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NUC Spends N500M to Revive Virtual Library Project

NUC Spends N500M to Revive Virtual Library ProjectNational Universities Commission (NUC) has turned on its national virtual library project, the online digital library to stem the dwindling standard of university education but access to the library remains a major challenge, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now report.
The national virtual library project established in 2001 as one of the many strategies to bolster the quality of teaching, learning and research in Nigerian schools has operated in fits and starts largely due to problems of connectivity, access and poor public power supply.
In the absence of both virtual and equipped physical libraries, Nigerian higher institutions are producing army of half baked graduates who are out of touch with the knowledge economy.
Worried by the situation, the NUC is reactivating the virtual library project with subscription to more than 7,000 titles of journals in 13 disciplines. The NUC would cough out more than N500 million for subscriptions to the e-books and e-journals.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the virtual library is expected to address the deplorable conditions of most university libraries in Nigeria.
Apart from inadequate funding, most university libraries in Nigeria have very few current books, journals, and other reading resources; staff shortages; deteriorating facilities; inadequate equipment and even library buildings.
With virtual library, NUC is hoping to bolster the quality of academic library collections enabling staff and students access databases for teaching and research.
The online digital library was designed and deployed with support and funding from the Education Trust Fund (ETF), UNESCO and the Japanese government.
The goal is to ensure that user (subscribers) have the latest publications of the highest calibre in their respective fields (the Arts, Medical Sciences, Pure Science, Social Sciences, Technology, etc…) to facilitate teaching, research and learning.
It also aims to ensure that Nigeria universities have the highest and latest publications in various fields to facilitate teaching, research and learning.
It is virtual because it is an electronically networked library in which the user enjoys the comfort of library facilities on the internet without going to a library.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered there are many roadblocks to the implementation of the project including lack of reliable telecommunication infrastructure in some places and high cost of connectivity in another.
There are also problems of high cost of computer hardware as well as the country’s notoriously unreliable power supply.
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ABoICT Lecture 2025 to Focus on Governance, Standardization in Artificial Intelligence Era

This year’s Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership lecture will focus on Governance, Standardization and cybersecurity in artificial intelligence era.
The lecture which will herald Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards (ABoICT Lecture 2025) hold on May 24, 2025 at Four Points by Sheraton and will be delivered by Prof. Adewale Obadare, Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode – Cybersecurity and GRC Expert.
The sixteenth edition of the award ceremony according Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek the organizers of the event, “is a special edition to recognise and celebrate organizations and individuals in the ICT industry that have contributed to the growth of the sector.
“Most of these organizations and individuals have consistently being voted by our readers as leaders in their areas of operations and we have decided to reward them in this special edition, tag: ‘ICT Growth Edition 2025’ he said,”.
He added that, an AI governance framework outlines policies, principles, and practices to guide the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness.
“In the AI era, cybersecurity faces both new threats and opportunities, as AI’s capabilities are used by both defenders and attackers to launch sophisticated attacks and defenses.
“This requires a proactive approach, including AI-powered security tools, robust data security, and ethical AI development, emphasizing real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and collaboration among cybersecurity professionals and AI researchers.
“Artificial intelligence transforms cybersecurity by automating responses to risks, detecting unusual activity, and even foreseeing possible dangers before they occur.
“While AI has various perks, such as better efficiency and faster risk identification, it also has challenges. Without proper oversight, these systems can be misused or make errors. Strong governance and ethical frameworks ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and effectively.,” he said.
The Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished (ABoICT Lecture 2024) is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global Information and Communications Technologies map.
The lecture series however is reserved for distinguished achievers in the ICT sector.
Past lecturers included Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, founder, Hyperspace & NeuraL AI and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Prof. Isa Pantanmi, minister of Communications and Digital Economy; among others.
News
Cabals Still Fighting our Refinery – Dangote

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Refinery, has insisted that the ‘cabal’ in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is still fighting against the success of his 650,000 barrels per day plant.

Aliko Dangote
Dangote disclosed this, according to Semafor, a global news platform, at an investor forum in Lagos at the weekend.
He said, “For a very, very long time, those that have made a lot of money from government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria were the ones trying to sabotage the $20 billion worth of refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.”
He further stressed that “those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country.”
However, Dangote was confident that the battle between him and the groups would be won, priding himself on being a long-time fighter.
“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 percent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he was quoted.
Recall that Dangote Refinery kicked off the sale of petrol in September 2024, which had led to a significant drop in fuel imports into Nigeria.
In May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech.
News
NPAN Hails Tribunal’s Ruling on FCCPC’s $220M Fine Against Meta

Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has welcomed the decision of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCT) upholding the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Inc. by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In a statement signed by its President, Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, and General Secretary, Mrs. Angela Emuwa, NPAN described the ruling as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to enforce digital accountability and protect the rights of its citizens.
“The decision affirms the importance of compelling global digital platforms to adhere to Nigeria’s laws and respect the rights of users,” the association said.
NPAN noted that the fine, resulting from a 30-month investigation spanning 2021 to 2023, was imposed due to Meta’s alleged unauthorized data sharing and discriminatory practices affecting Nigerian users.
The association also emphasized that Nigeria’s regulatory action aligns with global trends, citing similar penalties imposed on Meta in Europe, as well as actions against other tech giants such as Amazon, TikTok, Google, and Apple.
As an advocate for media freedom and fair digital practices, NPAN reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring fair remuneration for publishers in the evolving digital landscape.
It further urged sustained collaboration among government agencies, civil society, and industry players to strengthen Nigeria’s digital regulatory environment.
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