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SCCI@10: Sidmach Welcomes Pupils On Software Dev ‘Hands-On’ Experience Tour
By peter oluka
Schools Computer Club Initiative’s (SCCI) has continued its bid to build up student/pupil experts as the workforce of future advancement for tomorrow’s information and computer technology.
The team recently led pupils from different schools in Lagos on excursion at Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited as it seeks to ensure school pupils’ acquisition of computer skills, exposure to a real IT world through seminar, workshops, and exhibitions.
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek while leading team to Sidmach, as part of activities to mark SCCI’s tenth anniversary, Mr. Adesina Adewale, the president, said that they are keen to ‘impose’ professional responsibilities on school IT team leaders, build self esteem for members, and motivate young growing children to embrace the appropriate use of the computer.
Adewale said that the big picture behind SCCI was to develop technology innovators ‘Technnovators’ who will eventually become technology entrepreneurs, developing solutions to solve the nation’s multifaceted challenges.
He said, “We hear about the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, and other technnovators who today are big entrepreneurs. Today, Microsoft, for example has become a household name world over; people are using the products of Microsoft daily, ranging from the development of animation, games, office allocation to the point of using thee cloud.
“It is part of reasons we brought the students on tour of Sidmach Technologies. So, we are passionate about ‘catching them young’, right from primary and secondary schools, such that on graduation they don’t keep hoping on a non-existing white collar job. They are been positioned to develop the entrepreneurial mindset.
Speaking Achievements in the Last 10 Years:
“We started this advocacy in 2007. what inspired us was a speech by Professor Charles Uwadia, who happens to be the current President/Chairman in Council of CPN. At that year’s conference he charged us to develop the students at the secondary school levels to the point they can stand out and develop solutions/platforms that meet societal needs.
“Since then, we have been developing students in primary and secondary schools to the point many of them are interested in taking up careers in IT which is called the Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS).
“We have some who have passed through Sidmach Technologies either during industrial training/ attachment or internship programmes. We have some of them who can develop games, others- animations; we have others who can develop browsers and other solutions that can meet the need of the society.
Hopeful About the Future of the Students:
“Following our activities in the last 10 years, we are hopeful that technnovators and techpreneurs will be developed from these students. Invariably, we are reducing the problem of unemployment in the country. We are hopeful that these students will be able to meet the needs of our communities.
Why Choice of Sidmach
“Recently, we had training at the University of Lagos (Unilag); we had a ‘hands-on’ session. In IT, it is always imperative to marry the academic and the industry ideas to have a robust solution or platform. So, it is a combination of the gown and the town. At times we develop curriculum that fails to meet the needs of the society.
“Therefore, we have to find means of bringing the academic knowledge to bear in the industry practice. This excursion has accorded the students opportunity to meet software developers at Sidmach. The Company has done so much in the software for JAMB, WAEC, even in the oil and gas industry. They have the smart school solution too. So, we are here to let the students appreciate what is happening in the industry so that upon graduation it wouldn’t be all new terrain to them. That’s why we choose Unilag, representing the academic environment and now Sidmach Technologies, a leading indigenous software development firm.
Also, in a chat with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Jide Awe, chairman, Conferences at Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said that such programmes that allow hands-on experience, are critical in building the future of the youths. “We are already in a knowledge-led economy showing more digital processes. We don’t want to continue as consumers, therefore, we must train our children on 21st Century skills- programming, application development, so they will not be disadvantaged. Already, a lot of countries (developed) are ahead of us. Thank God some of the kids have access to the resources they can use; what we now need are initiatives as Schools Computer Club Initiative (SCCI) to provide guidance. The essence is to ensure the students do no use those things for wasteful ventures”.
“The significance of exposing the students to industrial operations,” Awe added, “is that, it is one thing to learn to program or build software, however, it is important to know how it is being done; which is more encouraging to the students who have seen how this Company operates daily, especially in developing the software. It is a sort of career enlightenment to them. It gives them a practical feel of what it takes to be a programmer in a theoretical and practical sense. They were not on tour of a foreign firm and the reason was to inculcate the spirit of patriotism; we can develop solutions to the challenges we face in the country and even ship the solutions to other nations”.
He urged the students to make best use of knowledge acquired during the visit at Sidmach which was set up by entrepreneurs. “It must be stressed that Sidmach was established by entrepreneurs. They (the students) too can become IT entrepreneurs”, he charged them.
On Schools Computer Club Initiative (SCCI) at 10, the Chairman NCS Conferences, described the platform as a commendable initiative that should be encouraged; “that is why NCS and CPN have always been part of it. The Initiative has had its ups and downs, but it is here to stay. We really have to encourage them, because the issue at stake deals directly with the future of our children”.
Legacy Sidmach Is Leaving Behind For Next Generation,
Mr. Olayemi Oladiran, head, Sales & Marketing, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, while addressing the students, said he was quite impressed to see them, especially with the capabilities they have shown, even as younger ages. “They are already coding. It gives me the confidence the next generation will do better than we have done”.
“We don’t mind any one of them working for Sidmach. Obviously, we have a standard and of course it is going to be the best that will take in it. For those that have the vision, I will encourage them to work hard to excel in what they do. Importantly, they should not have employee mentality. Rather a mentality that can tell them- look I can develop a prototype software solution that I can take to the market. So, they should not limit themselves.
Partnership with OEMs
He said they are partnering with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) We do have such as HP, Microsoft and Sophos to build dependable solutions that address student’s e-learning challenges.
“We support them; to get them achieve their best. We support their dreams and aspirations. Whatever we need to do, that we shall do to provide encouragement and enabling environment to fan up their dreams”, he pledged.
TEDxPAU 2024 brought together some of the brightest minds and boldest voices on November 16th at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School. With over 500 attendees eager to explore new possibilities, the event’s theme, ‘Shaping the Future,’ set the tone for a day filled with inspiration, reflection, and transformative ideas.
The day opened with a TED talk by TED founder Chris Anderson, followed by welcome remarks from the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo. She encouraged the audience to embrace the theme, saying, “The future is now, and it is up to all of us to join hands to shape tomorrow.”
The sessions featured inspiring talks from visionaries like Akose Enebeli, who emphasized sustainable urban living by “building upwards instead of outwards,” and Goodnews Igwe, who stressed that creating value is key to success.
Temitope Runsewe championed Africa’s family values as a foundation for economic recovery, describing family businesses as “the future of Nigeria.” Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, advocated for affordable education to drive literacy and digital skills, while Michael Oluwagbemi sparked intrigue with his bold statement that “CNG is the new garri,” promoting energy innovation.
Ziad Maalouf shared leadership insights, underscoring personal growth as the key to scaling success.
Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President at Heifer International, spoke about the significance of scaling innovation from the inside out, urging organizations to embrace change-driven solutions. Dr. Peter Bamkole, Deputy Vice Chancellor of PAU, described entrepreneurship as “a catalyst for systemic change,” calling for the transformation of problems into solutions with far-reaching impact.
Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who shared his journey from adversity to global success, inspired the audience to embrace their gifts and believe in limitless possibilities.
The event ended with a fireside chat between TEDxPAU organizer Bella Victor and Dr. Maduka, who spoke about the importance of legacy and purpose. He encouraged attendees to see themselves as part of Nigeria’s solution and to embrace both the challenges and triumphs of the country’s journey.
Beyond the talks, TEDxPAU 2024 captivated attendees with musical performances, a spoken word piece, and a high-energy dance performance by different talents from the university.
The event also recognized its sponsors and volunteers, thanking them for their critical role in making the day a success.
In his closing remarks, Bella Victor expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating: “TEDxPAU was founded with the goal of giving back to this incredible school and creating a 360-degree impact—supporting our students, raising awareness for our school, and giving innovators a platform to reach a global audience. It’s inspiring to see how this event has grown and how each of you have played a part in that mission today. I thank our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and every attendee who believed in this vision. Together, we are shaping the future.”
Attendees also enjoyed networking opportunities during breaks, sponsor exhibitions, and a private lunch for VIP ticket holders, who engaged in deeper conversations with the speakers about shaping tomorrow.
TEDxPAU 2024 once again reaffirmed its commitment to “ideas worth spreading” and left attendees inspired to take action. For recordings of the event and updates on future editions, stay tuned.
News
Head of Civil Service Celebrates 100 Days in Office with the Launch of Galaxy Backbone’s “Govmail”
In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s public service, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, MINI, today marked her 100 days in office and officially launched three digital services platforms for the Civil Service.
These include, Govmail, ServiceWise GPT and the Federal Civil Service Online Portal. These platforms, underscore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to enhancing digital governance and driving innovation across the nation’s Federal Civil Service.
Govmail, an email platform developed and powered by Galaxy Backbone (GBB) is an innovative solution set to enhance communication, boost efficiency, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation journey within the public sector.
Speaking at a meeting where the Govmail Interface was first officially presented and demonstrated to her, the Head of Civil Service expressed her excitement about the platform, stating, “GBB’s Govmail is unbelievably WOW!
This is a game-changer for our nation’s civil service, streamlining communication and creating a secure path to other government digital services. With Govmail, we are truly embracing the future of digital governance.”
Govmail is a secure, Nigeria-centric email platform designed by a team from Galaxy Backbone, exclusively for public service professionals. It ensures that all official communication are seamlessly managed while safeguarding Nigeria’s data sovereignty. The initiative emerged as a key outcome of the Digitalisation War Room, established by Mrs. Walson- Jack, to drive the implementation of cutting-edge digital solutions in government.
Commenting on this milestone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, shared, “We are immensely proud to have developed this revolutionary platform, ensuring that every Nigerian civil servant has access to a robust and secure communication channel.
Govmail is not just about email—it’s about enabling productivity, efficiency, and sovereignty in governance. Galaxy Backbone remains committed to driving the digital transformation of Nigeria’s public sector.”
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo emphasized the strategic importance of the Govmail for the nation’s Civil Service stating that “Govmail significantly reduces the government’s reliance on foreign email platforms, cutting costs and addressing licensing challenges. This is a commendable achievement by the Head of Service and the leadership of Galaxy Backbone.”
Through GBB’s dedicated efforts, Govmail will rapidly roll out email accounts to over 70,000 Federal civil servants across Nigeria, ensuring every government professional is equipped with a secure communication platform in record time. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal of leveraging technology to build a digitally driven and globally competitive public service.
The Senate has approved the new external borrowing plan request of $2.2 billion presented for consideration by President Bola Tinubu.
The approval followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at the plenary session on Thursday.
The report was presented by the Sen. Aliyu Wammako, chairman of the Committee.
President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday, Nov 19, in separate letters to both chambers of the National Assembly, requested approval of a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan to part fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget .
Senate upon receipt of the request, mandated its committee on local and foreign debts to expeditiously ensure further legislative inputs on the request and report back within 24 hours.
Presenting the committee‘s report, Wammako said the presidential request was very necessary for approval.
He said the loan request would be utilised for execution of ongoing projects and programmes in the 2024 appropriation act , saying that the projects were critical for national growth and development.
“It will contribute to the implementation of the debt management strategy, which seeks to reduce the cost of borrowing.
” It will lengthen maturity of the public debt stock, free – up space in the domestic market for other borrowers, and help increase Nigeria’s external reserves .” Wammako said Nigeria could raise all or part of the 2.2billion dollars through the issuance of Eurobonds in the International Capital Market ( ICM) .
Wammako thereafter is recommended as follows:
“That the Senate do approve the implementation of the new external borrowing of 2.2 billion dollars at the budget exchange rate of one dollars to N800 in the 2024 appropriation act and that the amount should be raised from one or more sources.
“Namely, issuance of eurobonds in the ICM, issuance of debut sovereign Sukuk in the ICM, and bridge, syndicated loans, subject to market conditions.”
The report was thereafter unanimously approved via an affirmative voice vote.
In his remarks after the approval, Senator Jibrin Barau, deputy president of the Senate, who presided plenary, commended the Wammako led committee for a job well done.
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