NITDA, CISCO SIGN MoU ON AI, SMART AGRIC, OTHERS

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The National Information Technology Development Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) with the Cisco System Incorporation to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation. Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Programme is a global initiative that partners with government and private sector leaders to develop sustainable, secure, and inclusive communities powered by ethical and innovative technology solutions.

The partnership aims to unlock the value of digitalisation in Nigeria and drive an inclusive future. The Federal Government will collaborate with Cisco, industry, and academia to accelerate the national digitisation agenda by implementing pilot projects in five key areas: Repurposing NCAIR to create an AI and Cybersecurity Experience and Incubation Center; Establishing a Broadband Innovation Centre; Setting up a Smart Agriculture Demo Farm; Designing and deploying Technology Learning Hubs; and Incubating Defense Technology Solutions.

This partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority areas of accelerating diversification through digitisation and innovation, strengthening national security for peace and prosperity, and boosting agriculture to achieve food security.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU at the NITDA Headquarters, Abuja, the Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE maintained that AI and Cybersecurity go hand in hand, this has made it imperative to upgrade the NCAIR to a world class AI Lab because as “we develop the AI, we also need to develop and design it with a security in mind.

On the second initiative, the NITDA boss noted that broadband is the backbone to digitisation and digital transformation, and it provides the connectivity needed for transformation adding that the establishment of the innovation hub would encourage local startups and companies to come up with affordable broadband solution in Nigeria by using cutting edge technology.

He said, “We have a National Broadband Plan that aims to achieve 95 percent broadband coverage in Nigeria, and we need to be smart in the way we do things in order to achieve the target.”

According to Inuwa, the initiative on smart agriculture would help to improve food production and productivity in agriculture noting that the use of Internet of Things, (IoT), Drones and other technologies would enhance productivity in agriculture.

He said, “As part of the Presidential Redefined Priority Areas of achieving food security in the country, the President has mandated the cultivation of 500,000 acre of land in the country and to achieve this successfully and efficiently, we need to use technology.”

The Director General expressed the willingness of the Agency to work with Cisco to establish a pilot of the Learning Centre adding that it is part of the Agency mandate to deploy IOM technology to the under-served and unserved areas.

He said, “Cisco is already working with International Organisation for Migration, (IOM) for a pilot project in Maiduguri, Borno state capital to deploy three Learning Centers using Cisco technology. So, we want to see how we can partner to also scale up that initiative, because we also have as part of our mandate to deploy this technology in under-served and unserved communities.”

In his remarks, the Cisco’s Country Director, Mr. Clayton Naidoo expressed that Nigeria would benefit from the MoU as it would improve agricultural production, create job opportunities, and increase the financial strength of the citizens.

What we want to do is we want to make sure that we leverage technology to bring the right level of economic opportunity to Nigeria that will contribute towards economic growth and job creation. So that will be the first programme

According to him, Cisco has been unpacking the National Digital Agenda of the country and noted the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan which are in alignment with the Cisco programmes, resources, technology and investment. “And we try to implement pilot projects to ensure that we can help advance the acceleration of that digital plan,” he added.

While reacting to each of the initiatives, Mr. Naidoo disclosed that Cisco is at the vanguard of Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence and will partner with NCAIR to build an experience centre in the country by using the experience.

According to him, the experience center will be designed to support organisations across Nigeria, building robust Cybersecurity and AI architectures which would be done through labs, design thinking rooms, and equipment that can test models.

While noting that Cisco intends to build a world-class experience center that would benefit all parts of Nigeria, the Country Director reiterated that “we are looking to bring the power of the Cisco business unit into the space using technology.”

“This is our immersive video technology using our platform called WebEx, where we can bring the power of those subject matter experts into Nigeria to collaborate and design together, he emphasised.”

He said the company will also build a broadband innovation hub with Galaxy Backbone in partnership with NITDA. He noted that the initiative is in alignment with the National Broadband Policy that was outlined by the Minister. He disclosed that Cisco would work with IXPs and various service providers to help them build networks that can serve underutilised communities or marginalized communities.

“We believe that with the technology that we are going to build, we will leverage the right level of platforms that will ensure that the internet economics are right. Because there is one thing building on technologies but if the technology is too expensive for service providers, they won’t be able to offer that into marginalised communities.”

While assuring that Cisco has an IoT team that builds sensor technology, he said the company will build a use case around smart agriculture using some agricultural bots and drone technology.

He commended the Agency for the partnership disclosing that Cisco is really focused on it. He said the work will start immediately. “We are really looking forward to the partnership and as Cisco, we believe in creating inclusive models that empower local communities and empower all citizens of Nigeria.

The highlight of the event was the visitation to a demo smart farm at the Abuja Technology Village.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Officials of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria, have met to discuss areas of partnership towards improving sustainability practices by corporate organizations in Nigeria.

During a courtesy visit on the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of FRC in Abuja, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, on Monday, 13th May, 2024, the Director General, Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike said; “Climate change is fast becoming a priority for financial regulators. The work we do at NiMet through our weather and climate reports are the foundation for sustainability practices. This partnership will enable NiMet and FRC to jointly develop capacity”.

While welcoming the NiMet team, Dr. Olowo said; “There are opportunities for alignment between NiMet and FRC in fulfilling the core mandates of the two agencies, especially in the areas of sustainability reporting, climate risks and opportunities. Although we are championing sustainability reporting, FRC is also promoting sustainable practices among Nigerian organizations”.

Some directors and senior staff of the two agencies were present during the courtesy visit.

What Is The Focus Of The New NiMet Management With Regard To Human
Capital Development?

Dr. Nasiru Sani, Director Of Human Resources Management and Administration (DHRM), NiMet.

A lot is going on at NiMet at the moment. Across all the Directorates, not just in the area of capacity building. Shortly after the appointment of the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Prof. Charles Anosike, he organized a management retreat for the newly appointed Directors and other senior management staff.

That workshop was quite enlightening. We discussed vision and goal alignment. It was drilled down to the various directorates how what we do at NiMet must always align to what the Tinubu government is trying to achieve, linking it with the Aviation sector roadmap of Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Starting with Tinubu government’s 8-point agenda for economic recovery; food security; poverty eradication; growth, job creation; access to capital; inclusion; rule of law; and fighting corruption, down to the performance bond the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, signed with Aviation Agencies Heads and their Directors in February 2024. Development of human capacity is a key deliverable in the performance bond.

The DG/CEO, Professor Anosike, and the management team have prioritized capacity development, and are working so hard at the same time to reposition the agency. So many initiatives are ongoing in the agency, but specifically looking at the HR Directorate that I head, in the first quarter of 2024, the agency has spent over one hundred and forty million naira (N140M) training over 100 staff members. This month of May, senior staff will be embarking on another round of training focusing on leadership and performance management, while junior level staff will be trained in ethics and performance management.

Capacity development has become a culture under the new management. The staff say that this is unprecedented and we are seeing the effects already. Staff morale and motivation are higher. Productivity has increased in line with the federal government’s performance management metrics. We are strictly tasked to ensure accurate reporting of weather and climate information.

There are new tools, software and ways of analyzing weather patterns. Through training, our staff are able to adopt these new methods and perform their roles effectively and efficiently.

What Is The Mandate Of NiMet?

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), is a Federal Government of Nigeria agency charged with the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology.

NiMet is also tasked to project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and to issue weather (and climate) forecasts for the safe operations of aircrafts, ocean going vessels and oil rigs.

With climate change and weather patterns changing, our work has become more critical. Individuals and organizations rely on our weather forecasts, predictions and alerts for their planning.

This year in particular has been very hot and our hardworking scientists and meteorologists have been so busy ensuring that these climate and weather information are disseminated to the public via our social media platforms, website, text alerts etc.

We are also pleased with the partnership that our DG/CEO has brokered with national TV stations and newspapers to broadcast and transmit the weather information.

We also partner with local radio stations including FRCN and the BBC. Our staff were on BBC native language programmes recently sensitizing the public about NiMet’s seasonal climate prediction (SCP).

As A Scientific And Technical Agency, Do You Have Challenges Attracting Staff To The AgencyThe work we do at NiMet is very technical and we work in a scientific environment. We have the most dedicated and professional staff. However, as people retire, gaps are created in the workforce requiring the need to in-fill new talents.

There are a few universities offering meteorology and related courses in Nigeria. NiMet has a training school at Oshodi, Lagos, and the MBMisT institute in Katsina.

These institutions train and re-train our staff plus outsiders interested in studying meteorology.

There are always ready availability of talent pool from these internal and external institutions to chose from whenever there is need, and the relevant federal government agencies grant NiMet the approval to employ new staff.