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NITMA Reinforces NCS Unique Values, Professionalism- Adewumi

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Professor David Adewumi, president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has identified the Society’s annual award- National Information technology Merit Awards (NITMA) as pivotal in reinforcing its values anchored on professionalism and consistency.

Adewumi made the remark while address the media on the criteria for 2014 edition of the awards, adding since 2009 it began, NITMA has afforded NCS opportunity to honour and reward excellence and outstanding contributions in the Nigeria’s Information Technology Industry.

“It is an event to honour those who have made a giant stride and significant impact in expanding the frontiers of Information Technology in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that the Nigerian nation has moved forward because of the contributions of the individual and organizations to be recognized at the award ceremony taking place at Mosun Centre Onikan Lagos on Friday November 14, 2014.

The NCS President said, “NITMA event reinforces the unique values NCS promotes by combining this prestigious long-standing awards ceremony with unparalleled networking opportunities in a highly celebratory environment that will include IT professionals, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, as well as policy and decision makers in the private and public sectors of the economy.

“It is a credible event that is forward looking and important in promoting the long term sustainability of the IT sector and developing Nigeria’s knowledge society. This is a responsibility that defines the essence of Nigeria Computer Society

“The Awards are categorised and based on IT specialisation, NCS standards and global best practices. Among the categories of awards is the distinguished IT Personality of the Year Award. Expectedly this is already generating immense interest within IT community as the most prestigious IT award.

“Also attracting serious attention is Professional fellowships that will be conferred on deserving practitioners. Other category of award is the Special Recognition Awards that will be given to individuals and organizations who have been most consistent over time in moving the IT industry and profession forward. Outstanding individuals in society will be honoured with Honorary Fellowship awards”.

On the award categories, he said there the IT Personality of the Year award which is the NCS President’s award acknowledges and celebrates the year’s most outstanding IT contributors over the year.

The nominees are Austin Okere, CEO of Computer WareHouse Group; Aneilkan Etiebet, Managing Director of Data Sciences; Collins Onuegbu, Managing Director of Signal Alliance and Segun Akano, Managing Director Upperlink limited.

During the ceremony, deserving individuals who have distinguished themselves with exceptional achievement and service that have accelerated IT development in Nigeria will be honoured with Honorary Fellowships.

They include Dr. Toga Gayewea Mcintosh vice president of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) for his continuing and outstanding contribution to Information Technology development in Nigeria and the West Africa Region and Dr. Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, Chairman House Committee on ICT.

IT professionals who have excelled and have achieved significantly through their work in IT will be honoured with Professional Fellow grade of the NCS.

Professional fellowship conferment is the highest recognition of professional excellence anyone can receive in IT practice in Nigeria. Being the highest grade of the NCS professional cadre, Professional Fellowship awards are for IT role models who have made significant impact to the growth of information technology in Nigeria.

On special recognition awards, the beneficiaries are Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman ZINOX Technologies; Chief Don Etiebet, chairman Data Sciences; Mrs Ibukun Odusote, permanent secretary Federal Minisry of Agriculture; Mr. John Obaro, CEO Systemspec and  Mr. Austin Okere, CEO CWG.

Others are Prof.  Vincent Ado Tenebe, vice chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria; Sidmach Technologies and Mobile Knowledge Solutions.

Adewumi added that the criteria for the awards varies from category to category, but core to each category is demonstrated excellence, local and international recognition, significant contribution to the development of IT, National Impact and Innovation.


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Students Loans’ Beneficiaries to Start Repayment 2 Years after Graduation-  NELFUND:

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Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said that students in tertiary institutions and approved vocational centres would start repayment of the loan two years after graduation.

Students Loans’ Beneficiaries to Start Repayment 2 Years after Graduation-  NELFUND:

However, NELFUND management specifically stated that the repayment of the loan would commence if the students secured a job or went into business.

Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director, NELFUND, said the Act specify a moratorium of two years after graduation for the students to begin repayment of the loan.

Sawyerr said if the students start work, his employer would be expected to remit 10 percent into NELFUND dedicated account.

He added: “The loan does not have a specified repayment tenure. It makes it easy for students to apply for the loan. NELFUND would pay according to the documents provided by the institutions. We cannot put tenure on the loan; some will die, drop out, ‘Japa’ or refuse to pay. While those who went into business would pay into same account.

“It is a revolving a loan. We will not put students under pressure to get the loan and we are not going to state a tenure because it is not a commercial loan.’’

According to him, the loan is meant for students in public universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and vocational institutes, who apply via NELFUND portal and are expected to present their JAMB admission letter, NIN and BVN.

He explained that non-students would not have access to the loan and that NELFUND has put the necessary machinery in place to ensure that beneficiaries can be reached when the need arises.

His words: “We are using technology to run the new system. The process of application is online through our dedicated portal and we are limiting human contact as much as possible. Once you have a Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN), which are parts of the requirements, we will have access to your data and all your accounts. This will also help us to know if you are qualified or not,” Sawyerr stated.

The MD disclosed that students already in institution are eligible to apply for the loan at any level of their study and must be at the beginning of each academic session.

He noted that such students would have to provide their admission and matriculation details in addition to BVN and NIN.

Sawyerr added that about 1.2 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and government-recognized vocational centres would be among the first batch of beneficiaries and that the figure would increase as time goes on.

The NELFUND boss disclosed that the scheme would be funded from one per cent of the total annual revenue by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which would amount to N194 billion if the agency meets its projection.

Sawyerr observed that the loan would be paid in two segments, the first, being the school fees, which would be paid directly to the institutions while stipend would be paid into students’ account for their day-to-day upkeep.

He added that the amount individual students would access varies because of the course of study, school fees and geographical location of the institutions.

“You don’t start paying back the loan until two years after your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and you have secured a job or business. A beneficiary can defer repayment if he has not secured a job, but if after due diligence, he/she defaulted, then the student becomes a criminal and we will work with government agency that can help us get the money back, for example, EFCC, ICPC,” Sawyerr stated.


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GPA Raises Alarm, Says Malaria Vaccine Can Cause Meningitis

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Global Prolife Alliance (GPA), global health organization, has told the National Assembly that the intended malaria vaccine currently proposed by Bill Gates, American billionaire, for Nigeria can trigger meningitis in the populace.

GPA Raises Alarm, Says Malaria Vaccine Can Cause Meningitis

Dr. Philip Njemanze, chairman of GPA, gave the warning in a statement released to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

Njemanze, known for being pro-health in the Catholic church, charged the national assembly not to be in a hurry to succumb to the pressure of the bill currently before the house.

He said the vaccine may trigger the deaths of millions of Nigerian children prone to cerebral meningitis, especially in the northern part of the country.

Part of the letter read “Among the side effects is a tenfold increase in cerebral meningitis. Nigeria is endemic for cerebral meningitis. A tenfold increase could cause the deaths of millions of children, especially in northern Nigeria.

“Please intervene and call for a public hearing, for an open public discussion on the pros and cons with expert opinions from both sides. This will help the Nigerian people to be better informed about granting or withholding consent for the vaccination.

“Your intervention could save millions of lives, especially in northern Nigeria, where meningitis is most endemic, particularly at this time of serious insecurity,” Njemanze warned.

 

 


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NERC Cedes Regulatory Oversight of Enugu Electricity Market to State Government Agency

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ceded the regulatory oversight of the Enugu electricity market to the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), which is owned by the state government with effect from May 1, 2024.

This is the first-ever transfer of regulatory powers from the NERC to a state government electricity regulator.

“On completion of the Transfers under subsections (2) and (3), whichever occurs later in time, the Commission shall have no further regulatory responsibility whatsoever for electricity market activities carried on entirely within the State to which regulatory responsibility has been transferred and for which the Additional Successor Company has been incorporated and conferred with assets, liabilities, employees, rights and obligations,” NERC said in a statement signed by Sanusi Garba and Dafe Akpeneye.


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