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NITDA DG, INUWA Advocates Innovation for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development
NITDA DG, INUWA Advocates Innovation for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE has reiterated the critical role of innovation in driving Nigeria’s sustainable development, economic diversification, and global competitiveness.
The representative of Kashifu Inuwa, the DG NITDA , Engr Ya’u Isa Garba, at the 8th Annual Research Fair and Exhibition at Nassarawa State University, Keffi.
Inuwa made this remark while delivering a keynote address at the 8th Annual Research Fair and Exhibition of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), where he called on academia, industry leaders, and policymakers to embrace disruptive transformational innovation as a tool for addressing the nation’s challenges and unlocking its immense potential.
Speaking on the theme, “Disruptive Transformational Innovation; Shaping the Future,” Inuwa commended NSUK for organising an event that aligns with Nigeria’s pursuit of growth through knowledge-driven solutions.
Inuwa who was represented by the Deputy Director, eGovernment and Digital Economy Development Department, Engr Ya’u Garba, applauded the university’s increasing focus on transformation, noting that such initiatives reflect an understanding of the need for impactful innovations to address real-world issues.
Inuwa emphasised that while inventions remain a cornerstone of academic inquiry, their significance lies in their ability to move beyond theoretical exploration to become practical innovations.
These innovations, he explained, have the power to reshape industries, tackle societal challenges, and accelerate national progress.
He urged institutions to prioritise creativity and bold thinking, ensuring that research outputs translate into tangible benefits for society.Explaining the concept of disruptive transformational innovation, Inuwa described it as a profound force capable of altering established systems, processes, and products in ways that redefine societal functions.
Unlike incremental innovations, which focus on improving existing frameworks, disruptive innovations introduce entirely new paradigms, addressing challenges in groundbreaking and previously unimaginable ways.
He cited historical examples such as the Printing Press, the Steam Engine, and Electricity, which have significantly transformed human existence and set the foundation for modern development.
Inuwa pointed out that Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources present a unique opportunity to harness innovation for sustainable development.
He called for a collaborative approach involving academia, industries, and government to build an environment that nurtures creativity, supports bold investments, and encourages inclusive growth. Such an ecosystem, he said, is vital for fostering homegrown innovations that can propel Nigeria to the forefront of global technological and economic advancements.
He further highlighted NITDA’s dedication to fostering innovation through various initiatives, including the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) to digitally transform the agricultural sector, the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy to enhance digital trust and transparency, and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy aimed at building a robust AI ecosystem in the country, among other impactful projects, which are part of the Federal Government broader strategy to position Nigeria as a leader in the global knowledge economy.
Inuwa also urged NSUK to deepen its commitment to innovation by establishing hubs that support facility-led startups, fostering collaborations with industry stakeholders, and equipping students with essential technological skills.
He noted that such efforts would not only empower the university community but also contribute significantly to national development.
Inuwa expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to not only adopt global innovations but also create groundbreaking solutions that could influence the trajectory of Africa and the world.
He called on all stakeholders in the country to embrace the transformative power of innovation in order to drive sustainable development, economic diversification, and global relevance
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NASENI Celebrates Halilu’s Recognition as a Young Global Leader by This Day Newspaper
NASENI Celebrates Halilu’s Recognition as a Young Global Leader by This Day Newspaper
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has celebrated its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, for being honoured with the Young Global Leader Award by ThisDay Newspaper during its grand 30th-anniversary celebration held on January 27, 2025, in Lagos.
The EVC/CEO of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu receiving ThisDay Newspapers Young Global Leader award from the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba at the 2025 ThisDay Awards held in Lagos recently.
The award recognizes Khalil Halilu’s transformative leadership, visionary contributions to Nigeria’s technology and manufacturing sectors, and his commitment to sustainable development through innovation.
Since assuming leadership at NASENI, Halilu has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that have solidified the agency’s position as a critical driver of Nigeria’s industrial revolution. Halilu’s leadership has led to 35 market-ready products for use by Nigerians and closed deals on 44 projects with Agency’s partners, ready for launching or commissioning.
Speaking on the award, Halilu expressed gratitude to ThisDay Newspaper for the recognition, dedicating the accolade to the entire NASENI team. “This award is a testament to the collective efforts of the NASENI family in advancing innovation and ensuring Nigeria remains at the forefront of technology and engineering infrastructure. It inspires us to work even harder toward creating solutions that empower industries and communities,” he said.
The Young Global Leader Award reflects Halilu’s visionary leadership, under which NASENI has implemented numerous landmark projects, including the development of sustainable green technologies, the establishment of world-class manufacturing facilities, and strategic collaborations with local and international partners to boost Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
ThisDay Newspaper, celebrating three decades of excellence in journalism, selected Halilu alongside other exceptional leaders for their exemplary contributions to societal development and innovation. The award ceremony, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos brought together luminaries from across Nigeria’s public and private sectors to celebrate excellence and leadership.
NASENI, under Khalil Halilu’s leadership, reaffirms its commitment to fostering innovation, industrialization, and sustainable growth in Nigeria. This recognition serves as a further motivation for the Agency to continue breaking new grounds in science, engineering, and technology for national development.
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NIMC unveils new National ID card: What You Need to Know
NIMC unveils new National ID card: What You Need to Know
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Federal Government, through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the upgraded National Identity Card, known as the General Multipurpose Card (GMPC), later this year.
In a statement, the agency described the new card as a single, convenient solution that eliminates the need for carrying multiple cards.
It wrote “The innovative card made in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), is to be powered by AfriGO, a National domestic card scheme licensed by the CBN to provide cost-effective and transparent card payments.”
Currently, the 26 commercial and microfinance banks are issuing the AfriGo cards in the country.
According to NIMC, the innovation will address the demand for physical identification enabling cardholders to prove their identity, and access government and private social services.
On the voters’ card, the commission says several meetings with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are ongoing to see how a merger is visible for just one card.
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NIGERIA: UN HIGH-LEVEL MISSION VISITS BAMA, BORNO STATE, AHEAD OF FIFTH LAKE CHAD BASIN GOVERNORS FORUM
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, the SRSG for the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Mr. Abdou Abarry, and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed M. Fall, visited Bama a day before the kick-off of the fifth Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum for Regional Cooperation on Stabilization, Peacebuilding, and Sustainable Development in Maiduguri.
The high-level officials highlighted the steady progress made in Bama. This includes joint Government, UN and partners efforts to provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) with humanitarian assistance and livelihood support and initiatives enhancing social cohesion and reintegration through social and economic activities. They also noted the challenges that remain including violence, the threat posed by the climate crisis, and inadequate basic services.
The officials visited a centre equipping young girls and boys with livelihood skills run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and a UNICEF-run social cohesion project at the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) camp. In addition, they visited a nutrition centre supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) where malnourished children are receiving treatment. The officials also spoke with women and adolescent girls at a UNHCR/GISCOR Safe Space and met with representatives of humanitarian agencies in Bama. They also paid a courtesy call on the Shehu of Bama Dr. Umar Kyari Umar El-kanemi.
“I returned to Bama today, eight years since my last visit – which was a few months after it was liberated from the insurgency. A lot has changed since then, with marked improvement in the lives of people affected by the crisis. While there is still work to be done to address insecurity and its impact on civilians, I thank the Borno State authorities, donors, UN agencies and partners for their commitment and dedication through this journey that has made Bama what it is today. I also call for sustained support to address the remaining challenges,” said the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall.
Bama town remains vulnerable to attacks by non-state armed groups due to its proximity to the Sambisa Forest. This has made it difficult for communities to carry out livelihood activities, including farming, fishing and firewood collection. This has increased their dependence on humanitarian assistance.
Bama illustrates the situation of many communities across the Lake Chad Basin impacted by 16 years of conflict in the region.
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