General News
Lagos Inaugurates First Govt ISO-certified Lab in Nigeria

Lagos State Government has flagged-off the first ever ultra- modern International Standard Organisation, ISO, certified government-owned laboratory in Nigeria. The laboratory was facilitated by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking on Friday, during the official commissioning of the ultra-modern Laboratory, located in the premises of LASEPA, Alausa Ikeja, said that the upgraded and re-equipped laboratory will further improve the quality of life for residents.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, said the State Government has recorded another first in its environmental protection drive and in setting pace for good governance and the general well being of residents of the state, with the establishment of the lab.
According to him, the upgrading of LASEPA Laboratory became necessary as a result of the growing population of the state and the need to enhance the capacity of the agency to effectively deliver on its core mandate of monitoring the environment for safety and sustainability.
The governor, expressed satisfaction that the Laboratory earned the accreditation of the International Organization of Standardization for Quality Management System (ISO/IEC 9001) and Laboratory Management System (ISO/IEC 17025) which now makes LASEPA the first Government-owned environmental laboratory in Nigeria.
“This accreditation has given Lagos State a global recognition and acceptance as results generated from this laboratory are consistent and accurate through industry-standard protocols; and in line with best practices obtainable worldwide,” the Governor stated.
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, urged the management and staff of LASEPA, particularly those that would be charged with the responsibility of operating the Laboratory to do so with utmost professional care and high sense of responsibility.
“The Management must also, always keep in mind that to whom much is given, much is expected in return. Our administration will continue to invest in projects that are consistent with our goal of ensuring a healthy, safe and Sustainable environment.
“As we strive to bring about a more resilient and environmentally sustainable State, we look forward to a more purpose driven partnership with local and international bodies, academic institutions, researchers and non-governmental organizations,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
Earlier, Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Rotimi Abiru, said that ‘the rate of human activities in all parts of the state and the huge population of residents of the State with different industries makes it compelling for government to be deliberate about paying attention to the environment.”
While noting that the initiative led credence to LASEPA’s resolve to ensure that all residents of the State have access to quality air to breath, Abiru appreciated the General Manager of the Agency and other environment-friendly stakeholders for championing the protection of the Lagos environment.
Giving an overview of the upgraded Laboratory, the General Manager LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, explained that the Laboratory formerly known as Laboratory Department, serving the then Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning was upgraded by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
According to her, the initiative of the ISO-certified laboratory, was in line with the present administration’s THEMES agenda which prioritizes Health and Environment, saying “the project resonates with LASEPA’s mandate of safeguarding the environmental quality of the state’s land, air and water resources.”
She described the ISO-certified laboratory as “a boost for the agency’s mandate in the area of monitoring the activities of industrial, commercial and government entities in the state to ensure compliance to the environmental management laws of the state while also achieving sustainable development.
Fasawe revealed that she identified the need for an upgrade and standardization of the agency’s laboratory processes following her deployment to the agency as the General Manager and upon realization that the mandate of LASEPA borders around effective laboratory services.
She explained; “The laboratory complex was constructed 32 years ago as a pollution control laboratory under the Governace of Raji Rasaki, a retired Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army who was the then military governor of the state.
“However, during Governor Bola Tinubu regime, it metamorphosed into a full-fledged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laboratory with a strategic footprint, sectioned into seven different laboratory services.”
Fasawe added that the agency would not have been able to achieve the upgrading and re-equipping of the laboratory without Sanwo-Olu, who supported the initiative from incubation to completion, alongside the Commissioner for the Environment, some key members of the state Executive Council as well as some principal government officials.
The laboratory which was upgraded, through a carefully designed-work, now has a State-of-the-art environmental laboratory equipment and engineering processes according to ISO standards and best practices.
General News
SEC Advocates for Advanced Financial Inclusion by 2030

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has noted the need for Nigeria to harness its demographic dividend to advance financial inclusion through investments by 2030 for national survival or face deepening inequality.
Emomotimi Agama, Director General, SEC, said this at the United Capital Asset Management Investment forum held Wednesday in Lagos.
Agama, in his keynote address titled: “Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments: Bridging Nigeria’s Knowledge and Wealth Gap,” said Nigeria must harness its demographic dividend to boost investment.
“Our theme, Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments, is not aspirational; it is foundational to national survival.
“We stand at a pivotal moment. By 2030, Nigeria can either harness its demographic dividend or face deepening inequality. The knowledge-wealth gap is not merely an economic challenge; it is a moral imperative,” Agama said.
He said the term inclusion should be reframed as active financial involvement, where access meets empowerment, and capital becomes a tool for transformation.
Agama said that closing the financial inclusion gender gap could lift 700,000 Nigerians from poverty.
He said, “Nigeria has a great population yet we have a tiny drop of this number of persons involved in the capital market.
That’s one reason for poverty, because we are running from money. We have to do something. Our market capitalisation is an opportunity to do something, we all have.
“We need to change the narrative and move the market forward. We must reach out to make the difference. We are committed to protecting investors and developing the market. Our goal is to do the right thing no matter whose ox is gored. We will work by the principles of fairness and equity to change the market. We will provide a fair ground for everyone to aspire.
He noted that MTN Nigeria’s share offering drew 150,000 new investors – 75 percent women, 85 percent under 40. Agama recommended a four-pillar strategy for bridging the gaps.
He listed the four-pillar strategy as democratisation of financial knowledge, catalyse MSME Investment Channels, blended Finance Vehicles: Partner with Bank of Industry (BOI) to de-risk loans for women-led SMEs.
“We need to educate people about finances. As we drive this market, we do so for a purpose, I enjoin everyone to be the disciple and the apostles. Getting this market to move is a deliberate action,” he added.
General News
OpenAI Unveils New AI Agent for Software Developers

OpenAI has launched Codex, which it regards as its most capable AI coding agent available to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers.
Users will have ‘generous access at no additional cost’ for a few weeks, after which OpenAI plans to introduce pricing options and rate-limited access.
Codex, a cloud-based software engineering agent, can write features, answer questions about a codebase, fix bugs, and propose pull requests for review. Several tasks can run simultaneously, and users retain full access to their computers while the agent takes anywhere from one to 30 minutes to complete a task.
The research preview of Codex offers powerful code-writing, debugging, and collaboration features, which mark a major step in OpenAI’s push to automate software development.
“We imagine a future where developers drive the work they want to own and delegate the rest to agents—moving faster and being more productive with AI,” OpenAI said.
Since it is still in research preview, the tool remains in early development. “It currently lacks features like image inputs for front-end work, and the ability to course-correct the agent while it’s working,” the firm said in a blog post.
Additionally, delegating to a remote agent takes longer than interactive editing, which can take some getting used to, it stated. Over time, however, the company said using the service will feel more like asynchronous collaboration with colleagues.
The launch comes as part of a broader rise of AI tools for software engineers that are meant to handle repetitive, boring tasks rather than take over the whole gamut.
OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire Windsurf, a maker of AI coding tools, for around $3 billion, which is potentially its largest acquisition to date.
General News
Africa Gears Up For Digital Sovereignty At 13th Edition Of Digital Africa Conference 2025

Africa’s digital destiny will on October 28-29, 2025, take centre stage at the 13th Edition of the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition (DACE), to be held at Merit House, Abuja, under the theme: “Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global Digital Order.”
At a time when artificial intelligence (AI), smart systems, and data technologies are reshaping societies, economies, and governance structures worldwide, DACE 2025 is sounding a clarion call: ‘Africa must lead, not lag in this transformation.’
Organizers say the aim is to move beyond consumption and dependency, and instead position the continent as a proactive contributor to global digital norms and governance.
“This year’s conference is about shifting from passive adoption to active leadership,” said Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman, Digital Africa Consult, organisers of the event. “Sovereign Intelligence is more than a concept, it’s a movement to ensure that Africa controls its digital resources, designs its own ethical frameworks, and asserts its voice in shaping global technology norms.”
A Defining Moment for Africa’s Digital Future
Woherem said the conference will serve as a high-level, cross-sectoral platform aimed at positioning Africa as a co-author of global AI governance standards, rather than a mere recipient, assuring that the conversations are expected to align closely with the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy, advocating for a united, self-determined digital ecosystem across the continent.
“The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. As the world builds its digital infrastructure, much of the technology consumed in Africa is still imported, foreign-owned, and culturally disconnected. African data is often stored offshore, local languages and cultural contexts remain invisible in AI systems, and African experts are frequently excluded from global decision-making tables.
“This must change. Digital Africa 2025 is about taking control of our data, our narratives, and our technological development. Africa must move from being users of foreign systems to creators of our own,” Woherem added.
Key Objectives of DACE 2025
One of the primary objectives of this year’s event is to advocate for African ownership of digital infrastructure, data policies, and technology standards. Organizers hope to inspire African leaders and institutions to say yes to innovation and regulation built by Africans, for Africans.
Another major focus will be amplifying African voices on the global stage. This involves not only advocating for inclusion in international policy dialogues but also ensuring that African values, cultures, and wisdom shape the design and deployment of AI systems worldwide.
“The conference will also spotlight homegrown innovation. Startups and developers from across the continent will showcase digital solutions addressing local challenges in healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education. These practical examples will reinforce the message that Africa is already generating intelligent, scalable answers to complex problems,” said Nneoma Ofodile, General Manager, Digital Africa.
Empowering young Africans through digital skills, research opportunities, and leadership training is another key goal of the gathering. Organizers are committed to fostering a new generation of African tech leaders who can confidently shape global digital trends from a place of knowledge and ownership.
Regional cooperation will be front and centre, as DACE encourages cross-border collaboration on harmonizing laws, sharing infrastructure, and building integrated digital ecosystems. Sessions will explore how African nations can jointly develop policies and platforms that reflect the continent’s unique needs and aspirations.
While global partnerships will also be on the agenda, the conference aims to deepen Africa’s engagement with international institutions such as UNESCO, the UN, and the OECD, not as passive participants but as co-authors of global standards for ethical and inclusive AI.
Nneoma said that throughout the two-day event, attendees can expect high-level discussions on digital law, tech sovereignty, and innovation policy, alongside practical workshops for developers, educators, and youth. Innovation showcases will highlight the work of African tech hubs, while strategy sessions will promote cross-country digital alignment.
At the close of the event, a concrete roadmap is expected to emerge—outlining actionable steps toward achieving digital sovereignty across the continent. The conference will also aim to strengthen networks among African innovators, regulators, and thinkers, while increasing the visibility of African insights in international technology policy.
Above all, Digital Africa 2025 is about reclaiming agency. “This isn’t just a technology conversation,” Nneoma emphasized. “It’s about power, voice, and independence. Africa must not only catch up; Africa must lead.”
As preparations intensify, DACE 2025 is inviting visionary organizations, sponsors, and partners to join the mission of building a digitally sovereign and inclusive Africa.
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