NITDA, World Bank's GEMS enter pact on ICT capacity building

ITRealms:

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and a World Bank subsidiary, Growth and Employment in States (GEMS) met at the weekend culminating in signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the building of capacity on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills of Nigerians, reports ITRealms.

Head, Corporate Affairs, NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, disclosing this to ITRealms that the ‘draft’ MoU will include the rights and obligations of the parties for the purpose of implementing GEMS Programme that will cover areas such as Software testing, Professional Certification Programmes, Software Apps, e-Commerce mobile Apps, Business Process Outsourcing among others.

She also said that at the end of a meeting session at NITDA headquarter, Abuja, the Acting Director General of the Agency, Dr. Vincent Olatunji informed the World Bank team that the present administration has the political will to drive the successful implementation of the programme to fruition.

Olatunji was quoted as saying the political will of this administration is working for us in the ICT sector in the country because the government is looking for means of diversifying the economy and ICT sector has been identified as one of the area that could tap into.

“There is assurance from the government on this. The minister with supervision from the office of the Vice president is committed to ensure that ICT drives the country's economy,” Dr. Olatunji assured.

He also said that now the government is more focused to reposition ICT as the next cash cow of the country which informed her decision to establish of 12 innovation hubs across the six geo political zones.

Leader of World Bank delegation, Mr. Andrew Gartside said that the programmes are dynamic in nurturing of ICT especially the Software sub sector, stressing both parties will ensure the sustainability of these programmes, which will eventually add value to NITDA.

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Pix: Ag. DG of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji and Mr. Andrew Gartside of World Bank's GEMS.

Niger Delta: 33 finalists emerge @ GEMS 2016

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About 33 finalists have emerged in the 2016 Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme being organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), reports ITRealms.

The Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari made this disclosure at a ceremony in Port Harcourt.

She also said that the 33 finalists all emerged from SSS1 and SSS2, who are beginning to see the practicality of science, even at that young age, and it becomes a foundation upon which they and other children of the Niger Delta, as well as the schools in the region, will build collective future.

The school that produces the first prize winner, she said, will get a chemistry laboratory, while the second and third schools will get a physics and biology laboratory, respectively.

“We are also going to reward the girls with prizes, such as laptops,” she said.

Further, she said, these finalists were selected from a rigorous elimination process that began with 2880 girls from the nine NDDC mandate states.

“From this first screening test 1110 girls were selected. From the 1110, 270 were selected at 30 girls per state. They progressed to the state finals, where 11 girls qualified from each state, leading to the regional finals, where 11 girls were selected from each of the three regions. Of the 33 who will participate in the grand finale, 10 would be selected for recognition, while the top five will receive awards, prizes and scholarships,” she said.

In initiating GEMS, she said, they are igniting a spark within these young, remarkable women, as well as in society, which we expect to build into a fire that will lead to great things.

“It is good for our society, and good for the Niger Delta region. It is good for our collective future,” shd said, and  called on other well-meaning organisations across the Niger Delta, especially oil and gas companies, to partner with NDDC on the GEMS programme, so that it becomes a worthy and engaging incubator for breeding young ladies who will grow up to conquer the world in various STEM-related careers. 

Gender ICT/GEE 

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GEMS committed to bridge gender gaps - Ibim Semenitari

ITRealms:

The Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari has said that by the creation of  the Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme, that the initiative is committed to bridge gender gaps, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the hosting of the finalists of GEMS in Port Harcourt, Semenitari said that  the programme was borne out of the desire as well as social commitment and responsibility to bridge the gaps that exist in gender related issues.

"We encounter in our earnest effort to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. Of great importance is the science and technology areas, which are very vital in ensuring that our people begin to play a more definitive role in the oil and gas sector, which predominate activities in the Niger Delta," she said

According to the NDDC boss, the mission of GEMS s to promote innovative, research and standards-based practices, which will encourage students with interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to thrive in the 21st century global economy.

She also said that the programme hopes to leverage on its extensive network of expertise, partnerships, resources and experience by providing Niger Delta girls who have shown remarkable brilliance in these areas the needed platform to excel and grow as scientists.

NDDC, she said, believes that science and technology could become exciting again, for our young ones.

“GEMS presents a healthy competition that helps our girls interpret science in such a way that we can use science, in a glamorous way, to do every day things, and resolve every day challenges,” she submitted.

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Pix: Mrs. Ibim Semenitari