Telecom
NITDA, SMEDAN Partner to Build Database for SMEs’ Interventions
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said that the Agency will collaborate with the Small and Medium Entreprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to have joint programmes in terms of Infrastructure, digital literacy, and many more; to build a database that will give insights into happenings and where to appropriately channel interventions.
SMEDAN has approximately 40 million small businesses spread across Nigeria and they are responsible for 50 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and 70 million jobs.
The DG made this known while receiving Charles Odii, the director general of SMEDAN who was on a courtesy visit to the Agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
The purpose of the visit was to seek partnership in terms of infrastructural and human capital development for SMEs in Nigeria. To also submit a memorandum of understanding (MoU) where both Agencies can align and invite DG NITDA to SMEDAN for further discussions.
Inuwa revealed that there were opportunities for collaboration between NITDA and SMEDAN as stated in the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) like the first pillar which is to foster Digital Literacy and cultivate talents.
He said the collaboration will facilitate the penetration of digital literacy among Small and Medium Entreprise (SMEs) to enhance productivity. He added that it also aligns with the objective of the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
“We all know that with digital literacy a market woman can sell her goods without moving from one place to another, as someone can use digital platforms to order for goods and have them delivered to them.”
The DG NITDA stated that the collaboration is apt as it will strengthen policy implementation and legal frameworks like the Nigerian Startup Act.
Inuwa said SMEs make up about 90 percent of the country’s workforce and more than 90 percent of businesses, saying; “We really want to work with you, to explore how we can get them (SMEs) to benefit from all the incentives within the Startup Act and we target those who use innovation to promote productivity or innovation-driven entreprises.”
Inuwa citing ISF said that there are more than 100 IT hubs in Nigeria and less than 50 percent of these centres are being utilised. He revealed that both Agencies can utilize these IT hubs as infrastructure for the unserved and underserved areas, which aligns with a pillar of the SRAP 2.0 which is to promote inclusive access to digital infrastructure and services.
“We can come together and decide a benchmark on what an IT hub should look like so that it can properly serve the people.”
On strengthening cybersecurity and digital trust he said “We need to look at how we can come up with cybersecurity solutions for SMEs that will promote digital trust by having SMEs that provide affordable and indigenous cybersecurity services.
Emphasis on another pillar that is SME-centric which is to nurture an innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem he said “We need to come up with ways to promote innovation and entrepreneurship thereby fostering a dynamic ecosystem that propels economic growth.
Speaking earlier, Odii said that the Agency has a couple of digital literacy programmes they had started, and they were at NITDA to have their curriculum looked at to see if it meets global standards and to be sure that it aligns with the NDLF.
Odii in terms of the Startup Act said: “We understand that NITDA is the secretariat for the Startup Act, and we want to work with you in sensitising them (SMEs), especially those of them who are startups to take advantage of this and also help to add to your database for registration.”
He said: “We have a robust SME database that we are building, and we would like to partner with you to make sure that the framework for this database is in line with what you have for data entrepreneurs.
A Nigerian, Mrs. Eyitayo Iyortim, has been appointed as the new chairperson/president, Africa Top Level Domains [AfTLD].
Eyitayo Iyortim, AfTLD
According to a report by Techeconomy, AfTLD confirmed the appointment, by the Organisation Executive Committee, of Mrs Iyortim from Nigeria (.NG) as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee and President of the Organization.
She will be deputized by Prof Idrissa Sarr, vice president and the manager of the.SN ccTLD.
Mr Joel Karubiu from Kenya (.KE) continues as the Treasurer.
The newly elected Executive Committee members are Mr. Molehe Wesi, Chief Executive Officer .ZA Domain Name Authority (.ZA) and Deo Gratias Tonouhewa Manager JenySAS operator (.BJ).
Other members of the Executive Committee include Ms. Grace Ingabire, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Information and Communications Technology Alliance (.RW), and Mr. Molupe Molupe, Manager of Lesotho Network Information Centre (.LS)
Who is Eyitayo Iyortim?
Eyitayo Iyortim is the immediate past chief operating officer of the qA).
She has a Masters in Organisational Psychology from the University of Manchester, UK.
Eyitayo has over 20 years’ experience in Project Management, Training solutions, Talent Management Solutions, Organisational Transformation, Culture re-enginerring, IT Sales and Services.
She has worked for local and global brands which includes SAP, focus on the Family, Nigeria Internet Registration Association to mention a few.
She also consults on ERP, Digitalisation and HR projects.
Eyitayo has worked in project teams for many top-tier organisations in Nigeria including NNPC, FIRS, Dangote, UAC, NLNG.
She is a member of the British Psychological Society with CPDs in Employee Management, Relationships at Work and Assessment Centre Management.
She is also certified in Ability and Personality testing, Project Management and Life Coaching.
AFTLD
AfTLD is recognized as the representative of country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) managers from Africa.
It is an active participant in the ICANN ccNSO, and also actively participates in various Internet governance fora with the African continent and beyond, including the IGF, where it has run a number of workshops.
With collaboration in Internet governance and development a cornerstone of the bottom-up policy development processes that make the Internet truly a multi-stakeholder phenomenon, AfTLD works in collaboration and partnership with other Regional Top-Level Domain Organizations (RTLDOs), these being APTLD, CENTR and LACTLD.
In a concerted effort to address widespread complaints about data depletion, Nigeria’s Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have collaboratively launched a consumer sensitization campaign aimed at providing practical guidance for more effective data management. This initiative is designed to enhance consumer satisfaction by helping subscribers optimize their data usage.
In a unified statement, the MNOs highlighted several smart data usage behaviors that can help prevent data depletion. These include disabling automatic app updates, enabling data saver mode, and closing unused apps to prevent background data consumption.
To prevent unauthorized access and strengthen data security, the MNOs advised consumers to use stronger passwords and regularly update their hotspot and Wi-Fi passwords to prevent unauthorized access. For a seamless video streaming experience, users should ensure they have sufficient data and turn off auto-downloads to effectively manage content consumption.
With the advent of advanced network technologies like 4G, LTE, and the latest 5G, which offer ultra-fast data speeds and enhanced browsing and streaming experiences, the speed of data consumption and pattern have increased significantly. Consumers are encouraged to understand these changes and manage their data usage accordingly.
“It is important for consumers to familiarize themselves with the specific terms and conditions of their data plans,” the MNOs emphasized.
“Different plans cater to various needs, including weekend-specific plans, social media-only plans, and regular plans configured for night use only.”
For additional tips on smarter data usage and management, consumers should visit the NCC website at https://consumer.ncc.gov.ng or the official MTN website – https://www.mtn.ng/manage-data/
Ijesha Digital Innovation Hub has announced the graduation ceremony of its first cohort of trainees.
Ijesha Digital Hub
The landmark event will take place on Monday, July 8th, 2024, starting promptly at 2:00 PM at the Royal Park Hotel on the beautiful campus of Olashore International School, Iloko-Ijesa.
In a press statement on Friday, Dr Adewale Alonge, Vice President, IGAD, said that after six months of intensive and globally benchmarked courses of study, “the hub is proud to graduate 48 trainees who have completed rigorous programs leading to certification in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and UI/UX Design. The graduating class includes 10 trainees in UI/UX Design, 23 in Cybersecurity, and 15 in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning”.
The ceremony will feature a keynote address by Sir Aladekomo, Chairman of SmartCity Resorts Plc and Founder of Chams Plc, a pioneer in the Nigerian tech industry.
“The event will be chaired by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, the esteemed Asiwaju of Ijeshaland, who will also deliver remarks celebrating the achievements of the graduates and the impact of the Innovation Hub.
“The media is invited to cover this significant event, which marks a new chapter for the 48 graduates as they embark on their professional journeys equipped with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. This graduation is a testament to the hub’s commitment to providing skills development training today so that participants can build tomorrow”, Dr. Alonge said.
The Ijesha Digital Innovation Hub, an initiative of the Ijesha Global Alliance for Development (IGAD), is dedicated to advancing the social, economic, and industrial development of Ijesaland in Nigeria. IGAD, a Florida, US-registered tax-exempt non-profit organization, mobilizes the resources and talents of Ijesas across the globe to foster the development of their homeland.
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