NGE'25: Enugu State, Agulu & Amichi lead digital security innovation - ITREALMS

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The 2025 Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) biennial national convention ended at the coal city, Enugu. REMMY NWEKE who was there writes that Enugu's Command and Control Centre, equipped with AI-enabled cameras, enhances crime-fighting capabilities. Agulu and Amichi's CCTV initiatives showcase community-led security; these innovations set a precedent for digital security in the South East.

Prelude:
A few days ago, this year's biennial national convention, 2025 get the coal city agog with the assemblage of exclusive members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), on the theme “Building A Secure and Cohesive Nigeria: The Role of Dialogue, Inclusion and the Media” at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

The order of business stipulates that arrival of participants, registration was on June 26th, followed by the opening ceremony, business session, election took place on Friday, June 27th, whereas all invited guests must be seated by 9.30am when the Executive Governor of Enugu State, and chief host, Dr. Peter Mbah is expected to arrive the venue, which also hosted some other two professional groups at different halls.

A little thereafter, the compere and publicity secretary of the NGE, Mr. Charles Kalu mounted the platform to take charge of introducing special guests, which followed an address of welcome by NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, then comes handy, the opening remarks by chairman of convention, Dr. John Momoh; Brief remarks by the trio of Fathers of the Day, Uncle Sam Amuka, Chief Segun Osoba and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Address by keynote speaker, and Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS) Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, brief questions and answers, with highlighting remarks by Governor of Enugu State.

This was followed by the business session with an opening remark by NGE president, secretariat report, presentation of audited account report, AOB, dissolution of standing committee which is the Executive members, then the elections and inauguration of new executive members.

Convention highlights:
The convention's highlight was the election of officers for the next two years. Mr. Eze Anaba, Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, was returned as President for a second term. Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, was elected Secretary-General, while Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren of ThisDay Newspapers, took on the role of Treasurer. Dr. Abu Sabastine Mohammed of Nigerian Standard Newspapers, was elected Deputy President.

Several positions were filled unopposed, including Mr. Sheddy Ozoene of Peoples & Politics Newspaper as Vice-President, East; Mr. Kabir Alabi of Guardian newspapers as Vice-President, West; and Mr. Hamza Idris, Acting Managing Editor of Daily Trust, as Vice-President, North. Additionally, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo of Freedom Online was elected Assistant Secretary-General, and Mr. Charles Kalu of People 105.5 FM took on the role of Social/Publicity Secretary.

Latest Standing Committee of NGE:
The convention also saw the election of members to the Standing Committees, with representatives from various regions. The South West was represented by Ms. Rose Moses of Newsmart Online, Dr. Olabisi Deji-Folutile of Franktalknow.com, and Ms Juliet Bumah of New Telegraph. The North was represented by Alhaji Umoru Ibrahim of Triumph newspapers and Paulyn Ugbodaga of New Ultra 360 Media & Allied Services, while the East was represented by Chinedu Max Egere of Newscorneronline and Ikpong Essien-Udom of Newsfront.

Then came Saturday, June 28, 2025, a date with project tour, gala night, induction of new members and fellows. A total of six fellows were enthroned namely Dr. Ray Echebiri, Mr. Kunle Solaja, Mr. Mobalii Adebiyi, Mr. Chooks Ogbonnaya Okoh, Mr. Kenneth Ugbechie and Mr. Ikechukwu Amaechi.

Equally, some nine new members were inducted namely Iyaji Stella, Osadolor John, Edim Asangaenyi Ibok, Dr. Nwachukwu Obinna, Ebong Janet Daniel, Asaka Ossom Emmanuel, Louis Enebeli Eke, Mikail Adegoke Mumuni and Adewuyi Ayobami.

Project tour:
For the project tour, picking of participants commenced from various hotels at 7.30 am for us to be conveyed to the take-off point at the International Conference Center (ICC). As said by the newly elected General-Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the project tour party was divided into two: Party 1 and Party 2, which will go to different project sites. This is to save time and ensure the conclusion of the tour on time.

Details of the two-part project tour included that the first party visits Technical, Vocational Education Training College, TVET, Government Technical College (GTC), ESUT Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, Tractor Assembly Plant, Haier Factory, Holy Ghost Transport Terminal, Hotel Presidential, International Hospital, Five Star Hotel, International Conference Centre, Command and Control Centre.

The second party went to the Smart Green School, Owo/Owo-Ikem Road, Smart Secondary School, Owo, New Enugu City (Smart City), Type 2 PHC, Emene, Asphalt Plant, NigerGas and Command and Control Centre.

Despite the applause given to Governor Peter Mbah’s administration in Enugu State, two things resonate with yours sincerely. One was the visit to Type 2 Primary HealthCare Centre at Emene, which was close to Thinkers Corner, his abode whilst in coal city some 30 years ago, both for the tertiary education and initial teaching service that followed. Secondly, was the strategic plan for every party to use the tour of the Command-and-Control Centre as their wrap-up site. And given the avalanche of technologies deployed at the centre, it was a place to behold.

Purpose:
The Enugu Command and Control Centre is a sophisticated security infrastructure established by the Enugu State government to enhance security and emergency response capabilities. It serves as a central hub for monitoring and coordinating security operations across the state. The center is equipped with advanced technology and is designed to identify and address security threats promptly.

According to officials led by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere R. Onyia, and Commissioner for Works, Engr. Gerald Otiji (Onwa), among others, the center aims to improve security response times, detect criminal activities, and ensure the safety of citizens and their properties.

Functionality:
Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS gathered that the center allows security agencies to monitor activities in real-time, identify potential threats, and deploy resources quickly to address any issues. Thus, the center is expected to reduce the burden on security personnel, improve response efficiency, and create a safer environment for residents.

Community assurance:
With the Command-and-Control Center, security officials assured residents that the state is safe and that the center will help maintain order and deter criminal elements, even across all the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), all of which are within the coverage, monitored and supported by the center.

Criminals, steer clear of Enugu State:
Recently, heads of security agencies in Enugu State have warned criminals to stay away, commending Governor Peter Mbah's administration for investing heavily in security infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art Command-and-Control Centre.

The Centre, equipped with AI-enabled cameras, will enhance crime-fighting capabilities, making it harder for criminals to operate. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anayo Uzuegbu, praised the Governor's commitment to security, urging citizens to feel safe and warning that any security threats will be ruthlessly dealt with.

Commissioned by PBAT:
During his historic state visit to the coal city, Enugu in the first quarter of 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned the state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, designed to enhance real-time security monitoring and response across the state.

This initiative, spearheaded by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, underscored the state’s commitment to leveraging technology for improved public safety, just as the centre is equipped with advanced surveillance systems, drones, and integrated communication networks to monitor and respond to security breaches speedily. Therefore, the centre stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between the federal and state governments in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Agulu & Amichi's CCTV Initiative: Beacon of community-led security:
In a remarkable display of community-led security, Agulu Town Union in Aniocha Local Government Area and Amichi in Nnewi South LGA both in Anambra State, have implemented city-wide CCTV surveillance systems.

The Agulu City Wide CCTV Command and Control project was undertaken by the Agulu North America branch, while Amichi's smart city-wide surveillance was courtesy of Amichi United States of America. Notably, Agulu is the hometown of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, whose vision for a safer and more secure society may have influenced the community's initiative. Both projects were awarded to Pragmatic ICT Solutions Limited under the supervision of the Anambra State ICT Agency team led by Hon. Kenneth Okonkwo.

The CCTV cameras, mounted at strategic points across the communities, provide 24/7 surveillance, deterring crime and enhancing safety, thus garnered attention, with one commentator on Anambra State’s Facebook page, noting, "When leaders lead by example, even small towns can feel like safe havens." By leveraging technology, Agulu and Amichi have set a precedent for community-led security initiatives in Nigeria, demonstrating the potential for grassroots-driven solutions to enhance public safety.

Enugu example - Digital security leverage for South-East Governors:
Governors in Eastern Nigeria can leverage technologies like their Enugu counterpart by implementing some initiatives for digital infrastructure development to offer robust digital infrastructure to support e-governance, online services, and digital literacy programmes. This can include developing centralized dashboards for real-time data access and decision-making.

The rest of the South East governors could establish e-Governance platforms to streamline government operations, improve service delivery, and enhance citizen engagement. This can include online portals for essential services, digital payment systems, and smart data collection.

In addition, they could launch all-inclusive digital literacy and skills development to provide training in digital innovation, programming, digital marketing, and financial technology to equip citizens with necessary skills.

Partnership for South-East Governors:
Invariably, to drive digital innovation and economic growth, South-East governors should consider initiatives like partnerships with technology companies, educational institutions, and local businesses as well as the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, smart education projects such as Smart Schools with advanced tech tools, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for land administration, innovation hubs and tech festivals like Enugu Tech Festival to showcase local talents, and digital healthcare and agriculture initiatives that leverage technology to improve public health and promote research.

Other notable examples of Enugu's tech-driven initiatives include the Enugu Smart Tech Ltd: An independent company driving future-focused tech innovation in collaboration with e-School Africa for 260 Smart Schools; Coal Briquette Stove Project: A project addressing the energy crisis, producing an efficient, low-cost alternative built using local engineering and materials; Smart Governance Tools: Automating bureaucratic processes to improve government responsiveness and citizen engagement.

No doubt, by adopting these initiatives, Governors in Eastern Nigeria can drive digital transformation, improve governance, and enhance economic growth in their respective states and without losing much sleep over unguided herders, kidnappers and other forms of criminalities.