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Facebook partners NCC on digital infrastructure

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Nasiru Yusuf

Top management staff of Facebook, a leading global social network platform, have sought partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on deployment of digital infrastructure to strengthen connectivity.

Mr Ibrahima Ba, Network Investment Lead at Facebook Office in the United States, who led the Facebook delegation to NCC, stated that robust infrastructure is the bedrock of the massive connectivity that signposts Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

He said without adequate and right type of infrastructure there can be no robust connectivity.

Mr Ba recalled that Facebook had successfully undertaken two connectivity projects in Edo and Ogun involving a total of 800 kilometers of fibre connecting institutions and operators towers.

He said considering the connectivity gap that still exists in the country, there is a great need for expansion of infrastructure to deepen penetration of services.

According to Ba, Nigeria is very important to Facebook for many reasons but particularly because it is Africa’s most populous country.

He emphasised that Facebook looks forward to seeing opportunities for partnerships manifest because such collaboration will result in kilometres of infrastructure expansion in fibre connectivity.

He advised the Commission to facilitate further liberalisation of partnership and collaboration processes with stakeholders.

Edoyemi Ogoh, Deputy Director Technical Standards and Network Integrity at NCC, who received the Facebook team, on behalf of the NCC Vice Chairman Professor Umar Dambatta, thanked them for the visit.

He commended the group for the model it has adopted in participating in the Nigerian market by partnering with licencees of the Commission, and assured the team of NCC’s irrevocable commitment to infrastructure expansion to enhance better connectivity.

He affirmed that NCC is aware of how central infrastructure is to the expansion of telecom services, and said that the realisation explained NCC’s adoption of the Open Access Model (OAM) and the licensing of infrastructure companies (Infracos) to cascade fibre to the hinterland of Nigeria.

Mr Ogoh also informed the guests that President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent re-designation of NCC’s supervising ministry as Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy shows the federal government’s commitment to encouraging more citizens to embrace digital culture.

He declared that the Commission is central to these processes, and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has continued to also demonstrate his commitment to tackling bottlenecks to infrastructure expansion.

He cited the recent meetings between the Minister, the EVC and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) which focused on streamlining and standardizing Right of Way (RoW) charges as eloquent testimony to Government’s commitment in this regard.

Mr Ogoh also stated that the Commission is finalising processes to institute the ‘Dig Once Policy’ that will encourage operators and other key players in infrastructure segment to have greater strategic collaboration in the laying of fibre especially in the context of the upcoming National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.

Mr Ba came to NCC with four of his colleagues – Erik Schmidt, Network Strategy Manager, Facebook Infrastructure; Adaora Ikenze, Head West Africa (Public Policy); Imran Abass, Partner Manager, Sub Sahara Africa; and Fargani Tambeayuk, Africa Public Policy Manager (Connectivity).

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Gov Yusuf receives fellowship, award of excellence from US Management Institute

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Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the United States Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership.

According to a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Institute also presented Governor Yusuf with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his efforts in human capital development and resource management.

The recognition was conferred by representatives of the Institute’s Governing Council, led by Barr. (Dr.) Steven Longe, during an investiture ceremony at the Abuja Governor’s Lodge.

This event followed shortly after the governor received the National Award from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) during the World Teachers’ Day celebration.

Dr. Longe explained that the decision to honor Governor Yusuf with the Institute’s highest Fellowship and an Award of Excellence came after extensive research into his effective management of both human and financial resources.

The research highlighted his dedication to promoting good governance in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state.

“Your leadership has been marked by prudence and transparency,” said Dr. Longe.

“You embody the qualities of an accountable and dedicated leader.

We are proud to associate with politicians who are committed to selfless service to their people.”

In his response, Governor Yusuf expressed his gratitude for the Fellowship and thanked the Institute for recognizing his leadership qualities on an international platform.

“Despite the many challenges we have faced since the beginning of this administration, our commitment to serving the people of Kano remains unwavering.

We will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people,” the governor assured.

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World Teachers’ Day 2024: NUT Honors Gov.Yusuf for Outstanding Performance in Education Reform

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Mukhtar Yahya Usman

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has honored Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, with a prestigious award for his exceptional performance in reforming the state’s education sector.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa on Saturday.

The award was presented during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2024 at Eagle Square, Abuja, in a vibrant event organized in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

The event brought together teachers from across the 36 states of Nigeria to honor the significant contributions made to the education sector.

Governor Yusuf was recognized with the NUT Golden Award for his transformative efforts in rescuing Kano’s education sector from years of decay and neglect.

In his remarks, NUT National Chairman, Comrade Titus Ambe, noted that only six governors were selected for this honor, based on their unwavering commitment to advancing education, particularly through the support of teachers’ welfare and continuous training.

Specifically, Governor Yusuf’s accomplishments were highlighted, including his administration’s allocation of 29.9% of Kano’s 2024 budget to education and his declaration of a state of emergency in the sector, which has significantly improved both infrastructure and access to quality education in the state.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, commended the governors for their dedication.

Speaking on behalf of the six awardees, which included the Governors of Borno, Oyo, Benue, Enugu, and Kebbi states, Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to further investing in education, emphasizing the importance of sustaining progress to ensure future generations thrive.

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LG polls: Kano APC urges court to stop INEC from releasing voter register

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

The major opposition political party in Kano, the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday instituted a fresh suit against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.

KANO FOCUS reports that the party is asking the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing voter register for the conduct of the council poll.

The plaintiffs, APC and the party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, instituted the suit through their counsel, Ismail Abdulaziz.

They also sought an interlocutory application to restrain the state electoral body from continuing with the process and conduct of the council election slated for 26th October, 2024.

Defendants joined in the suit include, the Kano State Attorney General, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, KANSIEC Chairman, Sani Lawan and other members.

Abdulaziz said, “we are asking for the court to interpret some provisions of the constitution, KANSIEC guidelines, the law itself in seeking whether KANSIEC is a revenue generating agency and considering that the N9m and N4m requested to be paid by Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates by KANSIEC were exorbitant.

“We want the court to determine whether KANSIEC will be impartial looking at present members that constituted the commission.

“We are also seeking the court to order INEC not to release election materials such as voter register to KANSIEC until the commission abide by the provision of the constitution.

“We now sought for interlocutory injunction to restrain the continuation of the continuing with process and conduct of the election. The defendants did not receive our processes and the court adjourned till next Friday so that all the parties to file their responses,” Abdulaziz said.

Moving the application before the Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, on Friday the court adjourned the matter till 11th October, 2024 and ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants.

Meanwhile, in a related matter, the Counsels to Kano State government, Rilwanu Umar SAN and Kano State House of Assembly, Bar. Bashir Yusuf said they have filed a preliminary objections before the Justice Amobeda challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear matters concerning KANSIEC.

The Counsels said only state high court and state assembly have the powers to entertain any matter that border on regulations of KANSIEC and not federal agency or so.

Kano state government application came in response to motion on notice moved by APC and one Aliyu Aminu Tiga on why the court should not stop the conduct of the election.

Recall one Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the APC had earlier filed an application seeking the court to stop the electoral body from conducting the elections in which Justice Amobeda in interim refused to grant and however noted that the defendants shall be put on notice to show cause why the prayers shall not be granted.

The Court presided by Justice Simon Amobeda however adjourned the matter till 11th October for hearing.

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