Inside Anambra’s ICT 2.0: Betting on localized AI, e-Governance beyond free Wi-Fi by Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

Anambra State ICT Agency has launched its "Agency 2.0" phase, steering the state toward total e-governance by 2030. In this WeekendDigits@ITREALMS feature, REMMY NWEKE reports that the strategy, driven by MD Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, deploys open-source AI to boost civil service efficiency, converts static MDA portals into transactional hubs, and expands rural broadband to bridge the digital divide.

Preamble:
When Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo reappointed Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA) to lead the Anambra State ICT Agency for a second tenure, the fundamental question confronting sub-national digital strategy was straightforward: what comes after laying the baseline fiber optic infrastructure and launching public Wi-Fi hotspots?

Renaissance backs Bonny’s tourism, investment vision beyond oil - ITREALMS

The Renaissance Africa Energy Company has reaffirmed its commitment to driving the sustainable development and economic diversification of Bonny Kingdom, positioning the historic island to emerge as a premier tourism and investment destination in Nigeria and across the African continent, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Bonny Island Tourism and Investment Summit (tagged ‘Discover Bonny’), the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, Mr. Tony Attah, highlighted the imperative of creating new pathways to prosperity beyond the oil and gas sector.

Beyond Raw Talent: Why Nigeria’s creative economy demands structure, capital, and protection - Editorial@ITREALMS

For decades, Nigeria’s creative industry has been celebrated as a triumph of sheer willpower. From the global dominance of Afrobeats and the prolific output of Nollywood to the viral reach of digital content creators and literary icons, the nation’s cultural influence is undeniable. Yet, behind the glitz and international accolades lies a sobering economic reality: raw talent alone can no longer sustain or scale Nigeria’s creative economy.

The message delivered at the second QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit in Lagos was both urgent and clear. As stakeholders noted, talent without structure is merely a hustle. While creative individuals continue to put Nigeria on the global map, the country contributes barely 1.2 percent to its national GDP from the creative sector; less than half of South Africa’s contribution, where intentional policy, proper infrastructure, and transparent measurement frameworks are firmly in place.

Beyond Father’s Day: The silent health mandate and legacy of Aloy Abarah - Weekend Digits@ITREALMS

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As the curtains fall on a remarkable three-day spiritual and civic mobilization, the atmosphere across many communities has shifted from standard weekend festivities to a more reflective, somber, yet deeply empowering reality. 

The first weekend of May was far more than a routine gathering of patriarchs; it evolved into a dual-purpose forum for radical health transparency and a heart-touching memorial for a legal luminary and late Deanery Coordinator, the tragic loss of Barr. Aloy Abarah.

Beyond tribe: Hausa man's ode to Igbo resilience by Khaleed Yazeedu - ITREALMS

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I am a proud Hausa man. A Muslim. A student of Political Science. A researcher, a writer, and a lifelong seeker of truth. I have read countless books on Africa, our ancestors, our heritage, and the struggles of our forefathers. I have studied justice, equality, respect, and love, not tribalism, not bias, not hate. And everything I stand for flows from these values.

But let me say this with all honesty of my soul: in all my years of study, research, travels, and investigations, I have never encountered a people whose resilience and spirit could rival the Igbo.

Beyond the Pitch: Didier Drogba on leadership, legacy, and building a dignified Africa by Ramata Soré - ITREALMS

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Didier Drogba, born 11 March 1978 in Abidjan, is far more than a footballer: he is a conscience in motion, a profound voice resonating well beyond stadiums, a beating heart for Africa. From 2004 to 2012, and again in 2014-2015, he authored one of Chelsea FC’s greatest sagas, scoring 164 goals, among them the unforgettable equaliser on 19 May 2012 in the UEFA Champions League final, followed by the decisive penalty that delivered Chelsea its first European crown.

As captain of Côte d’Ivoire’s Elephants, he bore the hopes of a nation through three World Cups; 2006, 2010, 2014; and was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2006. Yet it was in October 2005 that his aura transcended sport: after Côte d’Ivoire’s historic World Cup qualification, while his homeland stood divided, Drogba fell to his knees, imploring the combatants to lay down their arms, a rare gesture that, if only for a time, suspended civil conflict.

In 2007, he founded the Didier Drogba Foundation, with offices in both Abidjan and London, extending his influence on education, healthcare, and the empowerment of African communities.

Since his retirement in 2018, Drogba has embodied unity, commitment, and peace, remaining one of the most beloved figures on the continent. Drogba is not merely a name: he is living memory, a pulse of hope, a vigilant star. In his eyes burn both the fire of a people and the tenderness of a father. He scored goals, yes, but above all, he marked souls. This interview is not about football. It is a pilgrimage into what a man may become when he dares to heed his deepest truth. Thus, Didier Drogba is far more than a legend: he is a presence, a gentle force, an inward voice that whispers without noise.

Today, he no longer plays on grass. He plays for peace, justice, and love. And here, from London where he now resides, he speaks with candour, wholly and unreservedly, in this encounter with Ramata Soré. Excerpts:

Beyond academic terrorism: Unpacking JAMB's technical glitch - ITREALMS

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Despite allegations of academic terrorism, REMMY NWEKE in this report, examines the recent mass JAMB result invalidation of 379,997 UTME candidates in Lagos and five South-East states, due to alleged critical lapse in server patch deployment and human error, attributed to outdated server logic with plan to introduce stricter checks and real-time monitoring.

 The genesis:

A shocking revelation recently rocked the academic community as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admitted that a critical lapse in server patch deployment and human error led to the invalidation of results for 379,997 candidates in Lagos and five South-East states who sat the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Telecoms Clinic: When Campus loss echoes beyond asthma - ITREALMS

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A promising life tragically lost during university football training reveals a deeper crisis: the silent struggle of students with asthma and the urgent need for comprehensive campus support. REMMY NWEKE examines the recent loss of a final year Engineering Technology student at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), a stark reminder that a breath too late can have irreversible consequences, urging institutions to prioritize student well-being.

The humid embrace of a new semester at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), hung heavy in the Enugu home of the Ikoma family. But amidst the familiar anticipation of academic pursuits, a silent dread was taking root. 

Nigeria's inflation: Beyond the numbers by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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Preamble:

I was in Ikotun market at the weekend, shopping for groceries with Madam. While it was coated in romantic garbs, i.e. 'continuation of valentine', the aim was surreptitiously to see where one's money was entering in these times. A lady buying tomatoes just ahead of us, priced (haggled) up and down and finally exclaimed "We no kuku fit chop the money". 

This is precisely the stark reality in the face of soaring inflation rates, "we can't eat currency." Currency is meant to be spent even though the value has depreciated. The sad thing is that inflation isn't just a number on a report; it's a tangible force that impacts the lives of millions, particularly in a country like Nigeria where food prices are surging at an alarming rate. 

October 7 Gaza attack: 12 UNRWA employees indicted, UN Watch plans confab on future beyond @Geneva - ITREALMS

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On Monday, February 26th, exactly one month after it was revealed that at least 12 UNRWA employees took part in perpetrating the atrocities of October 7th, and more than 1,200 belong to Hamas or Islamic Jihad, the non-governmental human rights organization UN Watch will host the first International Summit for a Future Beyond UNRWA, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The summit, to be webcast live, will take place next to the United Nations European Headquarters in parallel with the 2024 opening of the UN Human Rights Council, which that day will gather UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the president of the UN General Assembly, and foreign ministers from around the world. Diplomats from all UNRWA donor countries have been invited to attend the summit.

CBN: Old design Naira banknotes not going off street soon, beyond December 2023 - ITREALMS

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has declared that old designed Naira banknotes will not go off the street and circulation anytime soon, even beyond December 31, 2023, reports ITREALMS.

CBN through its Director, Corporate Communications, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, recalled that the Apex bank had introduced the redesign of N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations in October 2022 and certain deadlines were set for the old design of these denominations to cease as legal tenders.

Beyond ordinary: Unveiling hidden dimensions of event-driven business visibility by Reuben Kalu - ITREALMS

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In the dynamic world of business, every season presents a unique opportunity for growth and brand enhancement. As the calendar turns and the event season unfolds, entrepreneurs and business owners find themselves standing at the crossroads of unparalleled potential. In this article, we delve into the art of harnessing events to elevate business visibility and explore the strategies that ensure this season becomes a catalyst for success.

The Power of Events in Business

Events, both virtual and in-person, stand as vibrant platforms that offer a fusion of engagement, connection, and exposure. They cater to diverse demographics, gather industry influencers, and create an atmosphere conducive to networking and learning. This collective energy has the potential to cast a spotlight on businesses, positioning them at the forefront of customer awareness.

Mbelede charges KSM members: Look beyond Nigeria’s situation, provide poor with succour @Christmas - ITREALMS

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The Supreme Knight of the Order of Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria, Sir Charles Mbelede, has charged members to look beyond the situation of the country and ensure they provide succour for the poor in the society, reports ITREALMS.

Sir Mbelede in his 2022 Christmas message available to ITREALMS, noted that as Christians and knights of the church, KSM members should look beyond the very stressful and frustrating situations in the country.

GOCOP Confab'22: 2023 election beyond putting persons in offices - ITREALMS

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Nigeria's development partners have noted that the 2023 election is beyond mere putting some persons into political offices, reports ITREALMS.

They also noted that 2023 elections offer an opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians to witness a turnaround and become a giver of opportunities instead of receiver.

Sanusi charges Nigerians to vote beyond 'emilokan' in 2023 - ITREALMS

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The Former Emir of Kano, and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi has urged Nigerians to vote beyond ‘emilokan’ in 2023 general elections.

Emilokan in Yoruba language means 'its my turn'.

Ikwuemesi advises youths to manage careers beyond degrees - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Director, Kendor Consulting, Mrs. Adora Ikwuemesi, has advised Nigerian youths especially undergraduates and fresh graduates to carefully build their careers beyond the certificates that they have acquired, reports ITREALMS,

Mrs. Ikwuemesi disclosed this at the 2019 Candle Career Conference themed: “Out of the Ordinary: The bedrock of an extraordinary career.” which held recently at the Civic Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos.

While delivering her presentation on “Understanding your career trajectory: Beyond a degree,” She shared lessons from her journey in pursuing her career.

The Kendor Consulting boss further stressed on the importance for undergraduates and fresh graduates to have a vision while choosing a career path as that was the only way to gain clarity on their careers.

According to her, “An extraordinary career requires an extraordinary investment. This is a key way to develop one’s self and remain valuable to any employer.”

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Orimolade Oluwamuyemi, Regional Marketing and Communications Coordinator – MEA Philanthropies at Microsoft Nigeria pointed out that undergraduates and fresh graduates should be open to learning and unlearning.

Mr. Oluwamuyemi who spoke on the topic: “Key patterns of an extraordinary career” encouraged participants at the conference to always be ready to embrace change adding that “we are in a changing world.”

The event also featured other speakers in a panel session such as: Mr. Tochukwu Egesi, CEO, Innovation Corner; Mr. Samuel Akinlotan, Talent Acquisition Partner, Sterling Bank Plc and Miss. Ajoke Emekene, a Management Consultant.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of gifts to some of the participants at the conference.

The Candle Career is founded as an employability and career hub called to tackle unemployment in Nigeria. The community is focused on up-skilling and increasing the pathways to success of undergraduates and fresh graduates to thrive wherever they find themselves.

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor

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Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy: Beyond the nomenclature - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS: 

The Federal Ministry of Communication has a new name. It will henceforth be known, called and referred to as the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy. When the news broke last week that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the name change, there was plenty of cheers and jeers.

In itself there is nothing wrong with a name change. In fact, this change takes cognizance of emerging global trend. It shows awareness of the growing significance of the place of digital technologies in modern societies. It also seeks to take advantage of the development. At face value, this name change definitely looks like a good thing.

This makes sense especially when one considers that the world, itself, is changing. This change is driven largely by the wide spread deployment of digital technology infrastructure which is in fact, a huge contribution in changing how humans live, work and plan.

Experts in different parts of the world insist that the wide spread deployment of digital technology is hugely transforming industries and spurring unprecedented socio-economic development. New and emerging technologies enable and precipitate unimaginable innovations at near breakneck pace.

These days, it is obvious that innovations arrive every day to make life easier. For example, digital technology makes it so much easier and faster to transact businesses across borders. Digital technology continues to breaks borders and reshape boundaries. Today, it is creating a connected society that is the basis of the emerging digital economy.

The digital economy is the economic activity that results from everyday online connections among people, businesses, devices, data, and processes. It is said that, “The backbone of the digital economy is hyper-connectivity which means growing interconnectedness of people, organisations, and machines that results from the Internet, mobile technology and the internet of things (IoT).”

According to report by the World Economic Forum, “By 2022, over 60 percent of global GDP will be digitised. Indeed, an estimated 70 percent of new value created in the economy over the next decade will be based on digitally enabled platforms.” It is clear therefore that digital economy is already upon us.

Thankfully, Nigeria is abreast of the trends. Experts say it is as a result of the dedication to massive investment in digital communication infrastructure by the telecommunications companies. In close to two decades, conservative estimates put the figure at over $40 billion. A direct manifestation of this investment is the number of mobile subscribers currently, over 172 million according to figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Despite this growth, a lot more still needs to be done. Take, internet penetration which stands at about 50 percent. A massive 50 percent of the population are still out of the internet loop. Internet access must become ubiquitous to get more people into the digital economy. This is the only way people can possibly partake and benefit.

Consider, Electronic Commerce (e-commerce). It has taken off with a blast in the country. It is now an area of global investor confidence in Nigeria. The Euromonitor International Market Research reveals that e-commerce advancements have been most notable in Nigeria because of the surge in telecom investments and smartphone purchases which have fueled growth in internet usage.

In addition, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy initiative also helped to drive uptake as it is precipitating new and exciting payment options. These are the building blocks of the digital economy – digital infrastructure, internet connection and effective e-commerce along e-payment systems.

The above is precisely why talks of taxing e-commerce transactions by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is abhorrent. This will thwart the efforts to encourage the growth of digital economy in Nigeria. The Ministry of Communication and the Digital Economy must quickly address the issue and nip it in the bud.

The Nigerian government is big on ease of doing business. The latest report justifies the commitment and effort the government is making. Progress is been made. More still needs to be done however. Undoubtedly, the proposed e-commerce tax negates this well thought out policy drive and should be jettisoned.

Unarguably, in today’s world, access to broadband should be a human right. It should be given priority by the government in order to improve access across the country and be completely affordable. To encourage interest in the sector, the government must actively consider subsiding investment in the digital space. It should consider tax breaks and other incentives.

Evidently, the emergence and nurturing of activities in the digital economy are key for diversification of the economy. So, in order to demonstrate its seriousness in this regard, the government must support efforts, particularly by the private sector, to grow the digital economy. Perennial issues around right-of-way approval, multiple taxation and the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure worthy of special protection must be pursued until actualised.

Dr. Isa Pantami, the Minister-in-charge of the renamed ministry, was absolutely right when he insinuated that “The name change will properly position and empower the ministry to fulfill its digital economy objectives. It will further expand the ministry’s mandate to capture the goals of digitalisation of the Nigerian economy in line with the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP), one of the key agenda of the present administration.”

However, beyond the name change, the ministry must demonstrate greater understanding of the issues, show stronger support for players in the sector and must be seen to encourage policies that promote the growth of the sector.

In a year’s time, Nigerians must be able to look back and say the name change was worth it. The citizens should be able to celebrate real net impacts beyond the nomenclature!

This is how to grow the digital economy!



*Elvis Eromosele, a Corporate Communication professional and public affairs analyst writes from Lagos.

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Beyond local content in oil, gas: ICT knowledge export call

Commentary@ITREALMS:

Can Nigeria export het tested Software Application Solutions? Yes, this has been happening unannounced for some time! Today, our innovation potential is weakened by the wedge of global financial Aid. It is therefore time to restore trust in the ability and audacity of Software Applications developed in Nigeria, by Nigerians wherever they may be anywhere in the world. In my professional assessment, the cumulative potentials of ICT Solutions, processes and services currently developed and supported by Nigerians all over the world is worth over 200billlion USD – including unaccounted patents and IP missing in digital action (MIDA).

To avoid emerging catastrophes in Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s digital future, rethinking our national ICT strategy – beyond local content in Oil & Gas – has become a matter of critical urgency, for many cogent reasons. The first sustainable reason is that our digital destiny and national survivability should not be constructed on financial Aids as is the case presently at almost all levels of development and national security. In the last 60 years, Africa and Nigeria in particular has been going cap-in-hand, in search of and receiving insignificant financial Aids from Donors all over the world. However, Nations of the world that have attained constructive and sustainable development have not only done that through the mastery of science and technology, but conscious access to reasonable financial Grants for national development – but definitely not through Aids.

Secondly, the supersonic speed of digital evolution has accelerated the need and compels us to rethink national development strategies beyond Oil & Gas revenue generation. This can be done by advancing a National Software Strategic Plan, overhauling her inter-generational wisdom-database recourses and applying Innovative and creative ICT knowledge armory for global competitiveness. More than ever before, empowered by her youthful population of more than 65% of the Continent’s 1.28billion people, Africa/Nigeria is presented with an awesome opportunity to conquer knowledge poverty at all levels and enthrone astonishing prosperity beyond Oil & Gas, and devoid of financial Aids.

And thirdly, above all, the diminishing patriotism, audacity of merit and trustworthy content in our national development attitudes and social engagement agenda has become worrisome and constitute a multi-dimensional burden to sustainable development – especially within the ICT Ecosystem practically propelled by digital centrifugal force. Whereas, all the answers we have been searching for driving our sustainable development over the past 60 years have always resided in our skilled human resources and not on financial Aids.

With the TSA (Treasury Singly Account) and similar ICT solutions and services delivered to Nigeria by Nigerians, the nation has indeed arrived at the threshold to embark on the life-time business of knowledge export and support services to many parts of the world. This is why the promotion of inter-generational knowledge solutions – with particular reference to harnessing the National ICT Ecosystem should be our core strategic imperative. Numerous evidences abound and vividly illustrate why this is the wisdom roadmap to our collective destiny and prosperity. In my professional assessment, the cumulative potentials of ICT Solutions and services currently developed and supported by Nigerians all over the world is worth over 200 billlion USD – including unaccounted patents and IP missing in digital action (MIDA).

Problem is, we currently don’t have the commensurate data to proof this, due to the seeming neglect of critical Baseline studies and blatant appointments of non-professionals to deliver the IT-Profession-of Things at many critical levels. The following are glaring example:

The revenue of the Indian ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector is expected to reach an approximate value of about INR 14,42,839.5 crores (US$ 225 Billion) by the end of 2020 from current level of INR 10,53,434 crores (US$ 164.3 Billion) growing at CAGR of about ~11.1%, reveals the ASSOCHAM-RNCOS study.

The study jointly published by ASSOCHAM and RNCOS has stated that since cloud, mobility, social media and big data analytics are playing significant role in driving growth of software products and continue to drive the need for investments.

Singapore ICT Industry - Outlook. Contribution to Singapore's Economy. • $167.1 billion Industry Revenue (2014). • 30.3 % Domestic Revenue of Industry  https://www.austrade.gov.au ›  Countries and economies › Singapore.

Malaysia: Te National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Association of Malaysia, or PIKOM, aims to grow the industry’s revenue to RM95 billion by 2017 with its new “5-year strategic direction”. Last year, the national ICT revenue stood at RM57 billion while this year’s projection is expected to be around RM62 billion, according to a study by PIKOM.

Pakistan: The country’s IT industry is set to double by 2020, said the CEO of Pakistan’s national technology fund, increasing from the current worth of $3.5 billion to $7 billion. (source: Express Tribute Sat 19tha may 2018)

.IRELANS: Ireland has become the global technology hub of choice when it comes to attracting the strategic business activities of ICT companies. This has earned Ireland the reputation for being the heart of ICT in Europe. The industry employs over 37,000 people and generates €35 billion in exports annually. The drive is supported through Ireland's 25% R&D tax credit and generous grant support from the IDA. (Source : IDA, Ireland)

CHILE: Johannesburg – Multinational ICT group Datatec’s [JSE:DTC] Logicalis plans to acquire Chilean ICT services and solutions provider, Coasin Chile SA, for up to US$20.8m in cash.

On Tuesday, Datatec announced that a subsidiary of Logicalis Group had signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Coasin Chile, which also has operations in Peru. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.

TAIWAN: Taiwan’s science parks are designed and administered to provide ideal conditions for high-tech business operations. The parks also provide excellent environments for developing powerful synergy among clusters of related enterprises, some in nearby industrial parks, and public R&D institutions. Taiwan ranks first in the “state of cluster development” index of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competiveness Report 2013- (Source: Taiwan Republic of China –Government Year 2016).

Many smarter countries have realized that the effect of local-content legislation and policies in the oil and gas industry is not enough, recognizing that the core interface to ensuring maximum results reside in making ICT as the key driving force and critical linkage for promoting progressive and sustainable Local Content agenda. The Software-Nigeria knowledge frontier more than ever before, requires a National Software Strategic Plan and forward-looking legislation as roadmap to the creation of more employment, improved GDP, National Security, Youth empowerment assurances, global competitiveness and national survivability.  

*Courtesy: Chris Uwaje, former president, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON)

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