General News
Osun Invests in Biometric, Smart ID Card for Public School Students
In line with the commitment of the government of the State of Osun to use technology to improve planning, allocation of resources and service delivery in its education sector, a first-of-its-kind Smart Identity Card with biometric features was launched for all public school students in the state recently at Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, Oshogbo, Osun State.
An initiative of Chams Plc, the Smart ID Card is linked back to a central database which provides the government of the State of Osun with accurate and reliable data on the identity and number students attending public schools in the state.
Launching the Smart ID Card for Osun students, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, governor, State of Osun said, “In the history of human inventions, there are not too many inventions that are as useful as technology in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness at providing solutions to human problems. This is the reason why the government of the State of Osun adopted and is deploying technology as the solution to the legacy of inefficiency bequeathed to the civil service by past inept leaders. The Osun Student Smart ID card which is embedded with biometric features is also an ingenious technology solution that we have adopted to further raise the service delivery levels in the education sector.”
Aregbesola added that with the card, each student is a unique and identifiable individual that cannot be mistaken for another person.
“Effortlessly, government can identify all students in public schools, and have access to their information at the push of a button. It improves the effectiveness of life enriching programmes such as the O’Meals, O’Schools and Opon Imo, among other other innovations put in place for the welfare of students. The Smart Card makes tracking possible, implying that we are provided with more accurate information on the exact number of beneficiaries which eliminates fraud and accounting error of any type,” he said
Commenting on the project, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, deputy governor, State of Osun, who doubles as the commissioner for Education said, “This is indeed a significant milestone for the State of Osun because without accurate data, a holistic transformation of the education sector in Osun may remain elusive. Issuance of smart identity cards to all public school students will ensure that we have accurate data for use in updating our education strategy and sustain our pragmatic work-plan to ensure overall policy success. In no small measure, the smart identity card will also ensure accountability to government by students of public school as it makes it possible for schools to track attendance.”
She added that the government of the State of Osun will continue to upscale its investment in education across the state because it regards education of children and youths as one of the prime investments that can guarantee the exponential growth and development of the state in the 21st century’s maturing knowledge economy which places very high premium on human capital.
On his part, Mr. Demola Aladekomo, managing director, Chams Plc said, “The Osun Smart ID card provides biographical and biometric identification of public school children from elementary schools to middle schools and high schools, equipping government relaible demographic data of the student population in the State. This certainly improves planning, distribution and allocation of educational resources in alignment with population size, and the unique needs of students and schools across the 30 local government areas of the state. It will also aid the judicious use of government resources and improve budgeting, while also providing accurate data that will lead to the enunciation of more transformative policies.”
Aladekomo added that Chams is proud to be associated with the giant strides achieved by the government of the State of Osun as its continuously deploys Information and Communications Technology to improve governance and service delivery to the people of the state, irrespective of their location and status.
“Without doubt, the State of Osun is indeed becoming a model in e-governance that is worthy of emulation by other state governments because of its shrewdness and foresightedness in using technology to reduce the high incidence of fraud and wastage often associated with the public sector programmes. We can only promise the government of the State of Osun that we will continue to work with you to use Information and Communication Technology to make governance more inclusive in alignment with the realities of contemporary times,” the Chams Plc MD said.
Similarly, in April, Chams Plc and First Bank of Nigeria partnered the government of the state to provide civil servants in the State of Osun with smart identity cards embedded with MasterCard prepaid capabilities – which is also the first of its kind by any state government in Nigeria.
The card with biometric features can be used by the civil servants outside the country and is accepted by over 16 million merchants worldwide.
Full deployment of the Osun School Smart ID Card scheme points to the government of the State of Osun’s commitment to its 2011 education policy which sought an integrative and ICT enabled approach to the education of children and youth in the State.
The policy evolved from the Osun Education Summit held also in 2011, and it has been described by local and international stakeholders and education regulatory bodies as a comprehensive and holistic response to the deterioration of public school system in the state.
The Nigerian government has launched the Virtual Privacy Academy, a new digital training platform designed to deepen data protection and privacy policies in the private and public sectors.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, unveiled the initiative during the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities, which began yesterday in Abuja.
The three-day conference, titled “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” drew attendees from over 30 African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
Dr. Tijani emphasised that the academy is part of Nigeria’s strategy to capitalise on the benefits of the digital economy by providing actors with the tools they need to navigate hazardous data governance landscape.
According to Tijani, this project would provide Nigerians with the opportunity to gain practical skills in data protection.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, highlighted Nigeria’s recent data governance milestones during his address.
He stated that the Commission had completed over 5,000 compliance assessments, opened 223 investigations, and assisted 12 organisations with rehabilitation.
Dr. Olatunji urged African countries who have yet to pass data protection laws to do so, emphasizing that “strong data protection frameworks are not barriers to innovation, but enablers of a resilient and inclusive digital economy.”
Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has announced an exclusive partnership with Miva Open University, Nigeria’s premier open university. Under this agreement, Treepz becomes Miva’s official transportation provider, delivering services across key cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, and Jos.
L-R: Sani Chanchangi, Business Development Manager, Treepz; Godwin Okpe, Community & Engagement Manager, Miva Open University; Florence Sulyman-Boboye, Global Vice President of Business Development and People, Treepz; Oluwole Adeniji, Manager, Corporate Services, Miva Open University
As Miva Open University expands its academic and administrative presence across Nigeria, Treepz will provide on-demand access to premium vehicles for staff transportation, guest logistics, special events, and official university functions. With a fleet that includes SUVS, Coaster buses, and luxury vehicles, Treepz ensures that all mobility needs are handled with reliability and professionalism.
“This partnership is a strategic move that helps us stay focused on what we do best—delivering accessible and flexible education,” said Oluwole Adeniji, Admin Operations Manager at Miva University. “With Treepz handling our transportation across the country, we can scale confidently, knowing our staff, guests, and stakeholders are moving safely and efficiently.”
On Treepz’s end, Johnny Enagwolor, Co-Founder and President at Treepz, noted that the partnership comes at a pivotal moment, allowing Miva, a forward-thinking institution, to prioritise its core mission of delivering quality education, while Treepz efficiently manages a wide range of its inter-city mobility needs.
“By providing a tailored transport service, Treepz aims to alleviate the logistical burdens of institutions, ensuring Miva University operate at its best.
“At Treepz, we understand the importance of reliable and efficient transport services in driving organisational success. Our goal is to provide Miva with the most comfortable, safe, and convenient transportation solutions possible,” Johnny added. We are committed to providing high-quality, safe, and reliable transportation solutions that support Miva’s mission and contribute to its ongoing success.
Furthermore, we recall that Treepz commemorated its fifth anniversary on September 16th, 2024. Over the past five years, the startup has made notable progress in addressing the continent’s transportation challenges through innovative, tailored solutions.
Treepz has also established itself as a key player in the African mobility industry, with more than 6 million customers served, consistently expanding its services and strategic partnerships to meet the evolving needs of corporate clients.
Recent partnerships with industry leaders such as Parallex Bank and KingMakers (owners of BetKing) have enabled Treepz to provide efficient transportation solutions to complete millions of employee commutes with their shared transportation service.
These accomplishments highlight Treepz’s growing influence and its commitment to revolutionizing corporate mobility and enhancing transportation experiences across the continent.
For more information about Treepz and its corporate travel services, kindly visit www.treepz.com
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the Afreximbank would invest $19 billion to fund the African Energy Bank.
He said the $19 billion would go a long way toward tackling and overcoming energy poverty, driving economic growth, and improving the lives of millions of people.
The minister disclosed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Pavilion, hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S with the theme “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development.”
He said that by pooling resources, African countries can invest in large-scale energy projects.
Also, the minister stressed the need for Africa to develop cohesive policies tailored to its unique circumstances, warning that fragmented approaches would be ineffective in addressing the escalating energy deficit.
“This conference is not a jamboree. It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa — to showcase its vast potential,” Lokpobiri said.
He underscored the importance of regional collaboration, highlighting the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a strategic entity established to devise shared solutions for the continent’s energy challenges.
According to him, the prevailing global discourse on energy transition is largely influenced by geopolitical considerations.
In response to this challenge, he announced that APPO is in the process of establishing the African Energy Bank to bridge funding gaps and ultimately free the continent from energy poverty.
During a meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Lokpobiri advised Ghana to draw lessons from Nigeria’s past experiences in the energy sector, particularly in avoiding early missteps.
In his address, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdullahi, acknowledged Nigeria’s leading role in the region.
He stated that while Ghana is a relatively new player in the oil and gas sector, it is eager to learn from Nigeria’s experiences and reforms, especially in the areas of local content development and climate policy.
“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry. The collaboration between both countries remains strong. For his part, PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya emphasised the significance of Nigeria’s presence at OTC.
He said: “This year’s event, under the Nigerian Pavilion, is set to highlight Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector.
“OTC 2025 promises to bring together top-tier industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders at the world’s largest energy event.”
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