News
UK Announces £1.9m Sankore Project for Science, Tech & Innovation in West Africa
UK government’s West Africa Research and Innovation Hub (WARIH) has launched Sankore to support economic growth by strengthening technology and innovation across West Africa, in close partnership with country governments.
UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins announced the call for creative proposals for the project from non-profit organisations (including UN Agencies) at a press conference today, 17th September 2024, in Accra.
The Sankore call for proposals will support the UK government’s partnership with Government in Nigeria and Ghana on science, technology and innovation, facilitate commercialisation of innovative solutions, improve innovation policy and enhance government digital service delivery.
Named after a West African medieval center of learning, Sankore will establish new partnerships worth up to £1.9 Million with non-profit organisations (including UN agencies) in Ghana or Nigeria.
At the launch for call for proposals, UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, said: “This initiative is all about how we can work together to strengthen the global technology sector, creating opportunities for rapidly growing economies with lots of potential to compete on the world stage.
“The Sankore grant fosters partnerships at its heart, with a strong message that we go far when we go together.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji said: “Sankore project is a pivotal opportunity for Nigeria to enhance its innovation landscape, by strengthening industry-science linkages and developing an enabling policy environment.
“This partnership underscores our shared commitment to developing practical solutions that lead to sustainable and inclusive growth.”
Also commenting, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said: “Sankore exemplifies the UK’s commitment to driving innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria.
“The project will strengthen partnerships between businesses and innovators as well as drive the development of innovative solutions that address critical gaps in priority economic sectors.
“The project will build on the UK’s wider efforts to support economic growth, create job opportunities and propel Nigeria’s technology and innovation ecosystem.”
How to Apply:
Interested and qualified organisations and partners are encouraged to visit Sankore call for proposals: strengthening innovation and technology across West Africa – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to learn more and apply.
Deadline for submissions is 25th October 2024, 12pm WAT.
News
FDA Okays Elon Musk’s ‘Blindsight’ Brain Chip to Restore Vision for the Blind
Neuralink, the brain-chip company co-founded by Elon Musk, has achieved a significant milestone with its latest device, “Blindsight,” receiving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) breakthrough designation.
This recognition highlights the potential of Blindsight to restore vision to individuals suffering from complete or partial blindness, including those with damaged optic nerves.
Blindsight is designed to help even those who have been blind since birth, provided their visual cortex remains functional.
Initially, the device is expected to offer low-resolution vision, but over time, it holds the potential for users to perceive advanced wavelengths like infrared and ultraviolet, offering possibilities beyond natural sight.
Neuralink, established in 2016, is pioneering brain-computer interfaces aimed at addressing neurological disorders. Its technology includes brain implants capable of reading neural signals and wirelessly transmitting them to external devices.
The company is also working on devices to assist paralyzed individuals in controlling digital tools using their thoughts.
Recent developments include the successful implantation of Neuralink’s brain-computer interface in a second patient, who is now able to control video games and design 3D objects using thought alone.
News
Nigeria’s Mpox Cases Mostly Affect Children, Men – NCDC
Mpox infections are disproportionately affecting children and males in Nigeria, according to recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Since January 2024, males have accounted for 67% of Mpox cases, with men making up approximately 70% of the 6,001 suspected and confirmed cases recorded since September 2017.
The disease is spreading rapidly, with 1,031 suspected cases reported across 47 local government areas in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Children under five years old are among the most affected, followed by the 26-30 and 46-50 age groups.
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, characterized by a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. While most people recover fully, some may become seriously ill.
The disease can spread from animals to humans and between humans through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
To combat the outbreak, Nigeria has received a donation of 10,000 doses of Jynneos, a Mpox vaccine, from the United States government.
News
Avanti Communications, IHS Nigeria Recognized with Universal Broadband Award for Connecting Rural Nigeria
Global multi-orbit satellite provider, Avanti Communications (“Avanti”), and IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (NYSE: IHS) (“IHS Towers”) group, have been recognized for their work in connecting rural Nigeria at the 2024 World Space Business Awards.
Each year at World Space Business Week, Novaspace, a merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners, award the most forward-thinking businesses and innovations contributing to the future of the global space sector.
The Universal Broadband Award recognizes those committed to helping transform the lives of underserved communities.
Together, Avanti and IHS Nigeria have been helping improve the connectivity landscape across Nigeria, bringing broadband connectivity to rural communities nationwide, where the cost of traditional telecommunications networks can leave millions behind.
IHS Nigeria already has a strong footprint in Nigeria, operating over 16,000 towers across the country.
To help extend this reach, Avanti has been supplying the physical, transport and network layer for the transmission of cellular backhaul traffic to and from cellular towers, back to the core network of mobile network operators.
The partnership has delivered fast, cost-effective and reliable 3G and 4G connectivity to 700 rural sites across Nigeria, directly benefitting more than 3.5 million people.
Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, said, “We are deeply honored to receive this award, recognizing our commitment to innovation and social responsibility in expanding global connectivity.
As one of the largest independent tower companies globally, IHS Towers is dedicated to helping bridge the digital divide, particularly in Nigeria, where we operate more than 16,000 towers.
IHS Nigeria’s partnership with Avanti Communications has been pivotal in bringing broadband connectivity as well as delivering sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to rural areas. Together, we are striving to help transform lives by enabling digital inclusion, job creation, and driving socio-economic development across underserved and unserved communities.”
Kyle Whitehill, CEO at Avanti, said, “The mission to provide cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable internet solutions is more than a professional endeavour; it is a mission we each carry personally at Avanti. Access to the internet is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
“It opens doors to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and global connectivity. For too long, the remote and hard-to-reach regions of Africa have been left in the dark, disconnected from the boundless potential connectivity brings.”
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