News
Attending Events Like GITEX Shows The Gaps, Encourages Us To Do More- Isa Ibrahim
By chukwuemeka fred agbata
Nigeria is one African country that puts on a good outing at each edition of the GITEX Technology Week, one of the world’s technology events that holds in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE.
Isa Ibrahim, the director general, DG, of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, led other government officials, both at the Federal and State levels, to tour the Dubai Pavilion at the just concluded GITEX Technology Week 2017, in order to learn from their experiences. After the tour, I had a discussion with him to know what his experiences were as well as other issues.
He stated that he learnt some lessons, which he will be bringing to Nigeria in order to help grow the IT industry in Nigeria. “One of the lessons we have learnt, is that other nations are not sleeping. They are progressing. They are developing and as long as we want to remain relevant, then, we need to progress in ICT”, he maintained. He also observed that, between the last GITEX Technology week in October 2016 and this year’s GITEX Technology Week 2017, it was obvious that the UAE had progressed tremendously in ICT. “This is an indication that, if we are sleeping, other nations are not, so, we have to wake up and ensure that we try to increase our pace”, he asserted.
The NITDA DG stated that, since the event last year, NITDA has been at the vanguard of monitoring our Startups. He also stated that NITDA had established strategic partnerships through IT regulations, improvement of standards and government digital services.
On whether the right environment is being created for the Startups to grow in Nigeria, the DG stated that the best is being done to assist the Startups, working within the constraints of resources, etc.
He stated that, in spite of these constraints, NITDA was always there for the Startups, through mentoring, guidance and counseling. “secondly, we usually support them with seed funding. It could not be sufficient, but it is a clear indication that, we are willing to do more, as long as the resources are available”, he explained. He stated that, another assistance that NITDA does for the Startups, is the annual sponsorship of them to the GITEX Technology week events and this year, 10 Startups were sponsored, 100%, to the GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, in spite of the constraints.
Answering a question on whether investors are interested in partnering with our Startups, the NITDA DG responded in the affirmative and explained that, as he speaks, Google has indicated interest in partnering with some of the Nigerian Startups that were taken to GITEX Technology Week 2017.
He emphasised that, our Startups are dong wonderfully well and some countries and Multinational companies, MNC’s, are also looking for ways of taking up for mentoring or partnership.
In the opinion of the NITDA DG, organising events like the GITEX Technology Week is relevant to Nigeria because, no nation can develop IT alone without sharing their experiences with others as they need to engage in strategic partnerships professional collaboration and many more. He stressed that, by attending events like GITEX all over the world, gives the Nigerian IT industry the opportunity to see what other nations have achieved compared to what we have achieved, note the gap and encourage os to do more.
“NITDA came in touch with many MNC’s and up till now, we maintain our contacts and relationship with them. Recently, some MNC’s are even supporting us to develop some standards and guidelines, based on their experience and expertise as well”, he he noted, on the importance of attending such events.
On how these foreign partnerships will not be for only the importation of products and services, but also include the increase in our local content input, the DG stated that NITDA always emphasises at meetings with these MNC’s that, Nigeria is interested in them coming to domesticate their products in Nigeria and not for Nigeria to be importing from them.
“The advantage to be derived from this, include the reduction on the pressure on our local currency, reduction in unemployment in Nigeria and also improvement in the image of our country”, he observed. The idea, he further stated, is to encourage our local manufacturers to learn from these MNC’s to develop our local content.
On his personal assessment of himself in office in the past one year, the DG stated that, third parties are in a better position to assess his work at NITDA in the past one year. He, however, noted that NITDA has, so far, achieved a lot, but there are still many more things to be done.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) has revealed that an investigation by its Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) uncovered unethical practices by some tertiary institutions, in collaboration with certain banks, that are depriving students of their rightful access to the Federal Government Student Loan Fund.
Paul Odenyi, deputy director of Communications and Media, in a statement Sunday, disclosed that several universities and financial institutions have been found engaging in fraudulent activities that prevent students from receiving the loans allocated to them.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, director general, NOA, shared these troubling findings following a high-level meeting with Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director, Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), over the weekend.
According to NOA, preliminary reports led to an urgent intervention from NELFUND after it was discovered that some university officials had deliberately withheld critical details about student loan disbursements.
Further feedback from NOA confirmed that certain institutions, in collusion with banks, have intentionally delayed payments to approved applicants for dubious financial gain.
Additionally, some universities do not acknowledge the disbursements made by NELFUND to students.
Sawyerr confirmed that certain institutions have withheld information about loan payments issued in students’ names while still demanding tuition fees from them.
He warned that NELFUND is ready to take legal action against institutions found guilty of engaging in fraudulent practices.
He stated, “Recent findings by NELFUND have shown that some institutions have received student loan disbursements directly into their accounts yet neglect to inform the affected students or record the payments in their financial records, leading to unnecessary confusion.
“Withholding critical financial information from students is not only unethical but also a breach of the principles on which NELFUND was founded.
“We are prepared to take legal action against any institution engaged in such deceptive practices.”
The investigation revealed that in some instances, universities continued to demand full tuition payments from students, despite having already received the loan funds intended to cover those fees.
According to the NOA, this constitutes a gross violation of student rights and a betrayal of public trust.
Issa-Onilu, therefore, issued a strong warning to the institutions and collaborating financial institutions, demanding an immediate end to these actions.
He also directed all NOA state directorates to intensify feedback collection from students nationwide to aid the Federal Government in identifying and penalising the erring parties.
The NOA emphasised its commitment to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that students benefit fully from the government’s intervention in education financing.
The statement added that the investigation remains ongoing, and further actions are expected in the coming weeks.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a remarkable $6.83 billion balance of payments surplus for 2024, marking a decisive turnaround from deficits of $3.34 billion in 2023 and $3.32 billion in 2022.
This achievement reflects the impact of sweeping macroeconomic reforms, stronger trade dynamics, and renewed investor confidence in the nation’s economic direction.
Speaking at the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair, Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, highlighted the CBN’s commitment to addressing economic challenges and fostering productivity, particularly for SMEs.
She emphasized the importance of robust financial systems, foreign exchange stability, and collaboration between monetary and fiscal authorities in achieving industrial development and global recognition.
The President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Sir Odeiga Jideonwo, commended the CBN’s efforts but expressed concerns over the recent hike in interest rates, cautioning that it could hinder access to credit for businesses.
This surplus signals a positive trajectory for Nigeria’s economy, benefiting investors, businesses, and citizens alike.
News
Senate Committee Partners with Kuda Bank to Tackle Compliance Crisis as Nigeria Loses ₦3.4 Trillion
Over ₦3.4 trillion in financial infractions were uncovered across federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in 2021, according to the Auditor General’s report — a staggering figure that highlights Nigeria’s deepening compliance crisis and the urgent need for stronger oversight in public institutions.
In response, the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance is hosting a high-level workshop to address the root causes of weak oversight and institutional gaps. The two-day event, with the theme ‘Consolidating Strategies for Strengthening Legislative Compliance by MDAs’, will take place on April 15 and 16, 2025 at NAF Suites, Abuja, bringing together lawmakers, regulators, and over two hundred representatives from federal MDAs.
Kuda Microfinance Bank is co-sponsoring the workshop as part of its commitment to supporting responsible innovation, governance, and regulatory alignment in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
Rasaq Kadri, Kuda’s Head of Compliance, will deliver a keynote address on the second day of the event, highlighting the efforts of Nigeria’s fintechs to promote inclusion and financial literacy without compromising on compliance best practices.
“When public funds go unaccounted for, it doesn’t just damage government credibility, it affects the entire financial ecosystem, including fintechs,” said Kadri. “We can’t build trust-driven products in a trust-deficient environment. Every time compliance is treated as a box-ticking exercise, we miss the chance to build something that lasts. Fintechs have the tools and perspective to support better governance, but more importantly, we have a responsibility to be part of the solution.”
As a sponsor, Kuda will take the workshop to engage directly with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s regulatory and public service ecosystem.
Plenary sessions will be chaired by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and the Honourable Minister of Finance, Wale Edun. Conversations will focus on closing compliance gaps, strengthening institutional transparency, and promoting cross-sector collaboration.
The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance Workshop is a unique platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative action.
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