NMEC canvasses NCC intervention to promote mass literacy

ITRealms:

The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non formal Education (NMEC) has canvassed the intervention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to spread mass literacy and non-formal adult education in the country, reports ITRealms.

Executive Secretary of the NMEC, Prof Abba Abubakar Haladu dropped this hint during a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta recently. They were received by Engr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) at NCC on behalf of the EVC.

For Prof Haladu, “literacy education is the bedrock of development because it assists in the improvement of the lives of the people through the provision of relevant skills, competences and knowledge which enable beneficiaries to take appropriate decision about their lives and families”.

He said that if quality education is provided to the citizenry, the impact will be obvious and society would benefit, it will fuel modernity, knowledge based economy and development.

He listed dangers of illiteracy to include but not limited to ill-health, population explosion, rural-urban drift, gang influence, ignorance, poverty and the culture of silence over sensitive matters among others.

He acknowledged however, that progress has been made in literacy education in the country but there is more to be done.

Prof. Haladu gave figures of mass literacy with a disturbing accuracy. “there are estimated over 60million adult and youth illiterates and 11.5million out of school children and this is a major challenge to the country”.

In this connection, Prof. Haladu enlisted the collaboration of NCC to correct the imbalance. Some of the areas the NCC could assist include:

·         Strengthening of NMEC Headquarters (HQ) with the necessary ICT facilities such as unlimited internet access, Desktop Computers, Inverter, Solar panels and batteries for uninterrupted power supply for the ICT facilities.

·         Equip 13 community learning centres constructed by NMEC with Solar panels, inverter, unlimited internet access, Desktop Computers, including tables and chairs.  The community learning centres are located in the following states: Edo, Rivers, Plateau, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, Imo, Anambra, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara and FCT.

·         Equip Kano Training and Documentation Centre and the Minna Resource Centre with Desktop Computers, unlimited internet access, Solar Panels, inverters, batteries and tables/chairs.  This gesture will facilitate the effective take off of the ICT units in the centres.

·         Provision of internet and ICT facilities for the smooth take off of NFE Education Management Information units in the 36 states and FCT Agencies for Adult and Non-Formal Education.

·         Capacity building of relevant staff on ICTs at the NMEC headquarters, zonal offices, states agencies and at the community learning centres established by the Commission.

·         Support the airing of jingles and Literacy campaigns through Radio Programme in select radio and television stations as means of sensitization, mobilization and advocacy in favour of mass literacy and non-formal education.

·         Any other area of support not listed above that would assist NMEC in the task of eradicating illiteracy and the enhancement of lifelong learning amongst Nigerians.

In his response, Mr. Maska who stood in for Prof. Danbatta said “it is heart-warming to note that your organisation and NCC share a common education growth objective”.

The NCC, he explained, is involved in promoting a knowledge-based economy through its intervention in both Secondary and Tertiary Institutions across the country.

Maska listed NCC’s intervention to include the Advanced Digital Awareness for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) and Digital Awareness Program (DAP) among others.

He said himself and the EVC come from the academic background and so will be prone to the suggestions of the NMEC boss, “even though it is a big basket of demands, we will pass the information to the EVC and get back to you”, Maska added.

NCC’s Directors present at the reception for the NMEC delegation included: Mr. Tony Ojobo (Public Affairs), Mrs. Iyabo Sholanke (Research & Development), Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu (Universal Service Provision Fund) and Mr. Kehinde Oladipo (Administration).

ministration and General Services, Dr. Musa Gusau, Director of Literacy & Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria King, Director Monitoring and Evaluation, and Dr. Matthew Onu (Director of Planning, Research and Statistics) among others.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Season-2: UNN, UNIBEN, UNIZIK cart away prizes @Etisalat-DigitalSENSE students’ essay contest on IG4D

ITRealms:

The organisers of Etisalat-DigitalSENSE students essay contest on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), the DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Media Group, has named Odonoekuma Onyebuchi Ekuma as the star prize winner for the 2016 edition, which is on Season 2, reports ITRealms.

The Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Media Group, Nkemdilim Nweke, disclosed this in Lagos, and said that the 2016 theme was on ‘Internet Governance: Creating Opportunities for All Nigerians’ which saw Odonoekuma Onyebuchi Ekuma, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, emerging top.

Also, she revealed that Henry Monday Oguns, a five-hundred level Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Benin, Edo State, and Egwe Tochukwu Christopher, a fourth year Law student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka-Anambra State, taking the second and third positions, respectively.

Mrs. Nweke equally said that the finalists will in the coming week receive their prizes which include a Laptop, Tablet and smart phone with data for the trio.

She stressed that the essay competition is aimed at encouraging creativity and discourse on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) by Nigerian youths, especially the students.

Mrs. Nweke explained that participating students were mostly between the ages of 18 and 30, pointing out that the competition sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria is organised by DigitalSENSE Africa Media, the publishers of international award winning DigitalSENSE Business News, ITRealms and NaijaAgroNet; is part of the annual Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on IG4D and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable.

Reacting, the star prize winner, Odonoekuma Onyebuchi Ekuma, on getting the news declared “I am very excited. Winning the contest has made this year very awesome for me.”

Odonoekuma also advised Nigerian youth, saying that the Internet holds the key to virtually every progress in life, stressing that the Internet provides the connectivity that yields efficiencies to employment creation, healthcare delivery, economic development and indeed all sectors of life.

An elated first runner up, Henry Monday Ogun beckoned on youths in Nigeria to embrace opportunity as this being offered by Etisalat-DigitalSENSE Africa to diversify their limitless positivity through properly harnessing same, declaring, “The way forward is active participation.”

And for the second runner up, Egwe Tochukwu Christopher, the internet is a blessing to this generation, hence more than ever “we are connected to persons and opportunities to further our dreams and ambitions in life, and to create positive impact in the society.”

Nigerian Youths, Egwe said, should seize this rare opportunity to connect with those positive opportunities, persons, and communities to name a few, which will help in projecting their life’s aspirations.

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Pix: Star prize winner 2016 Etisalat-DigitalSENSE Students Essay, Odonoekuma Onyebuchi Ekuma.

MIIVOC insists on 100,000 man-march against Imo State Media bill

ITRealms:

... Demands recall of Ugonna Ozurigbo

A civil society organisation, Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-(MIIVOC), has insisted on its planned 100,000 man-march in Owerri, Imo State capital against the proposed bill to gag the media in the state by the State Assembly, describing it as anti-masses, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as they demanded the recall of the Nwangele state constituents member who is the chief sponsor of the bill and Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, Ugonna Ozurigbo, according to MIIVOC Executive Director, Dr. Walter Duru.

Duru described the state Assembly’s move as irresponsible and aimed at consolidating fraud and misrule in the state, even as he urged people of the state to resist it, insisting that the march will go on unless the bill is formally withdrawn.

“The bill seeks to regulate the publication and distribution of newspapers and to register newspapers and news agents in Imo State. It is titled: a law to repeal and re-enact the newspaper law of eastern region of Nigeria, law number 24 of 1955 and newspaper law Edict no 3 of 1984 and other matters connected thereto.”

“The bill contradicts the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. It simply shows that some members of the state legislature are self-serving in their endeavours and exposes the bad intentions of the sponsors. What exactly are our leaders hiding and why do they want to gag the press at all cost. I have read through the bill and every page shows the obvious bad intention of the sponsors of the bill.”

“This development is an excellent entry point for scrutiny and public outcry over the ineptitude and wanton corruption of the present administration in the state.”

Continuing, Duru disclosed that mobilization is ongoing to shut down the state in the coming days in protest against the unpopular bill, even as he urged the leadership of the State House of Assembly to withdraw the bill in the interest of the state.

“We are mobilizing citizens against this draconian bill. The state will not believe what will happen in the coming days; members of the state Assembly will realise that they are representatives of the people and not mere self-serving individuals and stooges of the executive arm. I hold strongly and nobody can convince me to the contrary, that whoever that does not want to be discussed should stay away from public offices.”

“Imo people are hungry and there is no semblance of good governance in the state. How does this bill put food on the table of Imo people? How does it entrench transparency and accountability in governance? The focus now should be on legislation that will improve the socio-economic well-being of the people, enhance security and check corruption in the state, and not this evil ploy. The bill should be discarded in its totality. It belongs to the dust bin and should be thrown away without delay.”

Duru, who is also the Chairman, Board of Governors, Freedom of Information Coalition, Nigeria, vowed that everything necessary shall be done to stop the bill, even as he urged the Nwangele state constituents of the chief sponsor of the bill and Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo, to commence the process of his recall, in the interest of the state, describing his action as disgraceful.

On reports of Hon. Ozurigbo’s alleged promise to withdraw the bill, Duru argued: “until a formal move is made at the floor of the State Assembly and the bill withdrawn, the action(s) will continue. Politicians cannot be trusted in this part of the world. We believed them in the past and they failed us. Nothing other than an immediate withdrawal of the Bill is acceptable.”

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE 

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Pre-WTDC-17: Americas identify priorities on telecom development

ITRealms:

Participants at the Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for the Americas ended Friday in Asunción, Paraguay, with the meeting assessing the ongoing implementation of the Dubai Action Plan adopted at ITU's last World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14) and identified priority areas for information and communication technology (ICT) development strategies in the Americas, reports ITRealms.

Minister of Finance of the Republic of Paraguay, Mr Santiago Peña, stressed the importance of technology to connect everyone in the country, declaring "Information and communication technologies are key elements of the National Development Plan 2013 to achieve inclusive growth."

For the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Mr. Houlin Zhao said that 2017 is a very important year for the ITU's Telecommunication Development Sector.

"The World Telecommunication Development Conference, to be held later this year, will forge a global plan for telecommunication and ICT development over the next four years. I am pleased to see that significant efforts have been made to engage Members in the preparation of key documents of the Conference," he said.

Also speaking, Ing. Teresita Palacios, President of the National Telecommunication Commission (CONATEL), said that participants at the just concluded regional preparatory meeting were renowned experts, pointing out that the real protagonists of this meeting are the people - the people of the Americas.

“We are all working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through information and communication technologies," CONATEL boss said.

Five draft regional initiatives for the Americas region for the years 2018-2021 were identified at the RPM for discussion and consideration at the upcoming WTDC-17:

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Communications; Spectrum Management and Transition to Digital Broadcasting; Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure, especially in Rural and Neglected Areas, and Strengthening of Broadband Access to Services and Applications; Accessibility and Affordability for an Inclusive and Sustainable Americas Region; Development of the Digital Economy, Smart Cities and Communities (SCC) & Internet of Things (IoT), promoting innovation.

Equally speaking, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, Brahima Sanou, said, every day ITU reaffirms the tremendous potential of ICTs to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.

"As we embrace a new ecosystem, our actions must go beyond the ICT sector. The ITU's Development Sector will continue to be an active player and facilitator of innovations for sustainable development," he said.

ITRealms recalls that the RPM for the Americas was preceded by the Regional Development Forum (RDF).

Nonye Dom/GEE 

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Adeosun reiterates FG resolve on infrastructure development to drive economic growth

ITRealms:

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has reiterated the Federal Government resolve that infrastructure development will drive economic growth, thereby creating jobs and wealth, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the United Capital launch of its Eurobond and Wealth for Women Funds, Thursday, Adeosun said that infrastructure development will play a fundamental role in unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential, laying a foundation for economic competitiveness and long-term future growth.

She stated that Investment in critical infrastructure across the country will unlock job and wealth creation and strengthen economic development across all States in Nigeria.

Other speakers represented at the event included Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Toyin Saraki, Wife of the Senate President, and Erelu Bisi Fayemi, President, African Women's Development Fund.

While speaking on the outlook for the Nigerian economy, the Minister noted that the Government is committed to increasing capital spend on critical infrastructure across key areas; power, rail, roads and water which will underpin growth in priority sectors especially Agriculture and Agro-Allied, Solid Minerals, Manufacturing, and Power. “We will now target 30% of Government expenditure on infrastructure, up from 10 per cent”.

According to her, the Federal Government will mobilise private capital to complement Government spending on infrastructure.

“We recognise that Government spending alone will be inadequate to bridge the infrastructure gap and we have started engaging the private sector through our housing fund and the road trust fund for which fundraising is in progress” she said.

Further Adeosun explained that the Government’s debt strategy is an essential part of this process. 

“Today, our debt profile is un-balanced. We borrow heavily domestically, with too short a tenure, and at a high cost. The impact of this is that we spend too much on interest and we crowd out the private sector from borrowing to fund their investment plans. This debt structure does not support our long term growth ambitions, and so it must be amended. We need longer term and cheaper finance to support the infrastructure investments we must make” she declared.

Maintaining that FG expects infrastructure development to underpin the return to inclusive and sustainable growth in Nigeria

Oyi Midele/GEE 

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Samsung adopts metal quantum dot for QLED TV

ITRealms:

The Samsung Electronics has adopted Quantum Dot materials in its latest on the shelf QLED Q9, Q8, and Q7 TV series, reports ITRealms.

Business Unit Head, TV/AV at Samsung South Africa, Lance Shaun Berger, said that with the launch came with the belief that this latest range of TVs will create an entirely new era in home entertainment.

“With the advent of QLED TV, Samsung can provide the most true-to-life picture on screen, having been successful in solving past inconsistencies in the viewing experience and consumer pain points. While we are redefining the fundamental value of TV with this range, we have also placed a strong focus on ensuring that there will be models available that will suit the pockets of our customers in the emerging markets,” Berger said.

According to Samsung, with picture quality remaining a top priority for consumers around the world, especially as the average TV continues to increase in size, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TVs represent yet another leap forward. The new line-up offers dramatically improved colour performance. Displaying DCI-P3 colour space accurately and in another world first for Samsung, QLED TVs are capable of reproducing 100% colour volume. This means the devices can express all colours at any level of brightness, with even the subtlest differences visible at the QLED’s peak luminance – between 1,500 and 2,000 nits.

Colour volume presents colour that can be expressed at different levels of brightness. For example, a leaf can be perceived as different shades, from yellowish-green to turquoise, depending on the brightness of the light. Samsung’s QLED TV displays can capture even these subtle differences in colour pertaining to brightness.

“This breakthrough is a result of Samsung’s adoption of a new metal Quantum Dot material, making it possible for the TV to express a significantly improved range of colour, with much greater detail compared to conventional TVs,” Berger explains.

ITRealms gathered that the new Quantum dots allow Samsung QLED TV to express deep blacks and rich detail regardless of how light or dark the scene is, or whether the content is being played in a brightly lit or darkened room. With its metal alloy Quantum Dot technology, brightness no longer has to be compromised to boost colour performance, which is maintained regardless of how wide the viewing angle may be.

Berger further said, there is no reason why African consumers should be left behind by this ground-breaking new technology, which is why “our innovative new QLED TVs have been designed to not only offer a vision of the future, but to do so at a price point that takes into account our many valued customers across the African continent.”

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Enter US, give us your password: ISOC, 50 others petition UN

ITRealms:

The Internet Society (ISOC) has joined forces with some 50 other civil society organisations and trade associations to petition the United Nations (UN) on social media and device collection at the United States borders, reports ITRealms.

The petition sent to the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, William Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, and UN experts, have been garnering supports with the latest being ISOC.

Confirming this, President and chief executive officer, ISOC, Ms Kathryn Brown, said the group has to speak out against proposed password disclosure requirements at US borders.

The petition which has over 90 individual experts supporting it, ITRealms gathered, showed experts are deeply concerned that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may require individuals to disclose their social media account passwords as a condition of entry into the United States.

ITRealms gathered that a few days ago, the new U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security indicated that the U.S. government is considering such a policy as an element of border screening, but ISOC in condemning this plan, said it believes it will undermine Internet security.

“We signed onto this statement because we believe that this policy would gravely undermine Internet security and would represent an alarming intrusion on individuals’ rights of expression, opinion and privacy.   We also worry that other nations may replicate this approach, leading to a cascading decline in Internet security for users across the globe,” Brown said.

The Internet Society, she said, is a global organization that is comprised of staff, chapters, members and volunteers around the world who all share a deep commitment to the ability of individuals to communicate freely and securely via the Internet.

“Coercive action by a government to demand user passwords is contrary to our values and creates unacceptable risks to our community's ability to travel and communicate freely. We remain committed to opposing policies such as this that would compromise global Internet security and place our community’s security and privacy in jeopardy,” ISOC said.

However, ITRealms further gathered that in a joint letter sent to High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, William Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, and UN experts, the petitioners urged these authorities to investigate reports that the United States is demanding that visitors provide access to their electronic devices as well as passcodes to those devices and online accounts.

They also decried that these practices persist in violation of the United States’ human rights treaty obligations, and action is needed to hold the US government accountable for the protection of human rights at US borders, which are not zones of exclusion or exception.

Digital devices that most people carry, they said in their pockets or bags grant access to “our social media accounts and contain a dizzying array of personal information.”

They insisted that today, these devices multi-task as primary means of “voice and text communication, our cameras, fitness trackers, sleep monitors, banking portals, home shopping networks, and the source of the answers for any questions that may come up in casual conversation.”

Further, the signatories asked the UN authorities to raise the issues communicated in the petition with the US government, in particular that it is failing to conform with its commitments to protect human rights by demanding access to electronic devices and social media accounts as a prerequisite for entry into the country.

The signatories also requested that an inquiry be conducted to more comprehensively investigate these alarming incidents and policies, as well as a country visit to the US to observe and monitor the procedures at the border controls, to serve as the basis for the inquiry.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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ICANN extends deadline on call for WHOIS volunteers review team

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has extended its call for volunteers to serve in the Registration Directory Service (RDS) Review Team previously known as WHOIS, are now due till 7 March 2017, reports ITRealms.

ICANN, ITRealms gathered is seeking volunteers to serve on the second review of Registration Directory Service (formerly known as the WHOIS Review).

“Interested individuals are invited to provide the following information, in the template provided,” sources from ICANN informed ITRealms.

In addition, potential volunteers are to submit a biography, detailing relevant work and/or academic experience, as well as subject matter knowledge;  motivation for detailing interest in serving on the Review Team and what to bring to the team.

Also, volunteers are to specify the Supporting Organization (SO) or Advisory Committee (AC) that they would like to have consider them for nomination.

“Candidates are asked to submit their application materials to reviews@icann.org by 7 March 2017, and all applications and supporting materials will be published as they are received on the RDS wiki page,” our source said.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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TD launches InnJoo LeapBook in Nigeria

ITRealms:

The partnership between InnJoo and Technology Distributions (TD) has continued to grow with the launch of InnJoo LeapBook in Nigeria on Wednesday, reports ITRealms.

The country Manager, InnJoo Mobile, Mr. Rakash Rocque told ITRealms during a media launch held at the TD Headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos, that the notebook, is currently available in two colours, namely the champagne gold and moonlight silver colours.

He also said that LeapBook is very affordable and could be picked off the shelf with less than N100,000, even as it comes with Window 10 operating system in addition to Intel CherryTrail-T3 Quad core Z8350 1.44Ghz up to 1.84Ghz.

The InnJoo Leap, Mr. Rocque noted is a fast, capable work tool fitted for today’s dynamic and fast-paced business and lifestyle environment. The device, he explained, has the power requirements of tropical Africa in mind as it comes with a 10,000 mAh battery which delivers up to 10 hours battery life for almost an entire day’s use and an equally fast charger/adapter.

“You can comfortably charge it in the car of even a power-bank that is has the capacity of 10,00 mAH and above,” he said.

On the weight, he said LeapBook is 1.275 kg and 18.2mm thin, hence the InnJoo Leap is officially acknowledged as the world’s lightest and slimmest 14’-inch notebook.

Thus, he said, LeapBook was made to appeal to a growing generation of tech-savvy Nigerians who rely on their devices on the go to meet a variety of business, work, lifestyle and leisure needs.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Marketing at TD, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, said they as a company always determined to bring on board the best of products for Nigerians and sub-region.

She also said that the InnJoo LeapBook is already available at TD head office and will be made available to all their footprint across Nigeria by next week, just as customers can also order online from Jumia, Konga and Yudala.

TD, she said, would continue to play its wide reseller base and dominance role in the ICT distribution eco-system, stressing that with InnJoo’s growing suite of world-class products, the InnJoo Leap is set to enjoy an overwhelming reception and demand in the market.

Also at the launch were the Business Manager, Personal Systems Group, TD, Kalu Johnson and Marketing Executive, InnJoo Mobile, Ike Martins.

Chuks Egbune/GEE 

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Pix: Managing Director (Marketing) Technology Distributions Ltd. (TD), Mrs. Chioma Chimere (left); Country Manager, InnJoo Mobile, Rakesh Rocque; Business Manager, Personal Systems Group, TD, Kalu Johnson and Marketing Executive, InnJoo Mobile, Ike Martins at the press briefing for the unveiling of the InnJoo Leap – the world’s slimmest and lightest 14’ Notebook hosted at TD Headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos… on Wednesday February 22^nd 2017.

Billions shut out of Internet access by government inactions

ITRealms:

The 2017 Affordability Report has been released with indication that billions shut out of internet access by government inactions, reports ITRealms.

The report released by Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) tracks policy progress toward affordable internet across 58 low- and middle-income countries.

According to the Communications Manager, A4AI, Lauran Potter the report found out that governments are failing their citizens when it comes to providing affordable internet access. 

“Just 19 countries surveyed have "affordable" internet access,” she said, stressing that policies have barely changed since this research series started in 2014.

They observed that nearly half the countries surveyed have badly outdated or non-existent plans to guide broadband development, whereas public funds to expand access to the disconnected, if they exist, are sitting dormant in over a third of countries.

ITRealms reports that ​Nigeria, for instance, ranks 13th out of 58 on this year's Affordability Drivers Index, which measures the policies in place to enable affordable access.

Last year's report, ITRealms recalls, showed a miss on the global target of universal, affordable access by over 20 years.

This year's report further confirmed that government inaction has remained a threat to entrench the digital divide and worsen global inequality.

A4AI, therefore, called on leaders to take urgent action to reverse this course and enable access for the over 4 billion offline as at the time of releasing the report.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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