From Import dependency to local capacity: Nigeria’s tech manufacturing journey - ITREALMS Online

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The recent escalation in the Middle East conflict has delivered a sharp, analytical reminder of Nigeria’s structural vulnerability. As global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel, a troubling paradox emerged: Nigeria, a major crude producer with a world-class refinery now operational, remains buffeted by energy shocks originating thousands of miles away.

This crisis has brought instant sunlight to an uncomfortable truth; decades of import dependency have left the nation’s economy precariously exposed to external shocks.

Local content, capacity drive power Nigeria's data centre boom says Cooker - ITREALMS

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Nigeria’s push toward digital sovereignty is gaining momentum, as industry leaders and regulators reaffirm their commitment to local content development and capacity building as the backbone of the nation’s fast-growing data centre ecosystem, reports ITREALMS.

At the heart of this transformation is a deliberate strategy to deepen indigenous expertise, stimulate economic multipliers, and position Nigeria, particularly Lagos, as a continental hub for digital infrastructure.

Dangote refinery achieves historic 650,000 bpd capacity as crude, MS units hit full optimization - ITREALMS

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reached a definitive operational milestone, successfully restoring and optimizing its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) production block, reports ITREALMS.

This achievement marks a global first, as the facility becomes the premier refinery in the world to reach its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) within its initial operational phase.

Major Expansion: Dangote Refinery partners Honeywell Int'l, targets 1.4m BPD capacity - ITREALMS

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Strategic collaboration includes significant expansion across refining, petrochemicals, and fertilizer production, strengthening Nigeria's industrial footprint.

The Dangote Group is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Honeywell International Inc. to support the next phase of expansion for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, advancing its vision to create the world’s largest integrated petroleum refining and petrochemical complex, reports ITREALMS.

The collaboration is set to utilize Honeywell’s advanced technology and services to boost the refinery’s processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day (BPD) by 2028. This monumental increase marks a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and industrial self-sufficiency.

Nigeria's tech evolution: Senator Natasha's drones redefine capacity building by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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In this edition of Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS, veteran tech journalist REMMY NWEKE vividly details how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's pioneering drone and digital skills program is revolutionizing capacity building across Nigeria, illuminating its potential to foster self-reliance, advance environmental sustainability, and usher in new era of tech-driven entrepreneurship nationwide.

 

Preamble:

In a nation where technological innovation is rapidly reshaping industries and empowering communities, a notable shift in capacity building is taking flight, quite literally.

Nigerian Army Kicks Off 2025 Study Period, Focuses on Capacity Building - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC NA) has kicked off its 2025 study period, with a focus on capacity building and effective training for joint military operations, reports 

ITREALMS.

The event, which took place at the TRADOC NA Auditorium in Minna, brought together top military officers, experts, and stakeholders to discuss pressing security challenges and strategies for improving training.

Danbatta: NCC committed to promoting organizational efficiency, capacity building - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has once again reiterated its stance on professionalizing its workforce and strengthening collaborations with strategic partners such as the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in order to enhance operational efficiency.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated this while receiving a delegation led by the Acting Registrar and CEO of NIM, Jude Iheanacho, who paid a courtesy visit to the NCC Head Office recently.

NCC, LBS to overhaul courses, partner on capacity building - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Lagos Business School of Pan-Atlantic University are considering forging a partnership that will result in developing customised capacity building interventions and overhauling of existing training courses offered by the LBS to address critical areas of needs of the Commission’s human capital development.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, emphasized the imperative of such collaboration during a visit of an LBS delegation led by the School’s Director, Executive Education, Victor Banji, to the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja recently.

NCC, LBS mull collaboration on capacity building - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Lagos Business School of Pan-Atlantic University are considering forging a partnership that will result in developing customised capacity building interventions and overhauling of existing training courses offered by the LBS to address critical areas of needs of the Commission’s human capital development.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, emphasized the imperative of such collaboration during a visit of an LBS delegation led by the School’s Director, Executive Education, Victor Banji, to the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja recently.

Data Journalism: Code for Africa partners Lagos NAWOJ on capacity building - ITREALMS

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The Lagos state chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with acclaimed Africa's biggest data journalism and civic tech platform, Code For Africa (CfA) to train her members on data literacy training and development, reports ITREALMS. 

CfA, ITREALMS gathered, works as a non-partisan ‘change agent’ that offers engineering and editorial support, skills development, seed-funding, and business development services designed to strengthen digital democracy by empowering citizens with actionable information and by amplifying citizens’ voices, while also strengthening civic engagement for improved public governance and accountability. 

Nigeria still desire broadband capacity - Akinlola

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The chief executive officer of Ntel, Mr. Ernest Akinlola has said that Nigeria is still very much desirous of broadband capacity, reports ITRealms.

Akinlola made this known at the 2017 Telecoms Executiveand Regulator Forum (TERF) at Oriental Hotel in Lagos, weekend, where he was represented by the Director, Regulatory and External Affairs at ntel, Mr. Osondu Nwokolo.

TERF is organised by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and powered by InstinctWave.

He also noted that Nigeria is still in need of broadband capacity anchored on synergy by relevant stakeholders.

In addition, Nwokolo decried the fact that many at times, the decision affecting directly on the telecom sector is taken outside the industry without core industry players participating.

This, he said, does not argue well for the development and growth of the sector, especially in the telecom sector who are supposed to use the supposed infrastructure.

Equally, he said that spectrum trading is a good idea but content to drive it should be looked into as well.

He advised government to always include the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and operators who deliver based on requisite OEMs tp the end user.

Further, he canvassed for the OEMs to be part of the beneficiaries of any tax incentive to afford to domestication of their factories in the country, thereby creating jobs for Nigerians and reducing the cost of acquiring such equipment or devices by end users.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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ICANN to host first capacity building workshop for GAC members @UAE

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to host the first capacity building workshop for the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Middle East members and GAC newcomers, reports ITRealms.

The workshop organized by ICANN is in cooperation with the ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Under-served Regions Working Group.

ITRealms gathered the workshop would be held on 28 October, on the first day of ICANN’s 60th Public Meeting (ICANN60), in Abu Dhabi, United Arabic Emirates (UAE) with the support of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE.

This is the first capacity building workshop targeting GAC members in the Middle East.

ITRealms reports that ICANN President and CEO, Mr. Göran Marby, and GAC Chair, Mr. Thomas Schneider, are billed to present at the workshop along with executives, alongside the regional ICANN team, and community members.

The workshop will focus on raising awareness about ICANN policy making processes and assisting the GAC members and governments in the Middle East on how to effectively participate and contribute to ICANN. It will also introduce policy topics and working groups relevant to the work of the GAC members. The workshop will seek feedback from the participants on how ICANN can help them foster and boost their participation.

In addition, ITRealms reports that the workshop would cover wide a range of topics including: Introduction to ICANN and its role and work in the Middle East region, Role of ICANN in the global Internet Governance Ecosystem, Update on ICANN constituencies and cross community work at ICANN60.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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StarTimes to boost capacity of 1,300 personnel nationwide

ITRealms:

The management of NTA – STAR TV Network Limited, the operators of StarTimes Nigeria, has concluded plans to boost the capacity of over 1,300 employees nationwide, reports ITRealms.

This the company told ITRealms I in its bid to foster professionalism and position its people to better compete with their counterparts globally, and pay TV industry in , Nigeria.

The latest policy,  ITRealms gathered covers 75 per cent of the cost of the proposed training in order to encourage all staff seek professional development locally or internationally.

Disclosing this to ITRealms, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr Tunde Aina, in a press statement said, “Capacity building for staff must be top priority for any responsible organisation. We pride ourselves as one, with the interest of our entire workforce at heart hence the need to continually roll out friendly policies that seek to develop our people."

Startimes, he said is currently live in a fast paced world and to ensure that personnels are up to date with international developments and practices, a constant training and re-training is necessary. 

"This new policy will ensure that any staff who wishes to study for personal or professional development gets to do so without hindrance by the expenses" he assured.

StarTimes, he said, will bear upto 75 per cent of the total cost of such training, leaving just 25 per cent to be covered by the staff. 

"This policy is open to all staff, irrespective of grade, level or contract type and was the first policy introduced when the new CEO, Justin Zhang, a visionary leader who believes in the people took office earlier this year” he said.

StarTimes presently provides direct employment to over 1,300 staff and indirect jobs to over 3,000 Nigerians through dealer partners across 34 states in the country, making the company a major employer of labour in Nigeria in its over 7 years of operations.

Chucks Egbune/GEE
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NITDA, World Bank's GEMS enter pact on ICT capacity building

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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.

Lagos, keen on capacity development - Ayorinde

ITRealms:

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, has declared that one of the cardinal direction of Governor Ambode-led administration is to invest in capacity development of government officials who are major stakeholders in articulating his plans, programmes and policies for the development of the State, reports ITRealms.

Ayorinde said that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is specifically interested in the way and manner activities of the government is communicated to Lagosians including people at the grassroots and would continue to support the Public Affairs Officers in honing their skills to help in achieving the objective for better service delivery.

The commissioner made this known today while declaring open the second stream of the retreat programme organized for Public Affairs Officers in the employ of the government held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Amuwo Odofin.

Speaking on the rationale behind the change in nomenclature from Public Relations Officers to Public Affairs Officers, the Commissioner said the government expects public involvement in information management in line with the pledge made by the Governor during his inaugural address to run a government of inclusion.

He called for improved commitment to duty from the officers urging them to go extra miles in gathering information that would project the state government better and also benefit members of the public.

Giving the overview of the retreat, the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry, Mrs. Adetoro  Oladapo said that the programme was organized to boost the capacity of officers especially with their new nomenclature, standardize public affairs practice, provide opportunity for officers to network and also jointly provide solutions to challenges confronting them.

According to her, the theme for the retreat ‘'Public Sector Information Management in Challenging Times'’ was deliberately chosen to equip the officers with needed skills to communicate government activities to the diverse residents of the State.

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KOICA to train 22, 625 Nigerian civil servants on e-government

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The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) e-government project is expected to train about 22,625 Nigerian civil servants from 2015 to 2018 to reinforce their practical e-government capacity, ITRealms reports.

The South Korean Government, through KOICA, is investing a total of 8.56 million dollars about N1.69billion and partner organisations in the project, ITRealms gathered, include the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Public Service Institute of Nigeria and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Project Manager, e-government Master Plan, Mr Kuk Hwan Jeong, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, recently. The capacity building on e-government for Nigerian officials will commence in January 2016.

Jeong, who spoke on the side line of an evaluation workshop on the pilot phase of the e-government capacity building training, said 112 government officials were trained during its pilot phase, ITRealms learnt.

“We are planning to resume the training in January. In the last three weeks we trained 112 officials for the pilot phase which was more than the initial 105 people. Their attendance was very impressive, with almost everybody attending daily. We are getting a lot of enthusiasm and positive feedback from those who participated in the programme.

Jeong, however, urged trainees to enhance the cooperation and develop methods to implement the e-government master plan, according to report by The Tide.
.
“Now what should be done is that those who have been trained should cooperate on ways to influence policy making decisions and implement the e-government initiative as defined by the master-plan. What would be needed to successfully manage the e-government initiative are money, people and technology, also law and institutions and IT governance. The most challenging in this country is how to mobilise resource, not just financial but man-power.,” he explained.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE with additional report by The Tide

 
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MTN’s WACS to boost broadband capacity in Nigeria

The West African Cable System (WACS) being championed by MTN Group is expected to boost broadband capacity in Nigeria. This follows the roll out of a bouquet of services at the weekend in Lagos.

WACS is a consortium of 11 network operators across 15 countries with MTN being the single biggest investor in the group. WACS connects South Africa with the United Kingdom along the West Coast of Africa, landing in South Africa, Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde as well as the Canary Islands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

The chief enterprise solutions officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Osho, confirmed in a press statement made available to ITRealms noted that the 17,200 kilometres (km) submarine cable system service was made commercially available in May, 2012.

In Nigeria, he assured that MTN is now ready offer large organisations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) reliable high capacity connectivity for all their needs.

“We have capacity to provide high quality, low latency internet access to wholesalers such as ISPs – Internet Service Providers, Internet Bandwidth Resellers and Carriers, as well as end-users anywhere in the country,” he said.

Osho also explained that WACS has 15 landing stations along its route, putting MTN in a vantage position to deliver International Private Leased Circuits to additional locations worldwide.

He pointed out that MTN has a unique advantage which no other cable has, of a pre-existing extensive terrestrial Internet Protocol (IP) and broadband backbone infrastructure, enabling the company to deliver high grade and highly-available Internet capacity to anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria.

Osho expressed the belief that WACS would bring the much-needed boost to the growth of many businesses whose requirements for data have continued to be on the rise in the last few years.

MTN Business, he assured, would continue to provide world class ICT solutions that would enable large corporations and small and medium scale enterprises, serve their customers better.

“The coming of WACS is yet another way of keeping our promises,” Osho declares.

Remmy Nweke
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