CS/1413/24 filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, Osa, via an originating summons, is seeking the court to dissolve the board of MTN.
He is accusing the telecommunications company of industry capture, undue dominance and influence peddling with the way and manner it cleverly filled its board with men and women with regulatory agency experience and reach.
“The board of MTN being occupied by individuals who have a history of regulatory oversight, taxation authority and pensions will undermine the integrity of our various institutions and create room for influence peddling and regulatory capture, he averred in his affidavit.
According to the pro democracy activist and author of Suicide Journalism, he is compelled to file the suit as a corporate governance expert and for his commitment to ensuring fair play and equal opportunities for all the players in the telecommunications sector.
In the process filed at the court, Osa is seeking the court to dissolve the board of MTN because it deliberately populated it with persons that have industry regulatory experience in the telecommunications and auxiliary sector.
For example, he argued that Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, who is the current chairman of the MTN board, was the pioneer Executive Vice Chairman of the National Communication Commission (NCC) which was a licensor and chief regulator of MTN.
Also, Mrs Ifueko Omogui Okauro, another director on the board of MTN, was the pioneer Chief Executive of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) between 2004 and 2012.
During the said period, MTN was found guilty of engaging in tax evasion to the tune of $ 72.5 million.
Mrs Omobola Johnson, pioneer minister of Communication Technology, is a board member of MTN.
The ministry is responsible for performing oversight functions over MTN.
Similarly, Alhaji Mohammad K. Ahmad, pioneer Director General and Chief Executive of National Pension Commission (Pencom), completes the circle of persons with regulatory agency experience who are on the board of MTN.
Such a constituted board gives undue dominance and advantage to MTN. Indeed, it amounts to influence peddling and industry capture.
Therefore, the relief sought by the Plaintiff is a declaration that the appointments of the affected officers to the board of MTN contravenes universally acceptable corporate governance practices.
Therefore, the court should grant an order nullifying their appointments. A perpetual injunction restraining the affected persons, their servants, agents and or privies from either further appointing or accepting any such appointment.
The Plaintiff is also requesting the court to mandate the affected persons to refund benefits, monetary or otherwise, already received by them by their appointments.
A cost of Fifty Million Naira is demanded to be awarded against the defendants.
The matter came for hearing on Tuesday, 11th March 2025 and has elicited the interest and attention of many Nigerians interested in corporate governance.
The Plaintiff’s lead counsel is a pro democracy activist, Prince Ademola Adewale, while MTN is represented by Fabian Ajogwu, SAN. The matter is before Justice Dipeolu.
Hayatu Hadejia and Seltrix Limited have responded to the lawsuit filed against them by Abubakar Funtua, son of the late business mogul Isa Funtua, over the ownership of 9Mobile, telecom firm.
As per report by Premium Times, Funtua filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited, which operates under the brand name 9Mobile.
Among other defendants, he sued Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, along with his company, LH Telecommunication Limited.
Others joined in the suit are Seltrix Limited (named as the 1st defendant), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Hadejia, Teleology Nigeria Limited, and Mohammed Edewor, a director at Teleology Nigeria Limited.
The plaintiff asked the court to declare he is the beneficial owner of the 43 million ordinary shares held in trust for him by the 1st defendant, Seltrix Limited, in the capital of the 3rd defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited.
Another prayer sought by the plaintiff is a declaration that the acquisition of the 43million ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) in breach of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited)’s duty as trustee of the plaintiff and in contravention of Clause 48 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) is null, void and of no effect.
“That the purported registration of the transfer by way of surrender/gift of 43,000,000 ordinary shares held by 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) is unlawful, null and void,” the plaintiff stated.
But in a counter-affidavit sworn to and filed on behalf of Seltrix Limited, Hadejia described the plaintiff’s application as a reckless abuse of the court process.
He urged the court to dismiss the application and award substantial costs against the plaintiff.
Challenging Funtua, he demanded concrete evidence of any trusteeship arrangement involving him or Seltrix Limited concerning the alleged N43 million ordinary shares in the capital of the third defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited, or any matter related to the suit.
Hadejia stated that the plaintiff’s motion, dated 27 January but filed on 28 January, was a fabrication designed to mislead the court.
Hadejia also denied holding in trust the controversial N43 million ordinary shares of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS)—the holder and operator of the 9Mobile telecommunications licence—on behalf of Mr Funtua.
Similarly, Teleology Nigeria Limited, Mr Edewor, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, LH Telecommunication Limited), and Mr Danjuma filed a joint notice of preliminary objection calling on the court to throw out the suit.
They sought an order dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction and another order declaring that the plaintiff’s action constituted an abuse of court process.
Credit: Premium Times
Zoho Corporation, a global technology company, today announced the launch of Projects Plus, a flexible, collaborative new platform providing data and intelligence-driven project management for mid-sized and large organisations.
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Zoho Projects has seen rapid growth, doubling its revenue in 2024, with 55% of new users migrating from Microsoft Projects and JIRA.
Projects Plus builds on this success by focussing on better data democratisation, AI-powered insights, hybrid project management, and collaborative work management.
As 18% of enterprise customers deployed both Zoho Projects and Zoho Analytics, Projects Plus directly addresses these needs by consolidating the two, and more, into a singular, efficient solution.
“The surge in digitalisation across the nation and the hybrid work culture have necessitated project management tools to be well ingrained in the overall software architecture of an organisation. With Projects Plus, which can be easily customised and integrated with other apps, we have brought together key tools like analytics, file management and collaboration, and the option to use blended project management methodologies, creating a value-packed offering not yet available in the market.
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Business Intelligence Leading to Project Democratisation
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