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Healthcare Delivery: NITDA Trains NMA Members on Digital Transformation

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The National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) believes that the integration of Information Technology into health care sector would accelerate the attainment of all the sustainable Development Goals, (SDG) particularly SDG Goal 3.

This belief was expressed at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State during a two-day workshop on Healthcare and ICT with the theme “Healthcare Transformation and Digital Technology” organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA) Bauchi State chapter.

Making the remarks on behalf of Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the agency, Dr Amina Sambo Magaji, head, Digital Ecosystem Unit, Digital Economy Department, stated that the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society provides guideline on the integration of ICT into healthcare delivery.

She added that resolution of the United Nation General Assembly calls for “a close alignment between WSIS process and the 2020 agenda for sustainable development which requests all stakeholders to integrate ICT into their approaches to implementing the goals.

She said, “Under this alignment, the following action lines are linked to the SDG Goal 3 and they include; role of stakeholders in promotion of ICT4SDG through cooperation and partnership, focusing on access to information and knowledge, addressing digital literacy and lifelong learning and application of ICT in several areas amongst which are e-Health or Digital Health.”

While emphasizing the functions of NITDA in this regard, she maintained that the Agency will continue to develop and regulate IT for sustainable national development by supporting the implementation of the National Health ICT Strategic Framework.

Dr Sambo further stated that going by the Framework, ICT would enable and help in delivering Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria, adding that the National Strategy was developed using the WHO-ITU toolkit that is capable of creating enabling environment for digital health in Nigeria.

She averred that as the nation makes efforts to operate in the Digital Economy, NITDA designated a department called Digital Economy which would contribute to the attainment of Universal Healthcare Coverage in Nigeria.

She assured that NITDA would continue its commitment to harness the potential of technology to find effective and innovative ways to put this potential of leveraging on ICT to develop health care service for all Nigerians.

Earlier, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Haruna Liman noted that the opportunity the Agency availed the doctors in the state would help to advance the partnership between the health sector and NITDA, being the vanguard of the digital economy in Nigeria.

“Indeed, health practices generally is being increasingly digitalized for efficiency and effective treatment of patients,” he affirmed.

He stated that the digitalization and computer applications in the health sector is impacting positively on the three core mandates that affect teaching hospitals, these he said include, training, research and health care delivery to the extent that one who is not computer literate in this time would find it difficult to practice as health care specialist regardless of his area of specialization.

While acknowledging that the digital applications have help in many areas of the health sector, Dr Liman informed that only digital revolution can facilitate the kind of development being witnessed today in health care delivery. “Definitely, the benefits that we stand to gain from the application of digitalization of health sector cannot be enumerated.

He commended NITDA for finding it worthy to organise the workshop and also interact with the hospital with a view of “accessing the gap that we have and make appropriate recommendations on how we can improve on our digitalization processes.”

The CMD expressed optimism that with NITDA partnering with the hospital, the effort to digitize the hospital record through Electronic Health Record system would soon become fruitful. “Our hospital has made efforts to digitize the medical health record. We have interacted with some resource persons but it is still evolving, we have not yet finalized it but I believe with the facilities we have, NITDA can guide us to achieve this.

He equally appealed to the Agency to ensure that the engagement does not end with the workshop. He said, “I want you to forge continued partnership with us because we are still evolving like a toddler who needs guidance from his parents.”

The Vice Chairman of the Association, Dr Abdulrasheed Yakubu Baba in welcome remarks commended NITDA for speedy response given to the proposal of the Association to be trained by NITDA on digital transformation in health care delivery.

He said the NMA Executive realised that capacity building in ICT in relation healthcare delivery has become imperative and this necessitated the executive to reach out to NITDA to facilitate the training.

He appealed to the members of the Association to avail themselves the opportunities provided by the Agency to advance their productivity.


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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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NCC Holds Virtual Forum on A2P Licensing Framework

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has hosted a virtual stakeholders’ forum to discuss the draft Application-to-Person (A2P) licensing framework.

The event, held on December 20, aimed to address challenges in the international A2P messaging space in Nigeria, including consumer protection, fraud prevention and industry fairness.

Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman (EVC)/ceo, Nigerian Communications Commission who was represented by Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Ag. Head, Legal and Regulatory Services of NCC, said A2P messaging plays a vital role in today’s digital world.

“A2P messaging drives efficiency, enhances communication and supports socio-economic development.

“It has become the go-to platform for businesses to send notifications, whether transactional, promotional or service-related, directly to consumers,” Whyte said.

She emphasized the importance of effective regulation, stressing that the NCC’s strategic focus is centered on three key stakeholders: the government, consumers and the industry.

Whyte noted that the proposed framework seeks to foster innovation, ensure fair and transparent operations and protect consumers.

“The NCC firmly believes that effective regulation stems from inclusivity and collaboration.

“This forum is an opportunity for all of us – operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers and consumers – to engage in meaningful discussions,” she said.

The commission presented the various feedbacks received as inputs into the A2P Licensing Framework and gave NCC’s responses to each of the observations and recommendations made by the licensees.

Mrs. Truddy Tony-Awusaku, Assistant Director at the Licensing and Authorisation Department of the NCC, presented an overview of the framework for international A2P messaging in Nigeria.

The NCC assured stakeholders that it would continue to engage internal and external stakeholders ahead of the final draft of the A2P Messaging Services Licensing Framework.

The commission invited stakeholders to provide feedback and recommendations to refine the framework and create a sustainable A2P messaging ecosystem.


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9Mobile Blames Network Outage on Data Center Fire in Lagos

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9Mobile, mobile network operator, has blamed a network outage this week on a fire incident at its main data center in Lagos.

9Mobile Blames Network Outage on Data Center Fire in Lagos

The fire is said to have happened on Tuesday night (December 17), leading to network issues for 9Mobile’s customers until Thursday.

9Mobile said it had experienced multiple fiber cuts which had led to some of the disruption.

Its customers have taken to social media to complain about a lack of voice and data services.

9Mobile is estimated to have more than 11 million mobile subscribers.

The latest outage follows a six-day outage that impacted the carrier in July.

“9Mobile sincerely apologizes for the recent service outages experienced by our valued customers which have affected our ability to provide voice, data, and internet services. We understand the frustration these disruptions have caused and deeply regret the inconvenience,” said 9Mobile in a statement.

“Our technical team has identified the root causes of the outages including a fire incident at our main data center in Lagos last night which severely impacted services, especially in the Lagos and South-West.  We are grateful for the swift intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service, which helped prevent further damage.”

The cause of the fire was not revealed by the carrier.

Acknowledging the fiber cuts, 9Mobile explained that prior to the fire, a fiber cut on the backbone links in Lagos led to a total data outage across the country. Other vandalism incidents in Lagos and Abuja led to a total service outage in the southwest and a data service outage in the north of the country.


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Sytemap Announces 50% Discount on Verified Lands for Women, March 8–14, 2025

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Sytemap, a trusted leader in land acquisition and technology solutions, is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower women through affordable and secure land ownership.

From March 8 to March 14, 2025, women—including professionals in Africa and the diaspora—will enjoy an exclusive 50% discount on plots from verified estate developers through the Sytemap platform.

This initiative, themed “Her Land, Her Future,” underscores Sytemap’s commitment to breaking cultural and economic barriers that have historically sidelined women from property ownership. Partnering with over 30 reputable estate developers, Sytemap is creating unprecedented opportunities for women to invest in land with confidence.

For decades, women in Nigeria and across Africa have faced significant hurdles in land acquisition, including high costs, fear of fraud, and societal biases. In fact, studies show that 65% of victims of land scams in Nigeria are women.

Sytemap’s CEO, Nnamdi Uba, stated, “Women have long been marginalized in land ownership, a critical path to building wealth and security. Our mission is not only to make land ownership accessible but to eliminate the fears and uncertainties that hold women back.”

With this initiative, Sytemap leverages its reputation for transparency and cutting-edge technology to offer a simple, scam-free, and empowering process for land purchase.

The campaign is designed to resonate with young professionals, particularly women with good-paying jobs who are ready to invest in their future. For women in the diaspora, the initiative offers tailored support, including seamless international payment options and an innovative plot-monitoring app that allows buyers to manage their investments from anywhere in the world.

Key Features Include:

50% Discount: Available only during the trade fair window (March 8–14, 2025).

Verified Estates: Secure locations vetted by Sytemap and trusted developers.

Flexible Payment Plans: Options to spread payments over several months to ease financial stress.

Digital Monitoring: A dedicated app to track land purchases and allocation progress.

Guaranteed Transparency: Every outright payment comes with instant, verifiable certificate allocation, with land documents delivered within three weeks.

This initiative will launch during the “Sytemap Land Trade Fair 1.0,” an event bringing together key stakeholders, women’s organizations, and influencers to celebrate this transformative moment. Women in the diaspora are encouraged to participate and take advantage of this life-changing opportunity.

Imagine a future where women are equal stakeholders in property ownership, shaping communities and securing generational wealth.

Sytemap invites women across Africa and the diaspora to claim their space and rewrite the narrative of land ownership.

For more details and to reserve your plot, visit https://sytemap.com/women.


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