Telecom
FAPSCON 2023: Anambra Govt Reaffirms Commitment to Innovators
Ms. Chinwe Okoli, Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation, has expressed the commitment of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration to creators and innovators.
This was the crux of Ms. Okoli’s keynote speech at the 5th International Conference and Exhibition for Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (FAPSCON 2023).
Speaking on the topic “Breaking Barriers to Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Technology Development in Nigeria, Shedding light on critical barriers to innovation and technology in Nigeria”, Ms. Okoli revealed that one of the major setbacks to innovation is ignorance to opportunities offered by technology and innovation.
She reiterated the relationship existing between innovation, technology and local manufacturing, stressing its imperative of potentially impacting on the state.
While highlighting some of the strides of the present administration aimed at reinventing the staring into the creative digital capital of the Country, Ms. Okoli emphasized that the target is to transform the Solution Innovation District into the “Silicon Valley” of the South Eastern Nigeria.
“Governor Soludo has set up a well-equipped SID Centre in Awka, equipped with digital skills’ lab, robotics lab, co-working space, steady power and internet access.
“Our mandate is to activate, build and scale the innovation ecosystem in the State. We offer digital skill training and services, incubate start-ups, and train innovative SMEs in Anambra State” Ms. Okoli noted.
She asked participants to acknowledge the barriers to innovation but always remain focused on solutions, pointing out that the university needs to be a hub of smart ideas such that students graduate with both their certificates and innovative businesses which they founded.
Earlier in his opening, Mr. Udechukwu espoused on the University’s commitment to the mandate of nurturing students who are excellent in character and knowledge.
He highlighted the symbiotic synergy between the government, industry, and academia, saying that the conference offers a veritable platform for the relationship to blossom, adding that the mandate of the government of Professor Soludo is to support local manufacturing and innovation through the “Made in Anambra Project”.
He also spoke on the significance of harnessing the finest ideas emerging from the University for commercialization in partnership with the private sector.
Highpoint of the conference was the announcement of the winners of the “Mr. Governor’s Prize for Young Scientists and Future Innovators,” a competition, open to secondary schools, recognized exemplary inventors, innovators, and tangible technological products.
The schools that won and their inventions include Regina Pacis Model Secondary School, Onitsha, who took the first position for inventing a Gas Leakage Detector, Choice De Immaculate Demonstration, Obosi, who took the second position for inventing a Speech Vibrator for the Deaf, as well as Deeper Life High School, Nteje, who took the third position for inventing a Robot to Stop Moving Vehicles from Obstacles.
In his welcome address, Professor Greg Nwakoby, the Vice Chancellor, represented by Professor Mathias Ananti, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, emphasised that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University places high premium on research and innovation which informs the huge investments the university is making in staff motivation, human capacity and infrastructural development which according to him had catapulted the profile of the university in regional and global university rankings.
Since its debut in 2018, FAPSCON has maintained a laser-focus on its agenda and reflects that focus through its themes. For example, in 2022, FAPSCON dwelt on Advancing Nigerian Content Development for Industrial Productivity and Sustainable Digital Economy.
They were received by the university management and representatives including, Prof. Mathias Ananti, DVC Administration, Prof. Osita Chiaghanam, Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academics, Sir Chris Obi, Registrar, Dr. Nath Udezo, Bursar, Prof. K.K. Nwozor, Dean of Physical Sciences, Dr. E. Onyema Iloh, Sub-Dean of Physical Sciences among others.
Meta may shut down its Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in protest against the substantial fines imposed by multiple government agencies.
The tech giant has been ordered to pay nearly $300 million in fines in Africa’s most populous nation, following regulatory demands which Meta described as “unrealistic.”
In July 2024, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for allegedly discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian consumers.
The commission stated that Meta had failed to engage a Data Protection Compliance Organisation and had not submitted a Nigeria Data Protection Regulation audit report for two consecutive years.
Similarly, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), demanded $37.5 million over unapproved advertising, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), announced a $32.8 million fine for an alleged data privacy breach.
Meta challenged the decisions at the Federal High Court in Abuja but was unsuccessful, as the court upheld the fines in a ruling delivered last week.
The court directed the company to comply with payment by the end of June, but Meta has indicated it may not do so, according to the BBC.
“The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” the company stated in court documents.
Responding to the NDPC’s assertion that Meta’s data processing could expose Nigerian users to health and financial risks, the company said the agency had failed to “properly interpret the laws guiding data privacy.”
As the Premier League season enters its final stretch, MTN Nigeria is set to stage simultaneous watch parties in Abuja and Uyo on Sunday, May 4, giving football fans a shared space to experience the highs and lows of matchday.
The events, scheduled for Farm City in Wuse and Pyramid Lounge & Grill in Uyo, are expected to attract large turnouts as MTN continues to deepen its connection with football audiences nationwide.
The line-up for the day includes four Premier League fixtures, culminating in a marquee showdown between Chelsea and Liverpool. Earlier games such as Brentford vs Manchester United, Brighton vs Newcastle, and West Ham vs Tottenham will round out a packed viewing schedule. With top four ambitions, title races, and European dreams on the line, the fixtures promise high-stakes drama and entertainment.
MTN’s EPL watch parties have grown into a recurring highlight for fans who want more than just a screen, they want atmosphere. This weekend’s events will feature expansive screen setups, branded fan zones, and side attractions including live trivia and merchandise giveaways.
For MTN, the activations represent an opportunity to tap into the communal spirit of football, a sport that unites Nigerians across regions and loyalties. The brand’s involvement in football has steadily evolved from sponsorship to full-scale experiences, allowing it to build affinity with youth audiences and sports lovers alike.
In recent years, MTN has emerged as a key driver of fan engagement through its partnership with SuperSport and broader investment in Nigeria’s football ecosystem. These dual-city events reflect that strategy in motion, bringing the Premier League closer to the streets and ensuring fans are not just spectators, but participants in the global game.
With anticipation running high and bragging rights on the line, Sunday’s watch parties are shaping up to be a celebration of sport, identity, and the power of community on and off the pitch.
Telecommunications services disrupted in Kogi State have resumed following a resolution of the dispute between MTN Nigeria and the state government, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has said.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON, told TVC News that the issues that led to the shutdown of telecom masts in the state, primarily affecting MTN, had been addressed, paving the way for service restoration.
TVC News earlier reported that businessmen and women were counting their losses as they suffered the impact of a shut down of telecommunication service in Kogi State
Over the past two weeks, telecoms connectivity had been erratic, with competing brands experiencing glitches, particularly in the Lokoja metropolis.
The State government suspended the operations of some telecom services citing unpaid taxes and fibre-related dues.
The shutdown stemmed from a compliance dispute between MTN and the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency, which accused the telecom giant of violating operational rules and under-declaring the extent of its optic fibre network coverage in the state.
Fines: Meta Threatens to Shut Down Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria
History as TVC News Unveils Nigeria’s First AI-Powered News Anchors
Court Rejects Bid to Stop CBN from Using e-Naira Trademark
MRA Flags AI Concerns ahead of Press Freedom Day Today
NITDA, RHI, Commission IT Community Centre in Ibadan
Telecom2 days agoFines: Meta Threatens to Shut Down Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria
Telecom2 days agoPremier League Fever Builds as MTN Nigeria Stages Dual-City Watch Parties This Weekend
General News2 days agoHow Investments in Reskilling and Trust Help Businesses Succeed in the Agentic AI Era
Telecom3 days agoSterling Bank Introduces AlwaysOn, Offering Nigerians Up to ₦1 Million Monthly
Telecom3 days agoBanks Settle ₦160Bn USSD Debt to Telcos, Ending Five-Year Dispute
E-Business2 days agoNigerians to Pay More for IDs as NIMC Raises Service Fees
E-Financial2 days agoFMITI, NGX Group Partner to Achieve $6Bn Investment Target
E-Business2 days agoPwC says AI Adoption by African Businesses will Unlock Growth