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ANSICTA to Hold Maiden Anambra Innovation Stakeholders Summit on July 28

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All is now set for the maiden edition of the Anambra Innovation Stakeholders Summit 2021 being organised by Anambra State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ANSICTA).

The summit scheduled to hold virtually on Wednesday July 28, 2021, with the theme “Incubating A Digital Revolution,” would rally discussions on the resilience and creativity needed to drive development, innovation and technological advancement of Anambra especially in a time of the COVID-19 crisis.

It will offer Anambrians an opportunity to reflect on skills, ideas, finances, commitments and policies needed today and for the future.

Speaking about the summit,Mr. Mike Orekyeh, Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Information Communication Technology (ICT), said that the thrust of the summit would provide solid basis that will fuel the adoption of STEM and digital skills training in schools and markets in Anambra State.

He noted that Anambra which has the highest literacy rates in Nigeria should lead the conversation in tech innovation ecosystem, instead of joining the bandwagon.

According to him, “The growth of the technology and innovation sector offers new possibilities for Anambra’s growing labor force, in terms of competing and surviving the new industrial revolution, creating employment and building entrepreneurship.

“Nigeria’s innovation space has found creative solutions and is growing as more technology hubs are being established in the country, pushing Nigeria towards a knowledge based economy.

“Anambra is positioned to not just join the conversation but to lead it.

“As the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo noted: ‘…The future of Nigeria is not oil or solid minerals, but about technology, innovation. Tech innovation is all about highly-skilled people, entrepreneurship spirit and a supporting ecosystem of government, investors, mentors and global collaboration.’

“We believe that Anambra state being the heart and gateway of the southeast including already being a trade/business destination can simultaneously take the lead in the digital innovation birthing in Nigeria generally and the southeast specifically to pave the way for a new breed of techpreneurs and innovators in building “Onitsha / Awka/ Nnewi” – our own standard of the silicon valley but we can call ours the Anambra Innovation Corridor”.

He further explained that Onitsha & Nnewi being the two most important commercial and industrial cities in Nigeria need a strategic move to bring the industries and markets online, which he said would have an enormous economic impact in Nigeria.

He  said, “our vsion in ANSICTA is to bring our major towns and cities online, provide enabling digital infrastructure to connect schools, hospitals, businesses and governance online for a seamless step into the future.

“This approach and also bringing the many markets online and enabling them to digitize their markets and become discoverable have enormous potential to drive economic growth and activity.

Mr. Orekyeh emphasised that ANSICTA intends to train 40,000 people in 2 years and scale it up to 100,000persons in 4 years time.

The Objectives of the summit according to Mr. Orekyeh are:

-Raise awareness on the importance of ensuring strategic investments in innovation and technology in Nigeria generally and Southeast/Anambra specifically.

-Highlight practical global best practices and lessons learned that can be replicated in Anambra towards reimagining innovation, growth, scalability and profitability in addressing present and future prospects.

– Discuss practical ways in which investors, donors, venture capitalists and the private sector can collaborate with government and civil society organizations to enable necessary investments needed accelerate growth.

-Identify policies approaches to support the growth of startup ecosystems and networksin Anambra

-Reimagining and reinventing educational approaches to reposition Anambra as a technological innovation destination of the future.

He added that participants will learn how private and public stakeholders can replicate growth models and invest in innovative ideas from Anambra focusing mainly on digital technology, scalable initiatives and creativity.

The summit will include keynote addresses and 5 panel sessions by select experts and key leaders.

For more information, please contact Mike Orekyeh at [email protected]

 

 

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Egueke, Former Bank Manager Jailed for $46,900 Fraud

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Fidelis Egueke, former bank manager, , has been convicted and sentenced to six months in prison by an Asaba, Delta State Chief Magistrate’s Court for defrauding a victim of $46,900.

Egueke, Former Bank Manager Jailed for $46,900 Fraud

Chief Magistrate Callistus Isioma Moeteke found Egueke guilty of a single charge brought against him by the police under case number CMA/295c/2024.

Raphael Eze, prosecutor, of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Asaba, said Egueke, a former Asaba branch manager of a tier-one bank, fraudulently obtained $46,900 by using two Certificates of Occupancy (CofOs) as collateral.

One of the land titles, however, was not his, and the other was fake.

After receiving the money, Egueke used it for personal expenses and failed to repay the victim as promised.

The prosecution argued that Egueke’s actions violated Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C21, Vol.1 Laws of Delta State, Nigeria, 2006.

Despite denying the offence, Egueke failed to present evidence of repayment during the trial.

Chief Magistrate Moeteke determined that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Egueke was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment.

However, the court also gave him the option to pay a fine of N350,000 in lieu of serving the prison term.

The court ordered Egueke to pay N30 million in restitution to the victim within six months of his conviction.

The charge against Egueke stated that, in 2016, he fraudulently obtained a credit facility worth $46,900 (approximately N60 million) from Chief Jude Ndudi by presenting false documents, including land titles that did not belong to him, in violation of Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law.

Egueke is also facing trial before a Lagos Federal High Court on charges related to a separate fraud case involving N179.498 million.

He is being prosecuted by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID), Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.

 

 


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PalmPay, Jumia Reward Users in Festive Campaign

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This holiday season just got a whole lot more exciting! PalmPay, one of Africa’s leading fintech platforms, operates Nigeria’s most used mobile wallet and has teamed up with Jumia, the continent’s e-commerce giant, to launch a festive campaign that’s all about convenience, rewards, and enhancing your shopping experience.

Running from December 11th to 28th, 2024, this holiday campaign is set to reward shoppers who use the new “Pay with PalmPay” feature on Jumia with cash prizes. Every purchase made using the direct payment method automatically enters participants into a draw, giving them a chance to win exciting cash rewards while enjoying the seamless shopping and payment process.

A Strategic Partnership To Enhance Digital Payments

The integration of the “Pay with PalmPay Wallet” feature on Jumia marks a major milestone in the partnership between the two industry leaders.

Speaking at the media announcement, Mr. Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay, highlighted the broader mission driving this collaboration: “We are thrilled to join forces with Jumia to redefine convenience for shoppers. At PalmPay, our mission has always been to drive economic empowerment through accessible and user-friendly financial services. This partnership is a natural step forward in achieving that goal.”

Beyond the holidays, this partnership with Jumia m,k is a signal of bigger things to come. Mr. Chika added: “This is more than just about payments—it’s about creating value for our customers. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will unlock in 2025, including campaigns and innovative initiatives that will further transform the online shopping landscape.”

Sunil Natraj, CEO of Jumia Nigeria, highlighted the shared vision between both companies, stating: “At Jumia, we are dedicated to creating value for our customers by ensuring a convenient, reliable, and secure shopping experience. This partnership with PalmPay strengthens our commitment to enhancing the digital payments within our platform. By integrating PalmPay, we are providing more options for customers to access affordable and quality goods with the convenience of cashless transactions.”

How to Join the Holiday Fun

Participating in the campaign is simple. When shopping on Jumia, select the “Pay with PalmPay” option at checkout, and your entry into the draw is automatic. It’s that easy!

Bonus Entry: Share a screenshot of your purchase on X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #PalmPayXJumia to increase your chances of winning. Additional winners will be selected from participants engaging with the campaign on Twitter.

Whether you are shopping for gifts, or gadgets this festive season, PalmPay and Jumia are making sure your experience is not only seamless but also rewarding.

To learn more about the campaign, stay tuned to the official  X accounts (formerly Twitter) of @palmpay_ng and @JumiaNigeria. for updates, announcements, and more chances to win.


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Corruption: ICPC Threatens Sanctions as 330 MDAs Fail Financial, Governance Tests

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Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), has revealed that none of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), in the country complied fully with ethical standards, policies, and anti-corruption measures in the passing year.

Corruption: ICPC Threatens Sanctions as 330 MDAs Fail Financial, Governance Tests

This was following the findings from the Commission’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) for the MDAs.

The Commission warned that henceforth, non-compliant MDAs will face necessary actions, including enforcement, to ensure adherence to government directives.

According to the EICS scorecard released on Thursday in Abuja by Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, no MDA out of 330 MDAs that were assessed through physical deployment by ICPC teams achieved full compliance.

The EICS serves as a preventive tool used to assess and enhance the compliance of MDAs with ethical standards, policies, and anti-corruption measures.

Findings from the report indicated that no MDA achieved full compliance, while 29.55 per cent of MDAs captured attained substantial compliance, and 51.62 per cent had partial compliance.

The report also observed that 15.91 per cent showed poor compliance, while 292 per cent were non-compliant.

According to the report, common gaps included a lack of whistle-blower policies, strategic plans, and effective stock verification units, adding that many MDAs failed to conduct any forms of system studies or render financial and audit reports.

Commenting on the report, Bakare noted: “This year, 2024, the tool covered 323 responsive MDAs, with 15 MDAs non-responsive and categorised as high corruption risk.

“It is imperative to inform you that this initiative has yielded some positive and value-driven impacts, and these are, but not limited to, increased awareness and compliance with anti-corruption measures, enhanced competition among MDAs to meet criteria, and improved procurement processes and data reliability.

“The Commission recognises the MDAs with substantial compliance and will continue deploying these tools to promote integrity and accountability.

“Non-compliant MDAs will face necessary actions, including enforcement, to ensure adherence to government directives. We are certain that these efforts will continue to underline ICPC’s dedication to enhancing good governance and preventing corruption.”


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