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NITDA Commences 5day Capacity Training for ICT 50 Journalists

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Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Monday commenced a five days capacity training to upskill the members of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA).

NITDA representative with NITRA executives at the on going capacity training in Lagos

Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, Director General, NITDA, said in his address at the training that this initiative to upskill fifty (50) journalists from NITRA is in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS)

Inuwa said it was also the mandate of NITDA to provide Digital Literacy to the Nigerians in line with the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2021 to 2024 of president Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, it is to intervene in the development of digital technology by supporting, promoting and facilitating digital skills and literacy programs and the development of innovative solutions for adoption and use in every facet of national life.

Inuwa who was represented by Mrs Chinyere Nwankwo, manager, Digital architecture said that the training would also support improvement of trust, confidence and security on the mode of media production and delivery.

He said that the training would also provide digital capacity for the management, storage and retrieval of digital information and content security.

According to him, the training will further shape the technological understanding of the participants needed in reporting the industry as well as their digital skills.

“It will help ICT journalists in news gathering and fact checking in this era fake news.

“In this our dynamic ICT world, several trends such as growing digitization, interconnectedness and convergence are often discussed by experts as well as laymen.

“Information and Communication Technology journalists play a significant part in disseminating, explaining and interpreting these new technologies and in facilitating our understanding of future trends,’’ he said.

According to him, it would also educate both their audience and developers they cover because digital literacy is now more important than ever.

Inuwa said that the ability to find, evaluate, utilize and create information using digital technology.” includes areas like online security, online communication responsibility, and digital ethics.

He said that most positions today require technological knowledge, organizations must provide training and education on ICT, or risk having the workforce being left behind.

The DG said that the employees with digital literacy skills were more competent in their work, as they easily identify important information, data, patterns and use them efficiently.

According to him, this is important because we are constantly being disrupted by new information and digital literacy skills also allow workers to use technology to collaborate and connect with each other and thus strengthen teamwork.

He however urged that the capacity training should be effectively applied to improve services in the industry and Nigeria at large.

Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, chairman of NITRA thanked NITDA for sponsoring the training.

He further urged members of NITRA to embrace the opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn new skills to help them in carrying out their news reporting activities

“The essence of this capacity training is for us to upskill. We are aware that some of us have attended trainings within and outside Nigeria, however the dynamics of this industry where technology continues to evolve demands that we continue to train and retrain ourselves.
NITDA training for NITRA members (1)

“We thought it wise to partner with an agency of the government on this project and NITDA being an outstanding agency deemed it wise to work with us.

“NITDA has been apt in its digital transformation strategy and from our observations; the processes are up to standards we see among private sector organisations”, Onwuegbuchi said.


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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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Paradigm Initiative Champions Digital Rights and Inclusion at Africa IGF 2025 in Dar es Salaam

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Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing digital rights and inclusion across Africa following its active participation in the 2025 Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), held in Dar es Salaam from May 29 to 31.

The forum convened diverse stakeholders from governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia to explore pressing internet governance issues under the theme “Building a Resilient Digital Ecosystem that Supports Africa’s Sustainable Growth and Global Leadership.”

PIN’s delegation contributed to conversations around digital security, digital rights and inclusion policy and compliance, emerging technologies, global governance, highlighting digital threats and making recommendations for an inclusive and rights-respecting digital landscape. Drawing from its research and advocacy efforts across the continent, the organisation offered practical policy recommendations aimed at fostering an open, secure, and human rights-respecting digital environment.

“The Africa IGF continues to serve as a critical space for shaping Africa’s digital future. We were pleased to contribute insights and amplify the urgent need for inclusive and rights-centric digital governance,” said ‘Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director.

During the forum, PIN hosted and participated in multiple sessions, including: A panel on protecting civic space online, a workshop on bridging the digital divide through inclusive policies, and bilateral meetings with regional and global partners on shaping digital governance frameworks in the lead-up to key global internet governance conversations.

PIN’s presence at the AfIGF 2025 not only spotlighted emerging digital threats but also underscored its commitment to ensuring that all technological advancements and policies globally translate into greater digital freedoms and opportunities, not restrictions.

As part of its ongoing advocacy, the organisation will continue to engage with stakeholders across sectors to ensure that digital transformation in Africa is anchored in rights, equity, and inclusion.


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MTN Nigeria Unveils 21 Days of Y’elloCare to Empower Communities through Digital Tools

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MTN Nigeria today held the opening ceremony for the 2025 edition of 21Days of Y’ello Care, the company’s annual employee volunteerism initiative.

This year’s campaign, themed “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools,” will run from June 1 to June 21, 2025, and focuses on supporting communities that continue to face barriers to digital access and connectivity.

MTN Nigeria kicked off on Sunday June 1 with trainings across different locations in Lagos where staff of the company volunteered to delivered training in valuable areas such as digital marketing and personal branding and employability skills.

In line with the Group-wide campaign theme, MTN Nigeria is implementing a series of grassroots initiatives aimed at expanding digital inclusion and connectivity in underserved areas.

Planned activities include equipping schools and community youth centres with devices, digital literacy workshops, deployment of community Wi-Fi access points, support for digital entrepreneurship and the establishment of an all-in-one Y’ello Pods across the country that will provide a digital hub for learning and support financial inclusion.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held in Lagos, Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria said, Y’ello Care matters to us because we’re a digital company and we’re operating in an environment where there are so many needs. At MTN Nigeria, we care, and we want to show our direct connection and responsibility to the communities we operate in.

Now in its 18th year, Y’ello Care is a groupwide flagship MTN employee volunteering initiative that encourages MTNers to volunteer their time and expertise to support positive social change.

The campaign reflects MTN’s purpose to enable the benefits of a modern connected life for everyone and is anchored in the company’s core values.

In 2024, in a remarkable demonstration of corporate volunteerism, MTN staff, through the Y’ello Care initiative, reconstructed a school block at Iwerekun Community High School, Lakowe. This effort has restored hope and significantly improved learning conditions for both students and teachers.

For further information, updates on “21 Days of Y’ello Care”and MTN Nigeria’s commitment to social development, please visit yellocare.ng or follow us on social media.


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Google’s Open Buildings Data Empowers Africa’s Health and Climate Progress

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Fresh, on-the-ground evidence from health planners and climate analysts in Rwanda, Nigeria and South Africa shows how the Open Buildings dataset, which maps more than 1.8 billion structures, is helping frontline projects close service gaps and strengthen community resilience.

Across the continent, artificial-intelligence tools are graduating from pilots to public-service workhorses, powering everything from crop-price forecasts to live language translation. Open Buildings—developed by researchers at Google Research Africa—is part of that shift, proving that open, locally guided AI can turn sparse data into timely decisions without locking African problem-solvers behind paywalls or proprietary gates.

In Rwanda, the Ministry of Health and Kigali-based Sand Technologies resited rural clinics with help from the dataset. Their new blueprint aims to bring 92% of citizens within a 30-minute reach of care, trimming journeys that put mothers and newborns at risk.

Across Northern Nigeria, epidemiologists at AFENET and geographers from WorldPop uncovered 10,250 buildings, guiding vaccinators who reached 70% of the zero-dose and under-immunized children identified through the mapping in just six months.

Meanwhile, the World Resources Institute (WRI) has already applied this flood-risk modelling in Dire Dawa, Kigali, Musanze, Gqeberha and Johannesburg, combining two-dimensional hydraulic simulations with building footprints to create block-by-block exposure maps.

The need is pressing: Nairobi is still recovering from the May 2024 floods that displaced more than 278 000 residents, while Johannesburg’s rapid growth along the flood-prone Jukskei River continues to heighten vulnerability

These projects tackle challenges felt across the continent. Africa still has about 8.7 million “zero-dose” children who receive no routine vaccines each year, while the urban population is projected to almost double to nearly one billion people by 2035— forcing new homes into high-risk floodplains and informal settlements.

By giving ministries, city engineers and NGOs a street-level view of where communities are growing and how they change over time, the Open Buildings dataset lets limited budgets flow to the people and places that need them most.

Dr Aisha Walcott-Bryant, Research Scientist & Head, Google Research Africa, “These projects show what happens when local expertise meets open, scalable technology: mothers reach clinics sooner, children receive long-overdue vaccines, and city planners get ahead of the next flood.

“We’re thrilled to stand beside partners who turn data into decisive action, proving that AI’s highest calling is to solve real-world challenges.”

From lifesaving clinics to climate-smart cities, these projects show how open AI is fast becoming Africa’s quiet engine for equitable progress.

The Open Buildings dataset—along with sample code, tutorials and its new 2.5D layer—is freely available at g.co/openbuildings.


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