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$618 MILLION I-DICE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHED

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$618 MILLION I-DICE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHED

By: Michael Mike

 A $618 million Investment in Digital & Creative Enterprises (I-DICE) Programme has been launched for the promotion of digital technology and creative industries in the country.

The Programme, according to a statement on Wednesday by the French Embassy was an initiative from the Federal Government of Nigeria and aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in the digital technology and creative industries.

According to the statement, The launching which took place on Wednesday was held at the State House in presence of the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, with co-financiers representatives in attendance.

The statement said I-DICE Programme is part of efforts to create jobs for young Nigerians and support the development of these fast-growing industries. It is co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) & the Bank of Industry (BOI) with respectively $170 million, €100 million (equivalent to $116 million), $70 million & $45 million in funding.

The statement added that the remaining financing is expected to come from the private sector and institutional investors. The funding will provide training, mentorship, and funding to young entrepreneurs and innovators in the digital technology and creative industries. The Implementing Agency, the Bank of Industry, will coordinate the day-to-day activities of the project.
 
Speaking at the launch of the program at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the Vice President called on African governments and the private sector to do more to support the growth of innovation in the continent.

He said: “I think it is now imperative to commence a coordinated approach towards innovation on the continent, bringing together all stakeholders to coordinate efforts at scaling up investments and building programmes that provide the right enabling environment and produce talent pipelines that support the growth of innovation on the continent.”
 
In his remarks, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am proud of the African Development Bank Group’s leading role in this initiative, which has the potential to generate millions of jobs for Nigeria’s youths.The urgency of leveraging the implementation of I-DICE sustainable job creation and economic transformation is now”


 
Speaking at the launch event, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Emmanuelle Blatmann, underscored the importance of the digital technology and creative industries to the Nigerian economy. “The digital technology and creative industries have enormous potential to create jobs and spur economic growth in Nigeria,” she said. “The I-DICE program, co-financed by AFD, AfDB, IsDB & the BOI, is designed to support the young entrepreneurs and innovators who are driving these industries forward.”The launch event brought together representatives from the Nigerian government, the private sector, as well as young entrepreneurs and innovators from the digital technology and creative industries. The event featured presentations and networking opportunities, and highlighted the opportunities and challenges facing these industries in Nigeria.
 
With a focus on enhancing access to finance for start-ups in the digital and creative industry and job creation, the I-DICE Programme is poised to make is a significant impact on the lives of young Nigerians, helping to create sustainable employment opportunities and contributing to the development of the country’s economy. The commitment of the co-financiers to supporting this initiative underscores their recognition of the importance of these sectors in driving economic growth and development in Nigeria, the statement said.

$618 MILLION I-DICE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHED

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President Tinubu Passionate About Enhanced Healthcare Delivery – VP Shettima

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President Tinubu Passionate About Enhanced Healthcare Delivery – VP Shettima

  • Says FG will explore private sector partnership on training of health workers

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, has identified enhanced healthcare delivery as a top priority in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed hope administration.

Accordingly, he said that the Federal Government will support the training of personnel in its teaching hospitals and other tertiary health institutions in the country to meet emerging challenges of healthcare delivery.

The Vice President gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received in audience at the Presidential Villa, the management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo.

Sen. Shettima who commended the current management of the institution for the giant strides recorded over the years said the current administration is committed to supporting human capacity development in hospitals across the country.

He said, “Training is very essential; we will explore all available windows to support UMTH and other teaching hospitals in the country in the training of their personnel. We will see how our partnership with the private sector can be helpful in this regard.”

“I want to commend the CMD and his team for providing quality leadership to the hospital and all of their subordinates. There have been remarkable improvements witnessed at UMTH since his assumption of duty.

“In terms of staff morale, capacity building and the general outlook of the teaching hospital, the improvements have been massive. The expansion of the hospital from a 600-bed to a 1305-bed facility and equipped with modern facilities. The CMD has been proactive and aggressive in all that he does, including sourcing for external funding,” the VP added.

Prof. Ahidjo had earlier in his remarks, said the visit of the team was to thank the Vice President for his support to the institution which spanned over 15 years, and to present the scorecard of the hospital as well as its future plans.

The CMD said with the support of the government and other stakeholders, the hospital has expanded from a 600-bed to a 1,305-bed facility equipped with state-of-the-art machines.

He said that besides building new centres for Trauma, Dialysis, Cancer and Stroke treatment among others, the hospital boasts of over 100 professors in different areas of specialties.

The CMD however requested for more support from the Vice President to enable the institution to actualize its objectives of being an international centre of excellence in healthcare delivery and training of personnel through the construction of an electronic health institute to facilitate its digitalization project.

Other members of the delegation include the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Sanusi Ibrahim; Director of Administration, Mallam Idris Omar; Director of Clinical Services, Prof. Modu Kagu; Director of Research and Ethics, Prof. Faruk Buba; Director of Training, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed, and the Director of UMTH Kidney Centre, Prof. Ibrahim Ummate.

President Tinubu Passionate About Enhanced Healthcare Delivery – VP Shettima

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Jakuako commends Buni over campaign promises in Yobe

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Jakuako commends Buni over campaign promises in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Chairman, Caretaker Management Committee of Jakusko local government area of Yobe state, Alhaji Umaru Aguwa, has given kudos to the Yobe state governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, for fulfilling all his campaign promises to the people through the provision of the dividend of democracy.

Hon. Umaru Aguwa said giving commendation to the Chiroman Gujba has become imperative because of numerous achievements in improving the living conditions of the masses in Yobe State. He also gave the local government councils in the state their full support for the democratic map to provide the dividend of democracy to the electorates in the state.

Hon. Umaru said all the development projects provided by the council chairmen in their respective local government councils were done with the full support of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON. He revealed that Yobe State is blessed with a governor characterized by humility, sympathy, accessibility, and a genius in letting go of what rightfully and lawfully belongs to him for peace to reign in the state.

“Governor Mai Mala Buni CON has sacrificed too much to serve and provided the dividend of democracy to the people of the state, and his developmental projects are physically on the ground. Buni’s administration is full of initiatives. The government has constructed modern markets in major towns across the state, in Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashu’a, Nguru, Geidam, and Buni Yadi.” Umaru Aguwa said. 

According to him, the government also resuscitated three dormant industries in the state. These are the Woven Sack Company Damaturu, Yobe Sahel Aluminum, Flour, and Feed Mill Company in Potiskum, as well as the Trailer Park in Potiskum. Adding to that, the Buni administration also completed the state-owned International Cargo Airport, which was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said all these achievements were to create a conducive environment for trade and commerce for economic development in the state.

“His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, has made tremendous achievements in many sectors, including health, agriculture, work, empowerment, education, and many others.

Speaking on his achievements in the Jakusko local government area since his inception in office in June 2023, the Chairman said he has been following in the footsteps of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON in the provision of portable drinking water for both human and animal consumption in rural and urban areas. He revealed that the council constructed 14 new solar-powered boreholes, drilled six new boreholes, rehabilitated over 50 boreholes, and purchased accessories and repairs for over 51 hand pumps across the local government area.

“The council also constructed three dispensaries at Garin Tsalha, Dan Takunne, and Karage and equipped them with drugs and beds. The council also purchased drugs for the outbreak of diarrhea and the repair of primary healthcare vehicles, as well as drugs worth millions of naira that were distributed to all our primary health centers across the local government and received much support in the health sector.

Hon. Umaru Aguwa said the council constructed 20 cans to ease the problems of transportation by our people during the rainy seasons; the council repaired 4 vehicles for security agencies in the area; purchased over 10,000 empty bags and pilled them with sand to control the flow of water in the town during the rainy seasons; and also organized cultural activities such as wrestling and sports with a view to bringing unity among the people of the local government.

Aguwa also said the council repaired two tractors, conducted construction in Jakusko, purchased animal vaccination drugs, and distributed palliatives to alleviate the suffering of the people as a result of subsidy removal. In order to improve the standard and quality of education, the council constructed two classrooms and an office in Gamajan and also renovated two classrooms and an office in Gamajan. We also purchased thousands of copies of text and exercise books and distributed them to all primary and junior secondary schools across the local government.
End.

Jakuako commends Buni over campaign promises in Yobe

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Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Fani-Kayode, Pantami Say Russia is Not Alone

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Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Fani-Kayode, Pantami Say Russia is Not Alone

By: Michael Mike

As the Russian Republic continues to mourn the killing of its citizens in an attack on Moscow concert hall, some prominent Nigerians including a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami paid a condolence visit on Russian Embassy in Nigeria with a message that the European country is not alone.

With Fani-Kayode and Pantami on the visit were a former Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer Mohammed; Senator Mohammed Hassan who represented Yobe South Senatorial District, a former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon Farouk Aliyu, and the Campaign Spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Eastern part of the country during the 2023 presidential election, Joseph Onoh.

In his remarks, Fani-Kayode expressed condolences to the Russian Federation over the attack, assuring the Russian Federation envoy, Alexey Shebarshin, that Russian is not alone in its difficult moments.

Fani-Kayode said: “It saddens our hearts that such a terrible thing could have happened at this time in our history in your country.

“As you said earlier, we suffer from similar atrocities here in the recent past. And we join our faith with you and we also reach out to you with our hearts to commiserate with you and express our condolences on behalf of millions of Nigerian people and we stand with you from beginning to end; we acknowledge the critical role that you have played in the development of our country in terms of collaboration and we need to do far more.

“We want you to be rest assured that at this difficult time and indeed, over the months and years, Russia is not alone and has not been alone. You have many, many friends here in Nigeria. As you can see, people that came here today are not just ordinary people; these are people of high calibre and they represent millions of others and we thought it was appropriate to come and express our solidarity with you.

“We believe strongly that those that were behind this, those we know already that the Russian security services have so quickly brought to book and have caught outside of those ones that have been caught, we believe strongly that we have every faith in your system that you will get to the bottom of it and know those who were really behind it.”

Fani-Kayode further told the Russian envoy that it was not just those that the Russian Federation sees that it has to respond to and brings to justice, but even those that were behind the attack needed to be identified and opposed.

He said: “And in that quest, in the advocacy of that position, we stand with you 100 percent. Not just Nigeria, if you look around the African continent, you have many, many friends and I am proud to say that I am a friend of Russia and all of us seated here, friends of Russia, we stand with you at this difficult time.

“May the souls of those who passed, rest in peace. And may God bless the President of Russia, may God bless Russia, may God be with us all,” Fani-Kayode said.

Also speaking, Pantami conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the delegation to the President and good people of Russia over the tragedy.

He said: “We stand by you, we stand by humanity, we stand always for peace, we stand for justice and we do hope that this is the last calamity that will happen in the country and we will continue to pray for your country, for our country and also for peace, stability and prosperity all over the world.

“What happened is condemnable. No any responsible person irrespective of religion, tribe or geographical location will support it. It is a clear indication of humans’ inhumanity to humans and it stands condemnable. And we will continue to be with you to support you, to encourage you to overcome the challenge and we have witnessed so many support of Russia in Nigeria and in other African countries. Your country remains a good friend of Nigeria and other African countries. So, whatever happens to you, it happens to us as whatever happens to us also happens to you.

“Once again, accept our heartfelt condolences and we will continue to pray for you and wish you all the best,” Pantami said.

Speaking earlier, Shebarshin said the attack was the will of God, saying “it happened to us, it happened to you before as many places which have been joined.”

Shebarshin expressed the appreciation of the Russian Federation to its Nigerian friends, particularly President Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and other government officials who expressed condolences over the unfortunate development.

He however said Russia would overcome this.

Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Fani-Kayode, Pantami Say Russia is Not Alone

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