…Lists Management’s expectations

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has urged the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS) on the need to ensure effective delivery of its mandates with respect to the promotion of indigenous contents in the nation’s telecoms sector.

Danbatta made this call in a keynote address delivered at a two-day brainstorming and team-building session organised by NODITS team, which started in Abuja on Thursday, November 25, 2021. The EVC said the Office is very critical to effective mainstreaming of local content development in the nation’s burgeoning telecoms sector.

NODITS is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) designed to stimulate the creation and  development of top quality indigenous content in the telecommunication sector. The creation of the NODITS on July 5, 2021 and its domiciliary in the Commission was sequel to the signing of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Telecommunication Sector (NPPIC) by the President in March, 2021.

Represented at the event by the Director, Human Capital and Administration, NCC, Usman Malah, Danbatta said the development of NPPIC, facilitated by the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, is essentially aimed at driving the desire of the current administration and the NCC to ensure that indigenes become more active participants in Nigeria’s telecoms sector. 

Speaking on Management’s expectations from NODITS, the EVC said, as an SPV under the purview of the Commission, NODITS would be expected to get involved in development of new guidelines and regulations bordering on indigenous content, local manufacturing of telecom equipment, outsourcing services, construction and lease of telecoms ducts, succession planning in the telecoms sector, among others.

He also implored the NODITS team to adhere to regulatory and ethical principles held in high esteem by the Management of NCC. “The Commission’s commitment to maintaining high standards, ethical conduct, and superior performance is a priority of the Management, hence by extension, NODITS should reflect the established values, guiding principles, strategic awareness and the goodwill associated with the NCC,” he said.

Besides, the EVC said NODITS would be involved in working with various stakeholders towards reducing capital flight, as local manufacturers would be encouraged to participate in the design and manufacturing of devices. This vision will also ensure that manpower requirements towards making indigenes active participants in the Nigeria’s telecoms development are met.

“In essence, NODITS will be expected to initiate strategic programmes and projects that will stimulate the growth of the telecoms sector through an approach that is visionary, focused, sustainable and based on incentives to indigenous telecom stakeholders” EVC said added.

The EVC rounded off by congratulating the pioneer team of the new Office. He pointed out that they were carefully selected by NCC Management based on their background, dedication, integrity. He urged the team to work harmoniously within the Office and with other relevant stakeholders to fast-track seamless delivery of its mandates, as clearly spelt out in the NPPIC.

In his remarks, the Team Lead, NODITS, Babagana Digima, spoke about the mission and vision of NODITS, as he made his presentation on the progress so far recorded by the team in five months of its existence. He said while the Mission of NODITS is “to deliver on the objectives of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the telecom industry and the Executive Orders 003 & 005,” its vision is “to harmoniously integrate indigenous content in the Nigerian telecoms sector.”

The Executive Order 003 mandates all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to always grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers for procurement; while the Executive Order 005 seeks the promotion of Nigerian content in contracts bordering on science, engineering and technology.

Digima itemised some of the activities being carried out by NODITS within the last five months of its creation. This include visiting the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); visitations to various Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) manufacturers; engagements with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs); ongoing training of 60 young entrepreneurs, and developing industry relevant proposals for incentivising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies by the Federal Government, among others.

In addition, Digima said NODITS has, so far, identified partners it would be collaborating with towards achieving its mandates. They include the NCC, NITDA, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigerian Contents Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

Others are the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Exports Zones Processing Authority (NEZPA), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASC).

Digima called on his team at NODITS to work with dedication and purpose towards building a telecoms sector where ingenious players are actively participating in creating values for the overall development of the digital economy. “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I want us to build a strong and resilient Office that will be fit-for-purpose, withstand the test of time and which the telecom industry will look back at and appreciate like the great pyramids of Egypt. All of us will be the designers, thinkers, architects, and builders in this great NODITS journey,” he added.

~ PRAYS GOD TO BLESS THE COUPLE WITH FRUITS OF THE WOMB.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer David Umahi on Thursday attended the traditional marriage ceremony of his Personal Assistant, Janey Nnenna Umahi.

The traditional marriage ceremony took place at Agugwu-Umunaga Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State.

Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, Governor Umahi congratulated the couple on their successful union and prayed God to furnish them with the blessings of a Christian family.

“On behalf of my Boss, I want to in my capacity as the Deputy Governor thank him for this demonstration of love to his late sister.

” We have come here today to come and pick the right apple, we pray that you preserve the apple. This one shall not be a piece of a rag because she is going to bless your family, she is going to elevate your family, she is also going to announce your family so you have to take good care of her.

“The blessings of Ebonyi State shall continue to be upon you, your marriage shall be fruitful, Ebonyi State shall be proud of you, and Ebonyi State shall continue to pray for you.”

The Chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Capital City Development, Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi congratulated the bride and groom for consummating their agelong dream and prayed God to bless them abundantly.

The State Deputy Governor, Principal Officers of Government, and other top Government Functionaries accompanied the Governor to the traditional marriage ceremony.

The Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has urged the Directors in charge of rehabilitation of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), in the Federal and State Government to utilize the services of partners and non-governmental organizations in meeting the need of PWDs in the country.

She disclosed this during a one-day consultative meeting between the Director of Special Needs and other States Directors across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

According to the Minister, “this forum will accord us all the opportunity to rub minds, deliberate and come up with concrete steps towards ensuring that the target group-the disability community, for which we serve, gets our best”.

She said that “ in the course of implementing the Ministry’s mandate, we realized that Government cannot do it alone hence the need for collaboration with other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as Donor Agencies, Corporate Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)”.

“In this regard and over the years, the Ministry has;
• Continually trained visually impaired adults at the Nigeria Fan craft Centre for the Blind and currently has enrolled 56 of them in this 2021/2022 session.
• Provided Assistive Devices and empowerment tools over 5,000 individual Persons With Disabilities through Federal, State and Disability focused NGOs.

• Revised the National Policy on Disability in Nigeria and developed a National Roadmap on Local Production of Assistive Technologies for PWDs in Nigeria.
• Marked the various international disability related days such as; World Autism Awareness Day – 2 April, International Day of Sign Language – 23 September, White Cane Safety/Awareness Day – 15 October, International Day of Persons with Disabilities – 3rd December, etc.
• Participated at world forum for disability eg Conferences of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Sessions of the UN Commission for Social Development, Global Disability Summit.
• Carried out Assessment Visits to 36 States and FCT on Local Producers of Assistive Technologies for PWDs.
• Provide prosthetic limbs to over 467 beneficiaries in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Niger State.
• Enhanced the capacities of 71 Teachers, Parents/Caregivers of Children with Special Needs in six States of Adamawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Imo, Oyo, and Delta States.
• Trained and provided cash support to 30 Local Producers of Assistive Devices across the States of the Federation.
• Trained 33 PWDs form the South-Eastern States on Income Generating Activities and provided them with cash support to facilitate establishment of their businesses.
• Distributed COVID-19 Palliative items to Karin-Majiji PWDs colony of FCT.
• Distributed Palliatives across the 36 Sates and FCT which included the PWDs”.

Continuing, “ You will recall that in early 2019, the present Administration signed into law, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act after suffering many years of setbacks. The Act is to provide for the full integration of PWDs into society which led to the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities vested with the responsibilities for education, health care, social, economic and civil rights of PWDs and other related matters”.

The representative of all the State Director of Rehabilitation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Jayeola expressed her gratitude to the Federal Government for the role they are playing to ensure that PWDs are restored to a normal fulfilled life and mental health.
The Head of Programmes and Operations of the Leprosy Mission, Mr. Pius Ogbu Sunday said his organization has pushed for the domesticaction of 2019 Discimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in the States they are working with and that the Leprosy Mission has the capacity to support 21 Disability organizations and offers technical support to the Ministry.

He also said the Leprosy Mission is committing over €500,000 to support the PWDs in Nigeria. This is beside other technical assistance that they intend to provide.

He congratulated the Ministry for facilitating the meeting and for their determination to face the new challenges and finding innovative ways of resolving them. He said that in 2022, the Leprosy Mission will focus on inclusive education, inclusive health, livelihood and economic empowerment.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Evelyn Ngige has said the Ministry would continue to expand its collaboration with private sector to create well-paid jobs for Nigerian Youths in fulfilment of the President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s promise to lift 100 million Nigerian out of poverty in the next ten years .

Dr. Evelyn Ngige disclosed this while declaring open the Technical Session of the Meeting of the 13th meeting of the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, with the theme: “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Nigeria: The role of Stakeholders“ going on at Ekiti State Civic and Covention Centre, Fajuyi Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Dr. Evelyn disclosed that the Ministry through the Industrial Training Fund ( ITF) , has trained one thousand two hundred and eleven beneficiaries under its info-Tech Skills Empowerment Programme (ISEP), Passion to Profession, and other Special Skills intervention programmes.

According to Permanent Secretary, various strategic wealth creation programmes have been embarked by the Ministry through Small, and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), as these efforts are all geared towards providing jobs for unemployed Nigerians, stressing that these efforts have also led to the review of the National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to encourage the establishment of more Small and Medium Enterprises within the length and breadth of the country.

According to her, under the “ One Local Government, One Product (OLOP) Programme “, which is being implemented as a regional economic development model to galvanise and mobilize local resources in all the seven hundred and seventy- four (774) Local Government Areas, 109 MSMEs are selected every year, concentrating on one specific product from each Senatorial Zone, each selected enterprise is given a grant of 30% to 70% of the approved sum as a loan with no interest, to be repaid within eighteen (18) Months.

She further disclosed that, one of key programmes initiated by the Ministry to create wealth and grow the economy include the Advancement for Women in Agriculture, Agro- Allied and Cottage Enterprises (AWACE) which has successfully developed the agro- processing capacities and capabilities of women.

“ At the moment, over three hundred (300) women have been trained and provided with the processing equipment as grants to enhance their agro-processing engagements, adding that another initiative being rigorously implemented is the National Business Skills Development Programme (NBSD) which has three components of Entrepreneurship Training, Vocational Skills Training and Provision of Empowerment Materials. The implementation of the has commenced in all seven States of the Northwest Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria namely ;Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.

Subsequently, the programme will cascade to the remaining geo-political zones of the country as 5,365 MSMEs have benefitted from NBSD” She added.

She further explained that the focus of Government has remained to create the enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive as the engine of growth of the National economy as the SMEs subsector contributes a large percentage to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) “ It is in recognition of this that Government has evolved various measures to strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprises sub-sector as the fulcrum for industrialization, job creation and poverty alleviation in Nigeria, in addition, the Ministry is at fore front of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement for the realization of the country’s vision to attain the diversify, competitive and sustainable economy by making Nigeria’s products and services the most preferred in Africa.” Dr. Evelyn Ngige added.

She commended the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo,CON and the Minister of State, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, the Ministry and its Agencies for their continued demonstrate of high sense of commitment and dedication towards the attainment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to diversify and strengthen the Nigerian economy through non- oil commodities.

Dr. Evelyn urged all Technical Officials to carefully deliberate on the memos presented at this Council and make actionable recommendations that will further strengthen Current efforts of the Present Administration towards the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

In his vote of thanks, the Director, Planning, Policy, Research and Statistics (PPR&S), in the Ministry, Babagana Alkali appreciated the Chairman of the Technical Session who is the Permanent Secretary of Ministry, Dr. Evelyn Ngige and other stakeholders as well as the timely implementation of the key decisions of the Council.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday led cabinet members in wishing his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari a happy 77th birthday Celebration.
Shortly before the meeting of the Federal Executive Council began, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha announced to the cabinet that today (Wednesday) is the Chief of Staff, Professor Gambari’s birthday.

President Buhari congratulated him on the attainment of age 77, and jocularly injected that “you are still going strong, congratulations!”

The ministers present chorused with laughter and birthday good wishes.
Professor Gambari joined the government as Chief of Staff twenty months ago following the demise of the former holder of the office, Abba Kyari.

Before this time, Professor Gambari had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Military Government led by the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari in the 1980s and went on to serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He thereafter joined the United Nations system, rising to the position of Under-Secretary General and Special Adviser on Africa, serving as the joint African Union and UN Special Representative in some of the world’s troubled countries including Angola, Darfur, Iraq and Myanmar.

Described as an accomplished academic, Professor Gambari has taught at the City University of New York, the State University of New York at Albany and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as served as a Visiting Professor at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Baltimore, Maryland.

He is widely published in Nigerian and international scholarly journals and has written several books on Nigerian foreign policy.

Professor Gambari is the founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, a non-governmental “think-tank” established in Abuja.