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Nigeria Teen Cyber Festival 2024: Corporate Support Fuels Event Honouring Teen Innovators in AI and Cybersecurity

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Corporate Nigeria is showing strong support for the Nigeria Teen Cyber Festival (ngTeenCyberFest) 2024, marking the event’s third edition. This year’s celebration highlights teenage innovators making significant strides in AI and cybersecurity. Teen achievers like Iliyasu Aminu Alkasim, Nwachukwu Angelica Ifunanyachukwu, and Sitlong Alex Joseph will be honored for their contributions to technology and cybersecurity.

Set under the theme “From Ideas to Impact: Fostering Innovation in the Age of AI,” the event will be hosted at OLUMAWU School, Wuse II. Key sub-themes include “Nigerian Youth and Digital Innovation: Building Tomorrow’s Tech Leaders” and “Digital Innovations and the Creative Economy.”

Among the standout teen innovators is Alkasim, a high school student who invented sensor-equipped eyeglasses to help the visually impaired navigate their surroundings. Ifunanyachukwu, a 20-year-old former cybercriminal who has now reformed, runs cybersecurity awareness programs to prevent others from falling into cybercrime. Joseph, only 15 years old, is developing a platform to connect miners with legitimate businesses.

The event has attracted substantial backing from government agencies and corporate organizations. Supporters include UNESCO, NITDA, EFCC, NDPC, DBI, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). The private sector is also represented by sponsors such as UNICCON Group, Hotspot Network, Cedarview Limited, and Smartweb.

Notable backing also comes from state agencies like the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (NASITDEA) and the Kaduna State Government. Foundations and media organizations supporting the event include the Pzafaama Helping Hand Foundation, CLAPAI Orphanage, Eagles 102.3 FM, and IT Edge News.Africa.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Chuks Ekwueme, Chairman of UNICCON Group; Haruna Sani Sani, Director General of NASITDEA; and Mr. Mohammed Rudman, Managing Director of IXPN. University students will host a Fireside Chat focused on social media’s influence on youth.

One of the event’s highlights will be the unveiling of the 2024 Nigerian Teen Cyber Awareness Report. This report, featuring insights from experts like Dr. Vincent Olatunji (CEO of NDPC) and Mr. Daser David (President of DBI), emphasizes the growing need to protect minors’ data in the digital age.

The Nigeria Teen Cyber Festival is organized by C-C Pro (Child Protection Initiative Against Cyber Crime), promoting healthy digital engagement among youth. The festival will also include a Hackathon Contest, managed by nHub, Northern Nigeria’s first innovation hub.

 

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Lagos, Rivers, Ogun Lead Nigeria’s Domestic Debt Profile in 2024 — DMO

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As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic headwinds, new data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) has shed light on the growing financial burdens carried by state governments across the country. Topping the list is Lagos State, with a staggering domestic debt of ₦900.19 billion as of December 2024—more than double that of the second-highest debtor, Rivers State.

Rivers State’s debt stands at ₦364.39 billion, reflecting its own share of the fiscal strain, while Ogun State, another South-Western state, is third with ₦211.86 billion. Delta State follows closely with ₦199.58 billion in domestic debt, and Bauchi, the leading state from the North-East, takes the fifth spot with ₦143.95 billion.

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Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a significant asset to Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole, urging citizens to dismiss what he termed “baseless and politically motivated” criticisms against the president.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by his Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Goga, Matawalle, who previously served as Governor of Zamfara State, condemned recent attacks on Tinubu, asserting that they are driven by individuals who failed to secure their political ambitions.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to addressing the challenges facing our region,” the minister stated. “Those attacking him with propaganda are only seeking relevance after failing to secure their political future.”

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BorderlessTek Launches Lifeline for Underprivileged Nigerian Children Through Coding

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In a powerful intervention against digital exclusion, a UK-based Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Wale Atekoja, is rewriting the future of disadvantaged children in Lagos, one line of code at a time.

His organization, Borderless Tek, has launched the Kids Coding Partnership — a grassroots tech education program designed to equip underprivileged schoolchildren in communities like Ikorodu and Yaba with foundational coding and software development skills, completely free of charge.

This is not just another CSR initiative. It’s a deliberate human-centered response to the growing digital divide that continues to marginalize low-income Nigerian children from the technology revolution sweeping the globe.

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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has welcomed the Gambian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbi, Esq., to the Nigerian Pavilion at the ongoing GITEX Africa in Marrakech.

The high-level meeting focused on deepening bilateral collaboration in the digital economy space, with particular emphasis on revitalising the Gambian tech ecosystem and fostering regional innovation. Discussions also covered plans for the Gambian delegation’s active participation in GITEX Nigeria, slated for September 2025.

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A renowned radio personality and social commentator, Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo, has sparked conversation on social media with his bold statement debunking the myth surrounding wealthy individuals from Southeast Nigeria. According to Utchaychukwuo, the wealth of Igbo businessmen is not rooted in ritual practices but in hard work, smart networking, and deep business acumen.

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He pointed to events such as the high-profile burial ceremony of Obi Cubana’s mother, which drew nationwide attention due to the extravagant displays of wealth. While some questioned the sources of the funds, Utchaychukwuo clarified that many of those in attendance were top importers, exporters, and sole distributors…

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A new report has shed light on the economic vulnerability of Nigerian households, showing significant disparities in poverty risk across the country’s six geopolitical zones. The data, compiled by the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI) in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and published by Statisense, highlights the percentage of households in each region that are considered vulnerable to poverty in 2023.

According to the report, the North Central zone tops the list with 22.58% of households identified as being at risk of falling below the poverty line. This is closely followed by the North East, where 21.47% of households are vulnerable, reflecting the ongoing socio-economic challenges and insecurity that have plagued the region.

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Nigeria’s leading tier-1 banks, commonly referred to as FUGAZ – comprising First Bank, UBA, GTBank, Access Holdings, and Zenith Bank – have reported their full-year 2024 financial results, revealing a year of significant profitability, robust asset growth, and varied levels of return on assets (RoA). The figures reflect strong resilience and performance amidst economic headwinds and changing monetary dynamics in the country.

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South East Leads in Milk Consumption as Experts Call for Wider Dairy Access Across Nigeria

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By Anthony Nwosu – Lagos

The South East region of Nigeria has emerged as the leading zone in milk consumption, with a record 54.7% of households reportedly consuming milk and dairy products regularly. This is according to the latest 2023/2024 data released by Statisense using figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the General Household Survey (GHS), and the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS).

The national average of milk consumption stands at 41.5%, with other zones falling behind the South East. The South South region follows closely at 50.1%, while the South West records 48.3%. However, the figures drop significantly in the North: North West (37.6%), North Central (29.4%), and North East (23.3%).

Health and nutrition experts say these numbers reflect the socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria, where access to nutritious foods like milk is often dictated by purchasing power and awareness.

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