The immediate-past Minister of Communicatons and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has mobilised financial support for the parents of six girls recently kidnapped from their home in Bwari Area Council of Abuja in order to secure the release of their remaining daughters from abductors.

Recalled that Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-Level Biological Science student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, was murdered on Friday by the kidnappers, while her five other siblings – Najeebah (500 Level, Quantity Survey), Nadheerah (300 Level, Zoology), and three others were still being held captives by kidnappers who are demanding a ransom of N60m.

Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Pantami, who is an Islamic cleric, said that although he was not in support of ransom payment to criminals but since Nabeeha has been murdered and the lives of others have been threatened, it has become the last resort. The former minister said he had spoken to a friend, who volunteered to donate N50million balance for the ransom.

Pantami wrote: “Alhamdu lil Laah!
I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals. However, since it becomes clear, we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday, and the 5 remaining daughters have been threatened, as I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today.

“Furthermore, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately. I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar to the friend and brother to send the money directly. Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah.

“May the Almighty Allah reward the bother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. May He also reward all those who contributed in any way with Jannatul Firdaus, too. May He also forgive Nabeeha and rescue her sisters. May the Almighty also help our security agencies to bring an end to these challenges. May Nigeria be a better place for all of us.”

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TECHDIGEST – Increased consumption of data services and the continued rise in subscriber numbers are driving Nigeria’s information and communications technology sector growth, the World Bank has disclosed.

The global bank stated that those two factors were responsible for the 10.3 per cent year-on-year expansion that the sector witnessed in the first quarter of 2023.

It revealed this in its latest report titled ‘Nigeria Development Update (June 2023): Seizing The Opportunity’.

It said, “Strong growth in telecommunications and financial services supported a 4.3 per cent y-o-y increase in services output in Q1 2023.

“The information and communications technology sector, which did not contract even during the 2020 recession, expanded by 10.3 per cent y-o-y due to increased consumption of data services by households and businesses and higher subscriber numbers.”

In 2022, the ICT sector contributed N12.32tn to real GDP as against the N11.23tn recorded in 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

It contributed N21.15tn to nominal GDP in 2022, an increase from the N17.78tn it did in 2021.

READ ALSO: How Nigerians lost N25.5bn to e-fraud in four years

The ICT sector was one of the pillars of the country’s economy, driving the service sector, which contributed 56.27 per cent to aggregate GDP in the fourth quarter of 2022.

In the first quarter of 2023, the service sector drove the performance of the country’s GDP, recording a growth of 4.35 per cent and contributing 57.29 per cent to aggregate GDP.

Commenting on the ICT sector’s performance in Q1, 2023, the NBS said, “In nominal terms, in the first quarter of 2023, the sector growth was recorded at 41.84 per cent (year-on-year), 21.30 per cent points increase from the rate of 20.54 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2022, and 20.43 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in the preceding quarter.

“The sector in the first quarter of 2023 recorded a growth rate of 10.32 per cent in real terms, year-on-year. From the rate recorded in the corresponding period of 2022, there was a decrease of 1.75 per cent points.”

The total number of mobile telecom subscriptions rose by 13.89 per cent to 222.23 million in 2022 from the 195.13 million in 2021, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission. At the end of the first quarter of 2023, it had risen to 225.82 million mobile subscriptions.

Mobile Internet subscriptions grew by 8.94 per cent in 2022 to 154.28 million from 141.62 million, indicating an increase in Internet usage in the country.

While details about data usage for 2022 has not been released, data consumption has been on a steady rise in the country.

In 2021, it grew to 350,165.39TB from 205,880.4TB.

According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report (June 2023), data consumption has been surging due to rising smartphone subscriptions and increasing average data volume per subscription, fueled primarily by increased viewing of video content.

It predicted that data usage in Nigeria would spike in the coming years.

It said, “Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to be the region with the highest growth in total mobile data traffic, rising by 37 per cent annually between 2022 and 2028 as service providers across the continent continues to invest in 4G networks and migrate customers from 2G and 3G.

“This increase in data traffic will primarily be driven by a four times increase in smartphone traffic in the period, with average data per active smartphone settling at 19 GB per month in 2028.”

According to the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, the ICT sector contributes thrice as much as the oil and gas sector to the country’s GDP.

He said, “For over 50 years, Nigeria relied so much on oil and gas. But today, we have reached a situation where the contribution of ICT to our gross domestic products in Nigeria is almost three times the contribution of oil and gas to the country’s GDP.

“In the last three years, we have set up three unprecedented records with regard to ICT contributions to the GDP.”

Punch

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TECHDIGEST – While he held sway as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, between 2019 and 2023, Prof. Ibrahim Isa Ali Pantami was the target of all forms of malicious attacks by persons who have an axe to grind with him.

Unfortunately, they are still not yet ‘done’ with him, even after he bowed out graciously and gloriously, about a month two weeks ago, as Nigeria’s Digital Economy Minister, with unrivalled achievements to showcase.

Some of their agents, recently futilely attempted to discredit Pantami’s landmark feat in the passage of the NITDA Bill, this year.

In an incendiary article titled “Telecom: How Gbajabiamila saved Nigeria from Pantami’s curious Bill”, highlighted some baseless issues that apparently manifested their stark ignorance about the NITDA Bill, and the high-flying Digital Economy maestro Pantami is.

It would be recalled that in March 2021, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, proposed the realignment of the agency’s act with “tenets and ideals of the fourth Industrial Revolution” and Nigeria’s Digital Economy Policy.

What followed the proposal on 30th August 2021 was an official announcement by NITDA’s Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relation, Hadiza Umar, calling on all stakeholders in the IT sector to participate in its 2007 Act re- enactment.

NITDA had clarified that the agency does not seek to regulate telecoms business, but regulate Information Technology for development.

The NITDA bill seeks to introduce a licensing regime for operators in the Information Technology Industry and Digital Economy. The bill empowers the agency to issue regulations that provide for licensing and authorisation criteria, including renewal, suspension, and revocation conditions to promote free market operation and competition, among other things within the sector.

She clarified that NITDA only regulates Information Technology for development and does not intend to regulate Telecommunications operators.

After studying the draft NITDA Bill 2021 and NCC Act 2003, 2007 critically, I make bold to state that there is absolutely no basis for such reasoning or belief except of course the intention of the critics is to pursue a sinister agenda. While Tahir and other armchair critics attempted to hide facts in plain sight, the recurring question they have failed to address convincingly and empirically remains, where is the clash of mandate between NITDA and NCC?

The facts are obvious in the history of both the NCC and NITDA Acts.

The mandate and authority of NCC is derived from the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), which was signed into law, after having been passed by both Houses of the National Assembly, by President Olusegun Obasanjo on July 8, 2003.

The NCA 2003 applies to the provision and use of all telecommunications services and networks, in whole or in part within Nigeria or on ships or aircraft registered in Nigeria. (see fact on the NCC website via thislink: https://ncc.gov.ng/accessible/licensing-regulation/legal/nca-2003)

The laws that guide and enable the operations of the Commission include: NCC decree 75 of November 1992, the National Telecoms Policy (NTP) 2000. (New one under review), Wireless Telegraphy Act , 1990 and Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

The major mandates of Nigerian Communications Commission – NCA 2003 include to facilitate telecom investment and entry into the market, protect the rights and interests of service providers and consumers; management, monitoring and use of scarce national telecommunications resources and ensure efficient and qualitative telecom services and advise the minister on the formulation of policies and other matters.

In a nutshell, one can understand that the key function of NCC is to regulate and oversee the telecom industry in Nigeria.

I don’t know why Pantami has suffered more than a fair share of abuses from ignorant folks for no other reason other than his determination to leave the digital space in Nigeria far better than he met it which he did.

I don’t know why critics always mentioning Pantami with NCC palava, after all, NCC is not the only Agency under him as a minister and they all obeyed his instructions as a supervisor of the ministry. I wonder why all these cowards are now attacking him despite his unprecedented track records.

Unfortunately for the sponsored writers and propagandists, who behave as if they were sponsored by NCC officials, the EVC himself, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta was not only loyal and trustworthy public officer, he respects the Minister’s gut efforts and sacrifice in the digital economy to the extent that he praises Pantami actions and utterances. Why the brouhaha now just because the Minister is no more in the saddle, when the minister

Since his foray into public service, Pantami has no doubt exceeded expectations by consistently working round the clock to come up with innovative ideas to expand the digital space to accommodate more young Nigerians who would have been left jobless.

The Ex-minister of Communications and Digital Economy succeeded in putting Nigeria’s digital economy on the global map.

Among the major achievements of Pantami include the unprecedented 18.44 per cent highest ever contribution to the country’s GDP by the ICT sector in a quarter.

Also, apart from securing the approval and supervision of the distribution of 6000 ipads to Nigerian institutions to promote virtual teaching, learning and other scholarly activities, Pantami secured a partnership with Microsoft to train five million Nigerians in ICT related and emerging technology courses.

He also secured a partnership with HUAWEI that attracted free training for over 30,000 Nigerians and promoted the establishment of 300 HUAWEI ICT Academies in Nigeria.

Pantami was credited with securing a partnership with KOICA that attracted a total grant aid of $13 million for the Federal Government to support the project for building foundation towards digital governance in Nigeria in the second phase of the e-Government Project for Nigeria.

Others are: the implementation of broadband connectivity across the country, reinvigorating Nigeria’s digital economy sub-sector, implementation of a Digital Identity Programme, implementation of a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, digitalizing government functions and processes, launching of 5G network as well as deployment of 4G across the country.

The stuff of career cowards is to hit below the belt when their target is no longer in office and can no longer defend himself using the paraphernalia of office. But a lie is a lie irrespective of when it is being told and how often it has been told.

Posterity will be kind to Pantami.

Abbas Abdulazeez writes from Federal Housing Lugbe, Abuja

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TECHDIGEST – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his administration’s readiness to create one million new digital jobs for the economy.

President Tinubu, in his inaugural address recently in Abuja, stated this with an assurance that his administration must create meaningful opportunities for the teeming youths.

Digital jobs are created through the application of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to a new or existing activity or process.

Getting this one million jobs, Tinubu said the new government shall work with the National Assembly to fashion an omnibus Jobs and Prosperity bill.

He said this bill would give the administration the policy space to embark on labour-intensive infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly and vulnerable.

READ ALSO: NIN enrolment hits 100 million in two years 

Recall that the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, disclosed earlier in the year that the digital economy sector created 2.2 million jobs in Nigeria between Q1 2020 and Q3 2022. Indeed, the rise in digital jobs in the country can be attributed to COVID-19, which triggered several online activities.

Nonetheless, stakeholders in the sector have also rated the outgone administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. While some applauded the performance of the sector, others castigated what they described as the overbearing influence of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The achievements of the sector under Buhari include the huge contributions of the ICT sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As of 2015, ICT contribution to the economy was somewhere around 11 per cent, but as of Q1 2023, the sector’s contribution increased to 17.47 per cent.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the ICT sector is composed of the four activities of telecommunications and information services – publishing, motion picture, sound recording, and music production; and broadcasting.

While the ICT sector recorded a growth rate of 10.32 per cent in real terms year on year in the quarter under review, the growth was driven largely by activities in the telecommunications sub-sector, which contributed 14.13 per cent to the GDP in real terms.

Also, the doggedness of Pantami saw the issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN) increase to 100 million within two years.

Specifically, under Pantami’s supervision from October 2020 to May 2023, more than 61 million citizens were successfully registered, leading to the current database of 100 million individuals with NIN.

However, the perceived regulatory capture of the NCC and other agencies by the Minister didn’t sit well with stakeholders.

Commenting, a telecoms lawyer, Ayoola Oke, described the sector under Buhari as a disaster, “particularly because of the last minister.”

Oke said there was “too much interference with regulatory powers of NCC, especially the last minute desperate effort to reassign and duplicate regulatory duties to NITDA through the Executive NITDA Bill.”

To the chairman, Mobile Software Nigeria, Chris Uwaje, the ICT ecosystem suffered a traumatic setback – centrally governed by the quest to deliver individual interests and benefits at the altar of greed where national interests were slaughtered and consumed with ferocious intensity and gross impunity.

Uwaje said these non-inclusive features of stakeholders consequently derailed all positive expectations for constructive and sustainable development of digital transformation.

“Evidence of the above is visible from the rate of ICT startup companies, which died before the cab scale. And in particular the national unemployment of (23.7 million) and underemployed (42.1 million) rate of youths.

“All in all, my deepest regret is that the nation experienced a gross deficit in software development growth. Inflamed capital flights and human resources (IP Japa syndrome).

“It is fair to state that the minister of Communications & Digital Economy established some landscape policies that will take decades to mature, it should equally be noted that with all due respect, my contribution was instrumental to the change of name of the ministry,” he stated.

According to him, an analytical post-mortem shows that the ICT response failed to lift Nigeria out of chronic economic inflation and stagflation, “for this and other reasons there is a need to establish ‘A National Software Commission’ and the Office of the ICT General of the Federation.”

From his perspective, the founder, Jidaw Systems, Jide Awe, said despite some improvements in ICT infrastructure, Nigeria still faces infrastructure deficiencies that hinder the growth of online businesses, services, and the digital economy.

Awe said limited access to reliable electricity and the Internet remains a major concern, especially in rural areas and disadvantaged communities with poor network coverage and insufficient broadband connectivity.

He said addressing issues such as multiple taxation, right-of-way, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and regulatory challenges are crucial to promoting telecoms infrastructure development.

According to him, another challenge is the shortage of skilled professionals in the ICT sector. He said the demand for industry-relevant skills surpasses the workforce’s current capabilities, which is exacerbated by the migration of skilled ICT experts due to the “Japa syndrome” phenomenon.

For the country to remain globally competitive, the education system, industry, and government must prioritise reskilling and upskilling programmes to equip students and citizens with the necessary technological and innovative skills.

He said the implementation of the Startup Act is vital for supporting youth innovation and ensuring the growth and sustainability of ICT startups, adding that access to funding and investment opportunities should be given priority.

“Additionally, increased commitment and investment in local technology research and development are essential for fostering innovation and growth,” he stated.

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TECHDIGEST – The National Identity Card database (NIN) has hit over 100 million people in two years and seven months, the enrolment increased by more than 61 million.

According to World Bank, Nigeria is expected to have issued 148 million NIN by June 2024.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has revealed that enrolment for the National Identification Number (NIN) hits over 100 million people.

This was disclosed by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami on Thursday evening. The statement revealed that in 2 years, NIN enrolment has risen from 61 million to over 100 million.

According to Pantami, NIMC Identity Enrolments, From 2007 to Oct 2020, which is 13 years, only 39 million Nigerians enrolled.

“ Pantami was directed to supervise, from Oct. 2020 to May 2023, which is 2 years & 7 months, and the enrolment was increased by more than 61 million. Now over 100 million citizens are in the database.

The Ministry of Communications in a separate statement appreciated the NIMC Governing Board and Management to His Excellency, President Buhari, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and Pantami, all Stakeholders and Nigerians as NIN enrollment exist 100 Million.

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TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, Thursday unveiled 4,366 projects implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The compendium of achievements provided a concise summary of the unprecedented achievements that were recorded under the leadership of Professor Pantami since he became a Minister on the 21st of August 2019.

Some of the achievements include the increment of number of valid policies from 1 to 23, 4G coverage increased from 23% to 80.86% and 5G was also launched in Nigeria.

Pantami also virtually commissioned digital economy projects in Yobe, Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Bauchi, Enugu and Kastina.

The Minister also commissioned 10 logistics trucks for the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), which he said was purchased from the internally generated revenue of the service.

Pantami noted the Nigeria’s digital economy grew significantly in the last four years due to the implementation well-tailored policies.

According to him, broadband coverage increased from 23 per cent to 80.86 per cent in the period under review.

He expressed that the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy grew from N51.3million to N408.7billion in four years.

He stated that the government has increased National Identity Number enrolment from 39 million to 100 million in less than four years.

Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta represented by the Executive Commissioner of Stakeholder Management, NCC, Bar. Adeleke Adewolu, highlighted several interventions facilitated by the Minister responsible for the growth in the sector.

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TECHDIGEST – The Federal Government says Nigerians can now request their commercial banks to issue them with a debit card which doubles as their National Identity Card at no extra cost.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, said the approval was obtained at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He explained that the approval followed a memo from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) allowing banks to print a multipurpose debit cards that double as National identity cards.

He said: ”It is going to be a form of multipurpose card where it will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other hand, either Mastercard, Visa or any other kind of card.”

According to Pantami, although the NIMC Act 2007 only mandates Nigerians to have a National Identity Number and not necessarily a printout card, demands for cards have swelled nonetheless.

“As in the NIMC Act 2007, section 27, what is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents is the acquiring of the National Identity Number, not the card. However, the card is optional.

“But many citizens, particularly those living in rural communities, always go to NIMC offices complaining that they need the card at hand, even though it’s optional.

“To make it easier, NIMC last year, we introduced a smart ID card you can download from NIMC app. It is just a smart card. You don’t need to have it physically, but that is becoming difficult for our people living in rural communities.”

To ease the difficulty, Pantami said NIMC had partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria ”so that citizens who are interested in having a card at hand can easily go to the relevant banks.”

According to him, the bank is permitted to print the card along with either Mastercard or Visa card.

”It is going to be a form of multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other. And based on the agreement, it is without any additional costs on our citizens.

“So when you apply for a card at your bank, you can indicate that ‘I want this card to be multiple purpose where it will serve as my bank card and also my national identity card’.

”Both of them are going to be printed on the same card and it is going to serve the same purposes without any additional costs,”.

The Minister disclosed that NIMC and the CBN signed a nondisclosure agreement to protect the privacy and confidentiality of card applicants.

“NIMC and the central bank signed a nondisclosure agreement where your privacy and your confidentiality must be respected in the course of providing the card for you.

“When you apply for the card, the bank will apply online to NIMC through their database.

”When they verify and confirm that your record in the database is in alignment with your record in NIMC database, it will be permitted and the card is going to be printed for you immediately,” the minister added.

The Minister also said that FEC also approved a memo proposing the deployment of an automated system to integrate NINs with individual SIM cards.

The system, he noted, would consolidate the implementation of the NIN-SIM linkage.

He said “As we all know that previous administrations made efforts to verify NIN and SIM starting from 2011 without success.

”In February 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the policy and the revised version of the policy was also launched and unveiled by Mr. President on May 6, 2021.

“As it stands today, the NIN and SIM policy registration is being implemented. In order to consolidate the implementation.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission came up with a proposal that will enhance the implementation of the policy and bring many more benefits to it.”

Pantami said the automated system would sanitise the database and ease the process of SIM replacement for Nigerians or legal residents.

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TECHDIGEST –  I was delighted when my big brother, Mallam Yushau Shuaib – a cerebral PR expert, writer and publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential – visited my family recently in London and requested that I write a review on his new book “Pantami: Trials and Triumphs of a Digital Economy Maestro.”

While I viewed his request as a special honour, the short notice however gives me a little concern. But being my benefactor, mentor and truly caring brother of nearly two decades, I had no option but to accede to his request.

From the cover, one could read the short blurb on the book by Professor Adeola Akande, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC).

According to Akande, the book is: “Much more than just being a chronicle of the vicissitudes of a respected scholar of the digital experience and faith, it is a testament to a crucial period in the life of a country.”

The chair of the NCC Board of Commissioners’ blurb set the stage for what readers should expect inside the revelatory contents of Yushau’s blockbuster, non-literary piece.

Pantami: Trials and Triumphs of a Digital Economy Maestro has four chapters with each having at least three topics.

In the book’s Chapter One titled: Personal Opinion, the author provides his previously published articles on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. The articles include: That Friendly Call from the Scholar; The Memorable Visit for Digital Innovation; Authority on Cybersecurity and Datafication and Encounter with a Digital Economy Maestro.

The second Chapter of Yushau’s book is titled Inter-Agency Engagements, with topics that actually address certain inter-agency rivalries.

They include Resisting Multiple Telecom Taxation, The NIN-SIM Linkage Palaver and The War on Stamp Duty.

Similarly, the Chapter Three on Managing External Factors, illustrated major battles or challenges Profesor Pantami had to contend with during his tenure in office as the Minister. The topics are ASUU Battle over IPPIS-UTAS Payment System; On FUTO Professorship and Witch-Hunting or Boko Haram Saga?

Operational Exigencies is the title of the Chapter Four of Yushau’s latest publication, and therein one will find the following articles: NigComsat and the Fear of Privatisation; The Galaxy and Visibility and Record of Accomplishments.

I notice that most of the topics revolve around mandates and activities of agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. Some of the agencies conspicuously mentioned in the book include the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone Limited, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), and the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST).

Some of the topics I found very interesting and intriguing are seemingly controversial. The author narrates how a very long ASUU strike was influenced over a disagreement on the payment system for Nigerian universities’ lecturers, among others.

In “Pantami: Trials and Triumphs of a Digital Economy Maestro,” the author chronicled the feats achieved by Pantami as Nigeria’s Communication and Digital Economy Minister since 2019, to include: the implementation of broadband connectivity across the country, reinvigorating Nigeria’s digital economy sub-sector, and the empowerment of citizens’ ICT skills.

Others are: the implementation of a Digital Identity Programme, implementation of a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, digitalizing government functions and processes, as well as deployment of 4G across the country.

The controversy over the appointment of the Minister as Professor of Cybersecurity at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and also, the debate on the Minister’s link to Boko Haram terrorism many years ago, were dispassionately analyzed by the author.

Yushau, equally, was very fair in his narrations, as he provided the genesis of the aforementioned thorny issues and how they all ended with the Minister’s triumph against his army of critics.

Using Pantami’s travails as a public office holder, the author observes (in his latest work) that the media are generally more inclined to celebrating conflict and crisis, even as they also, deliberately – and rather unfortunately – censor other crucial sides to stories that could temper the public drift towards hysteria.

As someone who marvels at Pantami’s erudition in both Islamic and Western education, I was appalled by the controversy that trailed his elevation to the rank of Professor by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO. As someone who detests being addressed as “Sheikh” to demonstrate his pedagogical humility, I expected the minister to, in the like manner, throw away the pulpy endocarp of the mango in order to get rid of the flies.

Indeed, I share the sentiment expressed by Yushau that Pantami, to some extent, triumphed over the endless trials, travails and tribulations that threatened his ministerial and professorial appointments.

As the fireworks intensified and the controversies raged such that the presidency was forced to take positions on some of the issues, one of the hidden facts, that is not stated in this book was that Mallam Yushau, a PR warlord, sat with his top commanders in his PR bunker in Wuye Abuja. He deployed his arsenals strategically and fired from the cylinders of traditional and new media with remarkable marksmanship. At the end of the day, the author’s PR warfare paid up. The rest are now history.

I think one day I will also write a book titled “An Encounter With A Spin-Master” in honour of Alhaji Yushau’s outstanding PR feats, just the way he authored “An Encounter With A Spymaster” in honor of Colonel Sambo Dasuki’s feats in espionage and military intelligence.

In conclusion, I recommend this latest edifying and intellectually stimulating book to PR practitioners, students, communication experts and players in digital innovation and ICT, among others. PR managers in particular will also find the book relevant in learning the ropes of solving dire image crisis.

Jaafar Jaafar,
Publisher, Daily Nigerian
Writes from London, United Kingdom

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TECHDIGEST – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has  unveiled 618 million dollars funds for Nigerian Startups at the Official Inauguration of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme and the Unveiling of iDICE logo on Tuesday at the State House Banquet

The vice president said that the iDICE is a government initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital tech and creative industries, especially targeted at job creation.

According to him, the total fund is 618 million dollars, out of which the AFDB provides 170 million dollars, the Agence Francaise de Development, 100 million dollars and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), 70 million dollars in co-financing.

“The Bank of Industry (BOI) will provide 45 million dollars as Federal Government’s counterpart contribution to be availed through loans for qualifying startups.

READ ALSO: Nigerians To Pay N1,000 Fee For NIN Integration, Verification

“We expect another 271 million dollars from the private sector and institutional investors.

“I think it is important to mention that private capital has usually been ahead of government effort, the last few years have seen a consistent rise in venture capital investments in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

“According to Disrupt Africa’s 2022 Tech Funding Report, Nigeria was the best-funded country in Africa for the second year running, with a minimum of 180 startups.

“Making up approximately 30 per cent of Africa’s funded ventures, raising approximately one billion dollars – substantially ahead of all other countries on the continent on both counts.

“This influx of private capital has enabled startups to expand operations and create new jobs while contributing significantly toward overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the country.

“There are of course thousands of startups that have used private funds or debt that goes unrecorded.’’

He said it had become imperative to commence a coordinated approach toward innovation on the continent, bringing together all stakeholders to coordinate efforts at scaling up investments and building programmes that support innovation.

Osinbajo said that the government must provide more support for startups and small businesses while investors must provide more funding.

“This is why the iDICE is important, it brings together the public sector, and our development partners – the AfDB, IDB, and French Development Agency.

“To design a Programme that supports innovation across very critical pillars including policy, infrastructure, access to finance and talent.

“These pillars have been identified as very critical to the growth and sustenance of innovation on the continent.

“As a government, we have consistently provided support to the innovation ecosystem over the last eight years,’’ he said.

He said that in 2028, the Technology and Creativity Advisory Group was set up.

The vice president said that the group brought together stakeholders in the technology and creative industries, to contribute directly to policy formulation, articulation and the design of the technology and creative sectors of our economy.

He said that in Oct; 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari signed Nigeria’s Startup Bill into law, making it the Nigeria Startup Act.

Osinbajo said that the Act would provide a legal and institutional framework for the development of startups in Nigeria, and provide an enabling environment for the growth of startups in the country.

On his part, AFDB’s President, Akinwumi Adesina, said that the digital trends held great promise to help create a massive number of jobs.

According to him, estimates by Endeavor (2022) show that expanding digital infrastructure by 10 per cent will lead to a 2.5 per cent annual growth in GDP in Africa.

“Furthermore, expanding access to the internet in Africa from the current 33 per cent to 75 per cent can help create 44 million jobs, including three million jobs in online services by 2025.

“We are already witnessing in Nigeria the power of digital technologies, tools, and platforms. Nigeria currently has five out of the 11 digital companies that have reached the status of a unicorn with a market valuation of one billion dollars.

“Names that come to mind include Jumia, Interswitch, Opay, Flutterwave and Andela, mainly in the fintech space,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, said that Nigeria’s creative industry was not about music and film.

He said the industry comprised other sectors such as advertising, hospitality, writing, comedy, photography, hair and beauty among others.

According to him, the industry employs millions of Nigerians.

“While the music and film industry have combined to put Nigeria on the world map, in terms of revenue generation, fashion generates N2 trillion against music’s N200 billion, hair and beauty generates N1.52 trillion against film’s N140 billion.

“So, I hope that when we start administering these funds, we will look at these figures and we are very glad to share this report with the advisory council,’’ he said.

Other speakers at the event included Niyi Adebayo, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and representative of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami.

Olukayode Pitan, the Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), and representatives of the French Development Agency and IsDB also spoke at the event.

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TECHDIGEST – The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), FCIIS, FBCS, FNCS, wishes to bring to the attention of the public the Ministry’s activities towards ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace for Nigerians before, during, and after the 2023 Presidential Elections.

As part of its mandate, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is expected to ensure adequate protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace to a level that citizens will have confidence in digital services. This mandate aligns with the goals and objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS).

In line with this mandate and in our efforts at supporting the initiatives of securing the Nigerian cyberspace, the parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry have established Cybersecurity Centres, namely, the National Information Technology (NITDA)’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), and Galaxy Backbone (GBB)’s Security Operations Centre (SOC). These Centres were established between 2020 and 2022 in line with the Honourable Minister’s policy directives and have been monitoring Nigerian cyberspace for potential threats and taking appropriate actions to mitigate them, both individually and collectively as well as in collaboration with other stakeholders.

It is worth noting that in the run-up to the 2023 General Elections, threat intelligence revealed an astronomical increase in cyber threats to Nigerian cyberspace. Generally, threats to public websites and portals averaged around 1,550,000 daily. However, this skyrocketed to 6,997,277 on Presidential Election Day.

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The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, as a Professor of Cybersecurity and one that is very passionate about ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace, directed all the parastatals to enhance their 24/7 monitoring of the networks and traffic for potential attacks from 24th February 2023 to 27th February 2023. Furthermore, on 24th February 2023, the Honourable Minister inaugurated the Ministerial Standing Committee on Advisory Role for the Protection of Nigerian Cyberspace and ICT Infrastructure. The Committee, chaired by the Board Chairman of NCC and with the CEOs of NCC, NITDA and GBB as members, was charged with the following responsibilities, among others:

1.     Monitoring of Telecommunication Infrastructure for the successful conduct of credible, free, fair, and transparent elections;

2.     Developing and implementing plans to enhance the resilience of critical digital infrastructure against cyber threats;

3.     Designing procedures and using technologies to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber-attacks, as well as developing the ability to recover from any damage that is done quickly;

4.     Developing a comprehensive risk assessment, analysing the nation’s current cybersecurity capabilities, and identifying gaps that need to be addressed; and

5.     Providing professional advice to the Government on the effective utilization of digital technologies in the conduct of the 2023 General Elections.

The Committee’s activity started on 24th February 2023 and ended on 28th February 2023. During this period, a series of hacking attempts were recorded, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), email and IPS attacks, SSH Login Attempts, Brute force Injection attempts, Path Traversal, Detection Evasion, and Forceful Browsing. A total of 12,988,978 attacks were recorded, originating from both within and outside Nigeria. It is worth noting that the Centres successfully blocked these attacks and/or escalated them to the relevant institutions for appropriate action.

The parastatals, under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, have played a crucial role in providing the enabling environment for the successful conduct of a credible, free, fair, and transparent election. The Honourable Minister commends all stakeholders in the digital economy ecosystem for their support that resulted into this this unprecedented success.

More importantly, the Honourable Minister notes that these attainments are as a result of the commitment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR towards ensuring Nigeria’s successful transition into the digital economy. The digital economy sector has enjoyed continued support of the President and it is highly appreciated. He also hopes that lessons learned during the process will be put to effective use in subsequent elections.

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