The adoption of AI in the equipment and heavy machinery industries remains in its infancy. But it’s coming – and although currently shrouded in hype, the future benefits to business performance are real, according to abcg™ consultants Hans Iredahl and Mike Going. The media is obsessed with artificial intelligence (AI) and how it’s going to take over the world, be a force for good and/or destroy the planet – and everything in between. The reality is likely to be less dystopian – but far more useful in practical terms. But it can’t – and shouldn’t do everything, so care is…
Author: Adewale Ade
Recent research highlights a critical vulnerability in Europe: the region is facing a shortfall of at least 1 million cybersecurity professionals. Alarmingly, fewer than 30% of European companies have incorporated cybersecurity training into their workforce development programmes or recognised it as a pressing issue. Given the urgency underscored by these statistics, Indusface experts recommend effective and engaging strategies to enhance cybersecurity training in the workplace. Five Effective and Engaging Ways to Train Employees in Cybersecurity 1. Personalising the Importance of Cybersecurity Employees must understand the personal ramifications of a data breach at their workplace. Consider the breach in May, which…
BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organisation promoting transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Nigeria, has applauded the Supreme Court’s decisive ruling against state governors’ unconstitutional retention and utilisation of funds meant for the 774 Local Government Areas. Recall that in May, the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, sued the 36 state governors over alleged misconduct of local government funds following increased calls for local government autonomy, a move supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria operates a three-tier government – Federal, State, and Local—with 774 local government areas across 36 states. However, for too long,…
Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, which allows citizens to collaborate, track, and give feedback on public projects in their communities, have discovered N732.5 billion worth of empowerment projects in the 2024 Federal Government Capital and Constituency Projects, an amount higher than the N646.5 billion allocated to health projects. Despite the 2023 record of Nigeria having the second-highest child mortality rate in the world, the government has shown no signs of tackling these critical emergencies head-on, as the allocations in the 2024 budget do not reflect priority in the health sector. Tracka maintains that empowerment projects are vague and challenging…
In the 4th July 2024 UK general election, Keir Starmer emerged as the new Prime Minister, leading the Labour Party to a significant victory. Following the landslide victory, the Prime Minister appointed a diverse and dynamic Cabinet to lead the country through a period of significant change and renewal. The cabinet is a blend of experienced politicians and new faces, reflecting a commitment to both stability and innovation. This strategic mix aims to represent the diversity of the UK and tackle the pressing issues that the country faces. Here’s a snapshot of key members: Keir Starmer: Prime Minister Angela Rayner:…
PRESS BRIEFING HELD BY THE LAGOS STATE POLICE COMMAND ON FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2024 AT THE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, IKEJA. Gentlemen of the press, it is our delight to inform Lagosians that the Lagos State Police Command under the stewardship of CP Adegoke Fayoade, MNI recorded a major breakthrough yesterday, Thursday, July 4, 2024. Our intelligence-gathering assets yielded very credible and actionable intelligence about a dangerous and very notorious gang of kidnappers planning to kidnap some high net-worth individuals in Lagos. Upon receipt of this intelligence about two weeks ago, CP Fayoade directed the Command’s tactical teams to commence work on…
In the ever-evolving social media landscape, Facebook stands as a behemoth that has continuously adapted to changing user preferences, technological advancements, and regulatory landscapes. As we move into 2024, Facebook is at a critical juncture where it must address many challenges while leveraging its vast resources to innovate and stay relevant. This article explores the key challenges and innovations shaping Facebook’s future. Addressing Privacy Concerns Privacy has long been a contentious issue for Facebook. With the Cambridge Analytica scandal and subsequent data breaches still fresh in users’ minds, the platform has been under intense scrutiny from regulators and users alike.…
BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organisation promoting transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Nigeria, decries the proposed elongation of the implementation period for the 2023 Approved Budget and 2023 Supplementary Budget from the proposed termination date of December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024. Recall that the 2023 Approved Budget of N21.83 trillion, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023, was designed to run for 12 calendar months from January to December, as is the practice globally. In addition, while the 2024 Appropriation Bill was being drafted, the 2023 Supplementary Budget of N2.17 trillion was passed by…
Ookla has delved into Speedtest quality of experience data to evaluate whether 5G fulfils its promise and potential. In the assessment, Okla analysed the page load speeds (measured in milliseconds) of three popular services across nine major countries during the first quarter of 2024. The three popular services in consideration are Facebook, Google and YouTube from Brazil, Canada, France, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, and the United States. The research indicates that 5G significantly outperforms 4G in terms of page load times for all three services assessed in Nigeria during Q1 2024. Specifically, the data shows that Google loaded 24%…
On June 26, 2024, operatives from the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended 27 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud at various locations within Benin City. The arrests were made based on credible intelligence indicating their involvement in computer-related fraud activities. During the operation, the EFCC seized several items from the suspects, including N590,000 in cash, nine luxury vehicles, laptops, and phones. The suspects will face charges in court following the completion of the ongoing investigations.
From the track records of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, his appointment into the hitherto moribund National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) is well deserved. Given his pedigree, experience and previous positions, expectations are high that Oyebamiji’s good leadership style will ultimately impact inland waterways in a way to makes the Marine and Blue Economy relevant and fulfils its mandate. In the past, not much has been heard about NIWA as it has just been a job-for-the-boys kind of establishment. But now that a technocrat, famously called Bola Oyebamiji, has been put in the saddle, it’s…
My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society. Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator. We lost great heroes and…
In a significant boost to the infrastructure development of Rivers State, the Kalama Development Initiative, a socio-political pressure group, has praised Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS for approving the construction of a bridge that will connect Kalama to the rest of the state. The group, founded in 2018 to address the socio-political concerns of youths in Kalama, hailed the Governor’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and improving the lives of the state’s residents. In a statement signed by founder Sobere Opusunju, MBCS, and Head of Administration Comrade Inyie Okpukpo, the Kalama Development Initiative expressed gratitude for this vital infrastructure project. “This…
Professor Ben Nwabueze analysed the National Assembly’s power to replace the Nigerian Constitution in the article below: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S POWER TO REPLACE THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION: AN ANALYSIS OF PROFESSOR BEN NWABUEZE’S ARGUMENTS Introduction A bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria” has been circulating online for some time. Drafted by Dr. Akin Fapohunda, the bill proposes a new Constitution to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.” It…
Engr. Emeka Woke, the newly appointed Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spillage, Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has reiterated his commitment to align the agency with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. During a meeting with management staff at the agency’s headquarters, Engr. Woke emphasized his mandate to refocus, redirect, and revitalize NOSDRA to impact communities affected by oil spills positively. Engr. Woke commended the management staff for their warm reception and asked them to continue performing their duties diligently. He also promised to address the immediate challenges faced by staff, including regular and…
BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organisation promoting transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Nigeria, has expressed concern at the Country’s performance in the 2023 Open Budget Survey (OBS) conducted by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), where Nigeria scored lower than the global average of 45 (out of 100) in the Open Budget Index, ranking below Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Benin. The Open Budget Survey is the world’s only comparative, independent, and regular assessment of transparency, oversight, and participation in national budgets. It is designed to help local civil society organisations and the public evaluate government reporting on public…
During the meeting held on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, the tripartite partners, including government representatives and the organised private sector, presented their proposals for the new national minimum wage. Before the shutdown: the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) demanded N494K as the minimum wage: Read the response of the Tripartite Committee to the unreasonable demand At the last meeting on Tuesday 28 May 2024, all tripartite partners were invited to make their offers. Employers made up of the Government side and the Organised Private Sector made offers of N60,000.00 per month which is a…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the heinous killing of soldiers in Aba, Abia State, according to the statement issued below: Statement on the Killings of Soldiers in Abia I have received yet another disheartening news story about the killing of five soldiers by suspected militants of the proscribed terrorist organisation, IPOB. The slain soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia State, on Thursday when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama, Delta State. These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts are condemnable and should never be condoned or tolerated in our country.…
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has announced that the N494,000 national minimum wage demanded by organised labour, which totals N9.5 trillion annually, is economically unfeasible and could jeopardise the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Idris responded to the organised labour’s strike threat should their demands remain unmet. He highlighted that the Federal Government’s offer of a N60,000 minimum wage, representing a 100% increase from the 2019 wage, has been accepted by the organised private sector, part of the tripartite negotiation committee. “The Federal Government’s new minimum wage proposal represents…
Starting this Saturday, 1st June 2024, skilled workers from non-EU countries will have the opportunity to move to Germany and search for employment for up to a year, provided they meet certain criteria. This new visa programme called “Opportunity Card” is part of a broader legislative initiative to address Germany’s pressing shortage of skilled labour. “We are ensuring that the workers and specialists our economy has desperately needed for years can come to our country,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Saturday. What Does the New Scheme Involve? Eligible individuals can apply for the Opportunity Card, or Chancenkarte in German,…