Telecom
NITDA DG Charges Lagos State Ministry of Health on Adoption of NDPR
Mallam Kasihfu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has urged the Lagos State Ministry of Health to fully adopt the implementation of all provisions in the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) to protect the medical data of the residents of the state.
Abdullahi made the call yesterday in Lagos when he paid a working visit to the state Commissioner of Health, Professor Akinola Abayomi where the issue on Implementation of the NDPR for the Lagos Health Sector was discussed.
Abdullahi commended the Commissioner and his team on the proactive, professional dispositions and approach in which the State handled and disseminated public information during the Corona virus pandemic crisis.
“Beyond any iota of doubt, our recovery as a nation from corona virus cannot be told without special mention of the work you and your team did and are still doing to keep us safe”, the DG averred.
The DG stated that in the 4th Industrial Revolution where big data, artificial intelligence, internet of things and blockchain technology are the key indices and parameters driving economy globally, it is important to review and improve on the credibility of datasets in health care, a sector which is data driven, adding that Medical Informatics and Data are the bedrock of clinical medicine and research.
He further disclosed that the NDPR, a regulation issued by NITDA to protect data privacy and coordinate safe exchange of personal data is built on all the international principles of data protection such as accuracy, limitation of use, security, confidentiality, availability and integrity of data.
According to him, it is a subsidiary law which limits abuse of power by data controllers as data subjects determine how their data should be handled.
The DG stated that the adoption and implementation of the NDPR by the Lagos State Ministry of Health will make every patient in the health care sector trust the privacy and management of their personal information with the state health care sector. This he stated, implies that the sector will have a privacy policy that gives access to the type of personal information being collected, stored and processed by ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of personal data.
He reiterated that it is imperative to re-orientate health workers in the state on the importance of data privacy and proper disposal of medical wastes to avoid personal sample details being exposed to wrong persons.
He however, noted that the full implementation of the NDPR would cost human, time and material resources but the resultant benefits cannot be overemphasized noting that it is a process that will yield multiple dividends eventually.
He stressed that “by giving an illustration in which a recent study showed that about $100 billion would save by adopting internet of things (IoT) in healthcare. When you consider other technology inputs such as telemedicine, genetic research, electronic medical records, it would be obvious that healthcare would be one of the most technology intensive sectors in a few short years.”
“By adopting and implementing the NDPR, you have begun the journey to a better and more appropriate use of technology in the healthcare sector. Lagos state would benefit a lot if people understand that the state health sector values personal data and makes efforts to protect it. This alone, would boost health tourism and improve the quality of care in the state”, the DG concluded.
Professor Abayomi while thanking the DG and his team for visiting the Ministry expressed confidence that the privacy of sensitive data in Nigeria which is under the supervision of NITDA is in excellent hands.
The Commissioner said that the State Ministry of Health, as custodian of the Lagos State Smart Health Information Platform, has ensured that their clients and partners are NDPR compliant in order to deliver an excellent and transparent service.
“We will continue to work very hard with NITDA to stick with the guidelines which have been propagated by the Agency”, the Commissioner said.
Telecom
NASENI Retreat Focuses on Aligning Development Institutes’ Goals
In order to achieve greater cohesion amongst its Development Institutes and also sustain their proper alignment with the goals and vision of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, the Agency is holding a two-day strategic retreat for Overseeing Officers who are managing the institutes.
Participants at the retreat also include Project Managers, Coordinating Directors and some Directors from NASENI headquarters.
The event, held in Abuja, is expected to strengthen leadership skills to achieve strategic alignment of the various Development Institutes’ goals with the overarching vision of NASENI, ensure collaborative synergies with the headquarters to streamline efforts, maximize resource utilization and enhance decision making capabilities.
It will also shift the focus of research and development (R&D) efforts towards solutions that are market-ready, innovative and capable of generating sustainable economic values.
In his welcome address at the opening ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, stated that the retreat was not merely about planning, but about creating the blueprint for action, adding that each of the participants hold a unique and pivotal role in translating the vision of NASENI into reality.
“The conversations, strategies, and commitments forged here will determine how effectively we position NASENI to lead Nigeria into a future defined by innovation, self-reliance, and technological advancement, instill a shared commitment to excellence by adopting global best practices in innovation management”, he stressed.
He pointed out that recent assessments have shed light on the need for greater cohesion between the goals of the Development Institutes and NASENI’s renewed vision, highlighting that the retreat was a critical step in the Agency’s transformative journey-a journey anchored in the guiding principles of Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialization (3Cs).
He added that the principles encapsulate the essence of what NASENI stands for: creating cutting-edge solutions that are commercially viable and impacting directly on the lives of Nigerians who sit at the core of the renewed hope agenda of the President.
“Today, we gather not just to deliberate but to lay the groundwork for a stronger, more unified NASENI-one that is poised to drive Nigeria’s technological aspirations to unprecedented heights.
“As an institution saddled with the responsibility of indigenous technology advancement, NASENI has always been a beacon of innovation, a catalyst for progress, and a key driver of sector-specific solutions.
“Across our specialized Development Institutes, I see clearly that remarkable work has been done to push the frontiers of research, foster innovation, and develop solutions that address national and industrial challenges.
“Yet, we recognize that to stay true to our mission in this rapidly evolving world, we must continuously adapt, align, and refocus our efforts”, he affirmed.
The EVC/CEO, therefore urged the top management staff to engage fully, think boldly, and collaborate purposefully. “This is our moment to redefine our collective impact and to reaffirm our dedication to a vision that transcends individual institutes to unite us under the banner of progress for our nation.
“Together, we can and will achieve extraordinary outcomes. Let us move forward with clarity, resolve, and to demonstrate an unyielding commitment to excellence that defines NASENI,” he concluded.
Telecom
IHS Nigeria Partners with the NCMM to Digitize Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage
IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count has announced a strategic partnership with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy (FMACCE) to support the digitization of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
This collaboration aims to make Nigeria’s historical artifacts, artworks, and cultural monuments more accessible to the public through a digital museum.
The partnership between IHS Nigeria, NCMM, and FMACCE will leverage technologies to digitalize and display artifacts online, helping to preserve and showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage. It marks a significant step towards modernizing the preservation and dissemination of Nigeria’s cultural assets, making them more accessible to a broader audience.
The digital museum is the first significant project under the Honorable Minister’s Digital Culture Initiative and is designed to provide a platform for the exploration and appreciation of Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage. This partnership underscores IHS Nigeria’s commitment to sustainability and its role in helping foster cultural preservation and digital education.
Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, commented, “We are excited to partner with the National Council for Museums and Monuments and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy on this groundbreaking initiative. As a company deeply rooted in Nigeria, we recognize the importance of preserving, protecting, and promoting our cultural heritage.
“This partnership also aligns with our commitment to sustainability, education, economic growth, and community development. We look forward to contributing to the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural legacy”.
Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, commented, “We are delighted to partner with IHS Nigeria on this initiative which aligns with His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and our Ministry’s 8-point plan on fostering strategic partnerships.
“I am particularly pleased that this initiative, which is the first significant project under our Digital Culture Initiative, embodies our commitment to innovation, global partnerships, and the sustainable growth of our creative industries, positioning Nigeria as a leader on the global stage.”
Olugbile Holloway, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commented, “We are grateful to IHS Nigeria for their support in this remarkable initiative.
“We believe that to keep ahead of current trends and appeal to a younger demographic, it is imperative that a digital experience of our rich cultural heritage is created and made available to the public.
“The digital museum will serve as an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and the general public, both in Nigeria and around the world, and will play a crucial role in the preservation of our national heritage.”
Telecom
Google Faces Major Antitrust Action: DOJ Demands Chrome Sale
In a significant escalation of its antitrust battle against Google, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, November 20, urged a federal judge to break up the tech giant by ordering the sale of its widely used Chrome browser.
The DOJ also called for an end to Google’s agreements to be the default search engine on smartphones and proposed measures to prevent it from leveraging its Android operating system to dominate the market.
The DOJ suggested that if these remedies fail, Google should be compelled to divest Android entirely. The proposals mark one of the most aggressive antitrust moves against a major tech company in decades, with regulators seeking to curtail Google’s alleged abuse of its market power.
Google’s president of global affairs, Kent Walker, criticized the filing, accusing the DOJ of pursuing a “radical interventionist agenda.” Walker warned that the proposed breakup would disrupt Google’s product ecosystem, harm innovation in artificial intelligence, and threaten America’s global technological leadership.
This case represents a historic shift in the US government’s approach to regulating tech companies, following decades of relative inaction since the failed attempt to break up Microsoft in the early 2000s.
Google is set to respond in a filing next month, with a hearing scheduled for April before Judge Amit Mehta. The judge’s August ruling declared Google a monopoly, setting the stage for this next phase of the legal battle. Any decision is likely to be appealed, potentially taking years to resolve and possibly reaching the US Supreme Court.
The case’s future could also hinge on political changes, as President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration may take a different approach to antitrust enforcement. Trump has previously criticized Google for alleged bias against conservatives but has also expressed skepticism about breaking up major tech companies.
The DOJ’s proposals come amid broader efforts to address the dominance of big tech, with five antitrust cases currently pending against Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Google. These cases, brought under the Biden administration, are expected to shape the regulatory landscape for years to come.
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