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FG Launches Global Certification Programme @ DBI

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David Daser.
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Federal government has launched the Digital Bridge Institute DBI global certificate licensing programme.

FG Launches Global Certification Programme @ DBI

The launch which took place at the DBI Lagos Campus, South west Nigeria on Tuesday, is seen as a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s growing digital skills gap.

The programme themed; “Empowering Talent, Certifying Excellence, Transforming Industries,” is designed to equip individuals and organisations with the skills and certifications needed to thrive in the digital economy.

Stressing the importance of the initiative, David Daser. president and CEO of DBI, said “this programme marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s drive to equip its citizens with the necessary digital skills to succeed in the modern economy.

“The programmed will not only offer high-quality training but also open new doors for collaboration and growth within the technology sector.

“We are here today to create pathways for growth, empower individuals, and position Nigeria as a leader in the global digital space.

“DBI, which is wholly owned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has long been at the forefront of ICT education in Nigeria,”he said.

According to him, the institute is licensed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and maintains partnerships with some of the world’s leading tech organisations, including Cisco, Microsoft, and Huawei.

These affiliations he said, enable DBI to deliver top-tier ICT training and certifications that are globally recognised.

“Our partnerships allow us to provide internationally acknowledged certifications, ensuring that the skills acquired here meet global standards,” saying that Nigeria is currently facing a significant digital skills gap, particularly among its youth.

According to a UNICEF report, only 7 of Nigerians aged 15-24 have marketable ICT skills, leaving a vast majority underprepared for the demands of the digital economy.

Dasar also quoted a 2020 report by Palladium Group which revealed that over 50% of Nigerian youth are either underemployed or unemployed due to a disconnect between their education and the skills needed in the job market emphasising the importance of addressing the issue through the DBI Certificate Licensing Programme.

“The gap between the skills our youth possess and what is required by the job, market must be closed. This programme is designed to provide access to industry-recognised training that will boost employability and help fill the growing gap in the ICT sector.”

He said that the programme, officially known as the Global Certification and Training Partnership Programme (GTP/GCP), was developed through extensive collaboration with industry experts, academia, and government bodies.

Daser expressed the hope that the initiative would see DBI license its training programmes to qualified institutions and trainers across Nigeria, enabling them to deliver DBI’s curriculum to learners nationwide.

“This is an important step in democratising access to ICT education, particularly in underserved regions. We are not just bringing training to Lagos but to every corner of Nigeria,”he explained.

The DBI Certificate Licensing Programme is aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises economic growth, youth development, and job creation.

“This initiative supports President Tinubu’s vision of preparing Nigeria’s youth for the high-demand jobs in the technology sector, enhancing their employability and driving economic growth.

“This is not just about providing training but also about contributing to the broader national goals of job creation and economic diversification,”he stated.

Reports also shows that the Global Certificate Licensing programme further aligns with the strategic objectives of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, particularly its 2023-2027 plan to strengthen Nigeria’s knowledge economy and digital infrastructure.

The President of the DBI said that “Through this initiative, DBI is contributing to Nigeria’s ambition to establish a skilled workforce capable of competing on the global stage.

“I call on educational institutions, trainers, and private sector organisations to join us in shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital landscape.”

He also encouraged the media to spread the word about the programme, which he believes has the potential to make a lasting impact on Nigeria’s economy and workforce.

Dr Bosun Tijani. minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Dr Aliyu Maida, executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), described the programme as a step in the right direction for Nigeria saying It will ensure that Nigerian youth are not left behind in the digital age.

According to the Minister, with the launch of the DBI Certificate Licensing Programme, Nigeria is poised to make a bold leap toward bridging its digital skills gap and preparing its workforce for the future.

“The programme promises to equip individuals with globally recognised certifications and the skills needed to excel in the ICT sector.

“This initiative is not just about training, it is about creating opportunities, fostering innovation, and building a stronger, more competitive Nigeria.

“By empowering individuals with the necessary digital skills, the DBI Certificate Licensing Programme aims to play a key role in job creation, innovation, and economic development across Nigeria.

“The launch marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria into a global leader in ICT, positioning the country to meet the demands of the ever-evolving digital economy”, the Minister said.

Dr. Niran Oyekale, chairman of Commit Technology and Consult Ltd, highlighted the global skills gap and urged Nigeria to act swiftly.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to lead in digital skills training, citing a potential shortfall of 85 million skilled workers worth $8.5 trillion.

Oyekale emphasised Nigeria’s youthful population could bridge this gap but must be equipped with necessary skills.

Oyekale noted that future jobs demand skills over traditional degrees.

He stated that “digital literacy is the minimum requirement for employment in today’s digital economy,” yet no Nigerian higher education institutions are graduating future leaders with essential skills.

The Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), established in 2004 as the training arm of the NCC and it aims to address this through ICT/Digital training.

 

 

 


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NIA Questions Legality of Reps’ Financial Probe

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The Nigerian Insurers Association has urged the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to respect the constitutional separation of powers as it carries out a probe on over 20 insurance firms.

In a statement on Tuesday night, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIA, Mrs Bola Odukale, said the decision of NIA and the affected firms to approach the court was to seek clarity on the constitutional limits of the House Committee’s probe.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives on Monday is investigating no fewer than 25 insurance companies operating in the country for various financial infractions spanning financial reporting, claims settlement, premium remittance, and issuance of policies.

The Chairman, House Sub-Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Kwamoti Laori, during a meeting with the management of the insurance companies at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, said the meeting was convened following the receipt of a petition on infractions by the insurance companies.

In the statement, Odukale said, “The Association wishes to state unequivocally that all actions taken by the NIA and the affected member companies in response to the Committee’s invitations and pronouncements were based entirely on legal advice by its Solicitors. It was on the firm instruction of legal counsel that recourse was made to the courts.

“The objective of approaching the Court is to seek judicial guidance on the legality, propriety, and constitutional limits of the Committee’s intervention in order to safeguard institutional integrity, uphold regulatory independence, and ensure that legislative oversight remains within the bounds of law.

“The Court action seeks to determine whether the current posture of the Committee reflects an exercise of legislative judgment, which, by constitutional design, is the exclusive province of statutory regulators, such as the National Insurance Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Exchange, Financial Reporting Council, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and the National Information Technology Development Agency.

“This raises serious questions about legislative overreach and an erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”

Odukale maintained that the NIA was committed to lawful and constructive engagement with all arms of government, provided that such engagement respects the autonomy of statutory regulators and the boundaries established by the Constitution.

“The NIA will continue to provide its full support to all member companies while upholding the principles of legal compliance and sector-wide integrity,” Odukale concluded.

17 of the companies that went to court were represented by their lawyer, Mr Abimbola Kayode, at the meeting with the committee.


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Horn of Africa Leaders Seek Enhanced Digital Integration for Increased Regional Growth

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Finance ministers and development partners from the Horn of Africa have called for enhanced digital integration to boost trade, drive economic growth and promote regional stability during the 25th Ministerial Meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI).

Held in Nairobi, on July 14, the meeting was co-chaired by the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo and Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Bihi Iman Egeh. Discussions underscored the critical role of digital integration in reducing trade barriers, boosting government service delivery and creating employment — particularly for the region’s youth.

“Digital technologies are shaping today’s economy and tomorrow’s industries. By embedding these technologies into our programs, we can not only improve inclusion but also leapfrog outdated development models,” said Nwabufo.

She called for digital integration a “central enabler” in each of the Horn of Africa Initiative’s pillars – trade, infrastructure, resilience, and human capital,

Learning through experience

Drawing from global and regional success stories, speakers highlighted the transformative potential of technology-led development. The ministers pointed to the Philippines as a strong example, where ICT has generated millions of jobs in business process outsourcing. Similarly, Kenya’s fintech innovation—especially the success of M-PESA—was cited as a model for scaling digital financial services across the region.

Participants urged governments to proactively foster digital ecosystems by capitalizing on the demographic dividend, identifying infrastructure upgrades, tighter regulatory reforms, and digital skills trainings as priorities to enable broader participation in the digital economy.

Minister Egeh reiterated the need for more coordinated regional efforts to create the enabling environment required for accelerated digital integration and expansion. He referenced the HoAI Digital Policy Matrix, adopted in 2023 which provides a blueprint on how to address key obstacles to achieving effective digital integration across the region.

Barack Makokha, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury, underscored the importance of regionally-aligned public private partnerships and advocated for blended financing to reduce investment risk and expand digital access in underserved areas.

World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ndiame Diop, called for a comprehensive multi-pronged approach, combining cross-border coordination, large-scale financing, robust policy support, and digital infrastructure investments. He pointed out that such measures could transform digital integration into, “a powerful engine of economic transformation” for the Horn of Africa—ensuring no one is left behind in the digital era.

The meeting concluded with a shared recognition that sustained political will and the determination to implement a multifaceted approach are essential to unlocking the region’s economic potential and driving long-term growth.

The event also welcomed observers from the East African Community, Agence française de développement, and Shelter Afrique, reflecting strong regional and international backing for the HoAI in the development community.


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CSCS Inaugurates Custodian Portal to Enhance Digital Access, Operational Efficiency

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Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure provider, has launched its Custodian Portal, a user-centric digital solution designed to optimise custodian operations through intuitive, secure and efficient features.

Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CSCS, announced this in a statement on Monday.

The CSCS is a Public Limited Company with a diversified shareholder base, which serves as the Central Securities Depository for the Nigerian Capital Market.

It serves as the Central Depository for Equities, Commercial Papers, Corporate Bonds, Sub-National Bonds, certain Sovereign Bonds like the FGN Sukuk and the FGN Savings Bond, Equity-traded Funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts, Mutual funds and Commodities.

Jalo-Waziri said that the custodian portal offered a streamlined experience for market participants with powerful tools that facilitate comprehensive portfolio and trade management, document tracking, share transfer operations, client symbol search, and real-time access to vital data.

He explained that the portal, designed to operate through a flexible subscription-based model, empowered users to manage their records effortlessly and securely through convenient payment channels such as GTPay and Paystack.

According to him, “Digital transformation remains at the core of our strategy to enhance the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of Nigeria’s capital market services.

“The custodian portal is a significant leap in that direction, offering custodians a centralised platform to manage critical processes in real-time.

“We are excited about the value this innovation brings to our stakeholders, and we will continue to evolve the platform in line with users’ needs and industry trends.”

The CEO also explained that the portal was designed with user experience in mind with feature tools like portfolio viewing and downloads in PDF or Excel format.

He further said that it also featured tracking of stock movements across date ranges, inbox messaging and request tracking, as well as robust user management capabilities including role assignment and status tracking.

Similarly, the Divisional Head, Business Technology and Digital Innovation, CSCS Plc, Tobe Nnadozie, said that the portal aligned with CSCS’s drive to automate the market.

“In addition to the normal features, the platform is a part of an omnichannel platform for custodians, and includes API services.

“It also connects to the market-wide workflow, which CSCS has built to ensure secured communication and approvals across all major stakeholders in the market.

“The platform is well secured with best-of-breed cybersecurity solutions and our SOC,” he said.

The Custodian Portal reinforces CSCS’s commitment to leveraging technology to streamline back-office functions and support a more agile, data-driven capital market ecosystem.

All custodians in the Nigerian capital market have now been successfully on-boarded on the Custodian Portal, marking a significant milestone in CSCS’s ongoing drive to enhance collaboration, standardise operational processes, and promote digital adoption across the market.


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