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NCC has committed over N200 million to Research and Development – Danbatta
Nasiru Yusuf
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta, has declared that the Commission had committed over N200 million into the promotion of research and development (R&D) in order to drive innovation in the country’s telecommunications sector.
KANO FOCUS reports that Danbatta stated this during the prize presentation ceremony of the 2021 NCC National Essay Competition held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at the Conference Room of the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja.
At the event which marked the 3rd edition of the annual competition organised by the Commission, the EVC said the Commission has invested modestly in research grants, instituted professorial chairs in universities across the country, supported tech startups, and sponsored national essay competitions and many more social investments in order to ensure synergy and linkages among industry, the academia and the youth.
A statement sent to KANO FOCUS by commission’s Director, Public Affairs Ikechukwu Adinde said over 2,000 entries were received from 97 public and private tertiary institutions for the competition in which Esther Oluwabukola Gbeja, a 600-Level student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ilorin, was declared overall winner. Gbeja received a cash prize of N500,000.00, a laptop, and a printer; while the first runner-up, Moses Nosa Edosa, a final year student of Accounting at the University of Port Harcourt, received a cash prize of N300,000.00 only.
Two second runners-up emerged from the competition to pick the third prize. MarcPatrick Efevuriri Efeni, a 200-Level student of Cybersecurity at the Airforce Institute of Technology, Kaduna; and Nasiru Abdul Karim, a 400-Level student of Computer Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, both came third having scored same number of points. They both received cash prizes of N200,000 each.
The EVC said NCC gladly accommodated the additional prize due to the tie in the third place, as a mark of encouragement.
According to Danbatta, the topic for this year’s essay competition, “5G Technology: Opportunities & challenges”, was carefully chosen to ensure that the youths have a good understanding of the new technology.
He said Nigeria’s vibrant youth populace stands to benefit massively from the deployment of 5G technology, which the Commission is set to launch in 2022.
The NCC CEO said the Commission initiated and has maintained the annual essay competition to stimulate the interest of Nigerians especially the young people, to contribute to efforts in driving innovation in the technological ecosystem of Nigeria. “It is on this premise that NCC took the step to encourage Nigerian students to remain pro-active and partake in the national competition that challenges students to be competitive and engage their best efforts,” he said.
While emphasising the critical importance of communications as the foundation for the technological development of society and its role in the provision of vital infrastructure for national security, the EVC highlighted the need to invest in research programmes as observed in advanced nations, where a lot of resources are channeled into R&D.
Danbatta seized the opportunity provided by the event to reiterate the assurances of the Commission to Nigerians that 5G technology will expand the mobile ecosystem into a new realm and the impact will be felt in various sectors of the economy.
The Chairman of the 3rd NCC National Essay Competition Committee, Edoyemi Ogoh, who is also a Deputy Director in the Commission’s Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, commended the EVC’s effort in recognising the academia as a key stakeholder in the development of the communications sector, and in encouraging that critical sector to have a natural connection with the industry.
Ogoh further said that the Commission “knows the importance of innovative thinking in the growing ICT industry in Nigeria and as such, this has made the Commission to engage youths in various tertiary institutions across the nation to compete in essay writing on 5G technology.”
Also speaking at the event, Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, Ikechukwu Adinde, said the essay competition is one of the most important initiatives the Commission, and expressed his delight at the ability of the winners who have demonstrated vast knowledge on the subject matter during their presentation. Adinde also emphasised the influence of the competition in the stimulation of the minds of the target audience and the creation of positive awareness to debunk misconceptions about the 5G technologies.
The Director Public Affairs said, the outcome of the competition is an encouragement to the NCC Management to continue to support the national essay competition while ensuring that the Commission sustains such programme. He said the results are evident today as the NCC has, through the essay contest, produced four ambassadors of 5G. “These youths can go out and engage their peers about 5G, its benefits, opportunities and address the negative preconceptions about the 5G network,” Adinde said.
The essay competition was initiated by the NCC to deepen awareness and knowledge of telecommunications stakeholders in the country, especially the young people. Interestingly, every successive year, the competition is marked by massive responses in the number of essays submitted by students.
Though the Commission has been able to organise three of such national essay competitions, the resultant social and emotional equity has had impressive and quantifiable values on the Commission as a leading Nigerian public sector brand.
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), has organised a one-day sensitization seminar on Sunday, to empower Kannywood stakeholders on portraying issues on HIV/AIDS in film production.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Director General of the Agency, Sabitu Shu’aibu Shanono, tasked film makers on research before embarking on health related films.
He explained that Kannywood film makers have a key role to play in advocacy, as they have a large audience in the community.
Shanono charged them to contribute their portion to see the end of the disease, thus the need to make proper presentation of the disease.
According to him, “Gone are the days when People Living with the disease die easily as still presented in our Kannywood movies.”
He advised them to seek clarification on vital issues from the agency before embarking on films related to HIV/AIDS.
The DG however, stressed the readiness of the agency on building a cordial relationship with the industry, and providing vital information to film producers.
Also speaking, the Executive Seretary, Kano Censorship Board, smail Na’abba Afakallahu, commended the agency for the sensitisation.
He highlighted the role of film makers in sensitization on key issues especially health.
Afakallah called for collaboration between the industry and the agency, to send the right information to the populace.
In his remarks, the President, Motion Pictures Assocition of Nigeria (MOPPAN), Kabiru Maikaba, seeks for continuous support from such agencies.
He emphasised the need of enlightening Kannywood industry with the right information to feed their audience.
Maikaba pledged the support of his association, in contributing to end the disease, as they did in other areas.
A famous Hausa writer and the first female film producer, Hajiya Balaraba Ramat while speaking, recalled some controversies sorrounding marrying people living with HIV/AIDS.
“But today, we have seen a change in that trend because people with the virus have been successfully married and even have children,” she said.
She tasked the agency on continuous sensitization as the industry was always ready for corrections and education, in an entertaining manner.
Ado Ahmad, a renown Kannywood writer, highlighted some of the contributions giving by Hausa writer in creating awareness on early years of HIV/AIDS in Kano.
He said that the Hausa literature industry and Kannywood had contributed a lot to information dissemination.
KANO FOCUS reports that the event featured presentation from Abdallah Uba Adamu and Ashru Tukur Inuwa from faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano.
Nasiru Yusuf
The Dangote Industries Limited weekend buoyed its catalog of approval rating with the commendation of Kano Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
KANO FOCUS reports that Emir Bayero, who visited the Dangote pavilion and was visibly elated by the company’s participation, had in his entourage Council members of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), as well as other traditional rulers in the state.
The Emir also commended the Kano Government, KACCIMA and other participating companies in the ongoing 42nd Kano International Trade Fair that closes on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
Emir Bayero said his accolade is timely given the challenges businesses face around the world.
According to him: “ We have visited the Trade Fair, and we are happy with development so far despite the economic situation around the world. May Allah support our effort.”
A statement from the Dangote Group said the company has slated Friday, December 10, 2021, for its Special Day.
The Emir’s visit came soon after the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje visited the company’s pavilion and spoke glowingly of Dangote Group’s President Aliko Dangote.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry Ibrahim Mukhtar said the contribution of Mr. Dangote to Kano and indeed Nigeria, in the areas of industrialization and job creation, cannot be quantified.
Speaking earlier, during a visit to the Dangote pavilion, Ugandan Envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Nelson Ocheger, described Mr. Dangote as an ‘African jewel’ and an institution, whose indirect support to African political leaders in the areas of job creation and industrialization are impacting positively on peace and stability on the continent.
President of Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(KACCIMA), Dalhatu Abubakar, described as apt the theme for this year’s 42nd Trade Fair, which is: Consolidating the Challenges of Covid-19 pandemic to opportunities growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.
Deputy President and Chairman of Trade Fair Committee Uba Tanko Mijinyawa said the Dangote Group has been a partner all through, even as he extolled its charity works through the Aliko Dangote Foundation(ADF).
Speaking to newsmen earlier, the Director-General of the KACCIMA Mustapha M. Aliyu commended the Dangote Group for the partnership and sponsorship of the Trade Fair.
He described the relations between the duo as mutual and supportive.
“We appreciate his efforts and support to the socio-economic growth of Africa,” the Director-General added.
A statement from the Dangote Group said companies participating under the Dangote Industries Limited are: Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, NASCON, and Dangote Fertiliser.
Dangote Group urged participants who seek to do business with any of the company’s subsidiaries, to avail themselves of such opportunities through Special Desks at its pavilion.
It described Kano State as one of its biggest markets in the country, adding that it has historically been a major trade route not only in Nigeria but in Africa as a whole.
Aminu Abdullahi
The Department of State Security DSS, has arrested the Chairman of Kano State Consumer Protection Council, Idiris Bello Dambazau over allegations of economic Sabotage.
KANO FOCUS reports that a source close to the operatives, said the State Security accused Dambazau of unilateral closure of seven filling stations without following due process.
The source added that all enteritis to make Dambazau open the filling stations fall on deep ears, despite the fact that he was undertaking an illegal assignment which is beyond the power of Consumer Protection Council.
“The Security view Gen. Dambazau actions as nothing but economics Sabotage and attempt to create fuel scarcity in Kano where there was none,” the source said.
The DSS source who doesn’t want his name in print, explained that section 48 of the Nigeria constitution clearly stated that, any government ministry, department or agency exercising any power or function or taking any action which may have direct impact on midstreams or downstream petroleum operations shall consult with the authority.
This according to the section is prior to issuing any regulations, guidelines, enforcement order or directives, which the source emphasized Mr Dambazau did not followed.
The DSS explained further that even after consulting with the relevant authority, the authority shall review the recommendations of the government ministry, department or agency and communicate decisions accordingly before taking further action.
Dambazau, a retired army brigadier general was appointed chairman of the council by governor Abdullahi Ganduje few months ago.
He had earlier shut down textile shops at Kantin Kwari market for shortchanging consumers.
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